Building Credit
Learn how to raise your credit score using these important tips and strategies. Know what credit rating agencies are, how they work, and what matters most when it comes to your credit score.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1190222745-b65de6b6c3b948d2a22db5d28c5b1fb8.jpg)
How to Check Your Credit Score Without Hurting It
Your credit score can be an asset in financial situations, but only if you know where you stand. Learn how you can find your score without h...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1273461265-9253160ac9c84a90a9bc852ac47ca979.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Credit-Accounts-577d462c5f9b585875e71a99.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1205601550-d3de607f726c4b6fa393954e2ddbccc3.jpg)
-
![Laptop with 751 FICO score displayed]()
Which FICO Scores Do Lenders Use? -
![credit repair companies can help you fix your credit]()
Is Credit Repair Illegal? -
![Couple enjoying time together in rental apartment]()
FICO 9 Definition -
![Financial papers, one labeled "Credit History," with a calculator, ballpoint pen, and reading glasses.]()
FICO Credit Scores Explained -
![Credit score meter aimed at 724]()
FICO 10 and FICO 10T Definition -
![FICO logo]()
FICO Resilience Index Definition -
![]()
Credit Report Definition -
![]()
FICO vs. Experian vs. Equifax: Differences Explained -
![Do More With a Good Credit Score]()
Credit Karma vs. Experian: Difference’s Explained -
![woman making notes with a pen on a paper on a clipboard]()
Creditworthiness Definition -
![Pen on a bar chart]()
How Do Balance Transfers Affect My Credit Score? -
![]()
What is the highest achievable FICO score? -
![Credit Card Payment, Shopping, Shopping Online]()
Credit Score Ranges: What Do They Mean? -
![An envelope with a credit report]()
FICO 5 vs. FICO 8: What Are the Differences? -
![woman looking at computer and credit card information]()
How Is My Credit Score Calculated? -
![Man in suit, seated on black leather couch, works on a laptop.]()
Getting Your Credit Score from a Bank -
![A man shopping online using laptop with credit card.]()
How to Use a Credit Card to Build Credit -
![]()
What Affects Your Credit Score -
![Businesswoman Filling out Contract]()
How Long Does an Item Appear on My Credit Report? -
![Personal Finance]()
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Definition -
![A graph of FICO scores that range from 688 to 704 between October 2005 and April 2018.]()
FICO Score Definition -
![]()
Credit Score: Definition, Factors, & Improving It -
![The higher your FICO score, the better your chances of getting approved for a loan.]()
Your Credit Rating Matters -
![Credit Cards]()
Earn Credit Card Rewards for Paying Student Loans -
![A student using a credit card home in front her computer.]()
Best Credit Cards For International Students -
![Cropped hands removing a credit report from a manila envelope]()
How to Read a Consumer Credit Report -
![A Man Holding a Magnifying Glass Over Paper]()
Soft Credit Check Definition -
![Two hands hold a tablet revealing a credit score of 810 Excellent.]()
Highest Credit Score: Is It Possible to Get It? -
![Credit Report Form on a Desk With Other Paperwork]()
Building Credit Without Credit Cards -
![Credit Report Form on a Desk With Other Paperwork]()
Free Credit Score: Is It Really Free? -
![Woman holding credit card, sitting with laptop in her lap]()
Should I Pay to Check My Credit Score? -
![Businessman show analyzing report, business performance concept]()
Beacon (Pinnacle) Score Definition -
![]()
Understanding Credit Reports vs. Investigative Consumer Reports -
![An application with an approval stamp on it.]()
The Top 3 Credit Bureaus -
![]()
Student Loan Consolidation Definition -
![]()
Why Get a Gas Credit Card? -
![]()
How to Establish Credit with No Credit History -
![]()
Build Your Credit Score -
![]()
Credit Cards: Should You Ever Pay an Annual Fee? -
![]()
How Too Many Credit Cards Can Hurt Your Credit Score -
![Man sitting on couch applying for a credit card on his laptop.]()
FICO vs. FAKO: Limitations of Free Credit Scores -
![Mortgage]()
Subprime -
![]()
Negative Information -
![]()
Good Credit -
![]()
Can I Improve Credit Score With Utility Bill? -
![Professor explaining the triggers of a credit event to business students.]()
Credit Event Definition -
![Woman looking at credit report]()
Can You Pay to Remove a Bad Credit Report? -
![]()
What Is TikTok? -
![]()
The 5 Biggest Factors That Affect Your Credit -
![Couple getting financial advice]()
Super-Prime Credit Definition -
![Credit Report]()
How Long Does Negative Information Stay on Your Credit Report? -
![]()
7 Things You Didn't Know Affect Your Credit Score -
![woman looking at credit report]()
How Do I Remove Charge-Offs From My Credit? -
![]()
What Is Saudi Aramco? -
![]()
Does a Lost or Stolen Credit Card Hurt Your Credit Score? -
![]()
Common Things That Improve or Lower Credit Scores -
![Student loan computer keyboard]()
Will Getting a Student Loan Deferral Hurt My Credit Score? -
![]()
How Not Paying Cable Bills Could Hurt Your Credit Score -
![Credit score online report document on smartphone, flat cartoon digital good history ranking loan record on mobile phone display, cellphone report isolated clipart]()
How Bad Is My Credit Score? -
![Laptop showing a credit score of 751]()
FICO Definition
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1251467407_1_journey_crop-fico-e2c753e8274442bb9836be06bfaf43fe.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1227091052-1ce742b1c3ea4f2db15d58a0e6053ec6.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Peopleenjoyingrentalapartmentwithinsurance-592e21565f9b5859509f4dc0.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Courtney-Keating-E-Getty-Images-56a0d4195f9b58eba4b43283.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Getty-Credit-score-583e508c3df78c6f6ad29777.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/fico-56a1df2a5f9b58b7d0c40508.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/200275051-001-5bfc2b8b46e0fb0083c07b92.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_253136563-5bfc2b98c9e77c00519aa7a8.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1041512942-69d44b3432c342469fb14e34e370f6bc.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1165899618-8530717c88904c3cbd06eb3890df615c.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pen--on-the-business-paper--report-chart-816878990-e4bb54bc72e148f4a707bac9c9046737.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/89794268-5bfc2b8bc9e77c005143f0cf.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1029209940-5e7f7ab9bdfe4e6bb7f8880c2f1ee7be.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1010887214-26dd25cce68e4127aedf46ec71f0c1cd.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/japanese-girl-using-her-smartphone-and-credit-card-to-make-an-online-payment-882830680-1a1737d573ff497b955b567fcef23e88.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/thinkstockphotos-80700597-5bfc348c46e0fb00265d9a86.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1093925856-27b7f96d7f98449f90722ab0b3ea9e6e.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/credit_score_-5bfc304146e0fb00265cc8cd.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-112260467-e6faddc0aa3b420ba5cf805f481cd848.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/plastic-money-label-card-brand-product-835557-pxhere.com-ec6b3842a0f148619f9088eaf86c7d88.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/FICO-Score-704-7db79b4b7c69444798c4060e81e005e9.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/153221908-5bfc2b8c4cedfd0026c118f2.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/CreditRating200x133-56a493575f9b58b7d0d7a0e5.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/isolated-line-macro-close-material-product-1416303-pxhere.com-c54c932a54d6475fb99fdbf6386ab089.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1146246683-80e44e83b29e4e73a2a3cca14c0db3f7.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1002493636-cfdb52fdc897411ca1ab7e1e9c2ddcc4.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-533045204-0b30251ff46a4073bf452f94850cc851-0f87f76a68384ad797735937e9c4fd10.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1041512942-a2f1ac7907a5458ea2f3bef5f98cb887.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-643148934-38a2137c85704b54a41ca378f768b833.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-643148934-419a43168999425ebf1cee6923a039ea.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/thinkstockphotos-185431801-5bfc351e46e0fb00260cea28.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/businessman-show-analyzing-report--business-performance-concept-1034886308-650119e2f4d745f9a772c980b25a3345.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_112522391-5bfc2b9846e0fb0051bde2d3.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/loan_86800398-5bfc2b48c9e77c0026b4ecfc.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_305616107.college.loan.tab62-6f0c5bf17fe047e1afb60da0e3c00388.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/credit_card_gas_ap110331060712-5bfc37bec9e77c0026b83a46.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/options-lrg-5bfc2b1f4cedfd0026c10437.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/bills_stk108560cor-5bfc380546e0fb0051c13345.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/file-a-credit-card-dispute-5bfc2d7146e0fb002601cb91.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shutterstock_250939153-5bfc2fa146e0fb00517ca89b.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1214724869-2efbbc3d237c4f63a23ea1517682f5d8.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/mortgage-149882_12801-d91134ee187d4645a0eff9b090ae788e.png)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/thinkstockphotos_80410231-5bfc2b97c9e77c0026b4fb20.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/stk128219rke-5bfc2b8a46e0fb005144db8f.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/156416606-5bfc2b8b46e0fb00517bdff7.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/high-school-students-5bfc2b8b46e0fb0083c07b7d.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-85561550-e214b22f050c48d18d0fdf206498289e.jpeg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tiktok-b003064e1dfa4459bd31c37e7db390a1.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/virtual_goods-5bfc2b8a46e0fb00517bdfe5.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/couple-getting-financial-advice-640229730-a5fe6a565bd04629ae7e198d660ab55c.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/credit-report-157681670-5b740d0246e0fb00502fd857.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/91577363-5bfc2dd54cedfd0026c185e2.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/AdobeStock_165749874-20ddabc391714822954be82d65dd933d.jpeg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/thinkstockphotos-176954175-5bfc352dc9e77c0026322f25.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/lower_credit_score-5bfc2d3146e0fb00260b6e9f.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/student-loan-computer-keyboard-570258715-577c0ce45f9b585875cae301.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/thinkstockphotos-523291335-5bfc34a946e0fb00514689be.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/credit-score-online-report-document-on-smartphone--flat-cartoon-digital-good-history-ranking-loan-record-on-mobile-phone-display--cellphone-report-isolated-clipart-1139831950-9026fd79538c4e1ca46bd8200d4ad7ce.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-12514674071journeycrop-fico-0e8fddfabe8b44f2bbd48f336fa24084.jpg)