What to know about Credit

In personal finance, there's little more important than credit. Having good credit allows you to enjoy credit cards, loans at good rates and a wide measure of financial flexibility. We understand how a person's credit rating can slip: loss of a job, high amounts of debt, unexpected medical bills and expenses or outstanding student loans. There is no shortage of legitimate reasons for credit problems.

Even if you feel that you have less than perfect credit, there are ways to still use your financial assets to your advantage. We'll give you the ins and outs of credit-related issues, including:

What Lenders Look For

Building Good Credit

Cleaning Up Your Credit