Building credit, step by step
A secured-card deposit does not pay your monthly bill
Understand the difference between a security deposit and a payment, with a simple example and questions to ask before opening a secured card.
Building credit
If you’re establishing or rebuilding credit, it helps to separate the account rules from the habits you can control. These guides cover secured cards, authorized users and what to do after an application is declined.
Guides on building credit
5 guides
Sharing an account
Before becoming an authorized user, agree on who pays
Separate spending access, repayment responsibility and credit reporting before joining another person's credit-card account.
After an application
A credit-card application was denied. What should you check first?
Read the denial notice, distinguish two different report and reason requests, and address a reporting error before considering another application.
Practical credit decisions
What happens to your secured-card deposit when the account changes?
Separate a refundable deposit from an upgrade promise, protect your cash budget, and ask the right questions before changing or closing a secured account.
Consumer news and practical steps
A Smaller Debt-Relief Deposit May Leave Your Card Bill Unpaid
The FTC's latest enforcement announcement shows why a debt-relief offer needs two checks: who is making it, and what happens to the money.
Educational articles, with original examples. Check an offer’s current terms with its provider before applying.
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