Recent graduate, age 23 · New York, NY · 14 months
New York Recent Graduate Built a Thin File to 720 FICO in 14 Months
Structured credit-builder loan, secured card, authorized-user, then unsecured upgrade sequence took a thin file to 720 FICO.
FICO 8
N/A (no score)720
Tradelines
04
Challenge
Zero open tradelines, no credit score. Needed to qualify for an apartment lease and a private student-loan refinance.
Approach
- 01Opened a credit-builder installment loan in month 1.
- 02Added a secured credit card with $500 deposit in month 2.
- 03Joined a family member's aged AmEx as authorized user in month 3.
- 04Upgraded secured card to unsecured at month 12 and added 1 new revolving account.
Outcome
Reached 720 FICO at month 14. Approved for a private student-loan refi at 6.1% APR, saving $14,200 in projected interest.
FAQs
How long until a credit score generates?
Typically 3-6 months after the first reporting tradeline opens.
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