Why the Age of Your Credit Accounts Matters for Your Credit Score

In the lending world, we often start talking about credit after it’s already become an obstacle. But building a strong credit profile takes time—and that includes the age of your accounts. A good credit score boils down to good habits, disciplined budgeting, thoughtful forecasting, and consistent monitoring. That counts for both business and personal credit. When it comes to personal credit, the average age of your credit accounts plays a big role in your personal credit score—and lenders look at this when assessing your application.

Why Lenders Care About Account Age:

   Lenders use account age to evaluate your financial stability over time. A longer credit history gives them more data to assess how you manage money. If most of your accounts are new, it can be harder to establish trust, even if your payment history is solid.

  Depending on the credit scoring model, the average age of your credit accounts can make up 15% to 20% of your FICO® score—a significant chunk for something many people overlook, according to Experian.

  Personally, I use Experian to monitor changes to my credit profile. I’ve set it to notify me monthly about updates to my account age and other factors. (Not a sponsored link—just a useful tool.)

   Most credit card issuers now offer some version of credit monitoring as well. Just be sure to check which scoring model is being used. FICO® Score 8 is the most common model for lenders, while VantageScore can be helpful for education but isn’t typically used for commercial loan underwriting

Tips to Improve:

• Don’t close your oldest credit cards unless absolutely necessary.

• Be strategic about opening new accounts—it can lower your average.

• If you're new to credit, consider becoming an authorized user on a trusted family member's old account.

• Paying off term accounts quickly can negatively affect the age of account scoring model. Consider holding accounts with lower rates as an easy boost to this metric.

  
  

Aging your accounts takes time—but it’s a credit factor that can work in your favor long term.

👉 Curious how your personal credit impacts your ability to get funded? Let’s talk.

About the Author

   Jared Holmes is the founder of Brilliance Funding Partners, where he helps business owners navigate the commercial lending landscape with confidence. With 9 years of hands-on experience in SBA lending, equipment financing, and working capital solutions, Jared focuses on asking the right questions and delivering financing strategies that make sense for each business. Connect with Jared for a personalized conversation about your options.