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The Daily Insight Hub

What is your credit score when you get your first card?

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on February 16, 2026

Starting with no credit score doesn’t mean your score is zero. Rather, your score simply doesn’t exist. That’s because your credit score is calculated only at the moment that a lender, credit card issuer or other entity requests it to check your creditworthiness.

What is a good starting credit score?

For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.

How fast can I build credit?

The good news is that it doesn’t take too long to build up your credit history if you’re starting from zero. According to Experian, one of the major credit bureaus, it takes between three and six months of regular credit activity for your file to become thick enough that a credit score can be calculated.

Can you have credit before 18?

Does your child have a credit score? Typically, only people over the age of 18 have a credit score — but it is possible for minors to have a credit report. A person under 18 can have a credit report if : Their identity was stolen and used to open one or more credit accounts.

What should my credit score be before I get a credit card?

Most in the U.S. start at 300, and sometimes lower, depending on the scoring system — so you can’t have a credit score of zero. Some credit scores, such as Bankcard and Auto scores, can range from 250-900. Before your information appears in a credit bureau file, your credit history simply doesn’t exist yet.

What should my first credit score be at FICO?

Rather, your first score could range anywhere from under 500 to “well into the 700s,” depending on your initial performance, according to credit expert John Ulzheimer, who has worked at both FICO and Equifax. “The only correlation between your first score and the scoring metrics would be the age of your credit file,” he said.

How long after getting my first credit account will a…?

Dear KLM, If you’ve just opened your first credit account, you probably won’t have a credit score immediately. Accounts usually need to have a minimum of three months and perhaps as much as six months of activity before they can be used to calculate a credit score.

What to expect when you get your first credit card?

A few weeks after you get your credit card, you’ll receive your first bill in the mail. Your billing statement will detail the purchases or charges you’ve made to your account and list the minimum amount that’s due. It will also show your payment due date. Be sure you review your statement and confirm every transaction listed.