FICO Score:

Your FICO score is most likely why you receive one interest rate and your best friend receives another interest rate. Credit card companies use 3 numbers, known as your FICO score to determine whether or not to give you credit. And the rule is the higher your FICO score the lower the interest rate you will pay. The lower your FICO score the more interest you'll pay. FICO scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. If you are below 500 you are considered a huge financial risk and are placed into a sub-standard interest rate category.

Your score reflects a combination of things, such as whether you pay off your credit card balances each month, whether you pay other bills on time, how many cards you have, and what percentage of your credit card limit you use each month, etc.

Next up - How important is my FICO score?

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