At a Glance
With a 474 credit score, lenders can identify if you've had credit-related problems in the past or are just getting started with credit. As a result, you can find it difficult to obtain a credit card or loan without paying high-interest rates until you have the opportunity to repair your credit.
A 474 credit score will make it much harder and complicated to obtain a credit card, personal loan, auto loan, or mortgage. A credit score of 474 can signify recent financial difficulties or a lack of credit history. Candidates with a credit score of 474 might have to pay more or put money on their credit cards. Getting approved for an unsecured credit card will be difficult. If a borrower has a credit score that falls into the "very bad" category, also known as unfavorable credit, many lenders will turn them down.
Now that we've discussed what can occur if your credit score drops, let's delve deeper.
Is 474 Credit Score Good or Bad?
Sadly, a credit score of 474 is considered to be low. The low credit score range includes 474, according to the prominent credit scoring algorithms FICO and VantageScore.
What Impacts your 474 Credit Score?
Numerous reasons may be at play in your credit score to be 474. Therefore, being aware of these can help you concentrate on raising your credit score. Your credit score is affected, among other things, by:
- Public information
- Credit Utilization Ratio
- Late or missed payments
- Length of credit history
- Total debt and credit mix
- Recent credit activity on your account
Public Information
:If your credit report reflects bankruptcies or other similar public records, your credit score can take a massive hit. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will remain in your credit file for up to 10 years, and a Chapter 13 will stay for seven years. Even though your credit score may increase before the bankruptcy report disappears from your record, there is a high possibility that lenders might refuse to work with you because of bankruptcy filing.
Credit Utilization Ratio
:To calculate the Credit Utilization Ratio on a Credit Card, you must divide the outstanding balance by the card’s borrowing limit and multiply by 100 to get the percentage. To calculate the overall utilization ratio, calculate the balances on all your Credit Cards and divide by the sum of borrowing limits. Keeping your utilization below 30% of your available credit is usually recommended.
Late or Missed payments
:Your credit score will significantly hit if you miss your credit card payment. So if you see that your credit score has fallen to 474, you should look into how many late or missed payments have happened from your end. Paying your bills consistently is the most critical thing to do to improve your 474 credit score, as it accounts for 35% of your FICO score.
Length of Credit History
:Along with other things, the length of your credit history is also a detriment to your credit score. The number of years you have been a credit user can influence up to 15% of your FICO score. NTC (New to Credit) users must be patient and careful to avoid destructive credit behaviors.
Total Debt and Credit mix
:The FICO credit usually favors users with multiple credit accounts and revolving and installment credit. If you have only one kind of credit account and your credit score is 474, it might help if you broaden your credit portfolio. Remember that credit mix and total debt make up 10% of your FICO score.
Recent Credit activity
:If you are someone who keeps applying for new loans and credit cards, your credit score might take a hit. Some companies trigger a check known as a hard inquiry when you apply for loans or credit cards. What happens during the hard inquiry is that the lender obtains your credit score to determine if you can get the credit line or not. Hard inquiries might drop your credit score by a few points, but it rebounds within a few months if you keep up with your credit card bills. New credit activity can account for up to 10% of your FICO scores.
What does a Credit Score of 474 mean for your Life and Finances?
Your life's financial circumstances will be impacted in various ways when you discover that your credit score has fallen to 474. Due to a low 474 credit score, your life and finances may be impacted in the following ways:
- High-interest personal loans
- High interest or no approval of unsecured loans
- Difficulty getting mobile connections, water connection
- Difficulty finding apartments
Can you get a Credit Card with a 474 Credit Score?
Yes, you can get the Azpire Credit Builder Card to build your credit score from 474. The Zolve Azpire Credit Builder card is made available to all, even people who have a credit score as low as 474 or who are NTC (new to credit). One of the best ways to rebuild your credit score is to apply for this secured credit card.
How to Improve your 474 Credit Score?
Your low credit score will gradually rise from 474 to a fair (580-669) to a good (670-739) rating. There is no quick way to raise your 474 credit score to 700, but you can take the following steps to raise it from 474 to the fair or good credit score bucket instead:
- Paying your bills on time
- Avoiding high credit utilization
- Debt management plan
- Credit builder loan
- Use a secured credit card
- Establish a credit mix
Paying your bills on time
:The holy grail of improving your credit score is to pay your bills on time. If your credit score is 474 and you are looking for ways to increase your credit score, this is the way to go.
Avoid high credit utilization rate
:No matter how many accounts you have, try keeping your credit utilization to 30% to avoid lowering your credit score.
Debt management plan
:If you're in trouble with your credit card bills, a debt management plan can come in handy. You need to work with a non-profit credit-counseling agency to work out a manageable repayment schedule. If this sounds too extreme, you can consult a credit counselor to improve your 474 credit score.
Credit builder loan
:Multiple credit unions offer these small loans designed to help NTC users build their credit. These loans help you build credit if you maintain the stipulated payment behavior.
Apply for a secured credit card
:This usually comes with a small credit limit, often only a few hundred thousand dollars, and you have to put down a deposit in the total amount of that limit. As you use this card and make regular, timely payments, the lender reports those activities to the national credit bureaus. Your credit behavior is recorded in your credit files and reflected in your FICO score.
Look no further if you want to improve your 474 credit score by applying for a secured credit card.
Folks, meet the
Zolve Azpire Card
What is it?The Zolve Azpire card helps you build credit using your own money. It is a credit builder card that helps you start building your credit score from the first transaction. It is available to all, even if your credit score is as low as 474.
We record every swipe of your Zolve Azpire card, and by the month’s end, we add up all the transactions for the month and report it to the bureaus so that your credit score gets built for a better financial future.
Establish a credit mix
:The FICO scoring model favors users with multiple credit accounts, along with a mix of different types of loans, including installment loans like mortgages, car, and home equity loans.
Though it can be discouraging, the fact that your credit score has plummeted to 474 doesn't imply you can't fix it. You must start somewhere to improve your 474 credit score. If you boost your credit score from 474 to the fair range, you may be able to access additional loans, credit options, waived fees, and terms, as well as lower interest rates (580–669).
