739 Credit Score: What does it mean?

A 739 credit score is considered to be good. Consumers with scores in this range can expect low rates on loans and credit cards. Lenders see people with these kinds of scores as "acceptable" borrowers, offering them a variety of different credit products.

Let’s get started to understand what it means, what you can get with a 739 credit score and how to improve it.

21% of U.S. consumers have credit scores that are considered to be in the "Good" range.

Is 739 a good credit score?

A 739 credit score is generally considered "Good." Borrowers with a 739 credit score will likely have an easier time securing a mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan. This is because lenders perceive these borrowers as being less risky, and therefore more desirable to do business with. Additionally, repairing your credit is one of the best ways to improve your score. By doing so, you and your family could qualify for even better loan rates. In summary, a 739 credit score indicates a good credit rating, plenty of loan options, low loan costs, and minimal credit repair required.

Good range credit scores by age

The average age of your credit cards and loans is one of the factors that determine your credit score. So it's no surprise that people with high credit scores tend to be older. However, the fact that nearly 25% of 18- to 24-year-olds have credit scores of 700 or higher should give newcomers plenty of hope.

Good range credit scores by income

People who make more money are statistically more likely to have a higher credit score. For example, those who make $75,000 to $99,999 per year are more likely to have a score in the 700s. But it is possible to have a high score even if you don't make a lot of money, or to have a low score even if you do. It all depends on spending within your means.

Forty percent of consumers have credit scores that are lower than 739.

How to get a 739 credit score

There is no one exact way to achieve a specific credit score. However, you can try to get within a general range. Although credit scores and definitions of good credit vary, there are some general principles that can help you establish and maintain good credit. Adhering to these principles over time can improve your scores and make you a more attractive borrower in the eyes of lenders.

Here are some practical tips to help you stay on top of the important factors that can affect your credit:

1. Keep your credit utilization rate low

Your credit utilization rate is the percentage of your available credit that you use. It is usually recommended to keep this number below 30%. This means that you should be using less than 30% of your available credit at any given time. In general, the less available credit you use (while still maintaining consistent use to help keep the card active), the better.

If you check your credit reports and find that your credit utilization rate is higher than 30%, there are options to lower it. These include paying down debt or increasing your credit limits. To increase your credit limits, you will need to ask your current lenders for a limit increase. However, be aware that this could result in lenders doing a hard inquiry on your credit when they make their decision.

2. Pay your installments on time

Your payment history is a significant factor in your credit scores. How much a late payment can affect your scores varies depending on how late the payment is and how recently the payment was missed.

But if you consistently pay on time, it can help you build your credit, which could increase your likelihood of being approved for more credit in the future.

3. Build your credit mix

It is generally not recommended to take out a loan, which could be expensive, simply to improve your credit scores. However, having a mix of different types of credit can be beneficial to your scores in the long run. Types of credit include revolving credit (such as credit cards) and installment credit (such as auto loans and mortgages).

There is one caveat: Applying for new credit can result in a hard inquiry on your credit reports, which can lower your scores. While the impact of this is typically minor, too many hard inquiries in a short period can be viewed negatively by lenders. This is why it is important to have a general sense of whether you will be approved before applying for a credit card or loan.

4. Time is needed

The length of your credit history, or how long you have had active accounts open, can also affect your credit scores. A longer credit history can show lenders that you have more experience using credit.

If you have an expensive line of credit open (like a credit card with a high annual fee), you may be looking to close it. But closing a credit card can influence important credit factors like the age of your credit history, so carefully consider your options before you cancel a credit card.

How to improve your 739 credit score

Having a credit score of 739 allows you to qualify for a wide range of loans and credit card products. However, if you can improve your score, you may be approved for even more products at more favorable lending terms.

Since a 739 credit score is on the higher end of the Good range, it's important to manage your score carefully to avoid falling into the Fair credit score range (580-669), which has more restrictions.

Check your credit score regularly: It is advisable that you check your credit score on a regular basis. Doing so can give you valuable insights into your progress as you work to improve your credit score. Remember that it is normal for your score to fluctuate from time to time, and what you should be looking for is a general upward trend. To make things easier, you may want to sign up for a credit-monitoring service. Another option is an identity theft protection service, which can help to keep tabs on any suspicious activity on your credit reports.

Avoid high credit utilization rates or debt usage: It is advisable to keep your credit utilization rates low, or in other words, avoid using too much of your available credit. Try to keep your debt usage below 30% across all your accounts to avoid lowering your credit score.

Seek a solid credit mix: It is advisable to have a mix of different types of credit. While it is never wise to take on more debt than necessary, maintaining both revolving and installment loans can help boost your credit score.

According to data from credit reports, 28% of people with a credit score of 739 have at least one late payment (past due 30 days).

Pay your bills on time: It is important to pay your bills on time if you want to improve your credit score. Find a system that works for you and stick to it. There are automated tools, such as smartphone reminders and automatic bill-payment services, that can help many people remember to pay their bills on time. Others might prefer using sticky notes or paper calendars. After six months or so, you might find that you don't need help remembering to pay your bills on time. Even so, it is a good idea to keep using the system you have in place in case you forget again.

Strategies to build 700+, 750+ credit score and above

If you currently have a 739 credit score, congratulations – you are already practicing good credit habits! However, there are ways to take your score even higher. A "very good" score (740 and above) can get you the best interest rates. The good news is that it doesn't take much to improve your credit when you're already in the good range. Pay attention to these credit score factors:

Payment history

One late payment can have a significant negative impact on your credit score. To avoid the risk of making a late payment, you may want to set up automatic payments for your credit cards and other bills. For a credit score of 750, an "A" grade means that all payments have been made on time.

For a 750 credit scorecard Debt Load, a grade of "A" means less than a 0.28 debt-to-income ratio.

Credit utilization

It's best to use 30% or less of your credit card's credit limit. Utilization below 10% is a hallmark of consumers with the highest scores, according to VantageScore, the main competitor to FICO. You could ask your credit card issuer for a higher limit or consider opening a new credit card. In either case, don't increase your spending or you'll lose the benefit of a higher overall limit bringing down your utilization. A 750 credit score is considered a "grade A," which means you have a 1% to 10% utilization rate.

By Collections Accounts and Public Records, a credit scorecard for someone with a credit score of 750+ grade A means zero collections accounts and public records.

Length of credit history

Generally speaking, the longer you have been using credit, and the older your average age of accounts, the better it is for your score. Remember, credit scores are meant to estimate your risk as a customer, and a long history provides more data to make that estimate.

Unless there is a pressing reason, like a high annual fee, avoid closing credit cards. Another option is to look into doing a product switch to a more suitable card from the same issuer. On the credit scorecard for account age, a grade of "B" means that the average account is less than 9 years old.

Credit applications

When you apply for credit, there is likely to be a hard inquiry on your credit score. Each of those can take a few points off your score temporarily, so it is best to space out applications by about six months. The credit scoring card for hard credit inquiries grade "A" means fewer than 3 in the past 24 months.

Credit mix

It is better for your credit score to have a mix of installment loans (with fixed payments for a set period of time) and revolving credit (like credit cards). For example, a credit scorecard for a 750+ credit score will receive an "A" grade for account diversity if there are 4+ account types or 21+ total accounts.

Maintaining a good credit history

The average American consumer has a good FICO® score. With some time and effort, you can increase your score into the Very Good range (740-799) or even the Exceptional range (800-850). In order to improve your score, you need to understand the behaviors that help grow your score and those that hinder growth:

Late and missed payments are among the most significant negative factors impacting your credit score. Lenders want borrowers who pay their bills on time, and statisticians predict that people who have missed payments are more likely to default on debt than those who pay promptly. If you have a history of making late payments (or missing them altogether), you can improve your credit score significantly by kicking that habit. More than one-third of your score (35%) is influenced by the presence (or absence) of late or missed payments.

Utilization rate is a technical term that describes how close you are to "maxing out" your credit card accounts. You can measure utilization on an account-by-account basis by dividing each outstanding balance by the card's spending limit and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. Your total utilization rate is calculated by adding up all the balances and dividing by the sum of all the spending limits:

Table 1: Utilization rate example

	Balance	Spending limit	Utilization rate (%)
American Express	$1,300	$3,000	43%
Diners Club	$500	$5,000	10%
VISA	$3,000	$12,000	25%
Total	$20,000	$20,000	24%

Credit history: Although other factors are important, the length of your credit history has the biggest impact on your credit score. If you're a new borrower, this doesn't help much. But if you manage your credit carefully and make all your payments on time, your credit score will go up over time. Age of credit history is responsible for as much as 15% of your credit score.

Applying for new credit or taking on additional debt can have a short-term negative effect on your credit score. This is because credit-scoring systems determine that you are at greater risk of being unable to pay your debts. Your credit score may dip slightly when this happens, but it will usually rebound within a few months as long as you keep up with your bills. Because of this, it is generally advisable to wait for six months or so between applications for new credit. Additionally, you should avoid opening new accounts in the months before you plan to apply for a major loan, such as a mortgage or an auto loan. New-credit activity can make up for 10% of your overall credit score.

While public records like bankruptcies may not appear in every credit report, they can still have a significant impact on your credit score if they are listed. In fact, one or more bankruptcies can outweigh all other factors and severely lower your credit score. For example, a bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for 10 years and may shut you out of access to many types of credit for much or all of that time. If you have a bankruptcy on your credit report, it's important to be aware of the potential effects so you can plan accordingly.

Having a variety of different types of credit accounts can help improve your credit score. The FICO® credit scoring system gives higher scores to people who have multiple credit accounts, including both revolving credit (accounts like credit cards that let you borrow against a spending limit and make payments of varying amounts each month) and installment loans (e.g., car loans, mortgages and student loans, with set monthly payments and fixed payback periods). The credit mix makes up about 10% of your credit score. So if you want to improve your credit score, consider diversifying your credit portfolio by opening a few different types of accounts.

37% of Individuals with a 739 credit score have credit portfolios that include auto loans and 29% have a mortgage loan.

What does a 739 credit score get you?

Credit Cards For 739 Credit Score

Table 2: What can you get with a 739 credit score

Item	Does 739 credit score qualifies?
No annual fee credit card	Yes
Credit card with 0% financing	Yes
Favorite store’s credit card	Yes
No-foreign-fee credit card	Yes
Airline/Hotel credit card	Yes
Initial credit card bonus	Yes
Any credit card	No
Apartment rental	Yes
Personal loan	Maybe
Mortgage loan	Maybe
Auto loan	Maybe

Benefits from a good range credit score

A credit score in the good range may reflect a relatively short credit history with good management. It may also characterize a longer credit history with a few mistakes, such as occasional late or missed payments, or relatively high credit usage rates. Lenders see people with scores like yours as prospects with potential. Most lenders are willing to extend credit to borrowers with credit scores in the good range, although they may not offer their best interest rates, and card issuers may not offer their most compelling rewards and loyalty bonuses.

Consumers with 739 credit scores have an average of 4.7 credit card accounts.

Can I get a mortgage loan with a 739 credit score?

Even if you have a 739 credit score, it shouldn't be difficult to get a mortgage or home loan. Your current score is a solid credit rating. There are multiple types of FICO scores, and while mortgage lenders may not use the same one that's used for most lending decisions, they'll still consider your creditworthiness. Most lenders will look at your credit score to evaluate your creditworthiness. A 739 credit score is also good enough to buy a house. You can even find lenders that will consider you for higher-value homes requiring “jumbo” mortgages. Your credit score is just one of many factors that determine mortgage interest rates. Getting a good rate can save you many thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

Can I get an auto loan with a 739 credit score?

If you have a 739 credit score, you will probably be able to find a cheap auto loan with relatively little difficulty. Lenders see people with good credit scores as low-risk borrowers, which means they are more likely to offer them good rates. So if you have a 739 credit score, you should be able to get a good auto loan with no problem. However, it's always a good idea to research your options before applying for any credit card or loan. Each application can cause a small dip in your credit score, so you want to make sure you'll be approved before you apply. Fortunately, there are plenty of credit cards available for people with a 739 credit score.

Can I get a credit card with a 739 credit score?

If you have a good credit score, you might be able to qualify for credit cards that come with great perks like cash back, travel rewards, or an introductory 0% APR offer. This can help you save on interest for some time. However, the very best and most-exclusive credit cards may still be out of reach if you only have “good” credit. You may need excellent credit to be approved for these cards. But there’s still room for improvement if that’s your goal. For example, a credit score of 739 would give you access to travel rewards credit cards, though you usually do need to have a very good or excellent credit score to get a luxury credit card.

You can get even better terms on your loan or credit card by repairing your credit and waiting a few short months until your score improves.

A 739 score means you likely have a few negative items on your report. Removing any outstanding negative items (or hard inquiries) is usually the quickest way to fix your report.