How to Raise a Credit Score for 2026

Do not close old accounts, even ones you seldom use. Keep your very first credit card active by putting a little recurring charge on it, like a streaming membership, and pay it off each month. Closing old accounts shortens your credit report and can increase your credit usage. Combined, this might lower your credit report.

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Closing your earliest account minimizes your average account age, increases credit usage and can reduce your score when reported to the credit bureaus. It accounts for 10% of your FICO Rating and is not factored into VantageScore at all.

Be careful of taking out new credit just for the sake of enhancing your credit. Focus on organically mixing up your credit over time.

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The time it takes will depend on the individual elements affecting it and the actions you take to alter them. A credit line increase or ending up being an authorized user can show outcomes within a billing cycle.