Master Your Card - Building astrong credit · 2016. 9. 7. · Master Your Card A public education campaign brought to you by MasterCard® 22 T 740-850 Higher scores will save you

Building a strong credit history

A public education campaign brought to you by MasterCard®

2Master Your Card A public education campaign brought to you by MasterCard®

Buying your first car, renting your first apartment, starting college,

beginning your first real job—master your credit early or your dream of getting ahead will be left behind.


Asking the right people the right questions can help you be more

independent, not less. Don't be afraid to talk to them about money and get

some good advice.


Understand what credit is, know how to make smart

money decisions and get set for the good life.


Master Your Card is a public education program that helps

you get the most from your money through

prepaid, credit and debit cards.

MasterCard is a technology company that builds safe, smart and simple solutions for making payments

and purchases.


Consumers have the money. Banks issue credit and hold

funds. Businesses have goods and services.



MasterCard provides the technological magic that

links them all together.

Credit basics


Words you should know:

• Credit history: a record of your debt that includes your history of credit card and loan repayment and bill payments. Three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) track your credit history and compile it into a credit report.

• Credit score: credit bureaus evaluate your credit history and assign you a credit score that gets used by lenders to decide whether to give you credit and on what terms.

• Annual percentage rate (APR): the interest rate charged on your credit card balance every month if you don't pay it off in full.

• Credit line/Credit limit: the amount of money that you can charge to a credit card.

• Minimum payment: the least amount of money you have to pay on your credit card each month.


The first step in building your credit history is applying for a credit card. A credit card

is a payment card issued by a bank or other financial institution. Each time you use it,

you borrow “credit” (money) from the bank that gave you the card.


Instead of applying for multiple cards, find banks or financial institutions that give

credit cards to first-timers. You may get several offers, but sign up for just one card to begin with. Don’t fall for gimmicks and

skip the free T-shirt.


In order to qualify for a credit card, you must be at least 18. If you’re

under 21, you'll also need either a cosigner or proof of income.


It may be difficult to get a credit card because you lack a credit history or have a lower income.


It's easier to get a credit card when you have a job, establish a bank account and start building a credit history, even if it’s short.

Your credit,

your future

What’s a credit rating and why do I always hear people talking about it?



A credit rating or credit score is a rating that

lenders, banks, landlords and others use to evaluate

your financial strength.


Credit scores change over time, ranging from

about 300 to more than 850.

300 850


A number of thingsinfluence your credit score.


10%New credit

10%Types of credit used

15%Credit history length

30%Amounts owed

35%Payment history

A number of thingsinfluence your credit score.


EXC

ELLE

NT

740-850 Higher scores will save you money. The higher the score, the lower the interest rate you will pay.

GO

OD 620-740 Improve your score by paying your bills on time

and keeping your balances low.

POO

R 300-620 Financial institutions consider you a greater risk. You may not be approved for a loan at all.


EXC

ELLE

NT

Higher score=lower ratesPO

OR Lower score=higher rates

as low as

7.9% as high as

28.9%


EXC

ELLE

NT



as low as

5.1% as high as

18.9%


EXC

ELLE

NT



as low as

3.9% as high as

9.5%


Typical $160,000 loan with a 30-year fixed mortgage

Typical 5-year auto loan of $25,000

Credit card rates may vary due to different factors

Credit scores offer lenders an idea of how much risk you might pose

EXC

ELLE

NT

740-850 3.9%APPROXIMATE

5.1%APPROXIMATE

8.0%APPROXIMATE

Higher scores will save you money. The higher the score, the lower the interest rate

you will pay.

GO

OD 620-740 4.6%

APPROXIMATE

8.8%APPROXIMATE

13.1%APPROXIMATE

Improve your score by paying your bills on time and keeping your

balances low.

POO

R 300-620 9.1%APPROXIMATE

18.4%APPROXIMATE

24.4%APPROXIMATE

Financial institutions consider you a

greater risk. You may not be approved for

a loan at all.

Good credit opens doors


Follow these simple rules for a high credit score and a low-stress

financial future.


• Pay your bills on time.

• Pay off monthly balances in full.

• Know your credit limit and don’t go over it.

• Keep your monthly balance low.

• Pay off debt rather than move it around.

• Read the fine print to know about fees and how to avoid them.

• Use your phone to monitor your balance.

• Review your credit report regularly with free annual reports, and dispute any inaccuracies right away.

• Report lost or stolen cards right away.

• Take advantage of special products and tools.

• Set smart spending limits—you can tell the bank what your max limit should be.

Do


Don’t• Don’t close unused credit cards.

• Don’t open multiple accounts in a short period of time.

• Don’t let someone else in the family open up a card in your name.


But more than anything,

borrow only what you can

repay!

Thank you

To get the most value from electronic payments, visit www.masteryourcardUSA.org

Documents

Master Your Card - Building astrong credit · 2016. 9. 7. · Master Your Card A public education campaign brought to you by MasterCard® 22 T 740-850 Higher scores will save you