 TITLE: Women and Credit 2020: How History Shaped Today’s Credit Landscape CONTENT: How to Build and Keep Good Credit\n---------------------------------\nBoth women and men can benefit from a deep knowledge of their credit scores. Here's how to keep your score as strong as possible:\n*   **First, get credit in your name.** If you can't qualify for a credit card or loan on your own, start off as an authorized user, then apply for your own account when your score is high enough to qualify. Or start by getting a secured credit card in your name. Some secured credit card issuers may upgrade you automatically to a traditional, unsecured card after a period of on-time payments and responsible usage.\n*   **Regularly check your credit report.** The information in it determines your credit score. (You're entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.) Double-check that the information in your credit report is accurate and up to date. If you notice any discrepancies, you can dispute the information with the credit bureaus and also contact the lender reporting the information directly so they can update their records.\n*   **Make it a priority to pay all bills on time.** The most important factor in your credit score is payment history, and even a single late or skipped credit card or student loan bill can negatively affect it. Set alerts or reminders, or even better, set up autopay so your bills are paid directly from your checking account each month.\n*   **Limit credit utilization.** After payment history, credit utilization is the next-most important contributor to your credit score. Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of revolving credit you use compared with the limit your creditors give you, and it's best to keep it under 30%, according to experts—but the lower, the better.  \n    That means using credit cards only for purchases you can afford to pay off each month. That will help keep your accounts active and show lenders that you can successfully manage credit.\n*   **Track your credit score.** There are lots of ways to monitor your credit score: Your credit card company, lender or bank might offer free access to it, or you can view your FICO® Score through Experian's free service. You'll be able to see which factors are negatively affecting it so you can address them. END