 TITLE: What Is a FICO<sup>®<\/sup> Score, and Why Is It Important? CONTENT: What Is Considered a Good FICO® Score?\n--------------------------------------\nA good FICO® Score starts at 670. If your score is above 740, you can generally expect lenders to offer you better-than-average interest rates. As you move closer to the top score of 850, you'll more likely qualify for the lowest interest rates and the most premium credit card offers.\nOn the flip side, a score of 570 to 669 is considered fair, while 300 to 569 is considered poor. You can still qualify for loans and credit cards with a lower FICO® Score, but you may be required to pay higher interest rates, make a bigger down payment or pay additional fees. Even landlords may require a credit check before they will rent you an apartment. So a lower credit score could put you at risk for securing a place. END