Is 626 A Good Credit Score?

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The only thing you need to know about the 626 credit score.

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life. It can affect everything from the interest rate you pay on a car loan to the insurance premium you’re quoted. So, is 626 a good credit score?

There is no easy answer, as credit scores can vary depending on the scoring model used. For FICO®, a credit score of 626 is considered GOOD and but for VantageScore, it is considered POOR.

However, there are some things you can do to improve your credit score.

Credit Score Ranges

Your credit scores are numbers calculated by credit bureaus, like FICO^® and VantageScore.

According to the credit score model that was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation, also known as FICO,

Excellent: 800 to 850
Very Good: 740 to 799
Good: 670 to 739
Fair: 580 to 669
Poor: 300 to 579

And according to the other scoring model, VantageScore,

Excellent– 750 to 850
Good– 700 to 749
Fair– 650 to 699
Poor– 550 to 649
Very Poor– 300 to 549

As you can see, although there is a slight difference in the ranges, the 626 credit score is considered “Fair” by FICO but “Poor” by VantageScore.

So is 626 a good credit score? Using the two main credit scoring models, a credit score of 626 is NOT GOOD.

But What Is A Good Credit Score?

The answer isn’t as simple as you might think.

As you can see above, there are a few different credit scoring models in use today, and each one has its own definition of a “good” credit score. For example, FICO scores range from 300 to 850, while VantageScore 3.0 scores range from 300 to 850.

According to FICO, a score of 670 or above is considered good, while a score of 800 or above is considered excellent. However, VantageScore considers a score of 700 or above to be good.

Generally speaking, a good credit score is one that will allow you to qualify for the best interest rates on loans and credit cards. However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, as your credit score will also depend on other factors, such as your income, employment history, and credit history.

If you’re not sure where your credit score stands, you can check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. This website is the only one that is authorized by the federal government to provide free credit reports.

You can also check your credit score for free on a number of websites, such as CreditKarma.com and CreditSesame.com.

Keep in mind that a good credit score is just one factor in the lending decision. Lenders will also consider your income, employment history, and credit history when making a decision.

So even if you have a good credit score, you may not be approved for a loan or credit card if you don’t meet the other lending criteria.

How Will A 626 Credit Score Affect You

Mortgage, auto, and personal loans are somewhat challenging to get with a 626 credit score.

Whether you’re looking for a personal loan, mortgage, auto, or credit card, credit scores in this range can make it difficult for you to get approved for unsecured credit.

It could even prevent you from renting an apartment or landing specific jobs.

And if some lenders choose to work with you, they typically charge high fees and steep interest rates.

But don’t panic; it is not the end of the world.

Credit repair is one of the best ways to rebuild your credit score and open up more opportunities.

Factors That Led To 626 credit score

Your 626 credit score did not just happen by itself. There are past actions that you may have done or did not do that fed your credit score.

Five main factors can affect your credit score, payment history, amounts owed, credit history length, credit mix, and new credit.

Therefore, the following common actions can hurt your credit score:

Late or missed payments
Accounts in collection
Little to no credit at all
Using too much available credit or maxing out your credit card
Applying for a lot of credit cards in a short time
Not having a good mix of installment loans and revolving credit
Forclosure
Bankruptcy
Repossession
Charged-off
Settled-accounts

What Does Not Count Towards Your 626 Credit Score?

According to Experian, the following do not affect your credit score.

Marital status
Disabilities
Race or ethnicity
Religious beliefs or affiliations
Political affiliations

Expired financial pieces of information are also not included.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy: 10 years
Chapter 13 bankruptcy: 7 years
Collection accounts: 7 years
Late or missed payments: 7 years
Closed credit accounts in good standing: 10 years

How to Improve 626 Credit Score

No matter the reason for your 626 credit score, you can immediately start improving how you handle your credit, leading to credit-score improvements.

There is no one way to build your credit; it will all depend on your credit profile.

Therefore, it’s always good to grab a copy of your free credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to see the reports about you.

1| Evaluate Your Credit Report

Pull your credit report and dispute all negative, and get harmful items removed.

2| Get A Secured Credit Card

A secured credit card is one of the best ways to start rebuilding bad credit.

You place a deposit in the total amount of your spending limit. The deposit reduces the issuer’s risk, making it possible to get approved no matter how low your score might be.

3| Pay On Time

Making timely payments and avoiding late or missed payments favor credit-score improvements.

Use automatic payments, phone alarms, and other automated tools to help you remember.

4| Avoid High Credit Utilization Rates

You can help your utilization rate by keeping your balances low, which is below 30% of your credit limit. If you can, pay off your balance each month.

5| Consider A Credit-Builder Loan

This type of loan is available from credit unions and comes in several forms. The most common one is where the credit union deposits the money you borrow in a savings account. Your money is inaccessible to you, but it earns interest.

You can access the funds plus the interest once you have paid off the loan. It can be a great way to build credit if you make on-time payments and if the lender reports to all three national bureaus.

6| Establish A Solid Credit Mix

Not that you want to be in more debt, but a mix of revolving credit and installment debt can help boost your credit score.

7| Pay Down Your Debt

Create a debt payoff plan and start paying it off if you have outstanding debt. Lowering your debt-to-income ratio can have a significant impact on your credit score.

According to Investopedia, lenders prefer a debt-to-income ratio lower than 36%, with no more than 28% of that debt going towards servicing a mortgage or rent payment.

7| Reduce Hard Credit Inquiries

Although it causes a short-term negative effect on your score, new-credit activity can still contribute up to 10% of your overall credit score. Keep hard credit inquiries to less than 3 in 24 months if you can.

8| Give It Time

Your credit score does not improve overnight. Be patient. The items that are suppressing your score need time to fall off.

Hard inquiries fall off in two years while missed payments of collection accounts in 7 years. Bankruptcies can take up to 10 years.

If everything is too overwhelming for you, you can let the credit pros help.

Schedule Free Consultation Now

Credit can be confusing and overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start when trying to repair your credit. But you’re not alone! A lot of people feel lost when it comes to their credit. They don’t understand how it works or what they can do to improve it. The Credit Pros is here to help! We offer various services, including credit education and tools, that will make repairing your credit straightforward.

Final Thoughts On 626 Credit Score

While a 626 credit score is not ideal, you can still do some things to improve your score. With a little effort, you can raise your score and get access to better interest rates and terms on loans and lines of credit.

And no matter what your credit score is, it’s also a good idea to check your score regularly. Knowing and understanding your credit scores and credit reports can help you make the right decisions in your financial journey.

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