People living in Kingston upon Thames (KT) have the highest average credit scores in the country, according to the UK’s leading price comparison site MoneySuperMarket.
Analysis of over 200,000 credit reports from MoneySuperMarket’s Credit Monitor1 reveals that those with a KT postcode have the highest average credit score at 586 out of a possible 710 points – 17 points higher than the UK average.
Whilst an individual’s credit score is not only directly influenced by their location alone, there are a number of factors that can affect this. It’s worth considering how long credit has been held, history of payments, credit usage and even registration on the electoral roll that can have a clearer impact, with these factors driving credit score trends across different parts of the country.
According to MoneySuperMarket data, Guildford in Surrey has the second highest average score across the UK at 584, while the UK average score is 569 – an increase of seven points since 2019.
Postcodes with the highest credit scores:
| Location | Average Credit Score |
| KT – Kingston upon Thames | 586 |
| GU – Guildford | 584 |
| RG – Reading | 583 |
| RH – Redhill | 582 |
| HG – Harrogate | 581 |
By contrast, those living in parts of the north of England and the midlands have some of the lowest credit scores in the country. Sunderland (552), Doncaster (554) and Wolverhampton (555) are the three lowest scoring postcodes.
Postcodes with the lowest credit scores:
| Postcode | Average Credit Score |
| SR – Sunderland | 552 |
| DN – Doncaster | 554 |
| WV – Wolverhampton | 555 |
| FY – Blackpool
ML – Motherwell |
557 |
| NP – Newport | 558 |
Being registered on the electoral roll is a simple way to boost credit score. The average credit score of a person listed on the electoral roll is 573 – 34 points more than those not listed.
MoneySuperMarket’s top tips for improving your credit rating include:
- Debt repayments – keep on top of repayments for loans, mortgages and credit cards by setting up direct debits where you can. This will ensure you do not miss any payments and avoid any black marks against your name.
- Pay your bills on time – one missed payment can leave a mark on your credit score for some time. To avoid this happening, set up direct debits where possible to ensure you don’t miss a payment by mistake.
- Take out a credit-building credit card – credit-building credit cards have higher than average annual percentage rates (APR) and low credit limits. Although you won’t be able to borrow a large sum of money, if you can afford to keep up the repayments, a credit-building card can help you to increase your credit score over a sustained period of time.
- Close unused accounts – if you have credit cards you no longer need it is important to close them. Having a large credit limit even if it’s not being used will have an impact on your rating. Don’t worry if you see a drop in your credit rating first, this is completely normal.
For more tips and information, visit MoneySuperMarket to see if your area falls into a credit score capital of the UK.
