3 ways to get your credit score above 700, according to a financial planner (2024)

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  • Certified Financial Planner Lauryn Williams says you should do something to improve your credit every day.
  • Your credit score can be used for everything from mortgage applications to loans.
  • Pay your bills on time every month, get out of debt, and pay off credit card balances in full.

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3 ways to get your credit score above 700, according to a financial planner (3)

According to Certified Financial Planner Lauryn Williams, having good credit is more important than ever due to lingering inflation, higher interest rates, and layoffs.

A good credit score, defined as 670 or above with the FICO credit model, is crucial if you want to qualify for the lowest mortgage rates, lower credit card interest rates, and more. Potential lenders are more likely to approve someone with a 700 credit score than a 550 credit score.

"You may be able to get approved for a mortgage with a 620 credit score," says Williams, "but why would you want to? You will be paying the highest interest rate the lender offers, which means that your mortgage payment will be a lot higher."

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Here are a few steps Williams recommends taking to increase your score and get past the 700 mark:

1. Never miss a payment

"You can't have good credit if you don't pay your bills on time," Williams says. "This is why it is so important not to be in debt and not to live paycheck to paycheck, because your credit report does not care if you were laid off or if you were sick; it only cares about how you pay your bills." says Williams.

2. Pay off your entire credit card balance every month

Making just the minimum payment every month will ensure you pay your bills on time, but it will not help grow your credit score — especially if you are carrying a balance from month to month.

"Paying your credit card off every month shows potential lenders that you are not in over your head and that you know how to use credit properly. It also positively impacts your credit utilization, which affects your credit score. If you are already in debt or carrying a balance from month to month, why would a lender extend more credit to you?" Williams states.

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3. Take care of your credit every day

"There is something that you can do for your credit every day," Williams says. "Pay your bills on time, check your credit utilization, and get out of debt."

Williams also recommends checking all three of your credit reports every quarter to see if there are any corrections that need to be made.

"When you apply for a job, you typically need references. Think about your credit report as a reference for the job you did handling your credit," Williams told Business Insider.

Jennifer Streaks

Senior Personal Finance Reporter and Spokesperson

Jennifer is a Senior Personal Finance Reporter and Spokesperson for the Personal Finance vertical at Business Insider. She started her career covering personal finance at Black Enterprise Magazine, went on to CNBC where she covered personal finance, women and money and tech and then Forbes, where she reported on personal finance, business, tech and money matters related to the economy, investing, credit and entrepreneurship. Jennifer is also the author of Thrive!...Affordably: Your Month to Month Guide to living your Best Life without breaking the bank. The book offers advice, tips and financial management lessons geared towards helping the reader highlight strengths, identify missteps and take control of their finances. In addition, she has extensive experience as an on-air financial commentator and has been a featured expert discussing credit and savings, investing and retirement, mortgages and all things money and personal finance. She has an ability to discuss and simplify complex financial issues and make them easier to understand. Follow her on Twitter @jstreaks.

3 ways to get your credit score above 700, according to a financial planner (2024)

FAQs

3 ways to get your credit score above 700, according to a financial planner? ›

Pay on Time, Every Time

Your payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score. Making on-time payments every month is crucial to getting your credit score above 700.

How to get credit score above 700? ›

Pay on Time, Every Time

Your payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score. Making on-time payments every month is crucial to getting your credit score above 700.

What can you finance with a 700 credit score? ›

You can accomplish different financial goals if you have a 700 credit score. For one, you may be able to make large purchases, such as a new vehicle, a home, or do a large-scale home remodel. That's because you are more likely to get approved for loans that can help you achieve these types of financial goals.

How to increase credit score from 730 to 750? ›

Taking these steps could help you increase your credit score from the fair range to the good range and potentially nab you future savings:
  1. Check your credit reports.
  2. Pay all your bills on time.
  3. Focus on paying down your debts.
  4. Don't max out your credit cards.
  5. Maintain a variety of credit accounts.
Oct 28, 2023

How to raise your credit score 200 points in 30 days? ›

How to Raise your Credit Score by 200 Points in 30 Days?
  1. Be a Responsible Payer. ...
  2. Limit your Loan and Credit Card Applications. ...
  3. Lower your Credit Utilisation Rate. ...
  4. Raise Dispute for Inaccuracies in your Credit Report. ...
  5. Do not Close Old Accounts.
Aug 1, 2022

How to increase credit score from 550 to 700? ›

Top ways to raise your credit score
  1. Make credit card payments on time. ...
  2. Remove incorrect or negative information from your credit reports. ...
  3. Hold old credit accounts. ...
  4. Become an authorized user. ...
  5. Use a secured credit card. ...
  6. Report rent and utility payments. ...
  7. Minimize credit inquiries.
Jul 27, 2023

How do I get an 800 credit score? ›

To reach an 800 credit score, you'll want to demonstrate on-time bill payments, have a healthy mix of credit (meaning accounts other than just credit cards), use a small percentage of your available credit, and limit new credit inquiries.

Can I get a 40k car with 700 credit score? ›

Your credit score is an important factor when locking down financing. 700 is a good credit score to buy a car because it proves you are a responsible borrower with a credit history in the prime range.

Is A 900 credit score good? ›

While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

Can I get a $20000 loan with a 700 credit score? ›

As far as qualifying, you'll often need good or better credit (a FICO score above 670), and a stable income source that shows you can afford the payments. Annual percentage rates (APRs) for personal loans typically range from around 6% to 36%, depending on your credit profile and other factors.

How to raise your credit score 100 points in 30 days? ›

Steps you can take to raise your credit score quickly include:
  1. Lower your credit utilization rate.
  2. Ask for late payment forgiveness.
  3. Dispute inaccurate information on your credit reports.
  4. Add utility and phone payments to your credit report.
  5. Check and understand your credit score.
  6. The bottom line about building credit fast.

How to raise credit score from 530 to 700? ›

6 easy tips to help raise your credit score
  1. Make your payments on time. ...
  2. Set up autopay or calendar reminders. ...
  3. Don't open too many accounts at once. ...
  4. Get credit for paying monthly utility and cell phone bills on time. ...
  5. Request a credit report and dispute any credit report errors. ...
  6. Pay attention to your credit utilization rate.

What is the fastest way to boost credit score? ›

4 tips to boost your credit score fast
  1. Pay down your revolving credit balances. If you have the funds to pay more than your minimum payment each month, you should do so. ...
  2. Increase your credit limit. ...
  3. Check your credit report for errors. ...
  4. Ask to have negative entries that are paid off removed from your credit report.

What is the most your credit score can go up in one month? ›

There is no set maximum amount that your credit score can increase by in one month. It all depends on your unique situation and the specific actions you're taking to improve your credit.

Will a tradeline help credit score? ›

Positive Impact: Tradelines with a positive payment history on accounts in good standing can be beneficial. They can Increase the number of credit lines you have, which factors into your credit mix (10% of your score). Lengthen your credit history, especially if the tradelines are seasoned accounts (15% of your score).

Does buying a tradeline increase credit score? ›

While buying tradelines may provide a quick boost to your credit scores, it also comes with risks and potential downsides. There's no guarantee that paying for tradelines will improve your credit scores, and it will likely be more expensive than doing it yourself.

How to get from 700 to 800 credit score? ›

Make all of your payments on time and regularly scan your report for negative information: late payments, collection accounts, mistakes, incorrect amounts, missing payoffs, and inflated balances. When you find incorrect information, dispute it.

How long does it take to go from 700 to 750 credit score? ›

If your score is between 650 and 700, you have a consistent payment history and low credit utilisation, it may take only a few months to reach a score of 750.

How long does it take to go from 700 to 850 credit score? ›

A score of 850 can only be achieved with 10+ years of credit, excellent on-time payment history, low credit utilization, and no recent hard inquiries, which is a tall ask. At the very least, you can take these 12 steps to improve your score.

How hard is it to get a 700 credit score? ›

For those who have never missed a payment and have been responsible with loan repayment, building the credit score from 500 to 700 will be simple. It may be difficult for people whose payments are routinely late and who lack discipline while making repayments to increase their credit score.

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