CIBIL Score Range Chart India — What Each Band Means for Loans & Cards (2026)
CIBIL score range chart for India — 300 to 900 explained with approval odds for credit cards, personal loans, and home loans. See where you stand in 2026.
You checked your CIBIL score on the HDFC app — it says 734 — and now you are wondering whether that is "good enough" for an SBI Cashback card, a ₹15 lakh personal loan, or just embarrassment at the family function when someone mentions home loan rates. A CIBIL score range chart maps those three-digit numbers to real-world outcomes: which cards get approved, what interest rates look like, and what sample borrower profiles typically sit in each band. This 2026 guide gives you the full table, bank context, and practical next steps for your bracket.
Quick Answer: CIBIL scores run from 300 to 900. Bands: 800+ excellent, 750–799 very good, 700–749 good, 650–699 fair, 600–649 poor, 300–599 very poor. NH means no score yet. Each band changes approval odds and pricing — but income, enquiries, and existing debt still matter.
The Complete CIBIL Score Range Chart (India 2026)
Use this as a reference chart — not a guarantee. HDFC, ICICI, Axis, and SBI each set internal cutoffs that shift with risk appetite and RBI norms.
| CIBIL score range | Category | Credit card approval (typical) | Personal loan (typical) | Home loan (typical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 – 900 | Excellent | Premium cards (Infinia-tier, Amex Platinum Travel) if income fits; high limits | Best rates; pre-approved offers common | Lowest spreads; faster processing |
| 750 – 799 | Very good | Most mainstream cards (Millennia, Ace, Amazon Pay ICICI, SBI Cashback) | Competitive rates from banks | Strong approval odds for salaried |
| 700 – 749 | Good | Entry/mid cards; some premium declines | Approved at moderate rates; limit may be lower | Possible with stable job and low FOIR |
| 650 – 699 | Fair | Secured cards or lenient issuers (IDFC, RBL entry) | NBFCs more likely than big banks | Tougher; higher rate or co-applicant needed |
| 600 – 649 | Poor | Mostly FD-backed / fintech starters | High rate or decline from banks | Very difficult without collateral |
| 300 – 599 | Very poor | Secured only; multiple rejections likely | Decline or predatory small loans | Unlikely for standard salaried cases |
| NH / -1 | No history | Secured, add-on, or pre-approved from salary bank | Thin-file programs or decline | Needs co-applicant with strong file |
FOIR (fixed obligation to income ratio) = your EMIs divided by net income. A 770 score with ₹45,000 EMIs on ₹55,000 salary can still fail a home loan — the chart assumes reasonable debt load.
See also: Minimum CIBIL score for credit cards.
800–900: Excellent — Top-Tier Borrower Profile
Borrowers in this band have usually demonstrated years of clean repayment: low utilisation, no recent settlements, and stable account age.
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: Eligible for premium products *if* income and internal bank score match. HDFC Diners Black, Axis Magnus (before devaluations), ICICI Emeralde — all still require ₹12–24 lakh+ income bands and relationship metrics, not CIBIL alone.
- Limits: ₹2–5 lakh+ on premium cards for strong salaried profiles in metro cities.
- Loans: Personal loan rates closer to 10–12% from banks vs 16%+ for weak files. Home loan negotiations easier.
Sample profile — Ananya, 34, Bengaluru:
CIBIL 812. One HDFC credit card since 2018 (₹3 lakh limit, 8% utilisation), one closed car loan paid on time, no enquiries in 12 months. Salary ₹1.8 lakh/month. She gets pre-approved Axis Atlas upgrade offers and ₹25 lakh personal loan quotes at competitive rates.
Caution: Do not over-apply just because you are at 820. One unnecessary hard inquiry still costs points. Protect the band with utilisation discipline.
750–799: Very Good — The Sweet Spot for Most Indians
This is the range most credit card comparison articles assume. If you are here with stable income, you are in good shape for 2026's top cashback and travel cards at mid tiers.
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: SBI Cashback, Amazon Pay ICICI, HDFC Millennia, Axis Flipkart, Tata Neu Infinity — approval odds high if income docs clean.
- Limits: Often ₹50,000–₹2 lakh depending on income and bank relationship.
- Loans: Personal loans from HDFC/ICICI often feasible; home loans standard for salaried IT employees with 750+.
Sample profile — Rohit, 29, Pune:
CIBIL 768. Two cards (SBI Cashback ₹80k limit, ICICI Amazon ₹1.2L), both paid full. One personal loan EMI finishing in 8 months. Salary ₹85,000/month credited to ICICI. Approved for HDFC Swiggy HDFC Bank Credit Card at ₹1 lakh limit.
If stuck at 755 and want 780+: Lower statement balances before due dates for 3–4 cycles, avoid new enquiries 90 days, keep oldest account open.
700–749: Good — Approvals Possible, Premium Harder
Many salaried Indians live here — especially after one old missed payment, a period of high utilisation, or two recent card applications.
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: Entry and mid-tier from your salary bank work best. Cold applications to strict issuers (Amex, HDFC premium) often fail despite "decent" score.
- Limits: Starter limits ₹30,000–₹75,000 common.
- Loans: Personal loans may carry 1–3% higher interest than 780+ peers.
Sample profile — Priya, 41, Ahmedabad:
CIBIL 718. One Axis card at 65% utilisation (₹65k on ₹1L limit — hurting score), home loan EMI always on time. Applied HDFC Regalia — rejected (utilisation + premium policy). Approved IDFC FIRST Classic after utilisation dropped to 25% for two months.
Action: Before any application, pull full report. Fix utilisation first — fastest improvement lever. Guide: Improve credit score India.
650–699: Fair — Borderline for Unsecured Cards
This band often includes people recovering from a 30-day late mark, self-employed with irregular income reporting, or young professionals with only 6 months of credit history.
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: Secured FD cards (SBI Unnati, Axis Insta Easy, IDFC WOW), fintech cards (OneCard, Slice), or add-on cards from family.
- Limits: Low until behaviour improves — ₹20,000–₹50,000 typical on unsecured if approved at all.
- Loans: Bank personal loans difficult; NBFC options at 18–24% APR.
Sample profile — Vikram, 26, Jaipur:
CIBIL 672. Missed one credit card minimum in 2024 (now paid, account current). Two hard enquiries from rejected applications. Got IDFC FIRST WOW against ₹15,000 FD; after 9 months of full payments, score reached 701.
Do not: Apply to HDFC, SBI, and ICICI in the same month. Each rejection adds enquiries. Read: Credit card with low CIBIL score.
600–649: Poor — Repair Mode
Scores here usually mean multiple negative signals: 60+ DPD history, settled accounts, or chronic high utilisation plus enquiry clusters.
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: Secured products almost exclusively. Some NBFC-linked cards may approve with low limits.
- Loans: Mostly NBFC small-ticket loans; mainstream banks decline.
Sample profile — Meena, 38, Chennai:
CIBIL 631. Personal loan settled in 2023 for ₹40,000 (original ₹68,000). One active card maxed out. Home loan application deferred. Started SBI Unnati secured card with ₹30,000 FD; no new unsecured applications for 12 months.
Settlements stay on report for years — score can improve with new clean lines but underwriters still see the mark.
300–599: Very Poor — Stop Applying, Start Fixing
This range indicates severe delinquency, write-offs, or repeated defaults. Scores below 550 often involve accounts in written-off or suit filed status.
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: Only secured, after clearing overdue amounts where possible.
- Loans: Extremely limited; avoid loan apps with opaque terms.
Sample profile — Arjun, 45, Lucknow:
CIBIL 548. Credit card written off in 2022; outstanding since partially paid. Cannot get unsecured card. Cleared remaining dues, obtained closure letter, opened secured card — score moved to 620 in 14 months but write-off remark remains visible.
Professional help is rarely needed — discipline and closure letters from lenders matter more. Dispute errors if any account is not yours.
NH / No Score — Not Bad, Just Unproven
NH (No History) or -1 means insufficient credit tradelines to calculate a score. Common for:
- First job out of college
- Homemakers without independent credit
- NRIs newly returned to India
- Anyone who only uses debit/UPI
What you typically get:
- Credit cards: Same practical path as 650 band — secured, add-on, or pre-approved from salary account.
- Loans: Co-applicant or collateral often required.
Sample profile — Neha, 23, Hyderabad:
NH on CIBIL. First salary account with HDFC for 4 months. Pre-approved HDFC MoneyBack ₹40k limit via app (internal banking score). Uses card for ₹5,000/month, pays full — score 710 appears at month 8.
Build guide: How to build credit score from zero.
How Lenders Combine Score Bands with Other Rules
Banks do not use the chart in isolation. Typical 2026 underwriting layers:
| Factor | Example impact |
|---|---|
| Income | ₹35k salary unlikely to get ₹3L limit even at 780 |
| Employment type | Salaried MNC favoured vs cash-heavy business |
| Existing exposure | ₹6L total card limits may block new premium card |
| Enquiries | 5 hard pulls in 60 days → decline at 760 |
| Relationship | Salary + FD with ICICI → easier ICICI card |
| Location | Tier-2 city limits sometimes lower |
RBI requires fair treatment and grievance redressal, but no rule forces approval at any score. Internal "policy" declines at 745 are common — annoying but legal.
Weekly updates: With RBI-nudged faster bureau reporting, moving between bands can happen in weeks if you fix utilisation or if a lender reports a correction. Details: Weekly CIBIL reporting April 2026.
Moving Up One Band — Realistic Timelines
| Current band | Target band | Realistic timeline (clean behaviour) |
|---|---|---|
| NH → 700+ | First score | 6–9 months with secured card |
| 650–699 → 700–749 | Fair → Good | 4–8 months |
| 700–749 → 750–799 | Good → Very good | 3–6 months |
| 750+ → 800+ | Very good → Excellent | 6–12+ months; requires long clean history |
Major jumps after settlement or write-off take 2–4 years of spotless new behaviour — not 90 days.
For a structured 12-week push from fair to good, see our companion: How to improve CIBIL in 90 days (same batch — internal link when live).
Using the Chart Before Your Next Application
Step 1: Check score and full report (not app headline only).
Step 2: Identify your band from the chart above.
Step 3: Match product tier — do not apply for Axis Atlas at 685.
Step 4: If borderline (695–705), improve utilisation 60 days, then apply once.
Step 5: Use CardSpot to shortlist cards aligned to band and spend pattern.
See also: Credit score explained India for report terminology (DPD, settled, closed).
Frequently asked questions
Yes. 750 is solid for most credit cards and personal loans in 2026. Many banks treat 750+ as "preferred" for unsecured products. Premium cards may still want 780+ plus high income. If you are at 748, small utilisation fixes often push you into the very good band within one or two billing cycles.
Most PSU and private banks prefer 750+ for salaried home loans at competitive rates. Some approve at 700–749 with higher interest or stricter FOIR caps. Below 700, expect co-applicants, larger down payment, or NBFC/HFC options at premium pricing. CIBIL is one input — property legal, income proof, and LTV matter equally.
Yes. Lenders report to multiple bureaus on slightly different schedules. Your CIBIL might be 720 while Experian shows 695 if one card reports late to Experian. Before disputing, compare full reports. For HDFC/ICICI applications, assume CIBIL is what matters most.
600 is poor — not hopeless, but mainstream unsecured credit cards from major banks are unlikely. You likely have past delinquencies, high utilisation, or multiple recent enquiries. Focus on clearing overdues, stopping new applications, and using a secured FD card for 12 months before retrying SBI or HDFC entry cards.
Check at least every 3–6 months if you are actively building credit, or before any loan/card application. With weekly reporting trends, monthly checks during repair are reasonable. Use free official/authorised checks — they do not hurt score.
Neither. New borrowers start with NH (no score), not 900. Scores build from first reported account behaviour. There is no universal starting number — your first calculated score might appear around 650–750 depending on early payment patterns and utilisation on your first card or loan.