 TITLE: What Is a FICO<sup>®<\/sup> Score, and Why Is It Important? CONTENT: How to Improve Your Credit Score\n--------------------------------\nYou can take steps to improve your credit score, such as setting up automatic bill pay so you make all monthly payments on time. You may find it makes sense to spend time strengthening your FICO® Scores before you apply for a loan or credit card.\nAs a first step, consider pulling your free credit report to make sure all the information included, which contributes to your score, is accurate and up to date. You'll also be able to assess which areas of your credit history, such as your debt balances or length of history, would benefit from some extra attention. END