The Longevity Rule: Protecting Your Credit Score by Managing Account Age

Credit Card Pathway Team

Our editorial team of credit experts and financial analysts brings you research-backed insights to help you build and maintain excellent credit.

Building an excellent credit score isn't a race; it's a marathon. While paying on time is crucial, the time factor—specifically your Credit Card Account Age and the rate at which you open new accounts—accounts for a combined 25% of your FICO score. Understanding how to manage the age of your oldest card and strategically time new applications is key to achieving long-term financial stability.

The Age Factor: Why Your Oldest Account Matters (15% Weight)

When lenders review your credit, they are assessing stability and consistency. Your Length of Credit History looks at two metrics: the average age of all your open accounts and the age of your single oldest account.

The Golden Rule of Account Age

Never close your oldest credit card account, even if you no longer use it or if it has a zero balance.

The Score Drop

When you close an old card, you instantly reduce the average age of your accounts, making your credit history look shorter and potentially causing a significant score drop.

The Utilization Impact

Closing an old account also reduces your total available credit, which instantly raises your Credit Utilization Ratio (CUR)—a double penalty!

Beautiful timeline visualization of credit account aging

The New Credit Factor: Taming Credit Seeking Behavior (10% Weight)

The final 10% of your score measures New Credit. This factor looks at how many new accounts you have opened recently and how many hard inquiries (applications) you have received.

While opening a new card can be beneficial in the long run (by increasing your total available credit and lowering your utilization), opening too many accounts too quickly signals "credit seeking behavior" to lenders. They may worry that you are facing financial difficulty or planning a massive spending spree.

Learn more about the difference between hard and soft credit inquiries and how they affect your score.

The Strategic Planner: Timing is Everything

To master both factors, follow this strategic plan:

Protect the Oldest

If you have an old card you no longer use, keep it open. Set it aside or use it for one tiny, recurring charge (like a $5 monthly subscription) and pay it off automatically every month.

Learn maintenance strategies

Pace New Applications

To minimize the impact of hard inquiries and maintain a mature average age, space out new credit applications. A good rule of thumb is to avoid applying for more than one new credit card every six months.

Choose wisely before applying

Professional planning credit card strategy with calendar

Key Takeaways

Account age and new credit together control 25% of your FICO score—a significant portion that rewards patience and strategic planning
Never close your oldest credit card, even if unused—it anchors your credit history and maintains your total available credit
Space out new credit applications to one every six months to avoid appearing credit-hungry to lenders
Keep old cards active with small recurring charges paid automatically to prevent issuer closure due to inactivity
Time becomes your greatest asset—the longer you maintain good accounts, the stronger your credit profile becomes

Turn Time Into Your Greatest Credit Asset

By respecting the longevity rule and being patient with the process, you turn time into a massive asset for your credit profile. The combination of maintaining old accounts and strategically timing new applications creates a powerful foundation for building excellent credit that lasts.

Remember that credit building is not about quick fixes or shortcuts—it's about consistent, strategic behavior over time. Your oldest credit card is like a cornerstone of your financial house; removing it can cause the entire structure to weaken. Similarly, applying for too many new accounts too quickly can signal instability to lenders, even if your intentions are good.

For more official guidance on how time and credit history impact your score, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provides detailed resources on how scoring models work.

Ready to put these principles into action? Explore our guide on building your score from 500 to 800 or learn about smart money habits that complement your credit-building strategy.