Credit Education

    Improve Your Credit Score

    Learn what affects your credit score and get actionable tips to improve it.

    Credit Education

    Understanding Your Credit Score

    Your credit score affects everything from loan rates to apartment applications. Learn how it works and how to improve it.

    Credit Score Ranges

    Excellent800-850

    Top-tier rates, best offers

    Very Good740-799

    Great rates available

    Good670-739

    Average rates, many options

    Fair580-669

    Higher rates, limited options

    Poor300-579

    Few options, rebuild credit

    Did you know? A 50-point increase in your credit score could save you thousands in interest over the life of a loan.

    What Affects Your Score

    Payment History35%

    Pay bills on time

    Credit Utilization30%

    Keep balances low

    Credit History Length15%

    Older accounts help

    Credit Mix10%

    Variety of accounts

    New Credit10%

    Limit new applications

    Quick Tips to Boost Your Score

    Pay all bills on time, every time
    Keep credit card balances below 30% of limits
    Do not close old credit accounts
    Check your credit report for errors
    Limit applications for new credit

    Action Steps to Improve Your Score

    1

    Check Your Credit Reports

    High Impact

    Get free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute any errors you find.

    2

    Set Up Automatic Payments

    High Impact

    Never miss a payment by automating at least the minimum due on all accounts.

    3

    Pay Down Credit Card Balances

    High Impact

    Aim to keep utilization below 30% on each card, ideally below 10%.

    4

    Become an Authorized User

    Medium Impact

    Ask a family member with good credit to add you to their oldest, lowest-balance card.

    5

    Request Credit Limit Increases

    Medium Impact

    Higher limits improve your utilization ratio if you don't increase spending.

    6

    Diversify Your Credit Mix

    Low Impact

    Having different types of credit (cards, loans, etc.) can help your score.

    Struggling with Debt?

    If high debt is affecting your credit score, debt relief may help you get back on track.

    Credit Score Myths vs. Facts

    Myth

    Checking your own credit hurts your score

    Truth

    Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and has no impact on your score.

    Myth

    Closing old credit cards helps your score

    Truth

    Closing old accounts can actually hurt your score by reducing credit history length and available credit.

    Myth

    You only have one credit score

    Truth

    You have multiple credit scores from different bureaus and scoring models. They can vary by 50+ points.

    Myth

    Paying off debt removes it from your report

    Truth

    Paid accounts stay on your report for up to 7-10 years, but they show as paid which is positive.

    Beware of Credit Repair Scams

    No company can legally remove accurate negative information from your credit report. Be wary of companies that promise to "fix" your credit for a fee. You can dispute errors yourself for free through the credit bureaus.

    Find Credit Products That Fit Your Score

    Compare credit cards and loans designed for your credit level.