You are planning to take a loan for the most favorite car you had thought once buying or a house you always had imagined or the business you wished to expand, would take you to a journey of going to banks, making inquiries, checking the best quote and the interest rate offered to you and then finally deciding which option would suit you the best in terms of tenor, rate of interest, processing fees and pre-payment charges. Now the point is, how do banks or non-banking financial institutions decide the rate of interest or other charges? What are the criteria?
Suppose you and your friend went to a bank. You both earn almost the same, your age is same, the family background is also similar. And you both apply for the same loan is the same bank. But you were offered 11.5% interest rate whereas your friend was offered 10.25% interest rate with little lesser processing fees and pre-payment charges. Now that would make you think if the external factor looks the same, why are the other things different? So you finally decide to know the details deeply of why your friend was given lower rates than you. And here would be the analysis of what you would get.
You had never done a CIBIL Score Check. Which is one of the major factor of the interest rates being processed? Lower the credit score more is the interest rate and vice-versa. The credit score ranges from 300-900. Where 300 is the lowest and 900 is the highest. Any score beyond 750 is considered a good score. People below this score are considered red zoned, and the one above 750 are greed zoned. It’s not that, if you have a score below 750 you will not get a loan, but the % of interest will be higher. Now let us take into consideration why the score is low or high? Basically, what are the factors that decide the score? There are 5 factors whose combination results in the score.
- Payment History (35%)
The major factor which determines your credit score is the payment history. How well-organized you are in making the payments of the credits you have taken, shows how responsible you are. Banks can make a note of your previous payments and decide if you will be an asset for them or not. If previously you have made blunders in payments or didn’t pay regularly, the score dips badly and makes it difficult for you to get a loan. If the score is not good, and it’s becoming difficult for you to get a loan; in that case, you can try for loans for bad credit. But ultimately the loss will be yours only.
- Amount owed (30%)
The total amount which is taken by you, in any means of the credit i.e. by credit card or a loan also has second major thing determined in the score. The amount of the revolving credit and the fixed credit is in the amount owed.
- Length of credit history (15%)
How long is your credit account active, and how old is your account also determines your score. Some people make the mistake of closing the older accounts thinking they are not of any use but that creates a dip in the score. So, keep the accounts active.
- Types of Credits (10%)
There are 2 types of credit. Fixed or installment based credit and revolving credit with a mix of secured and unsecured credit. The type of credit you have will also contribute to the score. It’s healthy if you have a good mix of all types of credit.
- New Credit (10%)
The new credits you take is also a determining factor of your score. New credit means you are becoming more responsible towards your repaying responsibility. But do not overdo, else this would also hamper your score.
Always manage the credits you take responsibly. If you check your score and you feel there is some mistake, get a detailed report and check. Work with that diligently and patiently to get your score in the green zone!