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Okay, maybe this blog post won't cover everything you've ever wanted to know about your credit score...
Editor’s Note: We’re going to pepper this blog post with positive, happy images. If you currently have a less-than-stellar score or don’t have a credit score at all, there’s hope! You just have to do some work to get back on track.
Think of your credit score as your ticket to being able to borrow money. If you have a higher credit score, lenders are more likely to approve your loan and at a much better interest rate. If you have a lower score, you’ll have a tougher time getting approved for a loan.
Not only will a higher credit score get you better rates on loans, it can also help you secure a great new apartment, better premiums on insurance and the best cell phone plans.
For example: A credit card may offer an annual percentage rate range of 9.99% to 29.99%. If you have an outstanding score, you’ll receive a rate on the lower end of that range because the lender believes you’re more likely to pay what you borrow back on time.
If you’re making a bigger purchase, a higher credit score can possibly save you thousands of dollars in interest. For example, if you buy a $20,000 car and finance it at a 2.75% APR interest rate for 60 months, you’ll end up paying $1,429.37 in total interest. If your credit score is not as great, and you end up with an interest rate of 9.00% APR, you’ll end up paying $4,910.03 in total interest over the 60 months.
Take a look at the numbers if you’re buying a house! If you borrow a total of $200,000 at a rate of 2.75% APR and pay it off over 30 years, you’ll end up paying $93,933.65 in total interest. Bump the APR up to 3.75%, and the total interest becomes $133,443.23.
There are five major factors that affect your credit score.
Read more about how FICO® calculates credit scores directly on their website.
There are some common misconceptions about what will and won’t hurt your credit score. Rest assured that these items won’t hurt your score.
Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850. Every lender will have different criteria they use when determining your loan eligibility and your interest rate. Let’s break down the scores a little bit.
The number one thing you can do to improve your credit score is to pay your bills on time. Creditors are primarily interested in how consistently you pay your bills. It’s important to pay all of your bills on time, including credit cards, auto loans, student loans, medical bills, utilities, etc.
Another way to help boost your credit score quickly is to pay off debt and keep your credit card balances low. If you need help getting started with this, there are two popular methods to consider: Snowball and avalanche.
Creditors look at the amount of available credit you have compared to how much you’re using. This is called your utilization ratio. Lenders like to see utilization ratios of 30 percent or less. The people with the best scores tend to have lower ratios. If you’re able to pay off a credit card, don’t close it right away. Having all of that available credit will improve your utilization ratio.
Other tips include only opening new credit when you need it and not applying for too many new accounts. You can also ask for help from a credit counselor. If you wish to speak with one, please contact us and we can help.
There are several websites that allow you to check your credit score for free. These websites may make you disclose personal information to use to sell you on credit products, so Arsenal Credit Union cannot endorse or link to them within this blog post. You may also be able to request your credit score from your financial institution or credit card company.
When you request your report from one of the big three bureaus, it will not have your credit score on it.
Check out this short video from the Federal Trade Commission about why it’s important to check your credit report. The three nationwide credit reporting bureaus have set up AnnualCreditReport.com, a website that lets you request your credit reports.
You are allowed to request a free credit report from each of the big bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, once every 12 months. Try to space out when you order your credit reports to make the most of it. For example: Order your Equifax report in February, your Experian report in June and your TransUnion report in September.
If you don’t have a credit score at all, you might have a hard time borrowing. Fortunately, we offer auto and personal loans for first-time borrowers. Our unique loan product gets you a good rate and helps you build credit for future purchases.