Minimum CIBIL Score for Personal Loan in India (2026)

Most banks say 750. Most NBFCs say 650. Neither number tells the full story. Your CIBIL score determines whether you get the loan — but it also determines the interest rate, the loan amount, and the repayment terms. A 30-point difference in your score can cost you ₹70,000 in extra interest on a ₹5 lakh loan. Here is exactly what each lender requires and what actually matters beyond the number.

The Quick Answer — Bank vs NBFC

Banks (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis): Minimum 700, ideal 750+

NBFCs (Bajaj, Tata Capital, Muthoot): Minimum 650, some as low as 600

Digital lenders (Fibe, MoneyTap, CASHe): 600+, or alternate scoring models

RBI position (Jan 2025): No mandatory minimum — banks cannot reject first-time borrowers solely for lack of credit history. But internal risk policies still apply.

Score Bands and What They Mean for Personal Loans

750–900

Excellent — Best terms available

Fastest approvals, lowest interest rates, highest loan amounts, negotiating power on processing fees

700–749

Good — Approved, not optimal

Most banks will approve but at slightly higher rates. Loan amount may be lower than requested.

650–699

Fair — Banks likely decline, NBFCs possible

Traditional banks will mostly reject. NBFCs may approve at significantly higher interest rates (18–24%).

Below 650

Poor — Very limited options

Most formal lenders will decline. Secured loans, co-applicant, or credit building required before applying.

Bank-Wise Minimum CIBIL Score Requirements (2026)

Lender	Minimum Score	Ideal Score	Interest Rate From
SBI	700	750+	11.00% p.a.
HDFC Bank	700	750+	10.50% p.a.
ICICI Bank	750	750+	10.65% p.a.
Axis Bank	700	750+	11.25% p.a.
Kotak Mahindra	700	750+	10.99% p.a.
IDFC FIRST Bank	730	750+	10.99% p.a.
Bajaj Finserv	685	720+	11.00% p.a.
Tata Capital	680	720+	10.99% p.a.
DBS Bank	600	750+	10.99% p.a.

Note: These are indicative thresholds based on publicly available lender information. Actual approval depends on income, employer type, FOIR, and internal risk models — not CIBIL score alone.

How Your Score Directly Affects the Interest Rate — And Total Cost

This is the part most borrowers ignore. The difference between a 680 score and a 780 score is not just approval — it is the cost of the loan over its entire tenure.

Example: ₹5 Lakh Personal Loan · 5 Year Tenure

Score 780 · Rate 10.5% Total interest: ₹1,37,264

Score 700 · Rate 13.5% Total interest: ₹1,80,992

Score 650 · Rate 18% Total interest: ₹2,48,640

A borrower with a 650 score pays over ₹1.11 lakh more in interest than a borrower with a 780 score — on the exact same loan amount. That gap is the real cost of a low credit score, and it is why improving your score before applying always pays off.

Why Your CIBIL Score Is Necessary But Not Sufficient

Here is what most articles on this topic do not tell you: meeting the minimum CIBIL score threshold does not guarantee approval. It only gets your application past the first filter.

After the CIBIL check, lenders run your application through an internal underwriting model that evaluates 15 additional signals — your real FOIR, job tenure, employer type, bank statement cash flow, and more. Borrowers with a 760 score are rejected every day because their real FOIR is above 55%, or because they changed jobs 8 months ago, or because their bank statements show month-end stress.

The trap: Most borrowers focus entirely on hitting the minimum CIBIL score. They get there — 750, clean history — and apply confidently. The bank's system approves them past CIBIL, then flags their application at the FOIR check or the job tenure check. Rejection. The CIBIL score was never the problem.

Options If Your Score Is Below 700

Apply to NBFCs first. NBFCs like Bajaj Finserv, Tata Capital, and Muthoot Finance have lower minimum thresholds and more flexible underwriting. Interest rates will be higher, but approval is more accessible for scores in the 650–699 range.

Add a co-applicant with a strong profile. A co-applicant's income and credit score both factor into the assessment. A working spouse or parent with a 750+ score significantly improves the combined application's chances.

Apply for a smaller amount. Reducing the loan amount lowers the lender's risk exposure. A ₹1.5 lakh loan gets approved at a 680 score where a ₹4 lakh loan would not.

Secured loan as a bridge. A loan against FD or gold does not require a minimum CIBIL score. Take it, repay it cleanly, and use the repayment history to rebuild your profile before applying for an unsecured personal loan.

Wait and improve. If your score is 680 today, 6 months of clean payment behaviour — zero missed EMIs, reduced credit card utilisation — can push you past 720. That 40-point gain could save ₹50,000+ in interest over a 3-year loan tenure.

Know Your Full Loan Eligibility Profile

CIBIL score is one of 20 signals lenders check. NextScore shows you all 20 — free, 2 minutes, no bureau pull.

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