Understand your credit score

Your score decides whether you are approved and at what rate. Here is how it is calculated, what the bands mean and how to improve it.

Score bands

Score	Band	What it means for loans
750–900	Excellent	Best rates, fast approvals
700–749	Good	Approved by most lenders at standard rates
650–699	Fair	Approval possible, higher rate or lower amount
Below 650	Needs work	Limited options; improve before applying
NA / NH	No history	New to credit; start with a secured card or small loan

Each bureau, CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark, gives one free report a year. Check all four; lenders may use any of them.

Pay on time, bring utilisation under 30%, dispute errors, avoid multiple applications and keep old accounts open. Read the six-month plan.

Checking your eligibility on CreditJunction4U is a soft enquiry and does not affect your score.