What is the Down Payment on an FHA Loan? A Comprehensive Guide to FHA Loan Down Payments and More

We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our objective is to empower you to make confident financial decisions by giving you access to interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and unbiased content, and allowing you to conduct free research and information comparisons. Issuers that Bankrate has partnerships with include American Express, Bank of America, … Read more

Can Paying Off Collections Hurt Your Credit Score? A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Impact of Collections on Your Credit

In a nutshell, having debts in collection typically indicates that someone else is attempting to collect money owed to your creditors on their behalf. Debt collection is a federally regulated process, and you have rights that collection agencies must respect. While debts in collection can negatively affect your credit scores, the severity of the impact … Read more

What is a TransUnion Credit Score Used For?

TransUnion® is one of the three major credit bureaus. The other two are Equifax® and Experian®. Credit bureaus are also known as credit reporting companies or consumer reporting agencies. These companies gather information on credit history and activity, among other things, to generate credit reports. Find out more about the contents of TransUnion credit reports, … Read more

How Fast Can You Get an 800 Credit Score?

A high credit score can be extremely beneficial when applying for loans, renting an apartment, or obtaining a mortgage. Even more opportunities may be available to you if your credit score is exceptional or excellent and falls between 800 and 850. However, improving your score isn’t always as simple as it sounds. The credit reports … Read more

Can I Pay My Mortgage with a Debit Card?

We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our objective is to empower you to make confident financial decisions by giving you access to interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and unbiased content, and allowing you to conduct free research and information comparisons. Issuers that Bankrate has partnerships with include American Express, Bank of America, … Read more