What credit score do mortgage lenders use?

Mortgage lenders usually use the CIBIL score by TransUnion CIBIL to assess the creditworthiness of the applicant.

What is Equifax credit score?

Equifax credit score represents the creditworthiness of individuals and is used to determine the credit risk involved and loan eligibility.

What is my CIBIL credit score?

Your CIBIL credit score is a 3-digit number provided by TransUnion CIBIL representing your creditworthiness.

What is the best credit score?

The best credit score is usually 750 and above.

What affects your credit score?

Your credit score is affected by your repayment history, credit utilization ratio, credit mix, credit age and the number of credit enquiries made in a short span.

How do I know what my credit score is?

You can know your credit score through the official websites of different credit bureaus or fintech apps like Paisabazaar.

What is the best score for credit?

The best score for credit is usually 750 and above.

What is the highest credit score?

The highest credit score is 900 which portrays exceptionally healthy credit behaviour.

What can I get with a 500 credit score?

A 500 credit score is very low and you can only get secured loans, secured credit cards, lower loan amount and higher interest rates with a 500 credit score.

What is a good credit score?

A good credit score is usually 750 and above.

What is considered a good/excellent credit score?

A credit score of 750 and above is usually considered a good credit score. However, an excellent credit score usually ranges between 800-900.

What is a Credit Score?

Q: What is my Experian credit score?

Your experian credit score is a 3-digit numerical representation of your creditworthiness calculated by the Experian credit bureau.

Q: What is my TransUnion credit score?

Your TransUnion credit score is the numerical representation of your creditworthiness provided by the TransUnion CIBIL credit bureau.

A credit score is a 3-digit numerical representation of your creditworthiness provided by the credit bureaus of India based on your repayment history, credit utilisation ratio, credit mix, etc. It helps the lenders to assess the credit risk associated with the applicant.

What is an ideal credit score for availing loans?

Applicants with a credit score of 750 and above usually have higher chances of loan approval at relatively better terms. Try to improve your credit score if it’s low before applying for a loan.

What are the Factors Affecting Your Credit Score?

Repayment History: Making timely repayments improves your credit health and in turn your credit score, thereby making it easier for you to get loans and cards in future.
Credit Utilisation Ratio: Credit utilisation ratio is the percentage of available credit you are currently using. An applicant with a low credit utilisation ratio reflects a healthy credit behaviour and hence a healthy credit score.
Credit Age: Credit age shows the period for which the bureau has your credit record. It helps them assess your repayment behaviour and thus the risk associated in approving your credit application.
Credit Mix: A credit mix shows different credit accounts in your credit profile. It helps lenders assess how well are you managing multiple credit products, thereby reflecting your overall financial discipline.
New Enquiries: Multiple enquiries (hard enquiries) in a short span indicate financial stress and can lower your credit score. Avoid applying for multiple credit options in a short span.

What is the importance of a good credit score?

A good credit score reflects your creditworthiness and helps you improve your approval chances and avail loans at relatively lower interest rates and on better terms.

How Does a Credit Score Work?

Lenders assess the creditworthiness of the applicant based on the credit score.

Credit bureaus collect the financial information of applicants and generate a credit report that determines their credit score.
Lenders fetch the applicant’s credit report from the credit bureaus while assessing their loan application.
The applications for loans and cards are approved depending on the credit score and other factors.
Applicants with a higher credit score have higher chances of approval.

Credit Scores by Different Credit Bureaus

In India, credit score is generated by 4 credit bureaus, namely, CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark. Every bureau has its own calculation formula to generate the score of an individual.

Category	Credit Score Range
Category	TransUnion CIBIL	Experian	Equifax	CRIF High Mark
Excellent	801 - 900	826 - 900	751 - 900	751 - 900
Very Good	761 - 800	776 - 825	701 - 750	676 - 750
Good	701 - 760	701 - 775	601 - 700	601 - 675
Average	601 - 700	601 - 700	526 - 600	586 - 600
Poor	300 - 600	300 - 600	300 - 525	301 - 585

Note: These credit score ranges are generally accepted in the industry and are based on Paisabazaar’s own criteria.

How to Maintain a Good Credit Score?

You can maintain a good credit score by following the tips mentioned below:

Make timely repayments.
Keep your credit utilisation low.
Avoid multiple loan applications in a short span.
Maintain a healthy credit mix.

How is a CIBIL Score Calculated?

A CIBIL score is calculated in the following manner:

All the credit bureaus follow different scoring models to calculate the credit score of individuals.
A CIBIL score is calculated based on a complex algorithm that factors in your timely repayments, credit utilization ratio, number of credit enquiries made, and the length of the credit history.
The CIBIL score is refreshed on a weekly basis.
The defaults and timely repayments reflected in your credit report might impact your credit score.

Benefits of a Strong CIBIL Score

Below-mentioned are the benefits of a strong CIBIL score:

A strong CIBIL score gives access for better financial opportunities.
It increases the chances of approval for future loans and credit cards.
Applicants with a strong CIBIL score might be offered lower interest rates and higher loan amount.
Such applicants might also eligible for pre-approved offers for loans and premium credit cards.

How to Check a CIBIL Score for Free?

You can check your CIBIL score for free on the official website of CIBIL. Alternatively, you can also visit Paisabazaar app to check your CIBIL score for free in the following manner.

Login to Paisabazaar app and go to the dashboard.
Click on “Credit Score” icon at the bottom of the app.
Click on CIBIL to see your CIBIL score on the screen.

Likewise you can click on Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark to get the credit scores from respective credit bureaus.

RBI Guidelines on Credit Score from July 1st, 2026

RBI has directed bureaus to comply with certain rules for credit score starting July 1st 2026.

Weekly credit score updates - The credit score will be updated every week instead of the monthly cycle. Thus, your repayments or defaults will be reflected faster, improving credit visibility for both the borrower and the lender. This has made credit monitoring easier, facilitating early warning signals to the borrowers.
Transparency - RBI has instructed the lenders to specify the actual reason for the rejection of loan and credit card applications, and that the same should be reflected in the credit report.

FAQs

A credit score is an important parameter to evaluate the creditworthiness of the applicant. It helps the lenders to assess the credit risk associated with the applicant. The higher the credit score, the better your chances of securing loans at lower interest rates.

There are four major credit bureaus that offer credit scores in India, which include CIBIL, Experian, Equifax, CRIF High Mark.

No, credit score and CIBIL score are not the same. Credit score is the general term used to determine the creditworthiness of the applicant, whereas CIBIL score is the credit score provided by one of the credit bureaus (TransUnion CIBIL) in India.

Your CIBIL score is different from your Experian score because of different scoring models, data reporting timings and weightage of factors.

A credit score of 750 and above is usually considered to be good in India. Applicants with such a credit score usually have higher chances of loan and credit card approval.