Who Has a 697 Credit Score?

While individual scores vary, there is a clear trend of average credit scores increasing with age. According to 2023 data from Experian, the breakdown by generation is as follows:

• 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 697 Credit Score

A credit score of 697 places you firmly in the 'good' credit range, which is great news for your credit card prospects. This means you'll likely be approved for a wide variety of cards, including some with rewards and cash-back offers. However, you might just miss the cut for the most elite cards, and the interest rates or credit limits you're offered may not be as competitive as those for applicants with 'excellent' credit.

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A service like Kudos can help you cut through the noise and find the best card for your specific situation. Their AI-powered Explore Tool uses your preferences to provide personalized recommendations from a database of nearly 3,000 cards, ensuring the options are tailored to your financial goals.

Auto Loans and a 697 Credit Score

A 697 credit score places you in the 'Prime' borrower category, meaning you can generally expect to qualify for competitive auto loan rates. To see how this compares with other tiers, here are the average rates by credit score bracket from Experian's Q2 2025 data:

• Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars, 7.13% for used cars
• Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars, 9.36% for used cars
• Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars, 13.92% for used cars
• Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars, 18.86% for used cars
• Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars, 21.55% for used cars

Mortgages at a 697 Credit Score

A 697 credit score puts you in a strong position, qualifying you for most mainstream mortgage products. According to credit score requirements, this score is well above the minimum for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. While it's just shy of the 700+ typically needed for a jumbo loan, you have plenty of other options available.

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While you'll qualify, your score will impact your loan terms. A 697 is considered good, but you likely won't get the rock-bottom interest rates reserved for those with excellent credit (740+). Still, you can expect better rates and lower private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums than someone with a lower score, giving you more choices and some negotiating leverage.

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 697 Credit Score

Your credit score plays a crucial role in your financial life, but it isn't set in stone; it's always possible to improve your creditworthiness with consistent effort. With a 697 score, you're on the verge of the "very good" category, and a few strategic moves can help you get there using proven methods.

• Monitor your credit reports regularly. This allows you to check for and dispute any inaccuracies that might be unfairly holding your 697 score back.
• Establish automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the single most important factor in your score, ensuring every bill is paid on time is a foundational step for growth.
• Reduce your credit utilization ratio. Aim to keep your total balance below 30% of your total credit limit, as this is one of the quickest ways to see a positive impact on your score.
• Become an authorized user. Being added to an account with a long history of on-time payments and low utilization can add that positive data to your own credit file, giving your score a boost.

Using a free tool like the Kudos browser extension can help you maximize your credit card rewards while you work on building a stronger credit profile.