Is a 680 Credit Score Good or Bad? What You Should Know

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Having a low credit score not only makes it difficult to secure lines of credit and loans, but it can also cost you quite a bit of money. Low credit scores mean you need to put down larger deposits on rental homes and services, and you also get charged higher interest rates. 

According to the recent credit score statistics, the national credit score average is 716. While a score in the 700s is good, having a 680 credit score may be all you need to improve your financial well-being. 

Today, you’ll learn what a 680 credit score means and how to achieve one. Most importantly, you will learn how to maintain a good score and continue improving your credit with helpful tips.

What Does a 680 Credit Score Mean?

The meaning of a 680 credit score depends on what credit scoring model is being used. FICO® has the most commonly used scoring model, and it ranges from 300 to 850. If you have a 680 FICO score, you have a “good” credit score. According to the FICO scoring model, the following are the typical ranges:

• Exceptional: 800–850
• Very Good: 740–799
• Good: 670–739
• Fair: 580–669
• Poor: 300–579

Your credit score is a simple way for financial institutions to gauge risk. Lower credit scores are often a red flag and signal to lenders that a person may not pay back a loan. Typically, low credit scores are due to late payments, a short credit history, and overspending. In some cases, low credit scores are due to errors on your credit report that you may need to dispute.

Can You Get a Credit Card With a 680 Credit Score?

Whether or not you get approval for a credit card depends on the type of card and the company, but in many cases, a 680 credit score should get you approved for a credit card. You can get a credit card with bad credit, but these cards often come with high fees and interest rates. Having a 680 credit score can get you a good credit card with typical fees, and it may even have additional perks like cashback rewards.

Note that your credit score is only one aspect of the credit approval process. When you apply for a credit card, lenders look at your credit report. The report shows additional details like other debts you have as well as your payment history. When you apply, there will also be questions about your current income and expenses.

Can You Get a Car With a 680 Credit Score?

Much like with credit cards, a car loan approval may vary by lender, but a 680 is often good enough to qualify for a car loan. When it comes to car loans, in addition to the price, one of the most important factors is the car loan interest rate. Paying off a car loan takes years, which means an interest rate can potentially add thousands of dollars to the loan.

According to recent data, the average car loan interest rate with a 680 credit score for new cars is 5.82% and 7.83% for a used car. By improving your credit score, you can get average interest rates as low as 4.75% for a new car or 5.99% for a used car. It may also be beneficial to use a loan calculator to see how much a loan will cost you over time.

Can You Get a Mortgage With a 680 Credit Score?

It shouldn’t be a problem to qualify for a mortgage loan with a 680 credit score. Like other loans, there’s much more that goes into the mortgage than just your credit score. When applying for a home loan, the mortgage lender takes a much more detailed look into your finances. They’ll want to see your debt-to-income ratio, employment status, assets, bank statements, and more. 

It’s also helpful to remember that a major aspect of purchasing a home is the down payment. Knowing how much you should put down on a house can help you plan for the future and discover how much you need to buy a home in addition to having a good credit score.

Can You Get a Personal Loan With a 680 Credit Score?

Yes, you should be able to get a personal loan from many lenders with a 680 credit score. Some lenders may require a higher score in the 700s, and these lenders may also give you a better interest rate. Having a 680 credit score may get you a loan with a higher interest rate, so it’s always helpful to improve your credit score before taking out a personal loan.

5 Tips to Improve Your 680 Credit Score

As you now know, a 680 credit score is good, but improving your credit score to 740 or higher can help you get even lower interest rates and more lines of credit. Here, we go over five ways you can improve your credit.

• Make your payments on time: Your payment history makes up 35% of your FICO score, so making all of your payments on time can help boost your credit score.
• Keep your spending low: After payment history, credit utilization is the most significant factor in determining your credit score. This is how much you owe compared to your total credit limit. It’s recommended to keep this ratio below 30%.
• Don’t close old credit cards: It’s common for people to close credit cards they don’t use, but it’s better to keep them open. In addition to helping with your credit age, keeping a credit card open can help you keep your credit utilization ratio low, which is good for your score.
• Check your score regularly: Checking your credit score regularly can motivate you to stay on the right track as well as let you know if you need to make changes. There are services to get your credit score for free as well.
• Dispute any errors: Sometimes, there are errors on your credit report, and you can dispute them on your own with the credit bureaus or work with a credit professional.

Not only are these good habits to help improve your credit, but they’ll help you maintain a high score as well.

Get Help With Your Credit Score

If you have a 680 credit score, you’re off to a good start, but improving your credit score can help save you money and get approved for better loans. For those who have bad credit, striving for a 680 credit score is a good goal to have. To see where you stand with your credit, sign up for Credit.com’s free credit report card for a full picture of your credit situation.

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