Introduction
Your credit score plays a huge role in your financial life—it affects loan approvals, interest rates, and even rental agreements. Whether you're working to repair past credit damage or just trying to boost your score, gaining 100 points is very achievable with the right approach.
In this blog, we’ll walk through 10 proven strategies you can implement to give your credit score a significant lift. If you’ve been asking how to bring up credit score 100 points, you’re in the right place.
1. Review Your Credit Reports for Mistakes
Your first step is to get a clear picture of where you stand. Request a free copy of your credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax via https://pfscores.com/.
Carefully check for:
Incorrect personal information
Duplicate or outdated accounts
Late payments that weren’t actually late
Unknown accounts (which could be fraud)
Spotting and disputing errors can lead to a quick improvement in your score.
2. Always Pay Your Bills on Time
Your payment history makes up about 35% of your credit score, making it the single most important factor. Even one missed payment can significantly lower your score.
To stay on top of due dates:
Set up automatic payments
Use alerts or calendar reminders
Pay at least the minimum amount due on time, every time
Consistency is key.
3. Reduce Your Credit Utilization
Credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you're using. Lowering this ratio can have a major positive effect on your score.
Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit, and ideally stay below 10% if you can.
For example:
If your credit limit is $5,000, try to keep your balance under $1,500.
To lower utilization:
Pay off balances early
Request a higher credit limit
Spread purchases across multiple cards (if available)
4. Tackle Credit Card Debt
High credit card balances not only hurt your utilization rate but can also keep your score stagnant. Start reducing your balances with focused strategies:
Snowball method: Pay off the smallest balance first
Avalanche method: Pay down the highest-interest debt first
Use tax refunds, bonuses, or side income to accelerate payments
Reducing debt improves both your score and your financial flexibility.
5. Get Added as an Authorized User
If a family member or close friend has a credit card with a long history of on-time payments and low utilization, ask them to add you as an authorized user.
Benefits include:
Their account history may be added to your credit report
You don’t need to use the card yourself
It’s a low-risk way to improve your score
Just be sure the person manages their credit responsibly.
6. Ask for a Credit Limit Increase
Requesting a higher credit limit can help lower your utilization ratio—as long as you don’t increase your spending.
To request:
Log in to your card issuer’s website or app
Or call customer service directly
Tip: This works best if you have a history of on-time payments and your income has increased recently.
7. Keep Old Credit Accounts Open
The age of your credit accounts contributes to your score. Keeping older accounts open helps maintain a longer credit history and a higher average account age.
If you have older cards you don’t use:
Make occasional small purchases to keep them active
Pay them off in full to avoid interest
Avoid closing them unless absolutely necessary.
8. Use a Secured Credit Card or Credit Builder Loan
If you have little or no credit history, consider tools designed to help you build credit safely.
Secured credit card: You provide a deposit, and it works like a regular card
Credit builder loan: Payments go into a locked savings account and are reported to credit bureaus
Make payments on time to build a solid credit history.
9. Improve Your Credit Mix
Having different types of credit accounts can slightly boost your score. Lenders like to see you can handle various forms of debt responsibly.
This could include:
Credit cards
Auto loans
Student loans
Personal loans or retail cards
Don’t open new accounts just to improve your mix—but if you're planning to anyway, it's a small bonus.
10. Limit Hard Inquiries
Each time you apply for a loan or credit card, a hard inquiry appears on your report. Too many within a short period can hurt your score.
Tips to reduce hard inquiries:
Only apply for credit when absolutely necessary
Use prequalification tools (soft inquiries) before applying
Space out applications by several months
Bonus Tip: Keep Track of Your Credit Progress
Monitoring your credit helps you stay focused on your goals. Use free tools and apps like:
PFScores
Credit Sesame
Experian app
These platforms help you track changes, detect errors, and stay motivated on your credit improvement journey.
Conclusion
Boosting your credit score by 100 points won’t happen overnight, but it is completely possible with consistent effort. Each small, smart decision you make today sets the stage for better financial opportunities tomorrow.
