Get Smart About Credit Day

Understanding how credit works can help you improve your credit, which opens the door to better interest rates, rewards credit cards or even a mortgage.

With all of the misleading and incorrect information about credit floating around, it’s no wonder some of us feel lost when it comes to our credit reports and credit scores. In one of surveys, found that one in four respondents couldn’t tell the difference between a credit score and a credit report—but we’re here to help set everything straight with simple and clear explanations.

Your credit score is based on five key factors:

Most lenders make their decisions using FICO credit scores, which are based on five key factors. That means that when you apply for a new credit card or loan, these are the primary influences on whether you’ll end up getting approved. Here are the five factors, in order of importance: payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, credit mix and new credit inquiries.