FICO Scoring Meaning

FICO scoring is a system that lenders and underwriters use to determine what your interest rate on a loan is going to be. If you buy a house or car, the mortgage or the loan is determined by you credit report and your FICO score.

The score is based on the Fair Isaac Company (hence, the name FICO) and the interest that you will pay. It also takes into account your monthly payment, which is based on your personal credit also.

Just as with a car loan or house loan, you FICO score determines your interest rate. Something most people do not know however, is that a FICO score can also affect your chance of finding new employment, which is increasingly important in the current economy.

FICO scoring is calculated from a multitude of different credit data and it is grouped into five different categories.

In each category, we will include a percentage that reflects the importance of each when determining personal credit and calculating a score.

Payment history (35%)

Your payment of history is the biggest indicator for a lender whether or not they should lend you money. Thus , it is also the biggest factor in creating your FICO score. This means that how many of your bills are unpaid or late has a the biggest affect on your credit. The more recent the late payment is, the worse the score. Bankruptcies will take it down even farther and stay with you for over seven years.

Debt (30%)

Your debt is determined by how much of a revolving line of credit you are currently using. If you have a CC with a credit limit of $100,000, the ideal place to be is a balance of $40,000. This sounds odd but $40,000 shows that you are using credit but that you are keeping it well within your means. Same goes for a car loan. Pay off 60% as fast as you can.

Length of your credit history (15%)

How long have your accounts been open? High loan amounts that you have paid as agreed and have had open a long time work best. Closing old accounts can have a negative affect because it makes your credit history appear shorter.

Inquiries (10%)

Any time you apply for something that requires credit, the other party with pull your free credit score. Some are soft pulls and some are hard pulls meaning some won’t pull quite as much information and will have little to know affect. Others will. A soft pull would be checking your own personal score or report.

Types of credit in use (10%).

How much is your current amount on your loan in comparison to the original amount due? Is that amount for a car loan or a mortgage? This is what is meant by type. Also, how many account do you have open? If you have three accounts already open, it would probably not be wise to add another line of credit just to get a higher limit. This will hurt this category more than it will help your credit/debt ratio.

Written by Caton Hanson on June 26th, 2009 with no comments.
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