Adam McCann, Financial Writer
@adam_mcan
Yes, Capital One credit cards help build credit if you pay your bill on time each month and use your card responsibly. Capital One reports your account information each month to all three major credit bureaus, and your credit score is based on the contents of your credit reports.
How to Build Credit with a Capital One Credit Card
- Keep your credit utilization low. It’s good to keep your balance below 30% of your credit limit both on each individual card and overall.
- Pay above the monthly minimum. It’s always best to pay your statement balance in full to avoid paying interest. If you can’t pay in full, paying off as much as possible will help minimize the amount accruing interest. Plus, the less debt you carry, the better it is for your credit score.
- Never miss a payment. It’s never good to miss a due date, but you should at least pay within 30 days after the due date, before the missed payment shows up on your credit report. Setting up automatic payments can help ensure you don’t miss a due date by accident.
Best Capital One Credit Cards
While some of the cards listed may be geared toward people with good credit, they can still help you build credit as long as you use them responsibly. If you want to check your credit score and get daily updates on your credit-building progress, you can register for a free WalletHub account. You can also get personalized advice and simulate your score based on your future activity.
Rhonda Stewart, WalletHub Loans Analyst
@rhonda
Yes, Capital One cards help you build credit, as long as you use your card responsibly and pay your bill on time every month. Most Capital One credit cards are especially good for building credit as they are free to use, and your account information gets reported to the three major credit bureaus monthly.
Capital One also has credit cards for people with limited credit history or bad credit. In addition, both the primary cardholder and any authorized users they add will build credit if the account is in good standing.
Notable Capital One Credit Cards for Building Credit
Keep in mind that Capital One credit cards can also hurt your credit score. For instance, if you miss due dates or max out a Capital One card, this will negatively affect your credit score. However, when used responsibly, Capital One credit cards can help you build a good or excellent credit score.
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