Is 590 a Good Credit Score?

By Jackie Lam

A 590 FICO credit score falls in the “fair” credit tier, which ranges from 580 to 669. It’s better than “poor” credit (300 to 579), but only by 10 points. Some lenders will approve fair credit borrowers for a credit card or loan, but they tend to charge relatively high interest rates and fees. Here’s a look at why you might have a 590 credit score and how it can impact your ability to access credit.

What Does a 590 Credit Score Mean?

A credit score is a prediction of how likely you are to pay a loan back on time based on information from your credit reports. You have three credit reports, one from each of the major credit bureaus (Experian®, TransUnion®, and Equifax®). You also have more than one credit score. This is because scores can be calculated using different scoring models, such as FICO, VantageScore®, or a lender’s own proprietary formula.

The most widely used credit scores in the U.S., however, are FICO scores. Here’s how the FICO® score ranges break down:

•   300-579: Poor credit

•   580-669: Fair credit

•   670-739: Good credit

•   740-799: Very good credit

•   800-850: Exceptional credit

A score of 590 falls in the lower end of the “fair” range. It’s also well below the average credit score in the U.S., which was 717 as of March 2024. As a result, lenders may consider you a high-risk borrower. This can make it harder to get approved for credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and mortgages. And if you do get approved, you’re likely to face less favorable terms, such as higher interest rates and fees.

What Causes a 590 Credit Score?

A credit score of 590 suggests that there are some negative factors in your credit history. This may include:

•   Late or missed payments: Payment history is the most significant factor in your credit score. A 590 score often indicates a history of missed or late payments.

•   High credit utilization: This score can also suggest that you have high balances on your credit cards compared to your credit limits. High credit utilization can drag down your score.

•   Limited or thin credit history: If you haven’t been using credit for very long, or if you have very few credit accounts, your score may be lower as a result.

•   Recent negative marks: This could include things like recent charge-offs, collection accounts, or even a bankruptcy, which would severely impact your score.

While a 590 score is not ideal, it’s not the end of the road. Many lenders offer products designed for individuals with lower credit scores, though the terms may be more restrictive than for someone with a higher score.

Recommended: Is 580 a Good Credit Score?

What Else Can You Get with a 590 Credit Score?

Here’s a look at the types of financial products you may still qualify for with a 590 credit score.

Can I Get a Credit Card with a 590 Credit Score?

It’s possible to get a credit card with a 590 credit score, but your options may be limited, and you’ll likely face higher costs. Here are some types of credit cards that may be available to you:

•   Secured credit card: A secured credit card requires you to make an upfront refundable deposit that then becomes your credit limit. For example, if you put down a $500 deposit, you’ll have a $500 limit on the card. The credit card provider will report your payments to the credit bureaus. As a result, using a secured card responsibly can help you build your credit and potentially upgrade to an unsecured card in the future.

•   Basic unsecured credit card: Some issuers will offer a basic credit card for borrowers with fair credit. While it won’t require a deposit, it may come with an annual maintenance fee, low credit limit, and high interest rate. You’ll want to read the terms carefully and consider whether the costs are worth it.

•   Store credit card: Many retailers offer store-branded credit cards that are easier to qualify for with a lower credit score. However, these cards often come with high interest rates and may only be usable at the specific retailer.

Can I Get an Auto Loan with a 590 Credit Score?

While there’s no set minimum score to get a car loan, the majority of borrowers have scores above 660. Borrowers with scores of 501 to 600 accounted for just 15.70% of cars financed in the second quarter of 2024, according to Experian.

There are some auto lenders that are willing to work with fair credit borrowers, but they generally charge high annual percentage rates (APRs). To get a lower rate on an auto loan for fair credit, you might consider asking a trusted family member or friend with good credit to act as a cosigner. Other strategies that can help: raising your down payment (this lowers your loan amount, reducing risk to the lender) and seeking out alternative lenders, such as a credit union or an online lender.

Recommended: What to Know Before You Borrow Money Online

Can I Get a Mortgage with a 590 Credit Score?

The minimum credit score needed for most mortgages is generally 620. However, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. You may be able to qualify for a mortgage backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA loans are geared toward borrowers with lower credit scores and down payments, particularly first-time homebuyers. You may be able to qualify for an FHA loan with a 3.5% down payment if your score is 580 or higher.

Your credit score isn’t the only factor when qualifying for a mortgage, however. Lenders will also consider your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which is the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt payments. To qualify for an FHA loan, your DTI generally can’t be higher than 43%.

Can I Get a Personal Loan with a 590 Credit Score?

It’s possible to get a personal loan or credit card consolidation loan with a 590 credit score, but your choice of lenders will likely be limited, and you may have to settle for a loan with a high interest rate and other fees (such as an origination fee). You generally need a score around 740 or higher to qualify for a personal loan with the best rates and terms.

Whether or not you can get a personal loan (and what the rate will be) also depends on your debt-to-income ratio. Personal loan lenders typically like your DTI to be somewhere between 35% and 45% or less.

You can get an idea of what APR you might qualify for by applying for prequalification with a few different lenders (this requires a soft credit check, which won’t harm your credit). If you’re looking to get a personal loan to consolidate high-interest debt, an online personal loan calculator can help you determine how much interest you could potentially save.

The Takeaway

A 590 credit score is not considered good, but fair. Can you still get a credit card, auto loan, mortgage, or personal loan? The answer is yes, but it will require some careful planning and possibly higher costs.

If you don’t need funds right away, you may be better off taking some time to build your credit before you apply. Simple steps like paying your bills on time, paying down credit card balances, and taking out a secured credit card can help improve your credit profile over time. This can give you access to lending products with lower rates and better terms in the future.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Personal Loan overall.

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