A FICO score is, at its core, a single number predicting the probability that you will be 90+ days late on a debt in the next 24 months. Lenders use it to set interest rates. The number itself is not magic — but the brackets it falls into create real differences in what credit costs you.
The Bands
| Score Range | Label | Typical Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | Best rates on every product. Top-tier cards approve instantly. |
| 740–799 | Very Good | Best mortgage rates. Top-tier cards usually approve. |
| 670–739 | Good | Most cards available. Mortgages at standard rates. |
| 580–669 | Fair | Subprime auto rates. Limited card options. Mortgages possible but expensive. |
| 300–579 | Poor | Secured cards only. Auto rates over 18%. Mortgage difficult. |
The Practical Cutoffs
The 670 line is the threshold for most "prime" rates on credit cards and auto loans. The 720 line is the threshold for top-tier rewards cards. The 740 line is the threshold for the best mortgage pricing.
Below 670, every product gets more expensive. The same $30,000 auto loan over 60 months costs roughly $2,500 more at a 580 score than at a 720 score.
Score Variation
Your "real" score is whichever FICO version a particular lender pulls. Mortgage lenders use FICO 2/4/5 (older models). Auto lenders often use FICO 8 Auto. Credit card issuers use FICO 8 Bankcard. The free score in your banking app is usually VantageScore 3 — close to FICO but not identical.
A 60-point spread across versions and bureaus is normal. Do not panic when one app shows a different number than another.
The credit score is a single number with outsized real-world impact. Crossing the 670 line is the first major milestone; crossing the 740 line is the second. Everything beyond 760 produces diminishing returns — you are paying the same rates a 740 borrower pays.
