 TITLE: How Do Lenders View Your Credit? CONTENT: What Else Do Lenders Look at in Your Credit Application?\n--------------------------------------------------------\nTogether, your credit score and report provide quite a bit of insight into how you manage credit. But most lenders also want to know more about you and your finances. This information is not included in your credit report, and they'll typically ask you to provide this information yourself or provide documentation to back it up.\n**Income**: Lenders want to know about your employment and monthly income so they know you can afford to pay back your debt. They'll also use this information to calculate your debt-to-income ratio to make sure your total debts aren't eating up too much of your monthly income.\n**Capital**: Lenders want to know that you'll be able to make your payments even if you run into a bit of financial trouble. Having emergency savings or an investment account shows you have the financial backup to carry on through choppy waters.\n**Collateral**: Two common examples of collateralized—or secured—loans are mortgages and car loans. If you default on either of these types of loans, the lender will seize your property and sell it to recoup their money. Credit cards are generally unsecured, though applicants who are building credit may consider secured credit cards, which require you provide a cash deposit equal to your credit line as collateral. If your collateral is property, you'll likely need to prove its value and that you own it.\nLenders may also look at factors that don't seem to relate directly to credit. For example, if you've been at your job for many years or have lived in the same place for a long time, that's seen as a sign of stability. END