How Credit Works

What Is a Perfect Credit Score?

Many people don’t want to settle for anything less than perfection. Whether it’s acing a test, making every free throw, bowling a perfect 300, or splitting an arrow like Robin Hood, perfection is a concept that consumes many people and drives them to improve and be the best. When it comes to your credit score, the perfect score is an extremely rare event, but this shouldn’t stop you from striving for excellence.

For the sake of simplicity, we’ll discuss the FICO score, the most widely used scoring model by creditors and lenders. A FICO score will range from 300-850, but that 850 is an elusive number.

It is not easy to stay at 850, as credit scores constantly change

Sure it’s possible to achieve a perfect 850, but it’s not always possible to stay there. This is because your credit score constantly changes based on various factors like total debt, payment history, and applying for new loans or credit.

Achieving a perfect score is definitely a worthy goal and creates a mindset of financial ability, but a perfect score is not necessary to experience the most elite benefits of excellent credit. For example, most customers with a credit score of 760 or above can receive the best interest rates for loans or credit cards. Those in the “Excellent” range-760-850-will generally be evaluated the same, so there’s no need to “break your back” in order to achieve a perfect score when an 800 is just as excellent in the eyes of a lender.

That perfect score is definitely a great goal and would undoubtedly give you bragging rights among your family and friends, but it’s not necessary in order to reap the benefits of excellent credit. Instead, focus on making payments, lowering overall debt, and maintaining all your accounts and finances. Achieving an “Excellent” credit score is easier than one may think, but it takes time and dedication.

Who knows, you may be the next person to make the news for a perfect credit score, but more importantly, you’ll create positive habits and a reputation of financial responsibility, and this excellent financial reputation will save you money in the long run.

© Self Financial, Inc.
Privacy |  | Terms
Mobile Wallet Terms | Compliance
Card Agreements

Customer support: 1 (877) 883-0999 7am-6pm CT, Monday-Friday, or via chat 8am-5pm CT, Saturday-Sunday

Self Credit LLC NMLS ID# 2167345 | Licenses |

Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

App Store, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc.

Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., SouthState Bank, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval. Results not guaranteed. Other factors, including activity with other creditors, may impact results. Failure to make monthly minimum payments by due date may result in delinquent payment reporting to credit bureaus which may negatively impact your credit score. Product will not remove negative credit history from credit report.

The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC.

This is a loan solicitation only. Self Credit LLC (NMLS ID# 2167345) is not the lender. Information received will be shared with one or more third parties in connection with your loan inquiry. The lender may not be subject to all Vermont lending laws. The Lender may be subject to federal lending laws.