680 Credit Score: Is It Good or Bad?
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A 680 credit score is considered fair, but it is very close to good credit territory. Your credit score helps lenders determine whether you qualify for products like credit cards and loans, and what interest rate they should charge you.
You're part of the 76% of U.S. consumers who had a score above 650 as of April 2023, according to credit scoring company FICO.
Here’s how a 680 credit score can affect your financial life.
You may pay higher rates than others with a 680 score
With a 680 credit score, you are technically in the “fair” territory of credit, but you are only 10 points shy of being in the "good" range. (Good credit scores typically lie between 690 and 719).
You can usually qualify for financial products like a mortgage or car loan, but you will have to pay a higher interest rate than someone with a good or excellent credit score.
A few small tweaks to your credit habits should lift you up into the next tier, where you can get more favorable rates and more lucrative credit card offerings. Here are some quick ways to build your credit.
Ways to beef up your 680 credit score
Try these tools to build credit:
Take the good credit habits you have to the next level: Continue paying your bills on time, but try to reduce the amount of credit you use. Ideally, use no more than 30% of the credit limit on all your credit cards; the lower the better. You can even make multiple payments in a billing cycle to reduce your credit usage. Those are the two biggest factors affecting your credit score.
Ask your local credit union if you can get a credit-builder loan or secured loan. A credit-builder loan allows you to build your score and save up some money at the same time.
Consider applying for a secured credit card, a type of card that's backed by a cash deposit.
If you know a family member or friend with a high credit score and long credit history, ask them to add you as an authorized user on their credit card. That also gives you an additional line of credit on your credit reports.
