A FICO® Score of 604 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 604 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. 17% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Fair range (580-669) .
A 604 credit score can be a sign of past credit difficulties or a lack of credit history. Whether you're looking for a personal loan, a mortgage or a credit card, credit scores in this range can make it challenging to get approved for unsecured credit, which doesn't require collateral or a security deposit.
You should be able to get a car loan with a 604 credit score without a problem. Truthfully, people can get a car loan with almost any credit score—the difference will be what kind of interest rate you can secure. A score of 604 may get you an interest rate of between 11.92 percent and 4.68 percent on a new car loan.
A credit score of 604 isn't “good.” It's not even “fair.” Rather, a 604 credit score is actually considered “bad,” according to the standard 300 to 850 credit-score scale.
FHA Loan with 604 Credit Score
The most common type of loan available to borrowers with a 604 credit score is an FHA loan. FHA loans only require that you have a 500 credit score, so with a 604 FICO, you will definitely meet the credit score requirements.
Pay on time.
One of the best things you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your debts on time and in full whenever possible. Payment history makes up a significant chunk of your credit score, so it's important to avoid late payments.
The credit reference agency, TransUnion, provides the data TotallyMoney uses to build your Free Credit Report. Their credit scores are out of 710, and they define a good credit score as anything that's 604 or more.
In general, lenders look for borrowers in the prime range or better, so you will need a score of 661 or higher to qualify for most conventional car loans.
FICO credit scores, the industry standard for sizing up credit risk, range from 300 to a perfect 850—with 670 to 739 labeled “good,” 740-799 “very good” and 800 to 850 “exceptional.” A 700 score places you right in the middle of the good range, but still slightly below the average credit score of 711.
You will likely need a credit score of at least 580 for a $3,000 personal loan. Most lenders that offer personal loans of $3,000 or more require bad credit or better for approval, along with enough income to afford the monthly payments.
You will likely need a credit score of 640 or higher to get approved for a $10,000 personal loan. Most lenders that offer personal loans of $10,000 or more require fair credit or better for approval, along with enough income to afford the monthly payments.
The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores. It's a good idea to check your credit scores regularly.
Look into obtaining a secured credit card.
Confirm that the As you use the card and make regular payments, the lender reports your activity to the national credit bureaus, where they are recorded in your credit files. (Making timely payments and avoiding "maxing out" the card will favor credit-score improvements.
A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.
Just getting your credit score over 800, officially an excellent credit score, gives you the same advantages and benefits that come with a perfect credit score. Experian reports that 21 percent of all consumers have achieved excellent credit, compared to just 1.6 percent with a perfect 850 credit score.
The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus. This means a couple of things: The scores we provide are actual credit scores pulled from two of the major consumer credit bureaus, not just estimates of your credit rating.
It's Best to Pay Your Credit Card Balance in Full Each Month
Leaving a balance will not help your credit scores—it will just cost you money in the form of interest. Carrying a high balance on your credit cards has a negative impact on scores because it increases your credit utilization ratio.
The average consumer saw their FICO Score 8 increase by 12 points using Experian Boost, according to Experian. When it comes to getting your rent reported, some RentReporters customers have seen their credit scores improve by 35 to 50 points in as few as 10 days, according to the company.
It's unlikely you'll be able to get your credit score to where you want it in just 30 days, but there are some actions you can take that can improve your score more quickly than others: Pay off credit card debt. Your credit utilization rate changes as your credit card and other revolving credit account balances change.
Depending on where you're starting from, It can take several years or more to build an 800 credit score. You need to have a few years of only positive payment history and a good mix of credit accounts showing you have experience managing different types of credit cards and loans.