Get informed on how your credit report and score can affect your life.
When you apply for a credit card, a personal loan, or insurance, a file about you is created. This file, known as your “credit report,” is maintained by credit reporting companies. Your report will grow to include […]
Building credit can be challenging when you don’t have any credit history to your name, and many don’t know where to start. You may or may not get approved for a credit card, auto loan or that apartment for rent if your credit history hasn’t been established. Here are three ways to shape your credit […]
Almost every US citizen knows her or his Social Security number by heart, even if it’s a meaningless series of digits. But too few of us know our credit scores. And unlike an SSN, your credit score has a profound effect on your finances and future. Credit scores are notoriously fickle things. Yet they can […]
What in life is really essential to our survival? It’s a pretty short list, headlined by food, shelter and clothing, but many people nowadays would also include a mobile phone among their list of indispensable “must-have” items. But did you know that a mobile phone payment could also affect someone’s credit scores? Currently, the account […]
How financial concepts are presented can have a big impact on how people feel about their bank statement. In August, Credit Karma worked with Qualtrics to survey over 1,000 people about their reactions to two descriptions of adjustable rate rules, one technical and one conversational. Their responses were highly correlated with their attitudes toward money […]
A good credit score is what each of us aspires to. After all, a credit score is one of the important determining factors when it comes to borrowing money – and getting a low rate when you do. But trying to pin down a specific number that means your credit score is “good” can be […]
Bounced checks occur when the promise to pay that you’ve signed can’t be processed because you don’t have enough funds in your checking account. They’re also referred to as rubber or non-sufficient funds (NSF) checks and are an expensive hassle that may cause the account you’re trying to pay to go to collections and hurt […]
A Credit Report is a detailed report of credit history that is gathered by three credit bureaus; Transunion, Equifax, and Experian. Things like personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, medical bills and car payments are some of the things that can be on your credit report. Lenders look at your credit report to determine your creditworthiness, […]
What is a Credit Score? Imagine that a friend asks to borrow money from you. Assuming you had the money to loan, you might then ask yourself, “Did he pay me back the last time he borrowed money? Did he pay me back the full amount? On time?” When you approach banks and lenders for […]
Credit scores significantly impact your financial and personal lives. When your finances and credit scores are in good working order, you can rest easier knowing that your financial future is more secure. Credit scores range from approximately 300-850. Here’s what they mean: (Keep in mind that these are approximations) 300-550 Poor May not be approved for […]
