370 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2026
370 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2026
Unfortunately, your 370 credit score is considered very poor.
July 1, 2025
Kudos Team
December 30, 2025
6 min read
TL;DR
A 370 credit score is a starting point on the path toward building a stronger financial future. This score falls into the Poor credit range, which means there is a significant opportunity to improve your standing and unlock better financial products.
What Does a 370 Credit Score Mean?
A 370 credit score falls into the "poor" category on the FICO Score range of 300 to 850. To lenders, this number indicates a history of significant financial difficulties, such as delinquencies, defaults, or collections. It signals that you are a very high-risk borrower, which heavily influences how financial institutions view your credit applications.
With a score this low, your financial options are severely limited. You will likely face rejections for most traditional loans and credit cards. If you are approved for any form of credit, it will almost certainly come with steep interest rates and strict terms. While this presents a major obstacle, it is a starting point from which you can begin to move forward.
Who Has a 370 Credit Score?
While age isn't a direct factor in credit score calculations, scores tend to improve as people get older. Based on 2023 data, the average credit scores by generation break down 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 370 Credit Score
A credit score of 370 falls into the "very poor" range, which can significantly hinder your ability to obtain a credit card. Lenders view this score as a high-risk indicator, making them hesitant to approve applications for traditional, unsecured credit cards. Consequently, your options will likely be restricted to secured credit cards or those specifically designed for individuals with bad credit, which may come with higher fees and interest rates.
Kudos can help you find the right card for your situation with its AI-powered tools that analyze your unique spending habits and financial needs. The platform provides personalized recommendations from a database of nearly 3,000 cards and offers insights into how a new card could impact your credit score, empowering you to make a more informed choice.
Auto Loans and a 370 Credit Score
A 370 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan challenging. While approval is still possible, you can expect to face significantly higher interest rates, with some 2025 auto loan data showing rates over 21% for this bracket.
| Credit Risk | New Car | Used Car |
|---|---|---|
| Super-prime | 5.25% | 7.13% |
| Prime | 6.87% | 9.36% |
| Non-prime | 9.83% | 13.92% |
| Subprime | 13.18% | 18.86% |
| Deep subprime | 15.77% | 21.55% |
Mortgages at a 370 Credit Score
A 370 credit score falls well below the minimum threshold for nearly all mortgage programs, making it extremely difficult to qualify for a home loan. According to a guide on mortgage requirements, even the most accessible government-backed options have higher standards. For example, an FHA loan requires a minimum score of 500, and conventional loans typically start at 620. While specialty subprime lenders exist, finding one to approve a score this low is highly improbable, meaning you will likely need to improve your credit before qualifying.
Even if you found a rare lender willing to offer a loan, the terms would be significantly unfavorable. A low credit score directly leads to much higher interest rates, potentially adding tens of thousands of dollars to the total cost of your home over the loan's term. Lenders would also impose stricter conditions, such as requiring a larger down payment, limiting the amount you can borrow, and offering very few loan choices. In practice, a low score severely restricts both your eligibility and the affordability of any potential loan.
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 payment history, which tracks whether you pay your bills on time, is the most significant factor.
- Credit utilization, or the amount of credit you're using compared to your total available credit, also plays a major role.
- The length of your credit history demonstrates your experience with managing credit over time.
- Having a healthy mix of different types of credit, such as credit cards and installment loans, can positively impact your score.
- Finally, recent credit inquiries, which occur when you apply for new credit, are also taken into account.
How to Improve Your 370 Credit Score
While a 370 credit score presents significant challenges, it is entirely possible to rebuild your financial standing, with most people seeing meaningful changes within three to six months of consistent effort. Starting with a few foundational steps can put you on the right path toward a healthier credit profile.
- Monitor your credit reports regularly. You can obtain free credit reports to check for inaccuracies or fraudulent activity that could be unfairly damaging your score. Correcting these errors can provide one of the quickest boosts to your credit.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Your payment history is the single largest factor in your credit score, so ensuring every bill is paid on time is non-negotiable. Setting up automatic payments prevents missed due dates, which is crucial for rebuilding from a very low score.
- Apply for a secured credit card. A 370 score makes it difficult to qualify for traditional credit, but a secured card requires a cash deposit that acts as your credit limit. Making small, regular payments on this card is an excellent way to build a positive payment history and prove your creditworthiness to lenders.
- Become an authorized user. If you have a trusted friend or family member with a strong credit history, ask to be added as an authorized user on one of their accounts. Their on-time payments and low credit utilization can be added to your credit file, helping to improve your score without a new credit application.
Using a financial companion like Kudos can help you manage your cards and track your progress on your credit improvement journey.