659 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025

Who Has a 659 Credit Score?

While age isn't a direct factor in your credit score calculation, data shows a clear trend of scores improving over time. This is largely because older individuals have had more time to build a positive payment history and a longer credit history. According to a 2023 analysis from Experian, here’s how average FICO scores break down by generation:

• Generation Z (ages 18-26): 680
• Millennials (ages 27-42): 690
• Generation X (ages 43-58): 709
• Baby Boomers (ages 59-77): 745
• The Silent Generation (ages 78+): 760

Credit Cards With a 659 Credit Score

A credit score of 659 places you in the "fair" credit range, which is a common starting point for many people building their credit history. While you can certainly qualify for a credit card with this score, you may find your options are geared toward cards for this specific credit tier, such as secured cards or certain unsecured cards for fair credit. Lenders might also offer you less favorable terms, such as higher annual percentage rates (APRs) or lower credit limits, until you demonstrate a consistent history of responsible use.

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Kudos offers AI-powered tools that provide personalized credit card recommendations based on your unique financial situation and preferences. By having you take a quiz or analyzing your spending habits, the platform sorts through nearly 3,000 cards to find the ideal match for your needs, helping you maximize rewards and build credit responsibly.

Auto Loans and a 659 Credit Score

With a 659 credit score, you fall into the non-prime borrower category, which can impact the interest rates you're offered for an auto loan. While approval is still likely, you can expect to face higher rates than applicants with prime or super-prime credit. According to 2025 auto loan analysis, average rates break down by credit score as follows:

• 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 659 Credit Score

A 659 credit score puts you in a position to qualify for several major mortgage types. According to credit score requirements, this score meets the typical minimums for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. However, it generally falls short of the 700+ score needed for a jumbo loan, which is used for higher-value properties.

While you are eligible for most standard loans, a 659 score will impact your terms. Lenders reserve the best interest rates for borrowers with scores in the 700s. You can expect to pay a higher interest rate and potentially higher private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums, which increases the total cost of your loan over its lifetime.

What's in a Credit Score?

Figuring out what goes into your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, but it generally boils down to a handful of key elements. The most common factors include:

• Your history of making payments on time is the most significant factor.
• How much of your available credit you're currently using, known as your credit utilization ratio, plays a major role.
• The age of your credit accounts, including the average age and the age of your oldest account, is also considered.
• Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as credit cards and loans.
• Opening several new credit accounts in a short period can be seen as a risk and may temporarily lower your score.

How to Improve Your 659 Credit Score

No matter your starting point, improving your credit score is always within reach. With consistent effort and the right strategies, you can boost your 659 score and unlock better financial opportunities.

• Monitor your credit reports. Regularly checking your free credit reports from all three bureaus helps you spot and dispute errors that could be unfairly dragging down your score.
• Set up automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the single most important factor in your score, ensuring every bill is paid on time is a powerful way to build a positive track record.
• Reduce your credit utilization. Aim to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%, as high balances can be a major roadblock for a 659 score and paying them down shows responsible management.
• Become an authorized user. Being added to an account with a long, positive history allows you to benefit from the primary user's good habits, adding their on-time payments and low utilization to your file.

Using a tool like the Kudos browser extension can also help you maximize rewards and make smarter credit decisions as you build your score.