7 Ways to Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score is a fluid number, changing as information is added, altered or removed from your credit report. But your credit score also takes into account past behaviors, meaning raising your score requires time and patience.

In addition to making the right moves, you will also need to be consistent.

These 7 steps can push your score in the right direction:

1. Check your credit report regularly to see if information is correct.
2. Pay bills on time, especially mortgage or rent payments.
3. Keep balances low on credit cards. Account balances should be below 75% of your available credit.
4. Pay off debt rather than moving it around.
5. Pay more than the minimum required on your credit card. Large credit card balances hurt your score.
6. Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Don't open accounts just to have a better credit mix. It probably won't raise your score.
7. If you’ve missed payments, get current and stay current. The longer you pay your bills on time, the better your score.