What Credit Score Do You Need for a HELOC?

Key takeaways

680 is the practical minimum credit score most lenders require for a home equity line of credit (HELOC).
Beyond credit score, lenders evaluate debt-to-income ratio, combined loan-to-value ratio, income stability, and payment history.
Borrowers below the threshold have options: improve their score, shop lenders with more flexible criteria, or consider a personal loan through Upstart as a no-collateral alternative.

Your credit score is one of the first things a home equity line of credit (HELOC) lender checks, and it typically needs to clear 680 before you’re in serious consideration. Scores of 700 to 720 unlock the better rates. A lower floor around 620 exists at some lenders, but it’s less common.

HELOC lenders also weigh your debt-to-income ratio, how much equity you’ve built, and your track record of on-time payments. This guide breaks down what each threshold means, how your score interacts with your equity position, and what to do if your credit isn’t quite where it needs to be yet.

What Is the Minimum Credit Score for a HELOC?

Most lenders treat 680 as the practical minimum credit score for a HELOC. Below that, approval gets meaningfully harder, and it typically takes a credit union, portfolio lender, or an exceptionally strong equity position to qualify.

Some HELOC lenders advertise a lower floor around 620, but this is the exception rather than the norm. Borrowers approved in this range are usually working with credit unions or specialty lenders willing to accept fair credit, and typically only when other factors, like a low combined loan-to-value ratio or minimal existing debt, offset the lower score.

Lenders set these thresholds because a HELOC is secured by your home. If your home serves as collateral, missing payments can put it at risk of foreclosure, so lenders want to know how reliably a borrower has managed debt in the past. HELOC availability and terms also vary by state and by lender, so requirements in one market may not match another.

What Else Do Lenders Evaluate for a HELOC?

Credit score is only one part of HELOC qualification. Lenders typically also weigh:

Debt-to-income ratio (DTI): Your DTI measures your monthly debt payments against your gross monthly income. Most lenders want a DTI of 43% or lower, though some allow higher ratios for borrowers with strong credit or significant equity.
Combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV): Lenders typically cap CLTV at 85%, meaning your mortgage balance plus the new HELOC generally can’t exceed 85% of your home’s appraised value.
Income stability: Lenders look for consistent, verifiable income, whether from employment, self-employment, or other steady sources.
Payment history: A track record of on-time payments across existing credit accounts can matter as much as the score itself, particularly for borrowers near a lender’s minimum threshold.

How Your Credit Score Affects Your HELOC Rate

Credit score doesn’t just affect approval odds. It also impacts the rate you’re offered, since HELOC rates are usually variable and tied to a margin added to an index rate.

Credit Score Band	Typical Rate Tier	What This Usually Means
720+	Competitive rates	Access to the most competitive pricing and highest credit lines relative to equity
680–719	Standard rates	Meets the practical minimum most lenders look for, with reasonable pricing
620–679	Less common, higher rates	Approval possible mainly through credit unions or portfolio lenders, usually with a higher margin and stricter DTI or CLTV requirements
Below 620	Rare	Limited to specialty lenders, if available at all

Note: Rate tiers shown are illustrative and reflect general market patterns. Actual rates vary by lender, loan amount, and individual financial profile. Contact a lender directly for current rate quotes.

How Credit Score and Home Equity Work Together

Credit score and home equity aren’t evaluated in isolation. Lenders look at both together when considering your application.

A borrower with a 650 credit score and 35% equity in their home may qualify with some lenders, since the low CLTV reduces the lender’s risk even though the score falls short of the standard threshold. But a borrower with a 740 score but only 12% equity may struggle to find a lender willing to approve a HELOC at all, since most cap combined loan-to-value at 85% regardless of credit strength.

This tradeoff matters most for borrowers near the 680 threshold. A few common scenarios:

Strong equity, moderate score: If your CLTV is well under the typical 85% cap, some lenders will approve scores in the 640 to 679 range that they’d otherwise decline. The extra equity acts as a cushion against default risk.
Strong score, thin equity: A high credit score doesn’t waive the equity requirement. If your mortgage balance is still close to your home’s value, you may need to wait and build more equity before a HELOC becomes available, regardless of how strong your credit is.
Both moderate: Borrowers with a score in the high 600s and equity in the 15 to 20% range typically fall into range may qualify, but with less favorable terms than borrowers who lead in either category.

Debt-to-income ratio factors into this balance as well. A borrower with strong equity and a moderate score but a high DTI may still be declined, since lenders weigh all three factors together rather than treating any single number as decisive.

If you’re unsure where you stand, calculating your CLTV before applying gives you a clearer picture than credit score alone. A lender may quote very different terms to two borrowers with identical scores if their equity positions differ significantly.

What Happens If Your Credit Score Is Too Low for a HELOC?

Falling below the 680 practical minimum, or below what even highly flexible lenders will accept, doesn’t rule out a HELOC permanently. Borrowers typically have four paths forward:

Improve your credit score first. Paying down revolving balances and correcting errors on your credit report can improve your score faster than borrowers expect. See how to improve your credit score for specific steps.
Reduce your DTI. Paying off smaller debts or increasing documented income can bring your DTI under a lender’s cap, which sometimes offsets a borderline credit score.
Shop lenders with more flexible criteria. Credit unions and portfolio lenders sometimes approve borrowers with weaker credit scores, particularly if equity is strong.
Wait out a recent credit event. A recent late payment, collection, or hard inquiry can weigh heavily on your score in the short term. Scores in this situation often recover as time goes on.

Consider a Personal Loan as a No-Collateral Alternative

For borrowers who fall short of the minimum threshold, or who’d rather not put their home up as collateral, a personal loan through Upstart is worth considering.

Upstart’s model looks beyond credit score alone, factoring in education² and employment history alongside traditional credit data. This can help some fair-credit borrowers qualify who might not qualify through a conventional model. Personal loans also fund faster than most HELOCs and don’t require an appraisal or home equity. Check your rate in minutes, with no impact to your credit score¹.

Learn more about a personal loan for home improvement before comparing your options.

How to Apply for a HELOC

Here’s the five-step process for applying for a HELOC:

Check your credit reports. Check all three bureaus for errors before applying, since inaccuracies can lower your score unnecessarily. Pull your free reports from the Annual Credit Report and dispute any errors you find.
Calculate your DTI and CLTV. Knowing where you stand against typical lender caps (43% DTI, 85% CLTV) helps you target the right lenders.
Gather documentation. Have income verification and mortgage statements ready.
Shop multiple lenders. Many lenders let you check estimated rates with a soft credit inquiry, which doesn’t affect your score, before submitting a full application that triggers a hard inquiry.
Understand the variable rate structure. Most HELOCs carry a variable rate that can change over the draw period, so ask each lender how rate adjustments are calculated and capped.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum credit score for a HELOC?
Most lenders treat 680 as the practical minimum. A lower floor around 620 exists at some lenders, but it’s the exception rather than the standard.

Can I get a HELOC with a 620 credit score?
It’s possible, but it’s less common. Expect to work with a credit union or portfolio lender, and expect a higher rate and stricter DTI or CLTV requirements than borrowers above 680.

What credit score do I need to qualify for a HELOC with a major bank?
Large banks typically set higher thresholds than credit unions, often in the 680 to 700 range and sometimes higher.

Does applying for a HELOC hurt your credit score?
A rate check with a soft credit inquiry doesn’t affect your score. A formal application involves a hard inquiry, which can cause a small, temporary dip.

How much home equity do you need to get a HELOC?
Lenders typically require 15% – 20% equity while keeping your combined loan-to-value ratio at 85% or below after the new credit line.

What can I do if my credit score is too low for a HELOC?
Focus on improving your score, lowering your DTI, shopping lenders with more flexible minimums, or waiting for a recent credit event to age off your report.

Is a personal loan better than a HELOC if I have fair credit?
It depends on your goals. A personal loan doesn’t use your home as collateral and can fund faster, while a HELOC often offers a lower rate and larger credit line if you qualify.

Upstart Network, Inc. (NMLS #936133) is not a lender. All loans on its marketplace are made by regulated financial institutions.

All mortgage lending conducted by Upstart Mortgage, LLC dba Upstart Home Lending. (NMLS #2443873). Equal Housing Opportunity.

Checking your rate won’t affect your credit score: When you check your rate, we check your credit report. This initial (soft) inquiry will not affect your credit score. If you accept your rate and proceed with your application, we do another (hard) credit inquiry that will impact your credit score. If you take out a loan, repayment information may be reported to the credit bureaus.
Upstart’s model considers education: Neither Upstart nor its lending partners have a minimum educational attainment requirement in order to be eligible for a loan.
41% more approvals and 33% lower rates than a traditional model: As of publication in April 2026, and based on a comparison between the Upstart model and a hypothetical traditional model using Upstart data from Jan – Dec 2025. For more information on the methodology behind this study, please see Upstart’s Annual Access to Credit results here.
Unsecured Loans: While most loans through Upstart are unsecured, certain lenders may place a lien on other accounts you hold with the same institution. There may be an option to secure your personal loan through Upstart with your vehicle, which will require a lien to be placed on the vehicle. It is important to review your promissory note for these details before accepting your loan.
Loan amounts from $1,000 – $75,000: Your loan amount will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will qualify for the full amount. Minimum loan amounts vary by state: GA ($3,100), HI ($1,500), MA ($7,000). Maximum loan amounts may vary by state.
Closing and funding timeline: In Q2 2026, 15% of funded HELOCs achieved a closing timeline of 2 days or less and a funding timeline of 7 days or less. This timeline assumes consumers close with our remote online notary, provide supporting documentation promptly, and ensure the information provided is accurate and consistent with our verification process. Delays, discrepancies, and other unforeseen factors may impact the closing timeline. MBA’s 2025 Home Lending Study reports an average industry closing time of 37 days.
APRs from 6.3% – 35.99%, with 3 or 5 year terms: The full range of available rates varies by state. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. A representative example of payment terms for an unsecured Personal Loan is as follows: a borrower receives a loan of $10,000 for a term of 60 months, with an interest rate of 19.08% and a 8.15% origination fee of $815, for an APR of 23.37%. In this example, the borrower will receive $9185 and will make 60 monthly payments of $261. APR is calculated based on 5-year rates offered in June 2026. There is no downpayment and no prepayment penalty. Your APR will be determined based on your credit, income, and certain other information provided in your loan application. Not all applicants will be approved.
Instant deposits: To receive instant funding, your bank account must support instant transfers. If your account does not support instant transfers, funds will be available to you depending on your bank’s transaction processing time and policies.
Always On Commitment: We are committed to maintaining your credit limit as long as you continue to meet program eligibility and account requirements. To ensure the safety and security of all our members, we reserve the right to adjust or close lines in specific circumstances, including account default or late payments, suspected fraud, violation of our terms of service (including abusive behavior), or when necessitated by legal or regulatory requirements.
Cash Line draws: You may request a draw at any time. Only one draw may be outstanding at a time; after it is fully repaid, you may request another.
HELOC APRs as low as 6.52%: Terms shown here are subject to change without notice. APRs for initial advances range from 6.52% to 18.00% based on rates offered as of June 2026. The lowest rate is only available to consumers willing to become a member of a credit union and to those who meet a minimum FICO score of 780, CLTV under 70%, and DTI under 45%. Your actual rate will depend on many factors such as your credit history, combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV), line amount, loan term, lien position, and property state. Origination fee to open an account is between 0% and 4.99% of the approved credit limit. The Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”) is variable and based on the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table plus or minus a margin. Your APR will never be less than 3.99% or greater than 18.00%. Property insurance is required.
No annual fee, prepayment penalty, or fees to redraw: Terms shown here are subject to change without notice. Origination fee to open an account is between 0% and 4.99% of the approved credit limit. The Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”) is variable and based on the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table plus or minus a margin. Your APR will never be less than 3.99% or greater than 18.00%. Property insurance is required.
3,000+ Variables: As of 6/30/2026. “Variables,” often also referred to as “features,” refers to raw variables and combined variables considered in our AI models. A “raw” variable is a non-combined, conceptually distinct unit of data, such as “applicant-reported savings.” A “combined” variable is data that has been transformed, combined, or otherwise engineered from a raw variable or set of raw variables, such as “applicant-reported savings” divided by “loan amount.”
Fully automated loans: In Q2 2026. Percentage of Loans Fully Automated, which is defined as the total number of loans in a given period originated end-to-end (from initial rate request to final funding for personal loans and small dollar loans, and from initial rate request to signing of the loan agreement for auto loans) with no human involvement required by the Company divided by the Transaction Volume, Number of Loans in the same period.
One business day: If you accept your loan by 5pm ET (not including weekends or holidays), your funds will be sent on the next business day. When the funds will be available to you will depend on your bank’s transaction processing time and policies.
Best rates guarantee, $200 gift card offer terms: If you are approved by Upstart Mortgage but receive a lower rate somewhere else, we will give you $200. Discounted, introductory, temporary, or promotional rates are not eligible. Rates claims are based on median rates within substantially all FICO/CLTV bands across multiple November 2024-March 2026 HELOC securitizations. See full Terms and Conditions.