If you’re looking to establish credit for the first time or repair a damaged credit score, a credit-builder loan may be a helpful option to consider.
What Is A Credit-Builder Loan
Credit-builder loans are specifically designed to help people with limited credit history or poor credit scores establish or improve their creditworthiness by making regular payments over a set period of time. Credit-builder loans can demonstrate responsible payment history which is a major factor in calculating your credit scores.
5 Benefits of Credit-Builder Loans
Whether you need to build credit from scratch or rebuild your credit history, credit-builder loans offer several benefits:
- Build your credit history. Making a series of on-time payments is one of the best ways to improve your credit score.
- Easy approval.The most common requirements for a credit-builder loan are being at least 18 years old, having a valid bank account and having enough income to make monthly payments.
- Apply for the loan: The application will require some personal and financial information like your address, income, employment status and housing status.
- Payments reported to the credit bureaus. Your lender will report the details of your payment to the three major credit bureaus every month.
- Cash out when it’s over. When the loan is paid off, you get the full amount of the savings account balance or Certificate of Deposit (CD) plus interest.
How Credit-Builder Loans Work
Credit-builder loans are available even if you have no credit or bad credit. There are a few things you should know before adding a credit-builder loan to your credit profile:
- Credit-builder loans are very similar to a secured credit card in that collateral is required.
- Borrowers must put an amount of money into a savings account or certificate of deposit at a bank, credit union or online lender.
- Fixed monthly payments are required until the loan is paid back.
- Payment history is reported to the credit bureaus.
- On-time payments are necessary to help build or rebuild credit.
- This is a real loan, even though it is secured. That means LATE payments will be reported to the credit bureaus as well.
- Once the loan is paid in full, you’ll have access to the money.
- Sometimes, a small amount of interest is earned on the deposited money used as collateral.
Where to Get a Credit-Builder Loan
Credit-builder loans are typically offered by the following three financial institutions:
Credit Unions
Credit-builder loans are likely to be found at credit unions. You’ll have to join the credit union by meeting its membership criteria such as living or working in a certain geographic area or y making a small donation, typically not more than $5 to $10 to a partner charity. The National Credit Union Administration has a search tool to locate a credit union near you.
Here is how credit unions typically grant credit-builder loans:
- The credit union grants a loan for a certain amount — let’s say $3,000. No up-front money would be necessary. But the credit union would not actually give you the money. The money would be frozen in an interest-bearing savings account in your name.
- You would then make the payments; with interest, until the $3,000 loan is paid off. At the time of payoff you would then get the money, along with whatever dividends have been earned on the savings deposit. Borrowers have an excellent chance to build a positive credit history if payments are made on time.
Community banks
Community banks play an important role in the communities they serve, providing access to financial services. They are often more flexible in their lending practices and offer financial products, like credit-builder loans to customers who may not qualify for traditional loans. Banklocally provides a search tool to find community banks near you.
Online lenders
Self Lender is a financial technology company that offers a online credit-builder accounts. Borrowers make monthly payments into a savings account, which is then reported to the credit bureaus as a loan payment. At the end of the account term, typically 12 or 24 months, the borrower receives the total amount paid into the account, minus interest and fees. Credit-builder repayment plans start at $25 per month.
How Credit-Builder Loans Help Build Credit?
Credit-builder loans are an excellent option for building credit if you don’t have any credit accounts or repairing credit if you have negative marks on your credit report, such as missed payments.
Making timely payments demonstrates to lenders that you can handle additional credit lines in the future and be viewed as a trustworthy borrower. Payment history is the most significant component of your FICO® Score☉, accounting for 35%.
Other Credit-Builder Options
Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
The Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card offers a path to build credit without a credit check, security deposit, interest or annual fees. In order to qualify for the card you must have a Chime Checking account with at least a $200 monthly direct deposit.
Credit Builder Debit Card
The Extra Debit Card isn’t like most debit cards, it’s the first debit card that builds your credit history while earning reward points for everyday purchases like rideshares, coffees, and your phone bills. The Extra Debit Card does not check your credit history.
Authorized-user credit
Another option to improve your credit is to request a friend or family member with excellent credit to add you as an authorized user on their credit card. By being added as an authorized user, the credit history of the card is added to your credit report.
It’s not necessary for the primary user to give you the card, and you don’t need to make any charges on the card. Being associated with the primary user’s positive credit history can have a positive impact on your credit history.
When Not to Get a Credit-Builder Loan
If you need funds from a loan right away, you’ll likely have to opt for traditional personal loan. This type of loan doesn’t require any collateral, and the lender reviews your credit history, credit score and employment, among other criteria to make a decision.
However, if your credit score is poor or you have a limited credit history, you’ll likely be subject to higher interest rates.
