Credit History: How does it affect your CIBIL score?

Credit History: Credit history is nothing but a record of an individual's borrowing and repayments, which includes any late payments, defaults and outstanding debts. Lenders usually consider this information to assess the risk of lending funds to an individual.

The length of your credit history is a key factor in determining the credit score. Usually, the longer the credit history, the more positively it impacts your credit score. 

A positive credit history, with payments on time and responsible credit management, helps individuals qualify for loans and credit cards with desired terms. On the other hand, a negative credit history makes it hard to get credit or leads to loans on higher interest rates.

Here we describe how the length of your credit history impacts your credit score.

This is why credit history is vital for credit score:

Stability: Banks usually view a longer credit history as a sign of stability. It shows your ability to manage credit over an extended period of time, which can be reassuring to potential lenders.

Average age: Credit scoring models consider the average age of your credit accounts. This is calculated by taking the sum of the ages of all your credit accounts and dividing it by the total number of accounts. 

A longer average age of accounts generally reflects more experience managing credit responsibly and can have a positive impact on your credit score.

Credit score impact: While the length of your credit history is an important factor, it's not the most important. Payment history and credit utilisation typically carry more weight in credit scoring models. However, a longer credit history can still contribute positively to your overall credit score.

New credit inquiries: Opening new credit accounts can temporarily lower the average age of your accounts and potentially have a negative impact on your credit score. 

However, as these accounts age and you continue to manage them responsibly, the impact of new credit inquiries diminishes over time.

Building credit: If you are new to credit or have a limited credit history, it's important to start building credit as soon as possible. Opening and maintaining credit accounts responsibly over time can help establish a positive credit history and improve your credit score.

ALSO READ: Credit score: What is debt consolidation and what are its pros and cons?

The length of your credit history plays a significant role in determining your credit score. A longer credit history can demonstrate stability and reliability to lenders and positively impact your credit score. 

However, it's essential to maintain responsible credit habits, such as making timely payments and keeping balances low, regardless of the length of your credit history.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is average age of credit accounts important?

Credit scoring models consider the average age of credit accounts. This means an account with longer average age shows a positive credit score.

How is average age of credit accounts calculated?

Average age of credit accounts is calculated by taking the sum of the ages of all your credit accounts and dividing it by the total number of accounts. 

Is this important to build credit history for a positive credit score?

Building a positive credit history over a period of time can help improve your credit score. 

Is the credit history seen as a reflection of stability?

Banks often see a credit history as a sign of stability and reliability. It shows the ability of borrower to manage credit over a long period of time.

What happens when a credit account becomes old?

Opening new credit account can potentially have a negative impact on the credit score. As these accounts age, the impact of new credit inquiries declines over time.