Figure out what you need the credit for. Generally, if it's a major purchase, your lender (the car dealership, home mortgage lender, etc.) will help you fill out all the paperwork.
If you just want a credit card, you must shop around on your own. Find a bank offering a low interest rate. The lender will use your application to get a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus. Your application, along with the credit report, will be used to "score" you.
Creditors use a score card to evaluate your credit worthiness. The following items are listed in order of importance when evaluating your credit request: |