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684 Credit score: What You Need to Know in 2025
July 1, 2025
TL;DR
A 684 credit score is generally considered a “fair” score, placing you in a solid position on the credit spectrum. This score often qualifies you for a range of financial products and serves as an excellent foundation for building toward a higher credit tier.
What Does a 684 Credit Score Mean?
A 684 credit score places you firmly in the "good" range according to the FICO scoring model, which spans from 300 to 850. Lenders generally see a score like this as a positive sign, indicating you're a dependable borrower. This means you'll likely be approved for various credit products, such as auto loans or mortgages. However, you might not secure the absolute best interest rates, which are typically reserved for those with higher scores in the "very good" or "exceptional" tiers.
Think of a 684 score as a strong foundation. It's a respectable number that already provides access to many financial tools, but it also sits on the cusp of even better opportunities. With this score, you're well-positioned to build toward a stronger financial future, potentially unlocking more favorable lending terms and lower borrowing costs down the road.
Who Has a 684 Credit Score?
A 684 credit score is very close to the average for younger generations. Credit scores tend to improve with age as people have more time to build a positive payment history. According to 2023 Experian data, here is the breakdown of average FICO scores by age group:
- Ages 18-26 (Generation Z): 680
- Ages 27-42 (Millennials): 690
- Ages 43-58 (Generation X): 709
- Ages 59-77 (Baby Boomers): 745
- Ages 78+ (Silent Generation): 760
Credit Cards With a 684 Credit Score
A credit score of 684 places you in the "fair" credit range, which can be a mixed bag when applying for new credit cards. While you'll likely be approved for a variety of cards, you may not qualify for the most premium options offering top-tier rewards or the lowest interest rates. Lenders might also offer you a lower credit limit or a higher APR than they would for applicants with stronger credit profiles.
Kudos offers AI-powered tools that provide personalized credit card recommendations based on your financial goals or by analyzing your actual spending habits. These tools help you find the best card for your situation by matching your preferences for rewards or low interest rates and can even provide credit score insights.
Auto Loans and a 684 Credit Score
A credit score of 684 places you in the "prime" borrower category, which generally means you'll have a good chance of being approved for an auto loan. While you can expect to receive competitive interest rates, they won't be as low as those offered to borrowers with the highest, or "super-prime," credit scores.
According to Experian data, here are the average auto loan interest rates by credit score bracket:
- Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars, 7.13% for used cars
- Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars, 9.36% for used cars
- Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars, 13.92% for used cars
- Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars, 18.86% for used cars
- Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars, 21.55% for used cars
Mortgages at a 684 Credit Score
With a 684 credit score, you are in a good position to qualify for several types of home loans. This score meets the typical minimum requirements for conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. While you'll have multiple options, jumbo loans for high-value properties generally require a score of 700 or higher, likely placing them just out of reach.
However, your 684 score will influence your loan terms. You will not secure the most competitive interest rates, which are typically reserved for borrowers with excellent credit (740+). For a conventional loan, you may also face higher private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums, increasing your monthly payment compared to someone with a higher score.
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 history of making payments on time is the most significant factor.
- How much of your available credit you're currently using, known as your credit utilization ratio, plays a major role.
- The age of your credit accounts, including the average age and the age of your oldest account, is also considered.
- Lenders like to see that you can responsibly manage different types of credit, such as credit cards and loans.
- Opening several new credit accounts in a short period can be seen as a risk and may temporarily lower your score.
How to Improve Your 684 Credit Score
Your credit score plays a crucial role in your financial life, but it's not set in stone. It is always possible to improve your creditworthiness with consistent effort and the right strategies, which can help you secure better loan terms and credit card approvals.
- Establish automatic bill payments. Since payment history is the single most important factor in your score, ensuring every bill is paid on time is a critical step toward building a stronger credit profile.
- Reduce your credit utilization ratio. Lenders look closely at how much of your available credit you're using, and keeping this ratio below 30% shows you can manage debt responsibly.
- Monitor your credit reports regularly. Catching and disputing inaccuracies on your report is one of the fastest ways to see a potential score increase, as errors can unfairly drag down your 684 score.
- Become an authorized user. Piggybacking on the good credit habits of someone with a strong credit history can add their positive payment history to your report, giving your score a helpful boost.
The team at Kudos offers more expert tips on its blog to help you improve your credit score while maximizing your rewards.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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