Four Tips to Increase Your Credit Score
06/11/19
A FICO (Fair Isaac Corp.) credit score is a three-digit number that represents the likelihood of a consumer’s ability to repay a loan. In addition to mortgage companies who use the data for loans and rates, it might also be used by insurance companies when setting premiums, landlords evaluating potential tenants, or cell phone companies when offering plans and rates. It’s important to know what your credit report contains(Opens in a new window) in case there are errors or discrepancies.
What is My Credit Score?
To be clear, a credit score is not just one score. There are actually three main credit bureaus that provide FICO scores: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They collect, sell, and store data about individual consumers’ credit histories. Each bureau may have slightly different scores and data for you.
The government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has some suggestions(Opens in a new window) for obtaining your scores and has many online resources(Opens in a new window) dealing with reports and scoring. Credit scores range from 300 to 850 and are commonly broken down into categories ranging from Deficient to Superior. It is important to keep your credit score in good standing. Follow these four tips to increase and maintain your credit score.
Pay Bills On Time
One way to make sure your credit score is good is to make all of your payments by the due date. One day late is still late— be strict with yourself. Consider signing up for text alerts or automatic payments using your bank’s bill pay system. Some payees can also set up automatic bank drafts to make payments directly from your checking account when they are due. About 35 percent of your credit score has to do with your ability to make on-time payments, so be militant about doing so.
Avoid ‘Maxing Out’ Credit Limits
Using too much of your credit card limit will hurt your score. About 30 percent of your FICO number depends on having lots of wiggle room in the amount of credit you use versus how much credit remains on the account. Can you ask for a credit increase? Do you need to consolidate balances on cards where you’re using too much of your limit? Some experts advise using only 30 percent of the credit available to you, while others say to only use 10 percent of your limit. In either case, be aware of how much credit you use and make sure it doesn’t approach anywhere near the maximum allowed.
Don’t Over-apply
It can be tempting to apply for cards to get store discounts and other special offers, but be aware that applying for new accounts can hurt your credit. You don't want too much activity occurring on your credit report within a short time span. Every time you open an account or fill out a credit card application, your credit will be impacted. It’s best to be selective and strategic on what lines of credit you apply for.
Pay the Balance Every Month
You can build good credit by paying off your balances on accounts every month. Pay on time, every time and you’ll improve your credit. Not only that, but paying off the balance in full will save on interest fees, which can often be extremely high.
These are just a few tips to follow when trying to increase your credit score. At Sunflower Bank our first priority is your financial well-being. If you have questions about improving credit or you’re ready to try our 8 Essential Financial Tips, we want to make it easy for you. Find a location near you or call us at 888.827.5564.
Ready to explore how Sunflower Bank can assist you? Speak to a personal banker at a branch near you, contact a specialist on our Wealth Management team, or find the right financial partner on our Commercial Banking team for your business needs.
This article contains general information only. Sunflower Bank is not, by means of this article, rendering accounting, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This article is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, before making any decisions related to these matters, you should consult a qualified professional advisor.