Length of credit history
Length of credit history is the age of your credit accounts — including your oldest account and the average age of all of them — and in FICO's published weights it makes up about 15% of a FICO score (myFICO).
Why it matters
Older accounts give lenders a longer track record to judge, which is why time itself helps your score. FICO counts the age of both open and closed accounts, and a closed card in good standing can stay on your report for up to 10 years (Experian), so closing your oldest card shortens your history only once it drops off the report.
Example
If your oldest card is eight years old and your newest is one year old, keeping that eight-year-old card open preserves the length that feeds this factor (15% in FICO's published weights).
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Educational only — not financial advice. No guarantees.