Understanding Your Credit

How to Protect It and Build Healthy Habits

Have you ever wondered why your credit score matters? Learn about credit and how to protect it in this blog.

Your credit report plays an important role in many financial decisions, from applying for a credit card or loan, to protecting yourself from identity fraud. While credit scores are calculated using proprietary models created by the credit bureaus, there are steps you can take to monitor your credit and reduce the risk of fraud, as well as to build strong financial habits over time.

Below are gathered for you general educational tips to help you better understand and protect your credit.

Check Your Credit Reports Regularly

Monitoring your credit report is one of the best ways to spot potential errors or fraudulent activity early. Consider this a necessary precaution to protect yourself and your finances.

Consumers are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You can access your report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com, the only federally authorized website for free credit reports.

Instead of requesting all three reports at once, many consumers choose to space them out throughout the year, allowing for periodic check-ins. For example:

January: TransUnion
May: Equifax
September: Experian

This approach can help you stay informed year-round and identify unexpected activity sooner.

Review Your Report for Accuracy

When you are ready to review your credit report, look for:

Accounts you don’t recognize or remember opening
Incorrect balances or payment histories
Misspelled personal information
Duplicate accounts

If you notice something that doesn’t look right, each credit bureau provides a process for disputing errors directly with them.

Consider Freezing Your Credit for Added Protection

A credit freeze (also known as a security freeze) restricts access to your credit report, making it harder for fraudsters to open new accounts in your name. You can temporarily lift or remove the freeze when you’re ready to apply for credit. You can lift this freeze for free anytime needed.

Free credit freezes can be set up directly with each bureau by calling them or doing it yourself online:

TransUnion
1-800-916-8800
Credit Freeze TransUnion
Equifax
1-888-298-0045
Security Freeze Equifax®
Experian
1-888-397-3742
Instantly Lock & Protect Your Experian Credit File

A credit freeze does not impact your credit score and can be a helpful tool in preventing identity theft.

Build Healthy Credit Habits Over Time

While credit scores are calculated using proprietary formulas, many financial experts generally agree that maintaining healthy credit habits can support long-term credit health. These habits may include:

Paying bills on time
Keeping balances manageable
Applying for new credit thoughtfully
Monitoring your credit regularly

Everyone’s financial situation is different, and credit outcomes can vary.

Stay Alert to Scams and Identity Theft

Scammers often attempt to obtain personal information through phishing emails and texts, fake phone calls, or fraudulent websites. Be cautious when sharing sensitive information and verify requests before responding. Remember, Bank of Bartlett will never contact you to ask for your personal and financial information. Find more information about the latest scams and how to protect yourself from them here.

If you believe your identity has been compromised, consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze and report the issue promptly to the following Federal Government website IdentityTheft.gov and Contact Customer Care for our team to place the proper alerts on your accounts.