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BUSINESS Friday 20 March 2020
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Take the credit card you can get, work toward one you want

By BEV O'SHEA ofNerdWal- ing 0% APR for transferred
let balances typically go to
Trying to choose a credit customers with good cred-
card can feel like deciding it profiles. If the card you
who to swipe right on in a want is out of reach, ap-
dating app — especially ply instead for a card that
if you're new to the game is marketed to customers
or have been out of it for a similar to you.
while. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR
With both, you might re- ODDS
vise your wish list of quali- A qualifying score is often
ties if the pool of possibili- just the first hurdle in get-
ties is smaller than you had ting approved for credit.
hoped. Unlike dating, how- Income, debt obligations,
ever, the advice to "just get credit age and history can
out there and try" isn't use- also play a role.
ful with credit cards. Lots of Still, there are ways to tilt
applications close together the odds in your favor, says
hurt your credit. Leslie H. Tayne, a financial
But focusing on a card you attorney in the Long Island,
can get will help you build New York, area.
a strong credit history and — Request your free credit
eventually qualify for one reports from annualcre-
you want. ditreport.com and check
FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF for mistakes. Dispute errors This Aug. 11, 2019 file photo shows Visa credit cards in New Orleans.
CUSTOMER THEY WANT that could be holding your Associated Press
Credit cards are marketed score down, such as an ac-
to specific audiences — count that isn't yours and benefit from their credit his- Analytics at FICO. card or credit-builder loan
there are cards for people shows credit missteps. tory, so ask someone with a Don't expect excellent to add more positive infor-
recovering from mistakes, — Build a savings account. long record of on-time pay- credit right away, be- mation to your credit re-
cards where you earn re- It won't directly affect your ments. cause your score is based ports. Also:
wards for travel and cards score, Tayne says, but it can — Taking out a credit-build- in part on the age of your — Keep credit accounts
that won't charge you a affect whether you are ap- er loan. Unlike traditional accounts. You can't do open unless there is a com-
fee the first time you pay proved and for how much. loans, you get the cash af- anything about the time it pelling reason to close
late. "Money in the bank is su- ter the loan has been paid takes to build credit, so fo- them, like a high annual
First, find out how creditors per key to lending," she off, which minimizes the cus on factors within your fee.
will see you. If you don't says. "They want to see se- lender's risk. power. — Look for cards or loans
know your credit score, curity so you don't have to — Getting a secured credit "Something you can con- marketed to people with
you can check it for free go to credit if there's some card by putting down a trol is paying bills on time low credit scores.
at several personal finance change in your circum- cash deposit. every month," Long says. If there is an option for
websites or you may have stances. Money in the bank You should have a Van- Paying on time and using prequalification, take it,
access to scores through a can help you improve your tageScore in a couple of a small portion of your limit says Long, who serves as
credit card issuer or bank. odds." months and a FICO score, are the most important of a volunteer consumer fi-
If you're unsure what credit IF YOU'RE A CREDIT NEWBIE the kind used for most the factors that influence nancial advocate with
scores are acceptable for If you don't have enough of credit decisions, in about your credit score. the American Institute of
a particular card, call the a track record to qualify for six months. Being added IF YOU'RE RECOVERING CPAs. While prequalifica-
issuer and ask, says Kelley credit, you can get on the as an authorized user to an FROM MISTAKES tion doesn't guarantee
C. Long, a certified finan- radar by: established account can While it's easier to start with your application will be ap-
cial planner in Chicago. — Becoming an authorized speed up the process, says a clean slate, it's possible to proved, being unable to
Cards that allow you to user on someone else's Can Arkali, senior director rebound from major slips. prequalify is a strong signal
earn rewards or cards offer- credit card. That lets you of Scores and Predictive You can use a secured you shouldn't apply.q
Nikki Haley resigns from Boeing board over airlines bailout

By MEG KINNARD faith support the direction break, which has halted and wrote and promoted ed because companies in
Associated Press of the team, then the prop- major travel and shut- a memoir. At the time, she her state take care of their
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — For- er thing to do is to resign," tered many businesses. The said unions weren't need- workers. q
mer U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley wrote to Boeing CEO Trump administration has
Haley has resigned from Dave Calhoun and board said it would back Boeing,
the board of Boeing Co., chairman Larry Kellner, in a which is also a top U.S. de-
cutting ties with a com- letter dated March 16 and fense contractor.
pany she long supported provided Thursday to The Haley, 48, joined the Boe-
as South Carolina governor Associated Press. "As such, ing board last year after her
because of her opposition I hereby resign my position departure from President
to a bailout of the airplane from the Boeing Board." Donald Trump's administra-
manufacturer that is in the Earlier this week, Boeing tion. Popular in her home
works amid the growing said it was seeking $60 bil- state, Haley moved back
coronavirus outbreak. lion in federal aid for itself to South Carolina — where
"I strongly believe that and its supply chain, both Boeing has a major pro-
when one is part of a team, of which are struggling duction facility — founded
and one cannot in good amid the COVID-19 out- a nonprofit organization,