Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life—it affects your ability to borrow, the interest rates you get, and even insurance premiums. But what goes into a credit score, and how much does each factor matter?
We’ve broken it down in this infographic, based on data from FICO®.
Your track record of making payments on time is the single biggest factor in your score. Even one late payment can negatively impact your credit score.
This looks at how much of your available credit you’re using. High balances compared to your limits can signal risk to lenders.
The longer you’ve had credit, the better. Lenders like to see an established history of responsible borrowing. This means closing an account for a credit card you don’t use isn’t always a good idea.
Opening too many accounts in a short time can lower your score. Each hard inquiry also has a small impact.
Having a variety of credit types—like credit cards, auto loans, or mortgages—can help your score, though it’s not essential to have them all.
Understanding what goes into your credit score is the first step to improving it. With Credit Central in the Veridian app, you can track your credit score, monitor changes, and get tips to build healthier credit.