How your score works

Your Swipe Score runs from 300 to 850. Everybody starts at 500, holding the Bronze card. Good habits climb you up; rough habits pull you down. It is all practice — the score is simulated so you can learn how real credit works.

The five factors — 100 points

• On-time payments — 35 points. The biggest slice. Paying by the due date keeps your points; paying late drains them.
• Utilization — 30 points. How much of your limit you use. Keeping it under 30% earns full points — a limit is headroom, not a target.
• Inquiries & limit behavior — 15 points. Asking for credit too often costs points. Holding steady earns them.
• Delinquency — 10 points. A clean record earns all 10. Letting a payment go past due drains this fast.
• Statement habits — 10 points. Pay by the statement date and there is no interest at all — best marks. Pay after the statement date but by the due date and interest is charged, though you are not late. Pay after the due date and it is late, plus interest.

Every grading point is worth 5.5 score points.

The levels

Reaching 700 (Gold) completes the climb — in the full program, the simulated interest you paid along the way is refunded in real money on a prepaid debit card. Platinum at 800 is the top of the ladder.

Falling under 500 — the grace run

If your score slips under 500, you do not lose your card on the spot. The grace run gives you one statement cycle — from the statement date to the due date, 10 days — to climb back to 500. Make it back in time and your card never pauses. Still under 500 when the due date passes, and the card pauses. Climb back to 500 at any time after that, and your card comes right back.

Your data

Your account, score, and history for this demo stay on this device — nothing is sent anywhere.