How to Rebuild and Re-Establish Credit
If you’ve been struggling with a low credit score, you may be asking yourself “How can I rebuild my bad credit?” Our loan advisors at Citizens Savings & Loan are here to help you get back on your feet. Practice these tips to rebuild your credit and improve your low credit score.
Pay Your Bills On Time
While this may seem obvious, make an extra effort to establish the habit of paying bills on or, preferably, before the due date. Payment history is the factor that has the largest impact on your score. Over time, consistent timeliness will reestablish your credit.
Minimize Credit Card Balances
Your credit card balances makeup the second largest portion of your credit score. Keep balances below 50% of the limit, preferably 30% or less, on each card to work toward reestablishing credit.
Don’t Apply for too Many Cards or Loans
If you apply for multiple credit cards or loans in a short period of time, your credit score will suffer. Keep these applications few and far between.
Get a Consolidation Loan
Taking out a bill consolidation loan and using the money to pay off various debts can improve your credit and simultaneously consolidate all of your debts into one payment. Making timely payments on this loan will reestablish your credit over time.
Ask a Co-Signer for Help
Have someone co-sign a small manageable loan on which you can make regular above-the-minimum payments. This will go a long way in reestablishing credit.
Improve Credit Gradually
The process of reestablishing credit takes time and patience, so don’t expect a quick result. If you apply these strategies, however, you will see improvement over time.