How Does Opening A Checking Account Affect Credit? Or Does IT?
The answer is “Yes,” Opening a checking account affects your credit either positively or negatively. While it is a suitable way to save money, it also creates an opportunity to spend more.
Financial institutions use your credit rating or score to determine whether opening a checking or bank account is appropriate. They usually evaluate your transaction history on loans and savings. Some dig deeper into your income earning trend or assets accumulated.
Depending on the agency you approach, credit reports differ from one organization to another. Some may consider your transactions or disregard the presence of multiple accounts in your financial history.
Before opening a checking account, consider various features such as charges imposed, overdraft protection, service fees, and interests. Other elements include Electronic Funds Transfer, ATMs, and mobile/cashless banking.
Let us explore the impacts of opening a checking or banking account to your credit.
Positive impacts –
Today, bank account holders obtain various benefits from services offered. Through mobile banking, one can transact anywhere at any time without carrying cash. Similarly, ATMs have made withdrawal as well as purchases easier and less exhausting.
Opening a checking account accords you similar services accompanied by an opportunity to improve your credit. How?
By paying your bills on time or before due dates. In most cases, deposits and withdrawals do not reflect on your credit report, but your payment history can save the day. Having control especially with your money can help you build proper credibility.
Without a bank or checking accounts, dealing with financial institutions becomes challenging. Another positive impact involves the ability to save. The more savings you accumulate, the higher credit score becomes. Opening a checking account builds your portfolio, but most importantly, you should fill your history with positive information.
Negative impacts –
As much as checking accounts improve your credit, the can ruin them as well. Based on various sources, most financial institutions lose money to account holders especially due to credit debts.
They also have different charges that affect your savings such as ATM withdrawal or monthly fees. Some banks charge extra if your balance is less than the required minimum amount. Opening checking accounts also attract overdrafts and debit card charges. Ideally, your money is continually reducing unless you make investments. For instance, every transaction that leads to an overdraft attracts a certain fee.
Checking accounts allow people to make purchases without worry. As a disadvantage, it makes account holders fall into debts. The banks recover these funds with extra charges (overdraft fee).
When opening a checking account, some agencies pull your credit report (soft inquiry) and check your track record. A hard inquiry gets done when you apply for credit cards or home loans. In situations where one becomes blacklisted, you can ask the bank to reconsider.
A credit officer can help in recovering your credibility. Usually, both parties formulate a satisfactory management strategy that will keep transactions flowing. Avoid late payments, overdrafts, and most importantly fraud.
