Are you looking for ways to improve your credit score? We have some quick tips for you and information about how to keep a good credit score.

Pay all your bills and debts on time. This is probably the single most important thing, since any late payment (usually ones over 30 days late) that is reported to the three credit history agencies will negatively affect your credit score and put a blemish on your credit history. It is true that after a period of time these late payment will be removed from your credit history, but this time period is 5+ years so for 5 years these records of late payments will stay on your credit history.

Do not apply for credit too frequently. Having too many credit accounts can lower your credit score. Also, each time you apply for credit, you must authorize that credit company to make an inquiry onto your credit history. This type of inquiry is known as a hard inquiry (you give authorization as for an application for credit) and they show up on your credit history. Having too many hard inquiries during a period of time will also negatively affect your credit history.

Keep your total credit balances 1/4 or less of your total credit possible. A big determining factor in your credit score is the amount of available credit you have left vs the balance of your credit cards. A good rule of thumb for getting a good credit score is not keeping more than 25% of your total credit in balance owed.

Check your credit history regularly (we recommend at least twice a year) and spot and correct any mistakes in them as soon as possible.

Why is it important to improve your credit score? Well, for one, a good credit score shows potential employers your sense of fiscal responsibility, showing them that you have been responsible and reliable with handling money and debt. In terms of applying for loans, your credit score (along with your proof of income) whether you will even qualify for a loan and if you do what kind of rates and terms you will receive. These potential employers and lenders do not really know you and do not have other information by which to judge you; your credit history and score provide a glimpse of your fiscal responsibility to them, so it is important for that glimpse to be positive.