Financial tips for consumers during touch economic times

Tips to improve your credit score:

-  Pay your bills on time, delinquent payments can have a negative impact on your score.

- Keep balance low on credit cards...high outstanding debt can affect your score

- Don't open a number of new credit cards you don't need, new accounts lower your average account age

- Have credit cards, but manage them responsibly. If you have credit cards and make timely payments, that will raise your score

- Closing an account doesn't make it go away...a closed account will still show up on your credit report.