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A good credit score is important for points and miles enthusiasts. Solid credit scores can make it easier to get a great credit card offer, and they can also save you a lot of money.

What counts as a good credit score?

(Photo by Getty Images)

(Photo by Getty Images)

The credit score brand used by most banks is called the FICO scores. The scores that fall between 300 and 669 are considered very poor or fair. When you get to the 670 to 739 range, you are in good credit score territory. Your score is between 700 and 850.

The general credit score classifications are listed here. It is up to each lender to set its own criteria. It is possible to get the best rate and terms from one issuer. If you have a 740 score, you can get that type of treatment.

You should aim for a credit score of at least 760. If you have a score of 760 or higher, you should be able to get the best treatment from your lender. A 740 score will allow you to get almost any credit card on the market.

Credit cards for excellent credit scores

(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)

(Photo by Wyatt Smith/The Points Guy)

Some of the most attractive rewards cards require excellent credit scores. The Platinum Card from American Express is a card that falls into this category because of its extravagant benefits.

Don't worry. It is possible to increase your score in a short period of time even if you don't have a score at all. It is not as difficult to get approved for a card with a lower credit score than it is for one with a higher credit score. If you haven't made the jump to a "good" score yet, there are a lot of card options.

The Points Guy collected the information for the credit card. The card issuer did not review or provide the card details on this page.

When you apply for a new account, credit card companies and banks look at your score the most. There are a lot of other factors that affect your approval odds. Income and debt come into play. The card issuing bank's history is another factor.

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You won't gain much from having an 850 score instead of a 760 if you earn a good score. SPF 100 doesn't work as well as SPF 50. A perfect score isn't required.

It is helpful to know how your credit score is calculated. Five categories of information in your credit report can affect your credit score.

There are things that affect your credit score.

Credit score factors

The factors that make up your FICO score. Image source: FICO.

The factors that make up your FICO score. (Image source: FICO)

Payment history – 35%

Payment history is one of the most important information on your credit report. 34% of your score is impacted by this data.

Your score can be damaged if you miss payments. Late payments can be a red flag. Negative information can cause problems in this category.

The 10 credit card commandments include paying your bill on time. Automatic drafts can be used as a backup measure if you forget to make a payment.

Amounts owed – 30%

FICO places a lot of importance on the debts you owe. Your credit card utilization rate is a big factor in your score. Credit card limits and balances are related to each other.

The concept of utilization is easy to understand. Your utilization ratio is 50% if you owe $2,500 on a card. Half of your credit limit is utilized.

Credit scoring models reward users who are disciplined. Paying your credit card balance each month is in your best interests. It's possible to save money and protect your credit score at the same time.

Length of credit history – 15%

Length of credit history is not as important as it used to be. Your scores may improve as the age of your oldest account increases. If you have a year or more of credit history, you may be able to get a premium rewards card.

Over the course of time, your credit history should increase. If you have a loved one who is willing to add you as an authorized user to an older credit card account, this could help you with your credit history as well.

It is wise to keep your credit cards busy. If you do that, you may be able to avoid having your account closed. After 7 years, a closed credit card will fall off your credit report. Your average age of credit will be affected by the account falling off your report.

New accounts – 10%

You will see a hard inquiry on your credit report when you apply for new credit. Whether you're approved or not, this inquiry will affect your credit score.

You can keep hard inquiries on your report for up to 2 years. If they have any effect at all, they only affect your score for a year.

Multiple account openings can be a sign that you are desperate to open credit. New accounts make up a small part of your credit score. You should be fine if you don't apply too much for credit in a year.

It is important to know Chase's 5/24. If you have opened five or more credit cards with any card issuer in the past 24 months, you won't be able to open a new Chase credit card.

Mix of credit – 10%

There are different types of accounts that appear on your credit report. Ideally, the lender would like to see a mix of credit cards, retail accounts, and loans.

It is not important to have both of them. There are a lot of people who don't have a loan who are approved for new cards. A credit builder loan may be worth considering if you want to add an installments loan to your report.

How to check your credit score

You should check your credit reports at least once a year. This is a goal to set for yourself if you want to improve your credit and apply for new financing.

Every year, you can get a free copy of the reports. You can check your credit reports and scores for free on other websites.

Your credit score won't be affected by checking your own credit. When reviewing your reports, be on the lookout for signs of fraud. You can dispute the issues with the credit reporting agencies.

It's free to check your credit score.

Bottom line

Your credit score is a good indicator of whether you'll be approved for a new credit card, but it's not a guarantee. You can't get credit if you have an excellent score.

If a person with a high credit score is an authorized user on a parent's account, they may have trouble getting approved if they don't have other credit.

It may be a good idea to start with one of these cards if you are just starting to build your own credit. You may be able to get more lucrative cards after a year of having your own credit.

Building your credit requires time. Keep paying your bills on time, keep your statement low, and be smart about opening and closing accounts. There are rewards cards waiting for you.