What Is a Fair Credit Score?

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‘Fair credit’ vs. ‘good credit’: Why it matters

- With a higher credit score, you may be able to get better interest rates on loans, insurance and credit cards.
- You’ll also have access to credit card offers with better rewards, cash back and maybe even 0% interest rates.
- With credit scores beyond fair, you'll likely also have an easier time renting a place or getting utilities connected without having to pay a deposit.
How to build your credit to good and beyond
- Pay on time, every time.
- Pay credit card bills in full each month if you are able.
- Automate credit card payments, or at least minimum payments, to avoid being late.
- Set up alerts to let you know when you are approaching an amount or percentage of available credit that you choose.
- Keep credit accounts open unless you have a compelling reason — like an annual fee — to close them. The average age of your accounts affects your credit score.
