What is a good credit risk score?
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
Generally speaking, a good credit score is between 690 and 719 in the commonly used 300-850 credit score range. Scores 720 and above are considered excellent, while scores 630 to 689 are considered fair. Scores below 630 fall into the bad credit range.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.
Credit scores can range from 300-579: poor, 580-669: fair, 670-739: good, 740-799: very good and 800-850: excellent. The higher your credit score, the lower risk you are to lenders as opposed to low credit scores with more risk.
Deep subprime (credit scores below 580) Subprime (credit scores of 580-619) Near-prime (credit scores of 620-659) Prime (credit scores of 660-719)
A credit score is a three-digit number that tells lenders how likely you are to pay your credit obligations. A FICO® Score is a type of credit risk score, much like Coca-Cola® is a type of soft drink. It's important to understand how your FICO Score and other types of credit scores work.
FICO Version 4 (also called TransUnion FICO Risk Score, Classic 04) is one of the three primary scores mortgage lenders use in underwriting. Also known as the TransUnion FICO Risk Score Classic 04 (FICO has since dropped the 0 in 04. The “0” was first included since the score was introduced in 2004).
Financial institutions face different types of credit risks—default risk, concentration risk, country risk, downgrade risk, and institutional risk.
A FICO credit score is calculated based on five factors: your payment history, amount owed, new credit, length of credit history, and credit mix. Your record of on-time payments and amount of credit you've used are the two top factors. Applying for new credit can temporarily lower your score.
FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score. There are also industry-specific versions of credit scores that businesses use. For example, the FICO Bankcard Score 8 is the most widely used score when you apply for a new credit card or a credit-limit increase.
What is a good credit score for my age?
Average Credit Scores FAQs
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
Here's how the FICO credit scoring system ranks credit scores: Poor: 300-579. Fair: 580-669. Good: 670-739.

A 700 credit score is not rare, considering that the average credit score is 714 and 67% of adults have a credit score of 670 or higher, according to data from Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. Credit scores between 700 and 750 are categorized as “good” credit.
You Have Late or Missing Payments
Your payment history is the most important factor in your FICO® Score☉ , the credit scoring model used by 90% of top lenders. It accounts for 35% of your score, and even one late or missed payment can have a negative impact. So, it's key to make sure you make all your payments on time.
Generation | Average credit score (FICO) in 2023 |
---|---|
Generation Z (18-25) | 680 |
Millennials (26-41) | 690 |
Generation X (42-57) | 709 |
Baby boomers (58-76) | 745 |
A 620 credit score is typically what you'll need to get a mortgage for a home purchase. Although you can buy a house with a credit score as low as 500, you'll pay a higher rate and make a larger down payment.
The credit score required and other eligibility factors for buying a car vary by lender and loan terms. Still, you typically need a good credit score of 661 or higher to qualify for an auto loan. About 69% of retail vehicle financing is for borrowers with credit scores of 661 or higher, according to Experian.
The Equifax Risk Score (ERS) is our most advanced and most accurate solution available for predicting the likelihood of your customers or prospects going 90 days past due or worse in the next 12 months. It identifies the predictive characteristics of delinquency in the post-recession period.
A fair credit score is generally considered to be a FICO® Score☉ of 580 to 669 or a VantageScore® score of 601 to 660. Credit scores often range from 300 to 850, which puts a fair score in the middle of the scoring range. However, the average FICO® Score was 714 in 2022, according to Experian.
Each lender has its own method for analyzing a borrower's creditworthiness. Most lenders use the five Cs—character, capacity, capital, collateral, and conditions—when analyzing individual or business credit applications.
What is an example of a credit risk?
A consumer may fail to make a payment due on a mortgage loan, credit card, line of credit, or other loan. A company is unable to repay asset-secured fixed or floating charge debt. A business or consumer does not pay a trade invoice when due. A business does not pay an employee's earned wages when due.
To ensure higher accuracy, banks should price credit risks based on the expected probability of default. Internationally, large banks have implemented the Risk-Adjusted Return on Capital (RAROC) framework, which adjusts the interest rates based on the expected loss on loans from the start itself.
The key components of credit risk are risk of default and loss severity in the event of default. The product of the two is expected loss. Investors in higher-quality bonds tend not to focus on loss severity because default risk for those securities is low. Loss severity equals (1 – Recovery rate).
- Review your credit reports.
- Get a handle on bill payments.
- Use 30% or less of your available credit.
- Limit requests for new credit.
- Pad out a thin credit file.
- Keep your old accounts open and deal with delinquencies.
- Consider consolidating your debt.
- Track your progress with credit monitoring.
Risk score is a calculated number (score) that reflects the severity of a risk due to some factors. Typically, project risk scores are calculated by multiplying probability and impact though other factors, such as weighting may be also be part of calculation.