What is CIBIL Score?

A credit score is a statistical representation of one’s creditworthiness. It helps in evaluating your ability to pay back the amount you have borrowed. A person’s credit score usually ranges from 300-900, and the one with the highest score is considered to be a trustworthy applicant. Always try to reach the highest in range as it becomes very beneficial at the time of applying for a loan or a credit card. Whereas, if you have a low score or you fall in lower range this displays you are an irresponsible loan applicant and have not made timely payments of your loans/dues.

Why is it important to maintain a good credit score?

Listed down some of the important reasons due to which you must maintain a good credit score:

Improves your eligibility for loans: Good credit score improves your eligibility to get a loan faster. A good credit score means that you pay the bills or outstanding amount timely that leaves a good impression of yours on the banks or other financial institutions where you have applied for a loan.

Quicker loan approvals: Applicants with a good credit score and long credit history are offered pre-approved loans. moreover, the loan that you have applied for gets approved quickly and processing time is zero.

Lower interest rate: With a good credit score, you can enjoy the benefit of a lower rate of interest on the loan amount that you have applied for.

Credit cards with attractive benefits: You are offered credit cards with attractive benefits and rewards if you have a healthy credit score.

Higher credit card limits: A good credit score not only gets you the best of credit cards with attractive benefits or lower rate of interest on the loan you have applied for but also you are eligible for getting a higher loan amount. A good credit score means that you are capable of handling the credit in the best possible manner, therefore banks or financial institutions will consider offering you a credit card with a higher limit.

What are the factors that are considered for calculating credit score?

A credit score is calculated by the credit information departments considering various factors that are as follows:

Credit score history: credit history depicts the capability of the loan applicant whether he/she is responsible for paying the debts or not. It has the details of the number of accounts that you hold, credit usage details and information regarding delayed or failed payments.

Credit score inquiries: Credit inquiries include the information like the type of loan who have inquired about, the amount of loan you have applied for and whether you are an individual applicant or a joint applicant.

Repayment record: Repayment record consists of the details regarding your timeliness of repayment and failed payments.

How is the credit score calculated?

A credit score is calculated differently by the various credit information bureaus. General factors on the basis of which your credit score is calculated are mentioned below:

Payment history - 35% of your credit score is calculated on the basis of your payment history. Your payment history shows how timely you’ve made the payments, how many times you've missed on the payments or how many days past the due date you’ve paid your bills. So you can score high if you have a higher proportion of on-time payments. Make sure you never miss out on payments as this would leave a negative impact on your score.

How much you owe - About 30% of your credit score depends upon how much you owe on loans and credit cards. If you have a high balance and have reached the limit of your credit card then this would lead to a drop in your credit score. While small balances and timely payments would help in increasing the score.

Credit history length - The length of your credit history is accountable for 15% of your credit score. If your history of on-time payments is long then definitely you would have a higher credit score. Having said that, at some point, you must apply for a credit card or loan rather than avoiding it so that you also have a credit history for banks’s review.

How many products you have - The products (types of loans) that you have is responsible for the 10% of your credit score. Having a mix of various products like installment loans, home loans, and credit cards help in increasing your credit score.

Credit activity - Remaining 10% depends on your recent credit activities. Credit activity includes all the information regarding opening or applying for various accounts, repayment history, types of loans you have applied for and credit limit usage.

What is a good credit score?

A credit score is an indicator of credit worthiness which is usually 3-digit numeric. It ranges from 300 to 900 and can be easily calculated using a credit score checker. A credit score of 680 or above is considered to be a good score. Lenders rely on the credit score before giving a loan. whenever a person applies for a loan, lenders check -

• CIBIL report and score
• Employment status
• Account details
• Payment history
• Emi-income ratio

In case the debtor or borrower is unable to pay back the debt because of any disability or a long-term ailment, the credit health insurance protects the debtor.

Why it is important to maintain a good credit score?

A credit score of 680 or above is considered to be a good score. Having a good credit score will-

• Boost your chances of getting credit cards quickly
• You tend to get quick and easy loan approvals
• Having a good credit score enhances your chances of pay a lower interest rate against your loan
• It further increases your loan limit as you can apply for a higher loan amount from any bank
• You get access to pre-approved loans as well
• You might get discounts on charges or processing fees
• It helps get fast approval for rental houses and apartments as a good credit score assures your credit trustworthiness
• You can manage to get the best car insurance rate with a good credit score. in comparison to bad credit score applicants, you will pay less for your insurance

How can the credit score be improved?

Since you know the significance of maintaining a good credit score and the factors that are considered for calculating the credit score, listed below are easy ways to improve your credit score:

• Make timely payments of your loan EMIs
• Pay your bills on time
• Do not exhaust the complete credit limit
• Clear any outstanding dues or bills
• Avoid applying for numerous credit cards or loans

How CIBIL score impacts loan & credit card eligibility?

Let’s be clear, the score calculated through the CIBIL score checker works as a first impression of your creditworthiness for the lender. As soon as a loan application or a credit card request is submitted, the lender reviews and assesses your cibil score.

If it is found that your credit score is less than 750, your application might be rejected or not even considered. Having a high CIBIL score makes it easy for you to get loan approval or a credit card.

However, it's important to mention that a CIBIL score is not the only determinant of your credit capacity.

Below factors are also considered-

• Debt-income ratio
• Employment history
• Profession and other relevant details before rejecting/approving the application

Different credit bureaus available in India

A credit bureau is a credit agency that collates your information and shares it with lenders and creditors in the form of a CIBIL score that is helpful in checking your creditworthiness.

Below are some leading credit bureaus of the country -

1. Transunion CIBIL score

   It is a complete credit bureau that reports the analysis for organisations as well as individuals. The credit score ranges from 300 to 850; 720 or above is an excellent score. In the case of any entity or company, the credit score is known as a performance score. Transunion cibil members include all the major financial institutes, lenders, nbfcs, and banks, etc.

2. Equifax credit score checker

   Equifax gives portfolio scores and risk scores along with credit scores that usually range from 1 to 999 for individuals. Working as an approved credit rating agency since 2010, equifax provides different reports like portfolio management, industry diagnosis, credit fraud, or risk management report in the case of companies.

3. Experian credit score report

   Established in the year 2010, experian conducts an analysis of companies and individuals for their credit reports. Their score ranges from 300 to 900, and it only takes 20 days to get a report.

4. CRIF high mark credit score checker

   Approved by RBI(reserve bank of india), CRIF high mark also conducts analysis for the credit rating of corporates and individuals. The credit rating ranges from 300 to 850.