How to Increase Your CIBIL Score

Improving your Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) score is essential for obtaining better loan terms and financial opportunities. Here are some steps you can take to increase your CIBIL score in India:

1. Pay Your Bills on Time: Timely repayment of loans and credit card bills is one of the most crucial factors in determining your credit score. Ensure that you pay all your EMIs, credit card bills, and other dues on time to avoid negative impacts on your CIBIL score.
2. Maintain a Low Credit Utilization Ratio: Keep your credit card utilization low, ideally below 30% of your total credit limit. High utilization suggests that you are heavily reliant on credit and may negatively impact your credit score.
3. Avoid Multiple Loan Applications: Making several loan or credit card applications within a short period can signal financial distress to lenders and impact your credit score negatively. Only apply for credit when necessary.
4. Regularly Check Your Credit Report: Monitor your credit report regularly to identify any errors or inaccuracies that could be affecting your score. Dispute any discrepancies with the credit bureau and get them rectified.
5. Diversify Your Credit Mix: Having a healthy mix of credit types, such as a combination of secured (like home loans) and unsecured loans (like personal loans or credit cards), can positively impact your credit score. However, only take on new credit accounts if you can manage them responsibly.
6. Maintain a Longer Credit History: A longer credit history can demonstrate your creditworthiness to lenders. Keep older accounts open and active, even if they have a zero balance, to show a consistent repayment track record over time.
7. Limit Credit Inquiries: Minimize the number of inquiries made on your credit report by lenders. Only authorize credit inquiries when necessary, such as when applying for a loan or credit card.
8. Settle Overdue Accounts: If you have overdue accounts or defaults, work towards settling them as soon as possible. Negotiate with creditors to settle outstanding dues and get the “settled” status updated on your credit report, which is better than having accounts marked as “written off” or “charged off”.
9. Use Credit Monitoring Services: Consider using credit monitoring services offered by credit bureaus or financial institutions. These services provide regular updates on your credit score and help you track your progress towards improving it.
10. Seek Professional Advice: If you’re struggling to improve your credit score, consider seeking advice from financial experts or credit counselors who can provide personalized guidance and strategies to boost your score.
11. Reduce Credit Utilization: Keep your credit card balances low relative to your credit limits. Aim to use no more than 30% of your available credit. High credit utilization can indicate financial strain and negatively affect your credit score.
12. Keep Older Accounts Open: The length of your credit history matters. Keep older credit accounts open, even if you’re not actively using them, as they contribute positively to your credit score.
13. Avoid Closing Unused Credit Cards: Closing unused credit cards can decrease your available credit limit and potentially increase your credit utilization ratio. Instead, consider keeping them open to maintain a higher total credit limit.

Remember that improving your credit score takes time and discipline. By following these steps consistently and responsibly managing your finances, you can gradually increase your CIBIL score and strengthen your financial profile.