Rs. 40000 - Rs. 55 lakh
You may be eligible for a pre-approved offer
Enter mobile and OTP | Check offer | No branch visit needed
Your CIBIL score is really important when lenders are deciding whether to give you a loan or not. While it's possible to get a loan with a low CIBIL score, it's much better to improve it first. Why? Because a good CIBIL score helps you get a personal loan approved faster and at lower interest rates. You'll pay less money overall. To know where you stand you can check your CIBIL Score and see your credit profile. Even better, check if you already have a pre-approved loan offer and see the exact interest rate you are offered.
So, here are five practical ways to boost your CIBIL score and improve your chances of getting better loan offers
What is a good credit score?
Before we dive into the five tips, let's understand what makes a "good" credit score. You can consider a good CIBIL score to be around 650 or above. This score tells banks and lenders that you have strong credit habits. It shows them you're responsible with money and likely to pay back loans on time. With a score of 650 or higher, you have much better chances of getting loans approved quickly and at lower interest rates.
If you're wondering how to increase your CIBIL score or how to improve it, here's what you need to focus on: make all your payments on time, keep your credit card usage low, avoid applying for multiple loans at once, and regularly check your credit report for mistakes. These habits will steadily improve your score over time.
5 steps to improve your credit score for personal loan
-
Clear all your outstanding debt
Having outstanding debt shows up on your CIBIL report as a negative factor. As long as you still owe money, it will drag down your credit score. The good news is that the moment you clear your debt, your score starts recovering. To clear your outstanding debt faster, you have two options: either repay your debt within your chosen timeline through regular EMI payments, or make prepayments to close the loan early. Using credit responsibly and paying off what you owe is one of the fastest ways to improve your CIBIL score.
Additional read: Personal loan for low CIBIL score
-
Pay your EMIs on time
Just making EMI payments isn't enough – you have to make them on time. If you miss even one payment or pay late, it will pull down your CIBIL credit score. Here's why: every delayed EMI payment is recorded in your CIBIL report with details about how many days you were late. This history stays on your record and affects how much lenders trust you.
The best way to ensure on-time payments? Set up an automatic transfer from your bank account directly to your lender. This way, you don't have to remember anything – the money transfers automatically on the due date. Just make sure you always have enough money in your account for the transfer. This approach ensures you never incur a bounce charge and helps you continuously improve your CIBIL score.
-
Limit your credit utilisation
Credit utilisation means how much of your available credit you're actually using. When you use too much credit, it sends a red flag to lenders. They think you're living beyond your means – that you can't manage your money within your income. This hurts your credit score.
The smart approach: only use as much credit as you can actually repay. A good rule of thumb is to keep your credit usage below 50% of your total credit limit. For example, if your credit card limit is Rs. 1 lakh, try to spend no more than Rs. 50,000. You can also take practical steps like paying off your credit card balance in full every month instead of carrying a balance, and avoiding using your credit card up to the maximum limit regularly. These habits show lenders you're responsible with credit.
Additional read: CIBIL score calculation
-
Report discrepancies in your credit report, if any
Mistakes happen. Sometimes your credit report might show incorrect information that can hurt your CIBIL score – for instance, a payment you actually made might not be reflected in the report, or there might be accounts you don't recognise. These discrepancies can seriously damage your chances of getting a personal loan approved.
That's why it's crucial to monitor your credit score regularly and address any errors without delay. Check your report at least once or twice a year. If you spot any mistakes, report them immediately and ask for a correction. Bajaj Finance offers an easy way to check your CIBIL score and review your complete credit report. A consistent check helps you maintain a strong credit profile and improves your chances of getting loan approval.
-
Borrow a mix of credit
This is an important step that many people overlook. If you don't borrow any credit at all, you won't have a credit score – lenders won't know anything about how you handle borrowed money. On the other hand, if you borrow only one type of credit (like only personal loans or only credit cards), it doesn't show lenders that you can handle different types of credit responsibly.
To improve your CIBIL score, aim for a healthy mix of credit. This means taking both secured credit (like a home loan or car loan where you pledge something as guarantee) and unsecured credit (like personal loans or credit cards where you don't pledge anything). When you borrow different types of credit and repay all of them on time, it proves to lenders that you're responsible with all kinds of borrowing. This establishes a strong credit history and improves your score significantly.
As you work on improving your CIBIL score, keep these points in mind:
- Avoid ad-hoc financial decisions: Don't make sudden, unplanned financial moves like taking multiple loans quickly. Always try to take and use credit responsibly to maintain a good CIBIL credit score.
- Use credit responsibly: Always try to take and use credit wisely. Borrow only what you need and can repay comfortably.
- Be patient with the process: Once you start implementing these measures, remember that it may take around 6 months to a year for your score to show noticeable improvement. Improvement happens gradually, so stay consistent.
How long does it take to improve a CIBIL score?
Here's an important question: how fast can you improve your CIBIL score? The answer is: it depends on your current situation and how consistently you follow these tips.
Improving your CIBIL score is a gradual process and may take anywhere from 3 to 6 months or more, depending on your credit behaviour. If you want to increase your CIBIL score fast, here's what to prioritise:
- Make all your EMI payments on time – this is the most important factor
- Reduce any outstanding debt as quickly as possible
- Avoid applying for new credit applications frequently
- Keep your credit utilisation ratio low
⏱️ Timeline tip: Consistent positive actions can help speed up improvement. Some people see improvement in 3 months, while others take 6 months or longer. The key is being consistent and patient.
Conclusion
Your CIBIL score plays a vital role when applying for a personal loan, as it reflects your creditworthiness. A high score increases your chances of getting a personal loan approved, often with better interest rates and more favourable terms. On the other hand, a low score may reduce your approval chances or lead to higher borrowing costs that cost you much more money over time.
If you're wondering how to increase your credit score for a personal loan, start right now by following these five steps: pay your EMIs and credit card bills on time, clear your outstanding debt, maintain a healthy credit mix, keep your credit utilisation low, and check your credit report regularly for discrepancies. Taking these steps will improve your financial profile and help you qualify for better loan offers when you need them.
Remember, building a good CIBIL score takes time and effort, but it's absolutely worth it. Better scores mean lower interest rates, which saves you thousands of rupees over the life of your loan. Start implementing these strategies today, and in a few months, you'll see improvement. Once your score improves, you'll be in a much stronger position to get a personal loan approved quickly and at the best rates available.
Key offerings: 3 loan types
Personal loan interest rate and applicable charges
Type of fee |
Applicable charges |
Rate of interest per annum |
10% to 30% p.a. |
Processing fees |
Up to 3.93% of the loan amount (inclusive of applicable taxes). |
Flexi Facility Charge |
Term Loan – Not applicable Flexi Loans –Up To Rs 1,999 To Up To Rs 18,999/- (Inclusive Of Applicable Taxes) |
Bounce charges |
Rs. 700 to Rs. 1,200/- per bounce “Bounce Charges” shall mean charges levied on each instance in the event of: (i) dishonour of any payment instrument irrespective of whether the customer subsequently makes the payment through an alternate mode or channel on the same day; and/or (ii) non-payment of instalment(s) on their respective due dates where any payment instrument is not registered/furnished; and/or (iii) rejection or failure of mandate registration by the customer’s bank. |
Part-prepayment charges |
Full Pre-payment: |
Penal charge |
Delay in payment of instalment(s) shall attract Penal Charge at the rate of up to 36% per annum per instalment from the respective due date until the date of receipt of the full instalment(s) amount. |
Stamp duty (as per respective state) |
Payable as per state laws and deducted upfront from loan amount. |
Annual maintenance charges |
Term Loan: Not applicable Flexi Term (Dropline) Loan: Up to 0.295% (Inclusive of applicable taxes) of the Dropline limit (as per the repayment schedule) on the date of levy of such charges.
Up to 0.295% (Inclusive Of Applicable Taxes) Of The Dropline Limit During Initial Tenure. Up to 0.295% (Inclusive Of Applicable Taxes) Of Dropline Limit During Subsequent Tenure |
Related articles
Disclaimer
Bajaj Finance Limited has the sole and absolute discretion, without assigning any reason to accept or reject any application. Terms and conditions apply*.
For customer support, call Personal Loan IVR: 7757 000 000
Industrial Equipment Finance
Industrial Equipment Balance Transfer
Industrial Equipment Refinance