CREDIT AGE PROTOCOL

Credit age shows how long your accounts have been open. It is measured by the average age of ALL your accounts, not just your oldest one. The older your average age is, the stronger and more stable your file looks. This metric makes up about 15% of your total credit score.

If you open a lot of new accounts, your average age goes down. If you stop opening new ones and let time pass, your average age goes up.

If you have one 5-year-old card and you open a brand-new card, your average instantly drops to 2.5 years. This is why spacing out new accounts (waiting 90–120 days between applications) is critical to prevent your average age from plummeting.

Credit age grows naturally with time, but you can optimize it:

• Keep old accounts open: Never close an old account unless it is costing you excessive fees. Closing old accounts shortens your history.
• Keep accounts active: Use older cards once every few months for a small purchase, then pay it off so the bank doesn't auto-close it for inactivity.
• Add aged tradelines: Adding an Authorized User (AU) tradeline that is 2–7 years old helps balance the drop that comes from opening new primary accounts.

Keep a tracking log to see exactly how new accounts affect your file's maturity.

When your file reaches maturity, it becomes strong enough for major approvals and long-term funding plays. A mature file typically features:

• 5+ total active accounts.
• At least one account 2+ years old.
• Perfect payment history.
• Consistent monthly reporting.