How Long Will It Take to Build a Credit Score?

 

What is a credit score?

A credit score is a numerical representation of a person’s creditworthiness based on their credit history. Credit scores are typically generated by credit reporting agencies, like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, using a credit scoring model.

Credit scores consider various factors related to a person’s credit history, like payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, types of credit used, and any derogatory marks or negative information, like missed payments, bankruptcies, or collections.

The most commonly used credit scoring model is the FICO score, which ranges from 300 to 850. A higher score indicates better creditworthiness and a lower risk for lenders or creditors, while a lower score suggests higher risk and may make it more challenging to be approved for credit products or qualify for favorable interest rates.

Lenders use credit scores, credit card companies, landlords, and others to evaluate a person’s ability to manage credit and repay loans or debts. Maintaining a good credit score can improve your chances of being approved for credit products and qualify for better interest rates and terms.

Related: Credit Score Ranges

When can you not have a credit score?

There are a few situations in which you may not have a credit score:

• Limited credit history: If you have not used credit products like credit cards or loans, you may not have a credit score because there is no credit history to base it on.
• Inactivity: If you have not used credit products for an extended period of time, your credit score may become inactive or “stale.” Credit scoring models require recent credit activity to calculate your score, so if you have not used credit in a while, your score may not be up to date.
• Identity issues: If there are errors in your credit reports or if someone has stolen your identity and opened fraudulent accounts in your name, your credit score may be affected. Sometimes, your credit score may be temporarily unavailable while you work to resolve these issues.
• Age: If you are under 18, you may not have a credit score because you are not legally allowed to enter into credit agreements.

What does it mean to build credit?

Building credit means establishing a positive credit history by demonstrating that you are a responsible borrower who can manage credit responsibly.

Creditors and lenders use your credit history and score to determine your creditworthiness or how likely you are to repay any borrowed money. By building good credit, you can improve your chances of being approved for credit products, like credit cards or loans, and may also qualify for lower interest rates or better terms.

To build credit, you typically need to use credit products, like credit cards or loans and make on-time payments consistently. Your payment history is one of the most critical factors impacting your credit score, so always paying the minimum amount due on time is important.

How can you build credit?

1. Open a credit card

Using a credit card responsibly and making on-time payments can help you build credit by establishing a positive credit history, improving your payment history, keeping your credit utilization low, and demonstrating your ability to manage different types of credit.

2. Take out a credit-builder loan

Taking out a credit builder loan can help you build credit by establishing a positive credit history, improving your payment history, diversifying your credit mix, and helping save money on interest.

3. Become an authorized user

Becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account can help you build credit by establishing a positive payment history, keeping your credit utilization low, benefiting from an established credit history, and taking on any financial risk. However, it’s important to note that if the primary account holder does not use the credit card responsibly, it could also negatively impact your credit score.

4. Get a loan with a co-signer

Having a loan co-signer can help you build credit by improving your chances of getting approved for a loan, getting lower interest rates on loans, establishing a positive payment history, and building a credit history. However, it’s important to remember that failing to make payments on the loan could negatively impact both your and your co-signer’s credit scores.

Learn more: Personal Loans with a Cosigner

How long does it take to build credit?

Building credit is a process that takes time and requires consistent and responsible credit behavior. There is no set timeline for building credit, as the time it takes to establish a good credit history can vary depending on a variety of factors, including:

• Starting point: If you have no credit history, establishing a credit profile and building a good credit score may take several months to a year or more.
• Credit utilization: Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio (the amount of credit you use compared to your credit limit) is important for building good credit. If you use a high percentage of your available credit, it can take longer to build credit.
• Payment history: Making on-time payments consistently is one of the most important factors in building good credit. The longer you make on-time payments, your credit score will improve.
• Types of credit: A mix of credit types, like credit cards, loans, and a mortgage, can also help build credit, but this may take longer to establish if you have a limited credit history.

Why does establishing good credit take time?

Factors that influence your credit scores, like your payment history, credit utilization, and length of credit history, are all based on long-term behavior. For example, consistently paying your bills on time over the course of several years demonstrates that you are a trustworthy borrower who will continue this good behavior.

Something else that will help is diversifuing your credit portfolio by taking on different types of credit, like credit cards, car loans, or a mortgage, and managing them responsibly. This will expand your diverse credit history and show that you can handle different types of credit responsibly.

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