Does taking too many loans hurt your credit score

In India, many of you are unaware of the intricate relationship between loans and your credit scores and how these loans affect your credit.

A credit score is a three-digit numerical representation, similar to the grading system on your financial report card.

Whenever you seek to borrow money, lenders scrutinise this score to assess risk and determine whether to grant you a loan, trusting you'll repay it. You might be wondering how loans affect your credit score. It may appear a complex puzzle, causing anxiety, especially during financial need.

This situation becomes even more relevant when you've already acquired numerous loans.

Whether you've previously taken out loans or not, this simplified guide with tips by Shriram Finance provides an in-depth understanding of how the financial credit system operates.

Determinants of your credit score

Five factors affect your credit score.

• Payment history (35%): Establishing a robust payment history forms the bedrock of a good credit score. Missing payments adversely affect your credit score.
• Total Amount Owed (30%): Only borrow what you can comfortably repay. This factor contributes 30% to your credit score.
• Length of Credit History: This lets the lender know how long you have maintained a positive credit history and adds 15% to your credit score.
• Credit Mix: There are different types of loans, like home, personal, auto, education, credit card debt, business, loans against property, gold, consumer durables, personal overdrafts, medical, and travel loans. Having a balanced credit mix of various types of loans adds 10% to your credit score.
• New Credit: To check whether you are a responsible borrower and if any new loan applications or loan approvals have been made within a given period. It adds 10% to your credit score.

Loans and your credit score

When applying for a loan, a higher credit score can expedite loan approval and potentially secure lower interest rates.

Credit reports are shared with credit bureaus, which generate reports based on your overall credit.

A credit score ranges from 300 to 850 and reflects your creditworthiness. Generally, a score above 700 is considered good and enhances your chances of loan approval.

Positive Effects

• Each new loan opportunity allows you to enhance your credit history, demonstrating that lenders trust you to repay promptly.
• Timely loan repayments significantly boost your credit score, showcasing your ability to manage financial obligations responsibly.
• Maintaining various types of credit in your credit portfolio demonstrates financial knowledge and optimal credit mix

Negative Effects

• The debt-to-credit ratio, which compares your debt to available credit, should never be exhausted. Taking multiple loans raises this ratio, subsequently lowering your credit score.
• Late payments not only affect your payment history but also your credit score.

Applying for a Loan

1. A "hard inquiry" is performed by lenders on your credit score and generates a credit report from one of India's 4 major credit bureaus: TransUnion CIBIL™, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark.
2. Importantly, taking out a loan hurts your credit initially but improves over time, provided there are no defaults.
3. Loan applications affect credit scores temporarily as lenders request credit reports from one or more bureaus.
4. Getting a loan hurts your credit and affects it minimally for a short period.
5. Applying for a loan affects your credit score temporarily and lowers it by a few points since it indicates the active pursuit of new loans without managing prior debts responsibly. How much it will be lowered depends on your credit history, and since it is temporary, it gets corrected in a few months.
6. Getting a loan does hurt your credit temporarily and lower your score, but it can be improved.
7. A personal loan hurts your credit relatively less due to its shorter repayment period.
8. Multiple loan applications affect a credit score if applied within a short period, implying financial need and higher risk. Nonetheless, lenders assess your financial capacity before considering this factor.
9. Applying for a mortgage temporarily hurts your credit. However, if you are researching interest rates within 14–45 days, it's generally regarded as a single inquiry.
10. Multiple mortgage applications hurt your credit, especially in a short timeframe. They trigger hard inquiries, temporarily lowering your credit score.
11. Mortgages are major loans, and applying for multiple mortgages affects credit significantly.
12. Therefore, it's advisable to research and identify suitable lenders beforehand to avoid excessive inquiries that could delay the process. Obtaining pre-approval from these lenders before formally applying for a mortgage is wise.
13. Debt consolidation loans hurt your credit temporarily. Consolidating multiple loans into one involves a hard inquiry and opening a new credit account.
14. However, closed accounts with good payment histories and extended credit histories positively affect your credit score. Debt consolidation can make repayments more manageable and save on interest.

Tips to Minimise Inquiry Impact

• Apply for loans when the likelihood of approval is high, as taking out a loan hurts your credit.
• Compare interest rates and loan terms from different lenders.
• When needing multiple loans, apply for them at the same time and within a short timeframe. It counts as a single hard inquiry on your credit report.
• Challenge any inaccurate information on your credit report.

Loan Repayments

Lenders assess your payment history through your credit report to determine your creditworthiness.

Late or missed payments tarnish your credit score, signifying irresponsible debt management.

If you can't make full payments, ensure you pay at least the minimum amount. It avoids severe credit damage, prolongs debt repayment and accrues more interest.

Effective strategies for managing loan repayments

• Set up automatic payments to avoid late or missed payments.
• Track your finances, including debt payments, to know due dates and amounts.
• Include loan instalments in your monthly budget to prevent overspending.
• In cases of financial stress, consult your lender or a credit counsellor for a more affordable payment plan.

Credit Mix

Credit mix refers to various credit types in your portfolio, such as revolving credit accounts (credit cards) and instalment loans (car loans and mortgages).

Advantages of a balanced credit mix

• A diversified mix showcases your debt management capability, albeit with a relatively small impact on your credit score.
• Multiple loan types increase the average credit age, indicating responsible borrowing. A shorter average age suggests newer borrowing.
• A balanced mix lowers the debt-to-credit ratio.

Credit History

Credit history includes financial transactions such as loans, credit cards, and mortgages.

A good credit score also qualifies you for other financial products like insurance and mobile phone contracts.

Five factors are considered by lenders when evaluating credit history

• Payment History: Timely payments are crucial for a good credit score.
• Amounts Owed: Avoid overextension; your debt-to-credit ratio should be below 30%.
• Length of Credit History: A long history of responsible credit usage is preferred.
• New Credit: Lenders may be wary of borrowers with numerous recent account openings.
• Types of Credit: A variety of credit accounts, including credit cards and instalment loans, are favourable.

NBFC Loans

Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are financial institutions regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with fewer regulations compared to banks.

They offer more flexibility about the types of loans and interest rates.

NBFC loans benefit individuals

• With lower credit scores.
• Lacking collateral.
• In need of quick, short-term financing.
• Facing difficulty obtaining loans from traditional banks.

Advantages of NBFC Loans

• More Flexible Lending Criteria: NBFCs are often more accommodating in their lending criteria.
• Smaller Loan Amounts and Shorter Terms: They may offer smaller loan amounts and shorter repayment periods, meeting specific needs.
• Accessible for Lower Credit Scores: NBFCs can be an option for individuals with lower credit scores.
• Quick Loan Processing: If you require a loan promptly, NBFCs can provide a swift solution.

Disadvantages of NBFC loans

• Higher Interest Rates: NBFCs tend to charge higher interest rates due to the higher risk they take.
• Less Stringent Regulation: Compared to traditional banks, they are less regulated.
• Potentially Stricter Approval: Approval for NBFC loans may be more challenging.
• Customer Service Differences: The quality of customer service may differ compared to traditional banks.

Conclusion

The financial decisions you make have an impact on your overall financial health.

Therefore, too many loans can temporarily hurt your credit score.

Balancing various types of loans in your credit portfolio with an intelligent credit mix, from instalment loans to secured loans, and adhering to timely payments for a positive payment history can enhance your credit score.

With the financial tools and offerings of Shriram Finance, you can make decisions like a financial expert and avoid things that may negatively impact your credit score, as they would cost you dearly in the future.

Key Highlights

• Regular reminders are crucial for on-time payments.
• Maintain a low debt-to-credit ratio.
• Extend the average age of your credit accounts.
• Diversify your credit types.
• Avoid applying for too much new credit simultaneously.
• Challenge inaccurate information on your credit report.

FAQs

1. Is it bad to have multiple loans at once?

Having multiple loans can affect your credit score if they're not managed well and if you've overextended yourself. When you have sufficient income and make timely payments, it can positively impact your credit score.

2. Do loans bring down your credit score?

Loans can influence your credit score, with factors like payment history and credit utilisation playing a role. Responsible management can minimise the negative impact.

3. How many loans are too many?

It completely depends on your ability to manage payments. Multiple loans increase risk and affect your financial well-being.

4. Is it bad to have 3 loans at the same time?

When you have sufficient income for debt repayment and consistently make timely payments, having 3 loans is not necessarily bad.

5. Can we take 3 loans at a time?

It's possible to have 3 loans but consider your financial situation and ability to handle repayments before taking on more debt.