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WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO REBUILD CREDIT

Bad credit can prevent you from buying a home, financing your education, and even from getting a job. This is why it’s so important to build good credit. Starting with your first credit card, everything you do that involves credit becomes part of your credit history. 

TO HAVE A GOOD CREDIT HISTORY YOU HAVE TO USE CREDIT RESPONSIBLY, BUT WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE?

CREDIT BUILDING TIPS
APPLY FOR A SECURED CREDIT CARD

A secured credit card requires you to make a security deposit against the credit limit before you can be approved. The security deposit is held as collateral for the amount you charge on the credit card and is refunded either when you close the account or it's upgraded to an unsecured account.


Credit card issuers are more likely to approve you for a secured credit card because the security deposit eliminates some of the credit risk. Look below for
 Credit Builder Cards

BECOME AN AUTHORIZED USER

 Being an authorized user with someone with good credit can help jump-start your credit if the credit card issuer reports the account to one of the major credit bureaus.

You inherit all the good credit history of that particular account. Verify that the account is in good standing and ensure it doesn't have a high balance or a history of late payments. Otherwise, the negative account history will hurt, rather than help, your credit score.

GET A CO-SIGNER ON AN ACCOUNT

A cosigner with good credit can apply with you to help increase your chances of getting approved for credit cards and other loans. Cosigners will have joint liability for the account, meaning any late payments on your account also affects the cosigner's credit.

Use cosigned and authorized user accounts to establish your first account. Once you can get approved for an account on your own, you won't need to rely on someone else to help you.

PAY MORE THAN THE MINIMUM

Your credit score isn't affected by the amount of your credit card payment — at least not directly. Your credit score considers whether you pay on time and the balances owed on your credit cards and loans. Even though your payment amount isn't calculated in your credit score, you should ideally pay your balance in full each month.

This prevents you from carrying too much debt. If you're only charging what you can afford to pay, this won't be a problem. Paying off your balance each month shows that you're capable of paying bills, something creditors and lenders want to see. Making minimum payments won't hurt your credit score, unless it keeps your balance above 30 percent of the credit limit. This will keep you in debt longer.

KEEP YOUR ACCOUNTS OPEN

The longer you've had credit, the better it is for your credit score — 15 percent of your credit score is based on the amount of debt you're carrying.

Leaving your oldest account open will help increase your credit age. Closing the account won't remove it from your credit report immediately, but after several years the credit bureaus will eventually drop old, closed accounts from your credit report.

MAKE YOUR PAYMENTS ON TIME

Payment history is the biggest factor in your credit score. Making all your debt payments on time each month can help build a good credit score.

The more on-time payments you have, the more your credit score will improve. You'll have some monthly bills that aren't listed on your credit report including things like your cell phone payments, utilities, and insurance payments. They won't effect your credit as long as you're paying on time. However, if you default on your payments to the point that your account is closed, the account will be sent to a collection agency and can wind up on your credit report. At that point, it will hurt your credit score significantly.

CREDIT BUILDING TOOLS
CREDIT BUILDER CARDS

Credit Builder Card is a secured credit card company that reports to all 3 major credit reporting agencies. You can open up to 2 secured credit cards with a minimum of $200 deposit on each account. We suggest having at least 2 revolving accounts that report to the CRA.

CREDIT STRONG

Credit Strong is another credit builder loan tool and is quite similar to Self Inc. You'll be able to keep track of your FICO score as well. Again, we recommend this option for people with a score 670 and below. Click the link below for more information.

SELF INC

Self Inc is a credit builder loan that's recommended to have reporting your credit report if your FICO score is a 670 and below. Click the link below to find out more.