If you’re struggling to get a loan due to a low credit/CIBIL score, you may be wondering how to get your credit score from 500 to 750 or even higher. The good news is that credit score improvement is achievable with consistent financial discipline, smart credit management, and timely corrections. Whether you’re rebuilding after past financial challenges or just starting your credit improvement journey, understanding the right steps can significantly boost your creditworthiness and loan eligibility.

This article will explain what a CIBIL score is, how to increase your CIBIL score from 500 to 750, and how long the overall process typically takes.

What Is a CIBIL Score?

A CIBIL score is a three-digit number issued by TransUnion CIBIL, short for Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited, that summarises your overall credit history and credit behaviour. Lenders and financial institutions use it during credit risk assessment to evaluate how safe it is to lend to a borrower.

Here’s a quick overview:

How to Increase CIBIL Score from 500 to 750

Here are the steps involved in how to improve your CIBIL score from 500 to 750:

1. Lowering Credit Utilisation Ratio

As a thumb rule, it is favourable for a financial profile if a good credit utilisation ratio is maintained. For this, one needs to use less than 30% of the total available limit.

2. Avoiding Closure of Older Accounts

Older accounts show your long-term association and connection with the lending institutions, which is considered good by the credit bureaus. This further helps to improve the CIBIL score and your overall credit health.

3. Improving Payment History

When learning how to improve your CIBIL score from 500 to 750, the role of a strong repayment history cannot be overlooked, as it portrays you as a responsible borrower.

4. Monitoring of Credit Reports

Individuals need to regularly (not constantly) conduct credit monitoring and CIBIL score checks, as it helps them understand their creditworthiness and take steps to improve their score if needed.

5. Multiple Credit

We should avoid applying for multiple loans, cards and other debt instruments at once, as it tends to depict a picture of one who is heavily dependent on credit. This behaviour is immediately tracked by credit bureaus, which further leads to a fall in the credit score and slows credit improvement.

6. Avoid Enquiries about Credit Cards

An individual’s credit score may be affected if they enquire frequently about other credit cards. Therefore, one should avoid this and instead investigate through online platforms without contacting the credit card companies, thus helping them work towards a 750 CIBIL score.

7. Pay EMIs on Time

It is always a very good credit management practice to ensure that one never misses a single EMI or credit card payment. This should be done on or before the due date. Missing a single payment or any delay in the same could lead to penalty charges as well as a reduction in the overall credit score.

8. Always Pay the Complete EMI Amount

Many people rack up a lot of debt by only paying the minimum amount due. However, you must know that in doing so, the rest of the amount payable will continue to accrue interest, which will further reduce your credit score. On the other hand, making regular on-time payments could help you improve your credit score over a period of 1-2 years (depending on the tenure of the loan).

9. Pay Off Your Card Balance via Personal Loan

A personal loan has a lower interest rate compared to that of credit cards. It is advisable to use a personal loan to pay off your credit card balance and then pay the personal loan through regular, more manageable monthly EMIs. A personal loan EMI calculator can be used to stay on top of your monthly payments.

These practices form the foundation of how to improve your CIBIL score from 500 to 750, and with consistent effort, meaningful progress becomes achievable.

How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Credit Score?

When learning how to get a 750 credit score from 500, it is important to understand that credit recovery is a gradual process. The exact time required depends on factors such as your past credit behaviour, current outstanding debt, credit utilisation, and repayment consistency. Below is a quick overview of how long different credit events may take to reflect in your score:

Credit Event

Impact on Credit Score

Estimated Recovery Time

Late EMI Payment

Moderate to High Negative

3–6 months with timely payments

Credit Card Max-Out

High Negative

4–8 months after reducing utilisation

New Loan Enquiry Spike

Low to Moderate

2–3 months

Closing Old Credit Accounts

Moderate

3–6 months

Unbalanced Credit Mix

Low to Moderate

3–9 months after diversifying credit responsibly

Debt Consolidation Using a Personal Loan

Positive

3–9 months

Correcting Errors in Credit Report

Positive

30–45 days

With consistent repayment and strong financial discipline, you can steadily recover and move toward a good CIBIL score.

Conclusion

Regular credit monitoring and disciplined financial behaviour are essential for maintaining a good credit score, as it directly affects key loan aspects such as personal loan eligibility and personal loan interest rates.

At SMFG India Credit, personal loan applicants are required to have a minimum CIBIL score of 705 (or 700 for self-employed individuals) to qualify. You can use a personal loan eligibility calculator to estimate your borrowing capacity before applying, and ensure that all necessary personal loan documents are ready for a smooth and hassle-free application process.

Apply now to begin your personal loan journey today, or contact us for more details.

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* Please note that this article is for your knowledge only. Loans are disbursed at the sole discretion of SMFG India Credit. Final approval, loan terms, disbursal process, foreclosure charges and foreclosure process will be subject to SMFG India Credit's policy at the time of loan application. If you wish to know more about our products and services, please contact us

FAQs

How To Maintain A Good CIBIL Score?

Here are some ways to maintain a good CIBIL score:

  1. Pay all your loan EMIs, credit card dues, and utility bills on time.
  2. Monitor your credit utilisation ratio and try to keep it below 30% of the available loan limit.
  3. Keep open the older credit accounts that have a good repayment history.
  4. Regularly check your CIBIL report for any errors and immediately raise a dispute with CIBIL if you find any.
  5. Do not apply for too much credit within a short period.

How Can One Improve Their CIBIL Score Immediately From 600 To 750?

You can increase your CIBIL score by:

  • Maintaining a favorable credit utilisation ratio, below 30% of the total limit.
  • Improving your payment history by paying EMIs on time and paying the complete EMI amount.
  • Avoiding closure of old accounts with good payment history to showcase long-term connection with lending institutions.
  • Monitoring your credit reports for inaccuracies and raising a dispute with CIBIL to get them corrected.
  • Avoiding inquiries about other credit cards as this could affect your credit score. Get your information online without contacting any credit companies.
  • Opt for a personal loan to pay off your card balance as this has a lower interest rate compared to that of credit cards. At SMFG India Credit, interest rates start at 13% per annum*.

Why is your credit score important?

A high credit score indicates responsible credit behaviour and a good payment history, increasing lenders’ confidence in your repayment ability. It can lead to faster approval times and lower interest rates if you fulfill all eligibility criteria. Generally, a credit score between 750 and 900 can get you favourable loan terms.

What is considered a good credit score?

What accounts for a “good” credit score can vary from lender to lender as well as the scoring model used. Generally, a credit score of 700 to 749 is considered to be ‘good’, while a score between 750 and 900 is said to be ‘excellent’.

How much does CIBIL score increase per month?

While there is no fixed monthly increase amount, there might be slight increases or drops in your score within a month depending on your credit behaviour. Significant improvements usually take around 4 to 12 months.

Is 600 a good CIBIL score?

Depending on the lender and the credit scoring model, 600 may be considered an ‘average’. You may find it difficult to get a loan or you may get a loan with higher interest rates and stricter loan terms. It is advisable to try to improve the credit score to 750 before applying for a loan or consider a co-applicant with a strong credit score.

Can you recover from a 500 credit score?

It is possible to recover from a 500 credit score. It will take time and consistent efforts in practicing responsible credit habits. Paying all dues on time, limiting the use of credit to below 30% of the available limit, and avoiding multiple loan applications at the same time are some ways to improve your credit score.

How to get a 750 credit score in 30 days?

While you may not see a significant credit score increase in 30 days, consistent efforts will help you gradually improve and maintain a strong score in the long run. Some ways to improve a credit score in 30 days include – timely repayments, keeping a low credit utilisation ratio of 30%, and tracking credit reports for errors and getting them rectified from the relevant bureau.

What is the fastest way to increase my credit score?

The fastest ways include lowering credit utilisation, paying overdue balances, correcting inaccuracies in your credit report, and avoiding new credit enquiries.

How to get a 750 credit score with no credit history?

Build a 750 score from scratch by starting with a secured credit card or a small personal loan (depending on lender policies), making all payments on time, keeping utilisation low, and maintaining active credit for several months. Responsible usage gradually establishes a strong credit profile.

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