More than a dozen credit unions and partners nationwide are increasing their member benefits amidst rocky shifts in the banking industry. NorthCountry FCU is the latest to launch Credit Karma’s Free Credit Score for Members Services, exclusively offered to members through their online banking site powered by Intuit Financial Services.
With NorthCountry FCU as Credit Karma’s first Intuit-powered partner, Credit Karma is certified to work with Intuit Financial Services clients to provide the Free Credit Score Service within the financial institution’s branded environment. The Free Credit Score for Members Service gives consumers a monthly credit score and a suite of personalized credit management tools to better manage their credit.
Additionally, Intuit’s Digital Insights online banking system offers a single sign-on solution for the Free Credit Score for Members Service.
Most all of us rely on credit at some point in our lives. While you may already know your credit is checked when applying for a loan or credit card, it may have also been checked when you signed up for a new cell phone plan, applied for a new apartment, or opened an account at a credit union.
Since credit affects so much of our adult lives, it’s important to know what factors go into your credit score, including open credit card utilization, percentage of on-time payments, number of derogatory marks, average age of open credit lines, total number of accounts and total hard credit inquiries. (Read more about these six factors here.)
It’s also important to understand what’s not in your credit score, especially since there are many misconceptions. Here’s a quick run-down of the factors that don’t affect your credit:
Isn’t it comforting to know that your creditors can’t discriminate against you due to your race or gender?
Carlos asked:
I had a security clearance investigation for the military done and they discovered that my credit report was a disaster. I have no idea how to go about in solving this issue. I am only eighteen, and all of the fraud occurred in the last three years. i have never had a job or a credit card, and the only bank accounts i have had were a college savings and savings account, so it is fairly obvious that i could not have done any of the things on my credit report. how i go about solving this problem? and am i going to have to pay or be responsible for on my credit report?
If you’ve ever had your wallet stolen or lost, you understand the trickle of fear that such a discovery produces. Most consumers realize that it’s imperative to call the bank and credit card issuers immediately in order to close those accounts and avoid fraudulent charges. Unfortunately, a great majority of individuals don’t realize that their credit history and rating may be at risk every day.
Unless consumers take extra care to protect themselves, online credit card and identity theft provides criminals with an insidious and sometimes invisible method of draining a bank account, racking up charges to the limit on a credit card or invading your personal privacy and security that often goes undetected for weeks, and sometimes months.
These days, online purchasing is a way of life, as is bill paying over the Internet. However, Internet fraud is limited to roughly 10% of all fraud cases.