Maintaining a credit score of 750+ requires consistent and responsible financial behaviour. Here are key strategies to help you maintain a high score:
- Pay Bills on Time (35% of score)
- Set up automatic payments for credit cards, loans, and utility bills to avoid late payments.
- Even one missed payment can significantly drop your score, so consistency is critical.
- Keep Credit Utilization Below 30% (30% of score)
- Your credit utilization ratio = (Total credit card balances Γ· Total credit limit) Γ 100
- Aim to keep your utilization below 30% β ideally under 10% for maximum score improvement.
- Example: If you have a total credit limit of βΉ1,00,000, keep your balance below βΉ30,000.
- Maintain a Long Credit History (15% of score)
- Keep older credit accounts open, even if you don’t use them often β the length of your credit history improves your score.
- Avoid closing old accounts unless thereβs a strong reason (like high fees).
- Maintain a Healthy Credit Mix (10% of score)
- Having a mix of different types of credit β such as a credit card, personal loan, and home loan β reflects well on your profile.
- A balanced credit profile shows you can handle different types of debt responsibly.
- Limit Hard Inquiries (10% of score)
- Avoid applying for multiple credit cards or loans within a short period β each hard inquiry can lower your score.
- If you need to shop for a loan, do so within a short window (14β30 days) to minimize the impact.
- Monitor Your Credit Report Regularly
- Check your credit report (from CIBIL, Experian, Equifax) at least once every 3β6 months for errors or inaccuracies.
- Dispute any incorrect information immediately to avoid unnecessary score drops.
- Keep Debt Under Control
- Avoid carrying large balances on credit cards from month to month β paying the full balance is ideal.
- If you have multiple loans, consider consolidating them to simplify payments and reduce interest rates.
Example of Healthy Credit Behavior:
- Credit limit = βΉ1,00,000
- Credit card balance = βΉ7,000 β Utilization = 7% (Good)
- No missed payments β Payment history is clean
- Oldest credit card = 10 years β Long credit history
- Holding a mix of loans (credit card + personal loan + home loan) β Balanced credit mix
- No recent loan applications β No hard inquiries
Key Takeaways:
- Pay on time β consistency matters
- Keep utilization low β ideally below 10%
- Maintain older accounts to increase credit age
- Diversify credit types
- Minimize new credit applications
Following these steps consistently will help you maintain a solid score of 750+ and improve your financial health.