Improve Your Credit Score

Proven strategies to boost your credit score and maintain healthy financial habits for long-term success.

Actionable Strategies

Pay Bills On Time

Critical

Set up automatic payments or calendar reminders for all credit accounts. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score.

Lower Credit Utilization

High

Keep balances below 30% of your credit limit. Pay down existing debt and avoid maxing out cards.

Dispute Credit Report Errors

High

Review your credit reports annually and dispute any inaccuracies with the credit bureaus immediately.

Become an Authorized User

Medium

Ask a family member with good credit to add you as an authorized user on their account to benefit from their positive history.

Keep Old Accounts Open

Medium

Length of credit history matters. Keep older accounts active even if you don't use them frequently.

Diversify Credit Mix

Low

Having a mix of credit types (credit cards, installment loans, etc.) can positively impact your score over time.

Timeline for Improvement

Credit improvement takes time and consistency. Here's what to expect at different stages.

30-60 Days

Dispute errors, pay down high balances

3-6 Months

Consistent on-time payments show pattern

6-12 Months

Credit utilization improvements reflect

12+ Months

Significant score improvements visible