Personal Insights
Building Credit Checklist

Checklist

Having trouble getting credit because you have no credit history? Use this checklist for building credit — and improve your credit score — by proving that you’re credit worthy.

If you have little or no credit history, this checklist can help for building credit and improving your credit score.

Ask a family member to co-sign on a credit card in your name to help establish credit.
Apply for a loan to show you can handle making monthly payments.
If you can’t get a major credit card, apply for a low-limit department store card or a card marketed toward individuals with little credit history to show you can manage a revolving credit line.
Always make on-time payments and keep balances under 30 percent of your available credit amount.
Make credit card purchases that you can afford to repay in full each month so that you can avoid paying interest while building a good payment history.
Try to obtain different types of credit, including credit cards, fixed-installment credit, and bank loans.

Learn about building credit and creditworthiness in our article, What You Need to Know about Building Credit.