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 it makes up about 15% of your FICO score.
Why it matters
Older accounts give lenders a longer track record to judge, which is why closing your oldest card can shorten your history and why time itself helps your score.
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 15% factor.
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Educational only — not financial advice. No guarantees.