October 15th is Get Smart About Credit Day!
Your credit score isn’t just for securing a home or auto loan or applying for a new credit card anymore. Nowadays, that little three-digit number can also affect your ability to get a good rate on your insurance or even get a new job. Take care of your credit score with these tips.*
Continue paying your bills on time.
Your payment history matters. Settle any past due accounts, including parking tickets and library fines. If they’re sent to collections, it can negatively impact your score.
Pay down your debt diligently.
Accumulating too much debt is not only financially risky, it also can prevent you from qualifying for new credit when you actually need it. Always try to pay your credit card balances off when the bill comes. If you can’t quite manage that, pay more than the minimum whenever possible. Interest adds up quickly!
Don't apply for new credit too often.
This can actually affect your score negatively, as each application can knock your score down several points. Changes to your score can affect the loan amount and terms you qualify for.
*We are not a credit counseling or financial advisement firm. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as guidelines or guarantees to improve your credit or financial situation or of eligibility to secure a home loan.
