How to Improve Your Credit Score

Beginner: The Levers You Control

Pay on time, always

Payment history is generally the single biggest factor in your score. One missed payment can undo months of progress, and a payment reported late can linger on your report for a long time.

So the first lever is boring and powerful: never miss a due date. Autopay for at least the minimum is the simplest way to guarantee it.

Lower what you owe

How much of your available credit you are using, your utilization, is another heavy factor. Carrying high balances relative to your limits generally drags the score down.

Paying balances down, even a little, is one of the faster-acting moves you can make, because utilization updates as your balances change. Lower balances, higher score, generally.

Myths that waste time

Some popular advice does nothing. Closing old cards does not help and can hurt by shrinking your history and available credit. Carrying a balance to build credit is a myth, because paying in full is fine and saves you interest.

And no one can legally erase accurate negative marks. Anyone promising to delete real, correct items is describing a scam, not a strategy.