Taking out a loan can affect your credit score, but it isn’t always a bad thing. In some cases, borrowing money and repaying it on time can actually help improve your credit score in the long run.
Many people worry that applying for a loan will hurt their credit. In reality, the effect is usually small at first. What matters most is how you manage the loan once it appears on your credit report.
The Knowledge Round-Up
Applying for a loan may cause a small, temporary drop in your credit score
Loans appear on your credit report and become part of your credit score
Making repayments on time could help improve your credit score
Missing repayments can have a negative impact on your credit
Credit reference agencies track loans and other types of credit
Responsible borrowing shows lenders you can manage your money well
Does Applying for a Loan Affect Credit Score?
Applying for a loan can slightly affect your credit score because lenders check your credit report when reviewing your application. This check is called a hard search. It allows the lender to see your credit history, existing debts, and whether you have managed borrowing responsibly in the past.
A hard search is recorded on your credit report by a credit reference agency, like TransUnion. It may lower your score by a few points, but the effect is usually temporary. The impact becomes more noticeable if several credit applications are made within a short period of time.
How Much Does a Loan Affect Your Credit Score?
There isn’t a fixed number of points that a loan will change your credit score by. The impact depends on your credit history and how the loan is managed.
Loans can affect your credit score in several ways, including:
Your repayment history
How much you owe overall
The types of credit listed on your credit report
How often you apply for credit
Generally, for most people, the biggest factor is whether repayments are made on time.
Does a Loan Affect Your Credit Score?
Yes, a loan can affect your credit score throughout the life of the agreement. At first, your score may change slightly when the loan appears on your credit report. After that, the main impact comes from how you manage repayments.
Loans can influence your credit score in both positive and negative ways.
Ways a Loan Can Help Your Credit Score:
If repayments are made on time each month, the loan can help to strengthen your credit profile. This is because it shows lenders that you can borrow money and repay it responsibly.
Possible benefits to your credit profile:
Building a history of reliable payments
Showing lenders you can manage different types of credit
Strengthening your credit report over time
Ways a Loan Can Hurt Your Credit Score:
Problems with repayments can have the opposite effect. Missing payments or falling behind on a loan can leave negative marks on your credit report and hurt your credit score.
Possible negative effects may include:
Late or missed payments affecting your credit report
Several credit applications recorded within a short period
Higher borrowing levels increasing financial risk in the eyes of lenders
Explore how taking out a loan may affect your credit score without impacting your actual credit score with our free CreditKompass Score Simulator tool.
The Impact on Your Credit While Repaying a Loan
Once your loan is active, your repayment behaviour becomes the most important factor. Every repayment you make on time adds positive information to your credit report. Over time, this could potentially help strengthen your credit score.
However, missing payments can quickly damage your credit profile. Even a single missed payment may affect how lenders view future credit applications. Setting up automatic payments or reminders can help avoid this.
Understanding Your Credit Before You Borrow
Loans can either help or hurt your credit score depending on how they’re managed. While applying for a loan may cause a small temporary dip, making repayments on time can potentially gradually strengthen your credit report.
Before submitting a credit application, it can help to understand what lenders may see on your credit report. Reviewing your credit report can highlight any issues and give you a clearer picture of how borrowing could affect your credit score.
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CreditKnowledge is a credit broker, not a lender.
Editorial Disclaimer: This content is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. It is not intended to provide personalised recommendations or guarantees of any outcome, including changes to your credit score or approval decisions from lenders. Credit scoring models and lending decisions vary between providers and are based on a range of factors.
This content reflects general information at the time of publication and is not endorsed by any bank, lender, or financial institution. You should always consider your own circumstances and, where appropriate, seek independent financial advice before making financial decisions. Nothing in this content should be interpreted as a recommendation to take, or refrain from taking, any specific financial action.
Page Last Reviewed: 25.05.2026