What Can You Get Approved For With a 656 Credit Score?

With a 656 credit score, you can likely get approved for an unsecured credit card, a personal loan, an auto loan, or a mortgage. That includes an FHA loan with 3.5% down. You'll pay more than borrowers with good credit, because your score sets your rate. But you're close: At 656, you're 5 points from prime auto rates and 14 points from good credit.

Is 656 a good credit score?

Almost. FICO's fair range runs from 580 to 669, and 656 is near the top of it. Good credit starts at 670.

A score this close to good usually means one or two of these factors are holding it back:

• High card balances. Using a large share of your available credit lowers your score. Unlike a late payment, this changes as soon as your balances come down.
• An older late payment. A payment 30 days or more late stays on your report for seven years. Its effect on your score shrinks as it ages, especially when newer on-time payments build behind it.
• A short or thin credit history. A thin credit file, meaning a report with only a few accounts or accounts that haven't been open long, gives scoring models less to go on.

Most lenders will work with a 656 score. What changes is the terms, including higher rates, lower limits, and, in some states, higher car insurance premiums than borrowers with good credit get.

Read more >> What Can You Get Approved For With a 665 Credit Score?

What can you get approved for with a 656 credit score?

At 656, most lenders will approve you for a range of financial products. The price depends on the tier you land in.

Credit cards

Unsecured cards designed for fair credit are realistic with a 656 credit score. Some rewards cards may approve you too, though many target good credit. Expect a modest limit and a higher APR than cards for good credit. Before applying, check whether the issuer offers prequalification, which uses a soft credit check that doesn't harm your credit.

If you're turned down, a secured credit card is a reliable fallback. You put down a refundable deposit that usually becomes your credit limit, and you generally get it back when you close the account in good standing.

Personal loans

A personal loan is realistic at 656. You may not get a lender's lowest advertised rate, and your rate also depends on your income, your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), and the loan term. Include credit unions when comparing lenders: Federal credit unions can't charge more than 18% on most loans.

Online lenders and banks that work with fair credit are another option. Compare offers using prequalification, so only the lender you choose runs a hard credit check.

Auto loans

Approval for a car loan at 656 is usually straightforward, because the loan is secured by the vehicle you're buying. If you stop paying, the lender can take it back and sell it. That lowers the lender's risk, but it also means falling behind puts your car at risk.

A 656 score falls in Experian's near prime tier (601 to 660), 5 points below prime. Your credit score plays a major role in the interest rate you're offered on a car loan. On a $20,000, 60-month new car loan at average rates, a near prime borrower would pay about $3,000 more in interest than a super prime borrower, and about $2,000 more than a prime borrower. Experian sorts these tiers by VantageScore 4.0, so your FICO score may place you a little differently.

Use an auto loan calculator to check payment amounts before you sign.

Mortgages

With a 656 credit score, most mortgage types are within reach, with costs depending on the type:

• FHA loans. Borrowers with scores of 580 or higher can qualify with 3.5% down. On a $250,000 home, that's $8,750 up front. Each lender can set higher minimums.
• Conventional loans. Fannie Mae no longer sets a minimum score for loans run through its automated system, but lenders still set their own. Fannie Mae does charge lenders an upfront fee on the loans it buys, based on your score and down payment. At 20% down, the fee for scores of 640 to 659 is 2.25% of the loan amount, compared with 1.875% at 660 to 679 and 0.375% at 780 or higher. On a $200,000 loan, that's $4,500 at 656, $3,750 at 660 to 679, and $750 at 780 or higher. You'd pay it through a higher rate or more cash at closing.
• USDA loans. These are for homes in eligible rural and suburban areas with income limits. USDA doesn't set a minimum score, but lenders typically look for 620 to 640. At 656, you're above that range, though each lender sets its own.

A lender can show you an FHA and a conventional quote side by side. Our mortgage calculator can help you compare the monthly payments.

What interest rates can you expect with a 656 credit score?

Expect rates a bit above what borrowers with good credit get. The Federal Reserve's averages across all borrowers were 22.15% for card accounts charging interest and 11.86% for 24-month bank personal loans. At 656, your offers will likely land near those averages or somewhat above them.

The rate applies to the whole balance, so even a slightly lower rate adds up. If you can wait to borrow, 5 more points would put you in Experian's prime auto tier, and 14 would move you into good credit.

5 ways to raise a 656 credit score

1. Check your credit reports for errors. You can get all three for free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. If something is wrong, like an account that isn't yours or a late payment you made on time, dispute it with the bureau. Disputing is free.
2. Bring any past-due accounts current, if you can. If you're juggling more than one, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) can connect you to free or low-cost counseling at 800-388-2227.
3. Pay every bill on time. Payment history is the biggest factor in your score, making up 35% of a FICO Score.
4. Pay down card balances before your statement closes. Your issuer usually reports the statement balance, so a lower balance on that date means using less of your available credit, which can raise your score within a month.
5. Apply only when you need to. Each application can add a hard inquiry, which takes a few points off for about a year. Prequalify first where you can, since prequalification uses a soft check. FICO counts multiple auto, mortgage, or student loan inquiries made within 14 to 45 days as one, depending on the FICO version. Card and personal loan applications each count separately.

If your report is thin on accounts, adding one helps. A Kikoff Credit Account reports your payments to all three bureaus.

Read more >> How to Build Credit

Bottom line

At 656, most lenders will approve you for a range of products. What your score decides now is the price. You're 5 points from prime auto rates and 14 points from good credit in FICO's ranges, so small gains can lower what you pay.

Kikoff brings credit building, bill and rent reporting, AI-powered disputes, credit monitoring, and debt negotiation into one place. Sign up with no credit check. Plans start at $5 a month.