DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Could your buy now, pay later loans affect your credit score? Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But there's one place they're notable absent: your credit report. Earlier this year, Apple became the first major BNPL provider to start reporting all user account information to a credit reporting agency. Providers including AfterPay, Affirm and Klarna already report some loans to the credit bureaus and experts say more are likely to follow, paving the way for a consumer's BNPL history to factor into their credit history and ultimately their credit score. (One of the main aspects of a credit score comes down to your history of paying bills on time.) When BNPL credit reporting could sting

Persons: Klarna, Liz Pagel, BNPL, Wells, Tim Quinlan, Ethan Dornhelm, TransUnion's, Silvio Tavares, Tavares, Pagel Organizations: Apple, Adobe Analytics, CNBC, Finance Locations: TransUnion, Wells Fargo

☆ Here is the average credit score at every age in the U.S.—see how yours stacks up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Although Americans' average credit scores recently dropped for the first time in a decade, many appear to be maintaining a relatively healthy score. The average credit score dipped by one point, from 718 to 717, according to FICO's March 6 blog post. Your FICO and VantageScore credit score can fall anywhere between 300 and 850, and a 717 score is considered to be "very good," according to the VantageScore model. Here are VantageScore's rankings and ranges:Very Poor: 300 to 499300 to 499 Poor: 500 to 600500 to 600 Good: 601 to 660601 to 660 Very Good: 661 to 780661 to 780 Exceptional: 781 to 850When you break down the average credit score by age, most Americans appear to have a good score as well. It's understandable that older generations tend to have higher scores since they've had a longer time to establish and maintain their credit.

Persons: they've Organizations: CNBC

The role of credit bureaus in credit card applicationsCredit bureaus play a pivotal role in the credit card application process. How credit bureau information influences approval decisionsCredit bureau information plays a pivotal role when financial institutions make credit decisions. Credit bureau reporting frequently asked questionsDo all banks use the same credit bureau for credit card applications? Even though the three credit bureaus score credit slightly differently, improving your credit habits will typically raise your score across the board. Our guide to the best credit cards for pre-approval can help you identify which credit cards you're most likely to be approved for.

Persons: you'll, Here's, TransUnion, Experian, Banks, Chase, —, cardholders, Discover's, Wells, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo's, that's Organizations: Vantage, Bank, American Express, American Express American, Credit, Bank of America Bank of America, Bank of America, Chase Chase Bank, Chase, Capital, Citi Citi, Citi, Discover Discover Locations: Equifax, Transunion, Wells Fargo Wells, Experian, Wells, Chevron

A combination of inflation, increased interest rates, and the end of pandemic-tied relief, such as the moratorium on student loan payments, has led to record credit card debt, experts say. A recent report from credit rating company Moody’s found credit card delinquencies are now well above 2019, or pre-pandemic levels. If you're facing increased credit card debt, while feeling the ongoing effects of inflation, here's what to consider:ASK FOR A RATE CUTPhotos You Should See View All 45 ImagesOne of the first things you should do is ask your credit card company to lower your rates. While the Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that its first interest rate cut is likely months away, the average credit card interest rate is already far and away higher than the rate set by the Fed. PAY OFF HIGHER-INTEREST DEBT FIRSTKnown as the “avalanche approach,” paying off debt that accumulates interest more quickly will always be more efficient than paying off lower-interest debt first.

Persons: Moody’s, Silvio Tavares, ”, Kia McCallister, Charles Schwab Organizations: —, Federal Reserve, ASK, Fed, National Foundation, Credit, nfcc.org, Federal Trade, Public, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Federation of America, America, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: realtor.com

While there's no universal minimum credit score to rent an apartment, landlords generally prefer applicants with a good credit score, which is at least 670. While your credit score will suffice for some landlords, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, landlords are also allowed to view your credit reports. The average credit score of a Gen Z consumer is 680 compared to the average baby boomer's credit score of 745. Though these services won't directly help you build credit, keeping track of your credit score is a crucial part of the credit building process. Apartment credit score requirements frequently asked questionsCan you rent an apartment if you do not have credit?

Persons: —, TransUnion, Kendall Meade, Jay Zigmont, Will, Jamela Adam, Read Organizations: Fair, Childfree, Forbes, . News, Mint Intuit Locations: AnnualCreditReport.com, SoFi, Chevron

Zillow's rent reporting is free for tenants who pay rent through Zillow. Tenants who currently use Zillow to pay rent can opt into rent reporting through their Renter Payments Dashboard. In order to pay rent through Zillow, your landlord must be enrolled and send you an invitation link. Once a tenant has opted in to rent reporting, Zillow will identify on-time rent payments — made within 30 days of the due date — and report them to Experian. Competition among the best rent reporting services is fierce, with many services offering features like utilities reporting, up to 24 months of retroactive rent reporting, and tri-bureau rent reporting.

Persons: —, Finance Insider's, Michael Sherman, Zillow doesn't Organizations: Service, Finance, Zillow Locations: Zillow

☆ 3 things you can learn about taxes from San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead's paycheck
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers at the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 29, 2023. While the pay stub showed gross earnings of more than $4 million year to date, experts say it holds lessons for everyday taxpayers. While it's possible to withhold less than you'll owe, you could risk underpayment penalties on top of a sizable income tax bill in April. Max out your 401(k) to save on taxesIn addition to significant tax withholdings, Armstead also maxed out his workplace retirement plan for 2023. But you can reduce your adjusted gross income with pre-tax 401(k) contributions, experts say.

Persons: Arik Armstead, Kevin Sabitus, Sam, Armstead's, Albert Campo, Armstead, Tommy Lucas, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Lucas, Armstead's withholdings, John Loyd, Max Organizations: San Francisco 49ers, NFC, Philadelphia Eagles, Getty, Finance, Social Security, AJC Accounting Services, CFP Locations: Manalapan , New Jersey, California, Orlando , Florida, Florida, Texas, Fort Worth , Texas

☆ VantageScore CEO: U.S. consumer is 'quite healthy,' as credit scores rise despite inflation, mounting debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Sharon Epperson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailVantageScore CEO: U.S. consumer is 'quite healthy,' as credit scores rise despite inflation, mounting debtA new report shows that consumers credit scores have held up, even as they have taken on more debt. The report is from VantageScore, an independently managed joint venture of the credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Sharon Epperson spoke with Silvio Tavares the CEO of VantageScore about the health of the consumers and what you need to know about your credit scores.

Persons: Transunion, Sharon Epperson, Silvio Tavares Locations: VantageScore

☆ Improving your credit score by 100 points could save you hundreds of dollars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While there's not much you can do about the Fed raising interest rates, you do have some control over improving your credit score. With rising interest rates, having a good credit score is crucial to keeping costs down since it can save you hundreds of dollars in monthly debt expenses. To improve your credit score, make sure you make debt payments on time and have a wide variety of credit, while using the credit you have only sparingly. Depending on your outstanding debt, improving your credit score by 100 points can save you hundreds of dollars. Monthly interest for a credit cardFor credit cards, having a credit score of 630 could qualify you for an APR around 24%, according to Investopedia data.

Persons: there's, you'd, Warren Buffett Organizations: Federal Reserve, New York Fed

A student loan is reported as an installment loan on your credit report and can affect your credit score. How to build credit with your student loanPracticing good student loan management can positively affect your credit score. Monitor your credit report — Regularly checking your credit report helps you spot inaccuracies and stay on top of your credit. Consolidate or refinance federal student loansYou can apply for student loan consolidation if you need help managing multiple federal student loans. How student loans affect credit scores frequently asked questionsHow much do student loans affect credit scores?

Persons: servicers, isn't, —, you've Organizations: Federal Locations: Federal

☆ How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Gerri Detweiler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +17 min

Use this guide to identify what kind of credit card user you are—and how many credit cards you should have. A secured credit card can be a smart option if you don’t have a very good credit score. Most small business credit cards require a good personal credit score and sufficient income from all sources, not just the business. However, many business credit cards don’t appear on consumer credit reports, which means they don’t impact your credit scores as long as you pay on time. Similar to choosing a personal credit card, pick your business credit cards based on your spending habits.

Persons: I’ve, you’ll, you’re, ”, Jeff Richardson, FICO, You’ll, You’re, airfare, — Organizations: VantageScore Solutions, Wells, U.S, Walmart, Amazon.com, Foods, Chase Travel, Amazon Prime, Visa, Amazon, Capital, Hertz, American Express, Card, Chase Locations: U.S, superstores

A credit score under these thresholds is also called a sub-prime credit score, which means that creditors might think twice when reviewing your application for a credit line. However, a combination of serious negative marks on your credit score may seriously hurt your credit score, putting you on the lower end of the score range. While one credit check on your credit report may dent your credit score by a few points, several of these in a short period of time will significantly hurt your credit score. While one credit check on your credit report may dent your credit score by a few points, several of these in a short period of time will significantly hurt your credit score. Lowest credit score frequently asked questionsWhat is the lowest credit score to buy a house?

Persons: VantageScore, aren't, you'll, Enoch Omololu, Erik Beguin, Kendall Meade Organizations: Self, New Canadians, Austin Capital Bank Locations: annualcreditreport.com, Chevron

Rebuild credit after bankruptcy with a credit builder product that doesn't require good credit. As such, you'll have to start from zero, using products such as credit builder loans and secured credit cards that don't require a good credit score or any credit at all. Credit builder loansCredit builder loans are one of the main credit-building methods for people either starting from scratch or rebuilding credit after severe delinquency or bankruptcy. Secured credit cardsApplying for a secured credit card can be one of your best options for rebuilding your score. Rebuilding credit after a bankruptcy frequently asked questionsCan you remove a bankruptcy from your credit report?

Persons: you'll, it's, myFICO Organizations: Visa, Card Locations: Chevron

Credit scores usually drop at least 100 points or more after bankruptcy is added to a credit report. As such, if a bankruptcy is added to your credit report, it can have a severe negative impact on your credit score. More Information No hard credit report pullReports to all 3 bureausBuild credit AND savingsJoin over 1 million credit buildersUnlock a Secured Credit Card after meeting eligibility criteria24 months loan durationCan you remove a bankruptcy from your credit report? Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.7/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.8/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On Aura's website Learn more On IDShield's website Learn more On IdentityForce's websiteFinal thoughtsRemember, bankruptcy is just one of various debt relief options. If you're patient and commit to following good credit habits, your credit score will slowly but surely rise.

Persons: myFICO, you'll, You'll Organizations: Service, Visa, Card, Credit Monitoring, Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon

Here's what you need to know about the impact of collections and how to get them removed from your credit report. As it ages on your credit report, its effect on your credit score will decrease until it falls off entirely. There are a few different — and completely legal — ways you can try to remove it from your credit report to fix your credit score. While paying off a debt in collections will not improve your credit or remove the collections from your credit report, a collections agency can sue you for unpaid debt if it's still within the statute of limitations. A CFPB report on credit reports in 2022 found 175 million total collections tradelines on credit reports, down from 261 million when the report was last updated in 2018.

Persons: it's, there's, John Owens, you've, Markia Brown, Brown, Owens, Rick Eicheldinger, Zarrad, Eicheldinger Organizations: Service, Monterey Financial Services Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chevron

☆ How to Build Credit Without a Credit Card
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Emily Sherman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

The problem: The best way to build your credit score is to make regular payments on your credit card — and often you can’t get a credit card until you already have a good credit score. Become an authorized userThe fastest and easiest way to build your credit score — if it’s an option for you — is for a family member or friend with a good credit to add you as an authorized user to their credit card. Once a cardholder adds you to their account, you’ll get your own credit card, earn rewards (if applicable) and get credit for on-time payments and a credit utilization ratio. Get a secured credit cardIf you don’t have any of the loans listed here or find you need another option for building credit, a credit card is still an option. Specifically designed for those just getting started building credit, secured credit cards use a deposit as collateral to reduce risk, so even those with poor credit can qualify.

Persons: Emily Sherman, ”, Emily Irwin, Wells, Irwin, you’ll, doesn’t, it’ll, Freddie Huynh, isn’t, Huynh, Kenneth Chavis, You’re, “ Organizations: Debt, Experian, Versant Capital Management, Digital Federal Credit Union Locations: Wells Fargo, Minneapolis, It’s, Phoenix

International credit scores generally do not transfer to credit scores in the US. Nova Credit allows immigrants from some countries to apply for credit with an international credit score. FICO VantageScore Payment history (35%) Payment history (40%) Credit balance (30%) Length & type of credit (21%) Length of credit history (15%) Percent of credit used (20%) New credit (10%) Total debt/balances (11%) Mix of credit accounts (10%) Recent credit behavior and inquiries (5%) Available credit (3%)How credit scores work internationallyOther countries have a credit scoring system that differs from the United States. Alternatively, you can use credit builder products like a secured credit card or credit builder loan, which don't require high credit scores to qualify. Transferring international credit scores frequently asked questionsWhat happens to my credit score if I move to another country?

Persons: Misha Esipov, TransUnion, you've Organizations: Nova Credit, Nova Credit's, American Express Locations: United States, America, Canada, Japan, Nova, Australia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Chevron

Medical debt can affect your credit score, but its been deprioritized by the credit industry. While FICO has lessened the weight of medical debt on your credit score, VantageScore completely removed medical debt from its calculations. How to improve your credit after medical debtWhile unpaid medical debt doesn't have the same impact on your credit score as an unpaid credit card bill, it can impact your credit nonetheless. Once you transfer that debt to your credit card, those protections you and your credit score have against medical debt no longer apply. Medical debt frequently asked questionsIs medical debt being removed from credit reports?

Persons: FICO, VantageScore, —, doesn't, Experian, Tiffany Cross, Rick Eicheldinger, You'll, Cross Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kaiser Family Foundation Locations: United States

You can enroll in an identity theft protection service so you don't fall victim to theft. There are many companies out there that solely focus on identity protection — you can read our guide to the best identity theft protection services — but you may be able to enroll in an identity theft protection service through your credit card provider. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Covers up to 10 children under 18 at no extra cost Check mark icon A check mark. With services comparable to some of the best identity theft protection services at a competitive price, this is an appealing option to Discover cardholders.

Persons: Capital One's CreditWise, David McMillin David McMillin, Guy, David, he's Organizations: Social, Federal Trade Commission, Research, Express, American Express, Chase, Credit, Business, Capital, Mastercard, Theft Locations: cardholders, Experian, AnnualCreditReport.com, Chicago, Alaska , Utah , Oklahoma, Vermont

☆ The credit crunch is getting worse and bankruptcies are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

David Tesher: Before we were forecasting a short and shallow recession, but we no longer think there’s going to be a recession. Hard decisions are being made, and that’s going to feed back into corporate growth prospects. As economic conditions slow, credit is becoming tighter and companies are defaulting at a faster pace than they have. So yes, some corporations are distressed, but this isn’t something affecting the entire market, which is what you’d associate with a broad credit crunch. Big Tech is back with a vengeanceLast year was rough for tech companies: Tech stocks fell more than 30% in 2022, while the overall market dropped 20%.

Persons: Banks, Bell, David Tesher, we’re, We’re, There’s, reevaluation, it’s, Meta, Wedbush’s Daniel Ives, Liz Ann Sonders, Charles Schwab, ”, Megan Horneman, Matt Egan, John LaForge Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, P, Big Tech, Tech, Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Verdence Capital Advisors, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, AAA, That’s, US Energy Information Administration, Wells, Investment Institute

If your credit history is limited, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit is worth a close look. How to use rewards from the SavorOne for Good Credit cardThe Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit comes with a straightforward reward redemption: Cash back in the form of a statement credit or a check. There's another redemption option if you also have a Capital One credit card that earns miles, like the aCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. SavorOne for Good Credit benefits and featuresThe Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit is fairly low-frills in terms of extra benefits. If you wouldn't otherwise be approved for the regular Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card or Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card because your credit is on the lower side of good, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards for Good Credit is worth considering.

Persons: Cash, Cardholders, It's, SavorOne, —, David McMillin David McMillin, Guy, David, he's Organizations: Uber, Capital, Walmart, Capital One Entertainment, Reading Chevron, Credit, Good Credit, Target, Costco, Entertainment, Netflix, Hulu, Disney, Verizon, PayPal, Good, Chevron, Business Locations: U.S, Chicago, Alaska , Utah , Oklahoma, Vermont

Your credit score is only one of several factors that determine whether your credit card application will be approved. Credit Card for Excellent Credit Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the best credit card for excellent credit? Can I qualify for a credit card without excellent credit? You can absolutely qualify for a credit card without having excellent credit. Compare the Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardChase Sapphire Preferred® CardBank of America® Premium Rewards® credit cardDiscover it® Miles Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Persons: Read, We're, Uber, Peacock, Uber Cash, Merrill, Miles you've, Miles, There's, gofree Wyndham, you'll, You'll, It's, Chase, Cardholders, cardholders, you've, Wyndham Organizations: Excellent Credit, Capital, One, Chevron, American Express, American, Express, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, Credit, TSA, Global, Saks Fifth, Reading Chevron, Target, Chase, Bank of America, Bank of America's, of America, Bank of America Travel Center, Wyndham, Business, Venture, Resorts, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Bank of America, Rewards, Barclays, Wyndham Rewards, Diamond, Vacasa Locations: Hulu, Wells, Wyndham

As the base on which your credit score is calculated, credit reports don't actually include your credit scores. Checking credit score frequently asked questionsWill checking my credit score lower it? Your credit reports do not show when you check your credit score, so the credit scoring algorithms have no way of knowing if you checked your credit score. Similarly to your credit score, checking your credit report doesn't change your credit score. While the average Gen Z consumer has a 679 FICO score, the average member of the Silent Generation has a 760 FICO score.

The average FICO credit score in 2022 was 714, and the average VantageScore credit score was 701. 10 states with the highest average credit scoreAccording to data gathered by Experian, the 10 states with the highest average credit scores in 2022 are as follows:States Credit Scores (FICO) Minnesota 742 Vermont 736 Washington 735 Wisconsin 735 New Hampshire 734 South Dakota 734 North Dakota 733 Hawaii 732 Massachusetts 732 Oregon 732The 10 states with the lowest average credit scoreOverall, credit scores have risen over the past couple of decades. How credit scores are categorizedThe range of possible credit scores spans from 300 to 850, which FICO categorizes into five levels called risk categories. Minnesota, with a 742 average score, is the only exception, nudging its way into a "very good" average score. Average credit scores by state frequently asked questionsWhy are credit scores worse in the South?

FreeKick is a credit-builder product that can help parents build credit for their children ages 14-25. Depending on the size of the deposit, a FreeKick account will cost $0 - $99 annually. Traditionally, the easiest way for parents to help their children build credit is by adding them as an authorized user on a credit card. Austin Capital Bank, a savings bank out of Austin, Texas, is launching FreeKick Credit Builder, a new credit-building product that allows parents to help their children build credit without risking their own credit. No credit check Check mark icon A check mark.

Search resuls for: "VantageScore"

25 mentions found