What actually moves a credit score — how long building credit takes, how utilization is calculated, and how on-time payments get reported.
Your credit utilization ratio is the percentage of your available revolving credit you're using. Learn how it's calculated, what counts as a good ratio, and how to lower it.
How long does it take to build credit? It takes at least 6 months to generate your first FICO Score, 12 to 18 months to reach good credit, and 24+ months for excellent credit. See the month-by-month timeline.
Learn how to build credit with a credit card — pay on time, keep utilization under 30%, and use a card that reports to all 3 bureaus. See how the Tilt Engage and Motion cards can help.
