Credit Cards For Good Credit

What is a good credit score?

A “good credit” FICO score is 670-739 out of a range of 300-850, with 850 as the best. With the same scale, a good VantageScore is 700-749.

With good credit, you can enjoy not only better lending products but lower insurance rates, improved rental options and even better job opportunities. With bad credit, higher interest rates, loan rejections and credit cards with inferior rewards can come your way.

Pay attention to your good credit, because within a month, your score can take a hit because of one misstep. In fact, it can take considerably less time to drop your score than to improve it. By paying on time and in full each month, you are addressing 65% of your FICO score.

Here are the score ranges for FICO, the dominant scoring model, and VantageScore, which you can access for free on creditcards.com.

Credit score ranges…

How your credit score can negatively impact your life

There are a surprising number of ways that a bad score can affect your world. From buying a house to renting an apartment, your options can open up or be limited depending on your score. Millennials are particularly vulnerable. When polled, 46% expressed concern that their score is holding them back, according to OppLoans research, a financial technology company.

Millennials who…

• believe their score prevented them from buying a car
• 27%
• applied and were turned down for a loan or line of credit
• 26%
• still live with roommates because of bad credit
• 14%
• feel they don’t have the techniques to properly build credit
• 24%
• feel that with a credit card their level of debt is unmanageable
• 15%

Source: OppLoans 2018 research

Cards for good credit often offer excellent rewards, can have superior balance transfer options and are great for building credit. Although cards for excellent credit offer more options, a variety of cards are available for good credit. Here are 4 types of cards, with cards for good credit and no annual fee.

Benefits and limitations of credit cards for good credit…

Not sure if a card for good credit is right for you? Here are the benefits and limitations of cards with good credit:

Benefits

• Can qualify for many rewards cards
• There’s no security deposit, as with a secured card
• Typically fewer fees than a card with bad credit; no annual fee cards usually require good credit
• You can build credit
• Rewards are excellent

Limitations

• You won’t qualify for some cards, which require excellent credit
• You likely won’t get a luxury card, which has superior rewards and benefits
• An annual fee may be required if you want a card with superior rewards

While cards for good credit may be slightly more limited in choice than those for excellent credit, there are still some great options, as you can see.

Rewards by credit ranking…

What determines good credit?

Good credit simply means that your score, generated by a scoring model, such as VantageScore or FICO, is high enough that you can benefit from better financial products. The scoring models look at several factors in an effort to ascertain whether you are a good credit risk. The higher your score, the less risk you are for the lender.

Here are the primary factors scoring models look at:

• Paying on time. The most important aspect of your credit score is on-time payments. It makes up 35% of your FICO score, the score most used by lenders to assess your creditworthiness. One late payment can drop your score to the next range, although the older that late payment gets, the less impact it has. This category is also the most important factor for VantageScore, the scoring model developed by the 3 major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
• Paying in full. This category makes up 30% of your FICO score. It looks at the amount of credit you have available compared to the amount you owe. That’s called your utilization ratio. For example, if you owe $100 and you have $1,000 in available credit, your utilization ratio is 10% — you want the percentage as close to zero as possible. The amount of credit used is considered highly influential in the VantageScore model.
• Credit history. How old are your accounts in your credit file with the 3 credit bureaus? This makes up 15% of your FICO credit score and it’s highly influential with VantageScore.
• Recent credit. Avoid applying for multiple credit cards at once, because that can negatively impact your score, although a single pull typically only impacts your score by about 5 points. Recent credit makes up 10% of your FICO score and falls under “less influential” on VantageScore. Note that rate shopping for installment loans within a short amount of time, which can range from 15-45 days, typically only counts as one credit check, because credit score models recognize that rate shopping is a good credit habit.
• Credit mix. FICO likes it when you have different types of credit, such as revolving credit (cards) and installment credit (car loans and mortgages). It makes up 10% of your FICO score and is highly influential in VantageScore.
• Available credit. VantageScore also has a category called “available credit” that is considered less influential. There is also a category called “total balances/debt” that falls under moderately influential.

How many people have good credit?

According to FICO data from credit bureau Experian, 21% of consumers have good credit, while 34% have bad or fair and 45% have very good or exceptional credit.

Why should I care about my credit score?

From dating to getting an apartment, it’s almost impossible to function in today’s world without credit, unless you live off the grid. Here are 7 reasons why you should care about your credit score:

1. Installment loans. The best known of credit score uses, your credit can impact not only your interest rate but even whether you can get a loan. Credit scores are used by lenders of mortgages, car loans, private student loans and other lending products.
2. Credit cards. The credit cards with the richest offers typically require good or excellent credit. For example, you can get a rewarding cashback card with no annual fee if your credit is good or excellent.
3. Apartments. Increasingly, landlords are looking at potential renters’ credit before making a call on accepting a lease application. If you have good credit, you are that much more likely to be accepted.
4. Insurance premiums. An InsuranceQuotes.com study in 2016 shows that if you have poor credit, your home insurance premiums more than double when compared to excellent credit. So, your auto insurance premium can be affected by your credit.
5. Cellphone. Your cellphone provider may run a background check to ensure you can meet your obligations.
6. Employment. Employers are increasingly running background credit checks prior to offering a job. Employers access a different report from that of lenders, and they don’t have access to your score. Also, they have to have your approval to pull a report.
7. Dating prospects. When asked if a credit score could make you think twice about dating someone, 35% of men and 50% of women said yes, according to a Bankrate poll commissioned in May 2017.

What should I look for in a credit card if I have good credit?

Having good credit unlocks a whole new world of options when it comes to the credit cards you can get. “Consumers with good credit are in an excellent position to earn lucrative credit card sign-up bonuses and rewards for ongoing spending. Many of the best cash back cards are targeted at people with good credit,” points out Ted Rossman, CreditCards.com industry analyst.

From generous sign-up bonuses to great balance transfer offers, cards for good credit abound. Compare the cards you are interested in to decide which has the best options for you. Look at:

• Types of cards. With good credit, your options open up tremendously. You can earn 2%, 3%, even 5% back with a cashback card, or earn points or miles in the 10s of thousands in a travel card’s sign-up bonus.
• Sign-up bonus. Compare the sign-up bonuses for the cards you are looking at. But be sure to compare apples with apples. For example, is there an annual fee? And what is the actual valuation of the points or miles?

As Rossman advises: “When comparing options, think about how you spend most of your money and how you want to redeem your rewards. Look to maximize key categories like groceries, travel and dining out.”

Comparing sign-up bonuses…

• Ongoing rewards. Study the points, cash back or miles you would earn when you make purchases on your card.
• Benefits. Cards that require good or excellent credit often offer benefits such as rental car insurance, free luggage and even annual airline credits.
• Interest rates. If your priority for your next credit card is a low interest rate, your good credit will help with that. There are a few low-interest cards out there and a number of 0% intro APR offers.
• Balance transfer. If you need to transfer a balance to a 0% intro APR, look at the length of the offer, and see if you can pay off the debt before the offer ends. Here are 2 that require good credit and have no annual fee:

Comparing interest rates…

How to build and maintain a good credit score

A surprising number of Americans misunderstand what it takes to build a good credit score. In one Bankrate poll, consumers were asked some key questions about their beliefs regarding credit building, and many didn’t realize that high card balances can negatively impact your score; you want as close to 0% as possible in your debt-to-balance ratio; and you want to keep the account active with a charge that you pay off each month.

Consumers’ misconceptions of building credit…

• Believe accounts with high balances help credit
• 51%
• Believe you have to carry a balance to improve credit
• 37%
• Believe having a short credit history helps your score
• 13%

Source: Bankrate Money Pulse survey

How to build good credit

Building good credit takes patience and determination, but even the thinnest of files can be improved within a few months.

The easiest and fastest way to build credit is with a credit card – but it’s important to make sure you use it responsibly. That means paying in full and on time each month. Here are some tips on how to build good credit:

• Check your credit score. You’ll need this for the next step.
• Apply for a credit card. Only apply for one, and make sure it’s one that you have a good chance of getting. You may need to get a secured card, which means you pay a refundable deposit in exchange for a credit limit. Make sure the card issuer will share your credit habits with the credit bureaus.
• Pay in full and on time. This is 65% of your FICO score.
• Become an authorized user. If your credit is too poor for landing a card or you don’t trust yourself with one, look into being an authorized user with a cardholder who is responsible with credit. You won’t have to use the card to build credit, and you won’t be responsible for the debt. Eventually, you’ll want to get your own card, though, so that you can withdraw from being an authorized user without losing credit ground. Keep in mind that when you withdraw, the authorized card’s good habits are withdrawn from your credit accounts. That’s why you’ll want to get your own card at some point.
• Take out a credit-builder loan. To give your score that extra little boost, take out an installment loan, such as a car loan or a credit-builder loan. Don’t take out more than you can afford.

How to maintain good credit

In some ways, maintaining good credit is more difficult than building because one false step can drive your score down to the next tier. Here are a few tips for maintaining your credit:

• Make reminders. You know you need to pay on time and in full each month. Now, set up a reminder so that you remember to pay by the due dates each and every month.
• Make a small payment. Even if you don’t use a card much, make a small payment each month to keep the account active.
• Don’t close accounts. There are a few exceptions to this, but typically it’s a good idea to keep accounts open and active because available credit with a low balance helps your score, and when you close an account, your aggregate available credit goes down.
• Keep a budget. Allowing for saving and fun, maintain a workable budget to ensure you don’t overspend on your credit card.

How long does it take to build good credit?

It typically takes at least 6 months of credit activity before a credit score can be calculated, according to credit scoring expert Barry Paperno.

You need at least one credit account to have a credit file. When you don’t have much credit to speak of, that’s called having a thin file. With good habits (pay on time and in full each month), you can build your credit score within months.

Rebuilding? It can take anywhere from a few months to years, depending on what’s on your credit file. Large debts, collections, bankruptcies – all of those weigh more heavily than one or two late payments.

Here’s how to rebuild good credit:

1. Check your credit files. Look for collections, unpaid bills and other issues that can be cleared up. Contact the credit bureaus to correct any inaccuracies. Quickly resolve any problems with creditors, and get in writing that they will contact the credit bureaus with the resolution.
2. Catch up. Your payment history is your most important aspect of your credit, so it’s critical to catch up with any payments and stay on top of them.
3. Reduce your card balances. The second most important aspect of your credit score is the debt-to-balance ratio, called your utilization ratio. That’s why it’s so important to keep your balances low.

How to improve from good credit to excellent credit

The difference between good and excellent credit can be the difference between good and great rewards, nice and amazing balance transfer offers, and pretty great and outstanding benefits. You can also get better interest rates, lower insurance rates and other financial advantages.

Once your score hits about 750, know that things start to slow down in terms of score improvement. But there are a few tricks to help your score achieve its best. Here, we look at a few quick tips for maximizing your score and landing an 800 or better.

• Pay on time. If you have good credit, you are likely already paying in full and on time. Keep it up!
• Don’t close your old cards. This allows you to continue to have high available credit and to keep building your long-term credit. Put a small charge on them each month, paying them off each month.
• Take out an installment loan. Installment loans include mortgages, car loans and some credit-builder loans. While you don’t want to incur unnecessary debt, a small installment loan can give your credit score a little nudge.
• Avoid taking out multiple cards at once. Stay steady and don’t apply for multiple credit cards at once. While a small part of your credit score, applications can drop it to the next tier in a worst-case scenario. One card application can affect your score by about 5 points, whether you are accepted or not.
• Plan taking out credit. If you know you want to, say, apply for a mortgage soon, keep things low key for several months by not suddenly taking out a card or incurring new debt. Lenders can see sudden changes in your financial habits as a warning sign that you are desperate.
• Be patient. One element of credit building is time spent building that credit. That’s a big reason why a cardholder with great credit habits might have a lower score than a consumer with great credit habits and more years as a card user.

What to do when you have excellent credit

Superior credit opens up the possibilities in terms of better rates and saved money. Once you have excellent credit, there are a few things you’ll want to take care of:

1. Ask for lower rates, higher credit limits. A CreditCards.com poll found that of those who asked, 85% of consumers who asked got an improved credit limit. Of those asking for a lower interest rate, 56% received one. So, it’s worth a try.
2. Upgrade to better credit cards. With excellent credit, you can get improved benefits and richer rewards.
3. Do a loan and insurance premium checkup. Have your loan officer and insurance agent run the numbers again, because chances are, you qualify for a better rate.

Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for good credit

Credit cards for good credit analyzed: 1,478

Criteria used: Credit needed, rewards rates, rewards categories, sign-up bonuses, redemptions, customer service, ability to move credit line, credit score tracking, annual fee, other rates and fees, application process, other benefits and features

^† All information about The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express is no longer available through CreditCards.com.

Laura is an editor and writer at CreditCards.com. She has written extensively on all things credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. Laura’s work has been cited in such publications as the New York Times and Associated Press. You can reach her by e-mail at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com and on Twitter @creditcards_lm.