Denton

Thank you for the assistance. Do I need to jump through those hoops to get to each bureau? I can run my credit at work...isn't that the same? I guess the PenFed Visa Gold is your choice? I never fly and enjoy my rewards card, so would be inclined to do something similar...

Hello CB, Back in 2008 you helped me pick a CItiCard Dividend VISA when I was in college. This is my one CC, it's been great. Since that card I've graduated college and have had several auto loans (none have reached maturity, only been maybe 12 payments into a 60 month term...bad habit of switching cars!). I used to be a 797 when I graduated college. The business manager at the car dealership I sell at told me since I have only one CC and no mature loans that I'm hurting my credit? I need to add a few CCs and have an auto loan reach maturity. If I've been late on a payment it was due to bad timing on bill pay. Some months I've carried a small balance (20% of utilization) but lately have no balance despite daily use. My income has reached a point where I won't have trouble paying off a CC. I have the Citi Dividend card, BofA checking/savings accounts, $30k auto loan through BMW/MINI FS and another $5k auto loan through Pentagon Federal. So do I need another credit card? How else do I improve credit? Please help me establish excellent credit as I prepare to buy a house in the coming few years!

Excellent, thanks much for the help! I never save...a slush fund/rainy day fund is something I sorely lack. Excellent call on using a CC as a convenience instead of a debt financing mechanism. Never thought about it like that. But I am in the habit of paying it in full. That's never been a problem and I've kept it at ~30% utilization, a little less mostly. It's just since that I use the CC as a slush fund instead of being smart and having an actual say, $1k in savings for that. Hopefully I can get that $1k by October. Thanks!

I looked for this in the FAQ/etc. because I figure it's basic info. I have a CitiBank Visa Platinum Select card with a $2500 limit. It's been a wonderful card as a full-time college student with a PT job, and I really like Citi. I got it based on CB reviews. My 0% for 6 month honeymoon is over. So if I don't pay the balance off every month (but make at least the minimum payment) I'll accrue interest? Is this good or bad as far as building credit goes? August will be the first month where it will be tough to pay the card off completely...my car needs a $2k repair. So is it okay to pay off say 80% and leave the remaining 20% for September? Sorry for the n00b question.

YEE-HA!!! Approved for Citi Dividend Platinum Select with a credit line of $2500! Sounds pretty healthy for a college student, huh? Big thanks to CB for the help!

Cool, thanks for the help. Will it hurt my credit by also applying for a BOA card even though I just applied for the Citi card? Does my credit take a hit if I decline an offer?

Excellent, thank you!

No one?

So far I like Citibank the best, from what I've been reading on this site. It appears that the Citi Divedend Platinum Select Visa for college students is a good card for me, provided that I get approved. The APR is 15.24% with 5% rewards on everyday purchases. The other similar card has 13.24% APR but no rewards. I think I'd do better with the rewards. Any ideas? If I don't get approved for either of those then I'll do the MTVu card.

I requested my credit report today through www.annualcreditreport.com Any other card ideas? The Citi MTVU card looks fine, but wondering if there is anything similar. I'm not sure if that 15.24% APR is too high and I know I won't be using the reward points like I would with other stuff. EDIT: I also see that the interest rate for the Citi card is variable. What does that mean? I've seen this on mortgages and see that fixed is more desirable...

Thanks! I tried checking it but there was an error in the computer system...I will have to call.

I'm 21 and in college. I have a BOA debit card that my father puts a bit of money in, a debit card through my college credit union, and am an authorized user on my Dad's AMEX Skymiles. I realized I need to build more credit NOW! When applying for a loan on a newer used car (I decided to keep my old car) I was told that I had good credit, but not much. I've also realized how bad debit cards are. I've lost one before and didn't realize how lucky I was that nobody found it before I cancelled it. I've read this thread: http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?s...&hl=student I spend money on gas, at drug stores, and a few other places. Nothing major. I would never use Skymiles, I don't fly anywhere. I'm also planning on buying a big TV in May at Best Buy using their 24-month 0% card (and doing nothing else with that card). Any ideas of what card? Thanks!