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455 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 455 credit score provides a clear opportunity to build a stronger financial profile. This number falls within the 'Poor' FICO score category, which serves as a foundational starting point for improving your credit standing.
What Does a 455 Credit Score Mean?
A 455 credit score places you in the "poor" credit range on the FICO Score scale, which runs from 300 to 850. Lenders generally view scores below 580 as a sign of high risk, making it challenging to secure new credit. This can translate to difficulties getting approved for personal loans, mortgages, or even a new credit card. If you are approved, you'll likely face steep interest rates and less-than-ideal terms, making borrowing significantly more expensive.
While this score certainly presents financial hurdles, it's important to view it as a starting point, not a final destination. A low score is a reflection of past financial behavior, but it doesn't have to dictate your future. Understanding the components of your credit history is the crucial first step toward rebuilding your financial standing and eventually gaining access to more favorable lending options.
Who Has a 455 Credit Score?
While age is not a direct factor in calculating a credit score, data shows a clear trend of scores improving over time. According to 2023 data from Experian, the average FICO score increases with each generation, reflecting longer credit histories and more established financial track records.
- Generation Z (ages 18-26): 680
- Millennials (ages 27-42): 690
- Generation X (ages 43-58): 709
- Baby Boomers (ages 59-77): 745
- Silent Generation (ages 78+): 760
Credit Cards With a 455 Credit Score
A credit score of 455 falls into the "very poor" range, which can significantly hinder your ability to obtain a credit card. Most lenders view this score as a high risk, meaning you'll likely face rejections for traditional, unsecured credit cards. Your options will probably be limited to secured cards that require a cash deposit or certain unsecured cards designed for bad credit, which often come with high fees and interest rates.
Kudos offers AI-powered tools like the Explore Tool and Dream Wallet, which provide personalized credit card recommendations based on your preferences and spending habits. These tools help you compare options from a database of nearly 3,000 cards and offer insights into how a new card might impact your credit score, ensuring you find the best fit for your financial situation.
Auto Loans and a 455 Credit Score
A 455 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan challenging. While approval is still possible, you should expect to face significantly higher interest rates, as shown in the 2025 rate data below.
- Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars and 7.13% for used cars
- Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars and 9.36% for used cars
- Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars and 13.92% for used cars
- Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars and 18.86% for used cars
- Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars and 21.55% for used cars
Mortgages at a 455 Credit Score
Securing a mortgage with a 455 credit score is challenging, as your options are extremely limited. Most lenders will not approve a loan, and conventional, VA, or USDA loans are typically unavailable. The only potential, though unlikely, path is an FHA loan, as they technically accept scores down to 500. However, very few borrowers get approved with scores below 600.
If you manage to find a willing lender, expect stringent terms. An FHA loan would require a minimum 10% down payment. You'll also face much higher interest rates and fees, making the loan significantly more expensive over its lifetime. Lenders will also perform a strict manual underwriting, scrutinizing your income, debts, and overall financial stability.
What's in a Credit Score?
Understanding your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, as it's a blend of several key financial habits. The most common factors that determine your score include:
- Your payment history tracks whether you have paid past credit accounts on time.
- Credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you are currently using.
- The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest account and the average age of all your accounts.
- Credit mix refers to the variety of credit products you have, such as credit cards, retail accounts, and loans.
- New credit inquiries and recently opened accounts can also temporarily impact your score.
How to Improve Your 455 Credit Score
While a 455 credit score can feel limiting, it is absolutely possible to improve your creditworthiness and build a healthier financial profile. According to a guide from Kudos, taking consistent, positive actions can lead to meaningful changes in as little as three to six months.
- Monitor your credit reports. Regularly checking your reports allows you to spot and dispute inaccuracies, which can be a quick way to boost a low score. This also helps you track your progress and ensure no fraudulent activity is holding you back.
- Set up automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the single most important factor in your credit score, so ensuring every bill is paid on time is crucial. Establishing automatic payments prevents missed payments that would further damage a score in the poor range.
- Apply for a secured credit card. For those with a 455 score, qualifying for traditional credit can be difficult, but a secured card is an accessible tool to build a positive payment history. Responsible use is reported to credit bureaus, helping you demonstrate creditworthiness over time.
- Reduce your credit utilization. Lenders look at how much of your available credit you're using, and a high ratio hurts your score significantly. Paying down balances to get below the recommended 30% threshold is one of the fastest ways to see improvement.
To help manage your credit and find the right financial products for your journey, explore the tools and resources available from Kudos.
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