Credit score

5 Practical Money Tips for New Grads

Beyond the usual platitudes and cliches, commencement speakers should consider giving their audiences of eager graduates these five crucial pieces of advice.

6 Smart Moves to Boost Your Credit Score

Even if you're not planning on applying for a mortgage or credit card anytime soon, you need a good credit score. Here are some lesser-known strategies to help boost yours.

Most Americans Have More Savings Than Credit Card Debt

A recent survey shows that a majority of Americans have more money in their "emergency funds" than the owe on their credit cards. But if most people have more savings than credit card debt, how come it also feels like the majority of us are broke?

Study: 1 in 5 Consumers Had Error in Credit Report

One in five consumers had an error in a credit report issued by a major agency, according to a government study. The FTC study also said that 5 percent of the consumers identified errors in their reports that could lead to them paying more for mortgages, auto loans or other financial products.

6 Myths Couples Should Stop Believing About Joint Bank Accounts

Setting up a joint bank account is a pretty standard move for most couples, but things start to get a little dicey when it comes to credit cards. Many consumers are confused about what happens to their credit when they get married. Here are some of the most widely-held myths.

The Most Important Item in Your Credit Report

Most of your financial life is reflected on your credit report. But there's one specific aspect that carries more weight than any other when Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion calculate your credit score -- because it accounts for more than half of the updates the credit bureaus receive.

Meet the Man with a Near-Perfect Credit Score

The median FICO credit score is 723, and a perfect score -- 850 -- is virtually impossible to achieve, according to experts. So how did Tom Pavelka of Westlake, Ohio, end up with a score of 848?

CFPB Complaint Site Takes on Credit Report Issues, Too

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's complaint website already gave Americans a way to seek redress over problems with credit cards, mortgages, bank accounts, auto or personal loans, even student loans. Now, it's also ready to help us deal with credit reporting agencies.

The Hidden Credit Scores That Could Sink Your Finances

It's not hard to get copies of your credit report: You can even get them free from the major credit-reporting agencies. But each one of us has more than one credit score, and the one you're given may be very different from the ones lenders and other businesses actually use.

Consumer Bureau to Supervise Credit Reporting Agencies

Credit reporting agencies will soon be subject to federal oversight for the first time. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Monday that it will begin supervising the nation's biggest consumer reporting agencies this fall.

8 Signs Your Identity Has Been Compromised

While frequent data breaches may have desensitized some consumers to identity theft, it's still important to pay attention to early warning signs your info is being used illegally.

To Pay or Not to Pay? How to Handle Old Debts

With interest rates at record lows, now is the time to refinance your mortgage. But what if you find an old unpaid debt that's impairing your credit score? The answer isn't as obvious as you might think.

5 Credit Rules Everyone Should Follow

Managing credit correctly requires a certain amount of discipline -- otherwise, it's easy to slip into big money trouble. That's why it's important to have some guidelines. Here are five rules everyone should follow.

Can You Have Too Much Credit?

"Too much of a good thing can be wonderful," said film star Mae West. But what about too much credit? Is having a lot of credit a wonderful thing as well?

How Much Will One Late Payment Hurt Your Credit Score?

Oops! You open your credit card statement and discover you forgot to make last month's payment. Or a collections agency calls about a bill you didn't even know you had. How bad is it? How much does a single late payment affect your credit score?

What Blue States Can Teach Red States About Credit

It's not just politics that defines the differences between Republican-leaning "red states" and Democrat-leaning "blue states" -- and some of those differences may surprise you. For example, when it comes to credit scores, blue states are where the smart money is.

7 Small Mistakes That Will Hurt Your Credit Score

Most people understand that a bankruptcy or foreclosure will tank their credit score, but there are plenty of small mistakes you can make that will turn a good score into a mediocre one. Here are seven of the more common errors, plus tips on how to avoid them.

4 'Must Do' Money Moves to Achieve Fiscal Fitness

There are many roads to financial security, but whatever path you follow, there are some mandatory steps everyone ought to take along the way. Alexa von Tobel, founder of LearnVest.com, cuts through the thicket of advice to give us her essential keys to sound money management.

Money Guru Suze Orman Pushes Her Brand of Plastic

Suze Orman is trying to succeed where the Kardashians failed. The host of the popular TV money show is offering a new prepaid card that works much the same way as a debit card. Her goal: Offer a credit card alternative that doesn't charge you an arm and a leg.

Music Video Moves BofA on Stalled Mortgage Loan

It might not be the right method for everyone seeking a home loan, but it worked for one Georgia couple: A music video that went viral got Bank of America to close on Ken and Meredith Williams' long-delayed mortgage.

5 Lesser-Known Ways to Boost Your Credit Score

Credit scores affect many aspects of our lives -- more than you may think. Paying bills on time and staying well below your credit limits are sure-fire ways to build and maintain good credit. But there are some lesser-known strategies to boost your score as well.