Having a perfect credit score unlocks the best credit cards and mortgage rates. Any credit score above 800 is considered "excellent." Always strive to maintain the highest credit score you can. If you ...

More Americans are racking up credit card debt, but an expert from the St. Louis Federal Reserve can explain how to maximize your credit score and pay down debt. FBI executes search warrant at ...

Got FICO? Drop below 700, and you’ll be limited to loans carrying the highest interest rates or often no loans at all. Sound outdated? It is.

Credit scores don’t matter unless you’re trying to get a loan, rent an apartment, secure insurance, buy a home, avoid paying a deposit to utility companies, or even land some jobs. OK. Unless you’re ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. True Tamplin is on a mission to bring financial literacy into schools. A strong credit score is one of the most valuable tools in ...

Perfect credit, or even really good credit, opens doors for American consumers. Better interest rates on loans. Better odds of renting an apartment or landing a job. Lower insurance premiums. But how ...

Credit scores existed for decades before 1989. What changed that year was the introduction of the FICO score, the first generic credit scoring system. Previously, lenders developed and used their own ...

Your credit score may not improve with on-time bill payments alone. Some debt payments have "no impact" on your score, one expert says. Americans have a near-record level of credit card debt — $1.18 ...

Beverly is a writer, editor, and paralegal specializing in personal finance and tax law. She covers personal financial and legal topics, as well as tax breaks, tax preparation software, and tax law ...

Clark Howard, a prominent consumer finance expert, entrepreneur, author and radio host, challenges the conventional wisdom that striving for an 800 credit score (or higher) is a universally wise ...