What Is a 690 Credit Score and Is It Good?

A credit score is a numerical representation of an individual’s financial reliability, influencing access to various financial products and services. This three-digit number summarizes your borrowing and repayment history, providing lenders with a quick assessment of your creditworthiness.

Credit Score Basics

Credit scores are numerical summaries of an individual’s credit risk, used by lenders to assess the likelihood of debt repayment. These scores are derived from credit reports compiled by major credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The most widely used models, FICO Score and VantageScore, typically range from 300 to 850. A higher score indicates lower risk, potentially leading to more favorable borrowing terms. These models analyze various aspects of your credit history to produce a comprehensive score.

The 690 Score Defined

A credit score of 690 generally falls into the “Good” category across common scoring models. For instance, the FICO Score model classifies scores between 670 and 739 as “Good.” Similarly, VantageScore considers scores from 661 to 780 as “Good” or “Prime.” This places a 690 score slightly below the national average FICO Score, which was 715 as of April 2025.

Lenders typically view individuals with a 690 credit score as acceptable borrowers, indicating a history of responsible credit management. While it demonstrates a solid foundation of credit behavior, it is not within the “Very Good” or “Exceptional” tiers that often unlock the absolute best interest rates and terms. Approximately 21% of U.S. consumers had a FICO Score in the “Good” range as of Q3 2024.

Accessing Credit with a 690 Score

With a 690 credit score, individuals typically find a broad range of financial products accessible. For mortgage loans, a 690 score qualifies you for conventional loans, often requiring a minimum score of 620 to 660, and is above the FHA loan threshold. However, interest rates may be slightly higher than for scores in the 740+ range; for example, a 690 score might see a mortgage rate of around 7.555% compared to 7.449% for scores between 700-759.

For auto loans, a 690 credit score generally secures competitive rates, though not the lowest. In Q1 2025, buyers with a 690 score received average interest rates of about 6.7% for new cars and 9.06% for used cars, compared to around 5.18% for new cars for scores above 780. Personal loans are typically approved with a 690 score, with average rates around 14.48% in 2024, though rates vary by lender.

Credit cards are widely available, including many rewards and cashback options. While premium travel cards might be less accessible, many attractive products are within reach. Beyond traditional lending, a credit score influences other financial aspects. Landlords often consider credit scores for rental applications, with a score above 670 generally seen as favorable, potentially leading to easier approval. Insurance providers may also use credit-based scores to determine premiums, with higher scores often correlating with lower rates.

What Shapes Your Credit Score

Your credit score is influenced by several key categories of information from your credit report. Payment history holds the most weight, accounting for approximately 35% of your FICO Score. This assesses whether bills are paid on time and consistently.

Amounts owed, or credit utilization, is another significant factor, making up about 30% of the score. This considers total debt and the proportion of available credit used, with lower utilization being more favorable.

The length of your credit history contributes around 15% to your score, reflecting how long accounts have been open and their average age. A longer history of responsible credit use is seen positively. New credit, including recent applications, impacts about 10% of the score. While inquiries can temporarily lower a score, this impact is usually short-lived.

Finally, your credit mix, the variety of credit types like installment and revolving credit, accounts for the remaining 10%. Demonstrating responsible management across different credit products can positively influence this component.