Below 509 (Below Average) – If your score falls below 509, you are considered a high risk, so you may find it difficult to obtain finance from conventional lenders. Some lenders consider granting a home loan with this score but the interest rates are usually very high.
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.
Generally speaking, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to secure a loan to buy a house. That's the minimum credit score requirement most lenders have for a conventional loan. With that said, it's still possible to get a loan with a lower credit score, including a score in the 500s.
Different lenders will have different requirements, and may also factor in other variables. You may be able to get a personal loan with a credit score as low as 580, or even as low as 300 with certain lenders. However, the best loans are typically reserved for people with a credit score of 640 or above.
If you have a credit score that's in the “poor” range—between 300 and 579—finding a loan can be hard.
While short-term loans will likely be easier to qualify for with a 400 to 450 credit score, they tend to be significantly more expensive — i.e., they have much higher rates and fees — than installment loans.
We won't sugar-coat it. With an 400 credit score, you're unlikely to get approved for a traditional credit card. Credit cards are unsecured forms of debt, so banks tend to be a bit more cautious compared to loans backed by specific assets, like mortgages and auto loans.
Lenders may accept borrowers with a 500 credit score but expect you to meet additional criteria, such as a minimum income or employment history. Look into fees and interest rates. Ask about fees and interest rates you might pay if you get a loan.
Some lenders even offer FHA loans with a credit score as low as 500, though this is far less common. With a credit score above 600, your options open up even more. Conventional mortgages require only a 620 score to qualify. And with a credit score of 680 or higher, you could apply for just about any home loan.
The most commonly used FICO Score in the mortgage-lending industry is the FICO Score 5. According to FICO, the majority of lenders pull credit histories from all three major credit reporting agencies as they evaluate mortgage applications. Mortgage lenders may also use FICO Score 2 or FICO Score 4 in their decisions.
Mortgage affordability
But it isn't just about your credit score. Mortgage lenders will want to see if you can afford your mortgage before they lend you the money, and be less of a risk to them. So as well as looking at your credit history they will look at how much you earn, and how much goes out.
The best type of credit card for a 520 credit score is a secured credit card. Secured cards give people with bad credit high approval odds and have low fees because cardholders are required to place a refundable security deposit.
Most people's initial credit scores are between 500 and 700 points, depending on the steps taken when establishing credit. However, you won't have a credit score to report if you've never opened a credit account. Read on to learn more about your starting credit score and how to build your credit over time.
No credit loans typically offer a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Pay off your loan as quickly as possible. No credit loans often have short repayment periods because the loan amounts are small. If you're financially able to, you should consider paying back your loan even faster than you're required to.
Credit Rating: 530 is considered a bad credit score. Borrowing Options: Most borrowing options are available, but the terms are unlikely to be attractive. For example, you could borrow a small amount with certain unsecured credit cards or a personal loan with no credit check, but the interest rate is likely to be high.
What is bad credit in Australia? Both Experian and Equifax (popular credit bureaus) state that a credit rating of 500 or lower is bad credit, meaning you have a bad credit history (with poor FICO scores). Specifically, bad credit for Experian is less than 579 and less than 549 for Equifax.
Fair credit score (500-649): Late or irregular credit card bill payments and EMI payments can get you stuck in a fair credit score range. While you are still considered a risk by lenders, you are still more likely to get approved for some credit applications.
You can improve your credit score by opening accounts that report to the credit bureaus, maintaining low balances, paying your bills on time and limiting how often you apply for new accounts.
Clearscore score bands updated in November 2021 to align with the new 1000-point Equifax credit score system. New bands: Poor (0-438), Fair (439-530), Good (531-670), Very Good (671-810), Excellent (811-1000).
If your credit report shows scores out of 1,000, above 690 is excellent and above 540 is good.