How to Have a Perfect Credit Score

Say your goal is to have excellent credit. What does that really mean? Transunion, one of the big three credit bureaus, gives us some insight.

Three or four revolving credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Saks 5th Avenue, etc., with very high credit lines, $10,000 or more each. Very low balances on one or two of them, and zero balances on the others.

At least one charge card like American Express or Diners Club
All credit entries (tradelines, in credit bureau lingo) at least 6 months old, and at least one more than 3 years old

No derogatory notations. This includes late payments, collections, charge-offs, bankruptcies, judgments, etc.

Very few inquiries, no more than 3 in a six month period
At least one installment loan like a mortgage, auto loan or student loan, in good standing