The content is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.

There are 5 main factors that make up credit score:

- payment history (35%),

- amounts owed (30%),

- length of credit history (15%),

- new credit (10%), and

- credit mix (10%).

First of all, you should always monitor your payments so that to be able to cope with all of them. Secondly, your total outstanding debt shouldn’t exceed 30% of your available credit. Next, if your credit history is short, adding too many new cards can reduce the average age of your credit accounts, which can negatively impact your credit score. Also, note that your accounts had better be of different types. Take care of having a mix of credit cards, personal loans, etc. If you follow all these rules and keep all your credit accounts in good standing, your score won't be irreversibly affected.

In case you have never used a credit card, we would recommend you start with secured credit cards. These cards require a security deposit paid upfront, which means you will need a bank account to do so. However, some secured credit cards offer various ways to pay a security deposit. For example, with the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card the deposit can be paid with a debit card during the application process, or you can pay it later using Western Union or mail a check or money order.

A secured credit card is a good way to build your credit history as it reports the account activity to major credit bureaus. You just need never miss payments and pay off your balance on time. After that, getting approval for an unsecured card will be much easier.

tags : Credit Score Secured Cards Build Credit

Disclaimer: This editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the credit card issuer(s), and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer(s). Reasonable efforts are made to present accurate information, however all information is presented without warranty. Consult a card's issuing bank for the terms & conditions.
All rates and fees, and other terms and conditions of the products mentioned in this article/post are actual as of the last update date but are subject to change. See the current products' Terms & Conditions on the issuing banks' websites.