Smart Habits to Maintain Healthy Credit

Earning a strong credit score is one achievement — keeping it is another. The good news is that healthy credit comes down to a handful of simple habits you can practice month after month.

Always pay on time

Payment history is the single biggest factor in your score. Set up autopay or reminders so you never miss a due date — even one late payment can stay on your report for years.

Keep old accounts open

Closing a long-standing account can shorten your credit history and raise your utilization. Unless an account carries a high annual fee, it’s usually better to keep it open and active with small, regular use.

Borrow with intention

Only apply for credit you genuinely need, and space out applications to limit hard inquiries. Thoughtful borrowing keeps your profile stable and signals reliability to future lenders.