How to Generate your CIBIL Score for the First Time

Individuals lacking a formal credit history can start by choosing accessible options like consumer durable loans or secured credit cards. By making timely repayments, they create a positive credit history for the first time, which improves their approval chances for a wider range of credit products in the future.

What are the Credit Options to Build your CIBIL Score for the First Time?

Below-mentioned are a few credit options that are easy to avail and repay, and can thus help you build a strong credit profile for the first time:

Consumer durable loan
Secured credit card
Avail loans from lenders you have an existing relationship with
Add yourself as a co-applicant
Buy-now-pay-later option

How to Generate your First CIBIL Score?

You can build your CIBIL score for the first time in the following steps:

Apply for the easily available credit option such as a secured credit card.
Keep your credit utilization low.
Pay the bills on time.
Wait for a few months (3 to 6 months) for the credit bureau to update your CIBIL score.

Key Tips to Maintain a Healthy CIBIL Score in 2026

You can follow the below-mentioned tips to maintain your credit score:

Make timely repayments.
Keep your credit utilization low.
Avoid multiple loan applications in a short span.
Manage your credit mix well.
Monitor your CIBIL report for any faults.

What is the ideal CIBIL score for availing loans?

The ideal CIBIL score for availing loans is usually 750 and above. However, 800 and above is considered an excellent CIBIL score and such applicants have higher chances of approval. Applicants having a credit score of 760 and above usually have higher approval chances and qualify for lower interest rates.

New-to-Credit Customers v/s Individuals with a Credit History

New-to-credit Customers	Individuals with Credit History
They lack a formal credit history.	They have a formal credit history.
Lenders can’t assess their creditworthiness.	Their creditworthiness can be ascertained.
Eligibility is assessed using alternative assessment models.	Credit score is considered while assessing the eligibility.
Can use secured credit cards to build their credit score.	They already have a credit score and need to maintain the same.

RBI Guidelines 2026

As per RBI, the credit score will now be updated on a weekly basis instead of the monthly cycle, effective July 1, 2026.
Repayments or defaults will be reflected timely in the credit reports.
This will make it easier for the individuals to check their credit reports for any inaccuracies in time and get them rectified faster.