660 credit score: How good or bad is it? (2024)

Having a good credit score such as 660 is important for many reasons. It can help you get approved for loans, get lower interest rates, and even get a job. But what is a good credit score? And how can you improve your credit score?

Let’s get started to understand what it means, what you can get with a 660 credit score and how to improve it.

17% of all consumers have Credit Scores that are considered to be in the Fair range (580-669).

Is 660 a good credit score?

83% of U.S. consumers' credit scores fall above 660.

It may be difficult for you to obtain a loan or a card

You may get hard times with a credit score of 660. A credit score of 660 is seen as fair by most creditors. This means that you may have difficulty obtaining a loan or credit card from some lenders. However, there are still many options available to you. There are plenty of financial institutions that will work with you to get a loan or card with a credit score of 660. All you need to do is shop around and compare rates.

The credit reports of approximately 4 out of 10 Americans with a FICO Score of 660 or below include at least one instance of a late payment that was 30 days or more past due.

What does a 660 credit score get you?

Credit Cards For 660 Credit Score

The average credit card debt among consumers with a FICO® Score of 660 is $6,104.

The ground for your credit score

There are many factors that go into a credit score, such as the FICO® Score. Your credit score is based on your credit history, which is everything that is recorded in your credit file. This includes things like how well you have handled credit and bill payments in the past. If you have good credit habits, this will tend to lead to a higher credit score such as 700 credit score. On the other hand, if you have had poor or erratic credit habits, this will likely result in a lower score such as 600 credit score.

Public Information: Negative public records, like bankruptcies, on your credit report, can have serious negative impacts on your credit score.

Payment history: An individual's credit score can be negatively impacted by delinquent accounts and late or missed payments. Conversely, a history of punctual bill payments will help improve one's credit score. This is a direct relationship- the single biggest influence on your credit score is payment history accounting for up to 35% of your FICO® Score.

Credit usage rate: The credit utilization ratio is determined by adding the balances of all revolving credit accounts and dividing by the total credit limit. For example, if there is a $4000 balance on credit cards with a total credit limit of $10,000, then the credit utilization rate would be 40%. It is common knowledge that a high credit score will suffer if the credit limit is maxed out, but what many people don't know is that most experts recommend keeping the credit utilization ratio below 30% to maintain a high credit score. In fact, credit usage is responsible for approximately 30% of your FICO® Score.

Length of credit history: There's not much new credit users can do about their length of credit history, except avoid bad habits and work to establish a track record of timely payments and good credit decisions. Length of credit history can constitute up to 15% of your FICO® Score, so it's important to keep that in mind when building your credit.

Total debt and credit: The FICO Score looks at the different types of credit that you have in order to give you a score. This includes installment loans (loans where you have fixed payments and a set time to repay, like a mortgage or car loan) and revolving credit (accounts like credit cards where you can borrow up to a certain limit and make variable payments each month). The mix of these different types of credit can affect up to 10% of your FICO Score.

Recent applications: When you apply for a loan or credit card, you go through a process called a hard inquiry. This is when the lender requests your credit score from the credit reporting agency. A hard inquiry can have a negative effect on your credit score, but it is usually only temporary. As long as you keep making your payments on time, your credit score will rebound quickly. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and it will not affect your credit score. Recent credit applications can make up to 10% of your FICO® Score.

The average credit utilization rate is 78.2% for consumers with FICO credit scores of 660.

How to improve and rebuild your 660 credit score

Do You Need Credit Repair?

Seek a secured credit card: A secured card is a great way to improve your credit score, even if you don't qualify for traditional credit cards. You put down a deposit in the full amount of your spending limit—typically a few hundred dollars. When you use the card and make regular payments, those activities will be recorded in your credit files. And as long as you keep your usage rate on the card below about 30%, and stay on schedule with your monthly payments, they'll help you build stronger credit.

Consider a credit-builder loan: These are loans that help improve your credit score by demonstrating your ability to make regular monthly payments. The credit union places the money you borrow in a savings account that generates interest. Once you pay off the loan, you get the cash and the interest it has accrued. This is a great savings tool, but it also helps improve your credit score by showing that you are a responsible borrower.

Consider a debt-management plan: A DMP (debt-management plan) can be helpful for borrowers who cannot make their credit payments. You work with an authorized credit-counseling agency to make a manageable repayment schedule, effectively closing all your credit accounts in the process. This is a major step that can harm your credit score, but it is less damaging than bankruptcy and can help you rebuild your credit. A non-profit credit counselor can help you find strategies for building up your credit.

Pay your bills on time: If you're looking to improve your credit score, one of the best things you can do is bring any overdue accounts current and avoid any late payments in the future. Do whatever you need to do to remind yourself to pay the bills on time, whether that means setting up automatic payments, calendar alarms, or leaving yourself notes in strategic places. With a little bit of time and effort, you'll develop habits that will help improve your credit score.

Avoid high credit utilization rates: Maintaining a credit utilization rate below 30% can help you avoid lowering your score. Credit utilization, or debt usage, is the basis for approximately 30% of your FICO® Score. It is beneficial for your credit score if you maintain a low balance relative to your credit limit. Your "credit utilization ratio" is the percentage of your available credit that you are using at any given time.

Evaluate your credit report: Its important to frequently check your credit report for any errors that could lower your score. Youre allowed to request one free report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies annually. If you find any negative or harmful items on your report, work on removing them so that your score can improve.

Dispute negative items: Review your credit report for any errors and inaccuracies. If you find any, please send a dispute letter to the Bureau to request that the negative items be removed from your report permanently.

Extra tips for improving your credit score

If necessary, work with a reputable credit counseling or repair service. If you have bad credit, it is not shameful to seek help from a professional service. Just be sure to choose a reputable company that will help you improve your score in a legitimate way.

It is recommended that you use a mix of different types of credit. Lenders tend to view borrowers who can responsibly handle different types of debt, such as installment loans and revolving lines of credit, as more responsible overall.

Signing up for a credit monitoring service is a good way to keep track of your progress and identify any potential problems early on.

Keep old accounts open even if you don't use them often.

Limit new applications for credit.

As a conclusion

If you're looking to improve your credit score, a 660 is a good starting point. While it's not perfect, it's a good foundation on which to build. By taking steps to improve your credit score, you can open up more opportunities for yourself financially.