In order to establish your first credit score, you need to have at least one credit card or loan open for a minimum of six months. It can be difficult to get approved for crest cards and loans when you have no credit score or your scores are low, but many credit unions offer loans and credit cards designed specifically to help you get started, including:
- Secured credit cards
- Credit-builder loans
You can also start building credit by having a loved one add you to their credit card as an authorized user. Whether you open your own account or become an authorized user, the key to building up good credit scores is to make your payments on time and pay off your full credit card balance each month.