topic Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Leo — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:59:51 GMT

Hi guys, I recently got my debut FICO scores and I wanted to share some DPs for anyone interested.

I have 4 open revolving credit lines:

1. Chime credit builder card (oldest, 6 months)

2. Discover It Secured (5 months)

3. US Bank Cash+ Secured (5 months)

4. A secured card at my credit union (5 months)

I also have one closed revolver: Capital One Quicksilver Secured, opened and closed 5 months ago.

Installment loans: I have a PenFed SSL for $3000 which I paid down to under 9.5%. I established this account two months ago.

Inquiries: I have 6 hard inquiries on Experian, 3 on TransUnion, 3 on Equifax.

Currently I have 11% reported aggregate utilization across my revolvers.

My debut FICO 8 scores are: Experian 737, TransUnion 742, Equifax 750.

I believe myself to be on a young/clean/thick/new revolver scorecard. I got this far by following the advice of a good mentor and friend of mine. My plan moving forward is to garden until I have at least 12 months of revolving credit history, which will be next August. At the same time, that's when my inquiries will all be gone and I'll be off the new revolver scorecard, so I expect to see my scores in the high 700's by then. Not sure what I'll do at that point.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Vinjints — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:54:21 GMT

It's a solid start. I wouldn't have any plans even at the 12 month mark. Continue where you're at, pay off each month, let the secured cards graduate and allow your limits to grow . Once you get some decent limits then look to expand if that's your thing. With 2,3 and 4 you should be able to get rid of the Chime when you're ready for something new. But, you don't need a shoebox full.

I think the biggest part since you're now established is learning how to use them responsibly. Best of luck.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Patient957 — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 20:23:14 GMT

Congrats for your great start, @Leo.

I think you might be able to get a few more points out of the SSL by paying it under 9%. I think the max benefit comes once under 9%, but I'm not sure how big the difference might be.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

FicoMike0 — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 03:10:02 GMT

That 9% thing would be a good data point. Could be rounded.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Thomas_Thumb — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 22:15:36 GMT

@Leo wrote:
Hi guys, I recently got my debut FICO scores and I wanted to share some DPs for anyone interested.
I have 4 open revolving credit lines:

1. Chime credit builder card (oldest, 6 months)
2. Discover It Secured (5 months)
3. US Bank Cash+ Secured (5 months)
4. A secured card at my credit union (5 months)

I also have one closed revolver: Capital One Quicksilver Secured, opened and closed 5 months ago.
Installment loans: I have a PenFed SSL for $3000 which I paid down to under 9.5%. I established this account two months ago.
Inquiries: I have 6 hard inquiries on Experian, 3 on TransUnion, 3 on Equifax.

Currently I have 11% reported aggregate utilization across my revolvers.

My debut FICO 8 scores are: Experian 737, TransUnion 742, Equifax 750.
I believe myself to be on a young/clean/thick/new revolver scorecard. I got this far by following the advice of a good mentor and friend of mine. My plan moving forward is to garden until I have at least 12 months of revolving credit history, which will be next August. At the same time, that's when my inquiries will all be gone and I'll be off the new revolver scorecard, so I expect to see my scores in the high 700's by then. Not sure what I'll do at that point.

Nice work.

The new revolver penalty is typically 15 to 20 points. So, that should be your point gain when the youngest crosses 12 months. You may also gain 5-15 points along the way as HPs age past 12 months. Not sure if any of your HPs are deduped to count as one.

Your file is by no means thick - it is just not thin. I would put focus on converting secured cards to no annual fee unsecured versions after they reach 12 months age (except the chime card). Then work on some CLIs for the converted cards.

Certainly no need for additional secured cards. If the cards won't convert get a couple unsecured cards and then wait 3 months before closing a couple secured cards. Start with the Chime.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

JamesS84 — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:27:13 GMT

Nice work…keep it up!

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

BrutalBodyShots — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:12:20 GMT

That's a lot of profile noise inside 6 months to return those scores. As a point of comparison, someone with just one credit card and 6 months of credit history on it can debut with FICO 8 scores of approximately 750, 750, 770. Those scores can then all be in the 770-780 range after AoYRA hits 12 months. In short, based on the data you provided, your scores with a busy first year file would end up almost identical to what could be had with just a single card profile. Naturally, credit profile is King to score so even with identical scores your thicker file is better.

I would definitely dump the "credit builder" product as it's completely unnecessary.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Thomas_Thumb — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:13:00 GMT

Mods/Credit Mentors - please reintegrate my above post with its parent thread in General Credit Topics. Continuity is important.

Rather odd that the post was excised and dumped here as a stand alone. How does that happen? The whole thread should be moved, not an isolated response post embedded in the thread.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

BrutalBodyShots — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:19:13 GMT

I was extremely confused when I saw this pop up yesterday, as I remember reading an entire thread on this topic to which you had a reply within it. What happened exactly?

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Thomas_Thumb — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:26:10 GMT

Looking back at that thread it appears Credit Mentor, Remedios, was the culprit who moved my post.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

BrutalBodyShots — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 01:11:40 GMT

No explanation? I know I haven't been here in a long time, but I thought when something like that happens whoever does it would indicate that the action was taken and why.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Remedios — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:33:55 GMT

@Thomas_Thumb wrote:
Mods/Credit Mentors - please reintegrate my above post with its parent thread in General Credit Topics. Continuity is important.

Rather odd that the post was excised and dumped here as a stand alone. How does that happen? The whole thread should be moved, not an isolated response post embedded in the thread.

Working on it, TT. Might be a few, I'll probably need to recreate it in order to have posts appear chronologically

ETA thread has been fixed.

Re: Debut FICO scores - some DPs

Thomas_Thumb — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:28:33 GMT

Thanks Remedios