Building Your Credit with Rebecca Keeter, VP of Mortgage Sales with Harris NA

Your credit score affects everything from receiving the best interest rates, getting approved for loans and even getting hired for a new job. So what should you do if it needs some work? According to Rebecca Keeter, CRA District Relationship Manager, Vice President Mortgage Sales with Harris NA, a better score is only a few steps away. “You can improve your credit by identifying what’s harming it and taking steps to rebuild it,” she says. Responsibly using the credit you have is the best way to achieve a better credit score. In fact, those who have attained a perfect or near-perfect credit score routinely use this strategy. They regularly use credit — but never more than they can afford to pay off. Common credit pitfalls Keeter explains how you can dig yourself out from common pitfalls and, in turn, increase your credit score. The problem: You’ve paid late or missed a few payments. The fix: Make a point of paying on time, every time. It sounds basic, but one of the easiest things you can do to boost your credit score is to pay on time, every time. Just as you might have a standing tennis date with friends, also try scheduling payments for bills that are due around the same time each month. An automatic bill pay service, such as Harris Bill Payment and Presentment®, makes it easy. The problem: You’ve maxed out one or more credit cards. The fix: Pay down what you owe and avoid creating more debt. Ideally, you want to keep your debt-to-credit ratio to less than 35 percent <b>…</b>