A credit score or CIBIL score, is a 3-digit numerical score representing your creditworthiness. CIBIL score ranges from 300 – 900, where 900 is the highest. This score indicates how well you manage your credit. You can check your CIBIL score for free with no impact on credit score. Credit score helps lenders determine whether you will be able to repay the loan in the given tenure or not. Higher the score, higher are your chances of loan or card approval.
A credit bureau calculates this credit score depending on your credit history and mix, among other factors. The most common bureau in India is TransUnion CIBIL. Apart from that, CRIF High Mark, Experian and Equifax are a few other bureaus responsible for calculating credit scores in India.
Take a look at CIBIL score range:
CIBIL score range |
What it means |
750 or more |
Very good |
701-750 |
Fair |
601-700 |
Low |
300-600 |
Very low |
NA/NH |
‘Not Applicable’ or ‘No History’ |
Follow these steps to check your CIBIL score for free:
Credit bureaus consider several factors before calculating your credit score. Here are a few factors that affect your credit score:
Timely loan repayment can boost your credit score significantly. At the same time, if you default on your loan repayments, your credit score will fall.
The age of your credit history is another crucial factor affecting your CIBIL score. If you have availed of credit cards or loans for a long time and have repaid them consistently, you will have a high credit score.
It is the percentage of the credit limit that you use every month. Ideally, you should not use more than 30% of your credit card's limit to maintain a healthy credit score.
In addition, credit mix and hard enquiries can also impact the credit score.
The credit score is a common eligibility parameter when you apply for loans. Having said that, when lenders run a credit check, they try to assess what kind of a borrower you are. In this regard, your credit history helps them know how well you have managed loans and credit cards in the past.
Thus, irregular debt payments and maxed-out credit cards might pose you as a risky borrower, hampering your creditworthiness.
Maintaining a healthy credit score is beneficial for borrowers due to the following reasons:
One of the primary advantages of a good credit score is that it increases your eligibility to avail of loans. Some financial institutions might even offer you pre-approved offers if you have a high credit score.
With a high credit score, lenders might offer you a loan with a lower interest rate. This is because you have already established that you are a responsible borrower.
Apart from the lowered interest rate, you might ask your lender to increase the loan tenure.
Your credit score might be low due to various reasons, such as:
Irregular credit card or loan repayment
Missed EMI payments
No credit history
Too many unsecured loans
Multiple hard inquiries
The discrepancy in credit report
If you have a low CIBIL score, here are a few ways through which you can improve it:
Pay your dues on time
Avoid taking too many loans at the same time
Maintain a good credit mix
Review your credit report at regular intervals
Don't utilize the full extent of your credit limit.
CIBIL score is a 3-digit numerical representation of your creditworthiness. It ranges between 300 and 900, with 900 being the highest score.
A good credit score is important because it shows that you are a responsible borrower and would pay your credit on time without defaulting. It increases your chances of loan application approval.
Yes, you can also check your credit score via Bajaj Markets Website, as TransUnion CIBIL powers it.
Improving a low credit score is a gradual process. Thus, when starting the process, you should remember that the change will not happen overnight. You will have to follow healthy practices for months until you see results.
You can maintain a good credit score by making timely due payments, having a good credit utilisation ratio, not defaulting on loans and keeping a good credit mix.
Typically, most lenders consider a score of 750 or more to be ideal.
Yes, you can check your CIBIL score for free through credit bureaus' websites. Alternatively, you can also check it on Bajaj Markets.
There are two types of CIBIL inquiries, namely:
When you check your credit report, it is considered a soft inquiry, whereas when a credit card issuer or a lender checks your credit report, it is called a hard inquiry. Typically, soft inquiries do not hamper your credit score. However, if done over a short span, multiple hard inquiries can significantly hurt your CIBIL score.
The RBI provides licences to four credit bureaus to operate in India. They are:
TransUnion CIBIL
Experian
Equifax
CRIF Highmark
A credit score is a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, while a credit rating is an evaluation of a company's repayment history by a credit rating agency. Meanwhile, a credit report is a comprehensive record of your credit history.
Factors like savings account balance, income, and employment status do not directly impact your CIBIL Score. Also, soft inquiries like checking your CIBIL score regularly do not have any effect on your credit score.