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Personal Credit Scores: Important When Seeking a Small Business Loan
Until now, SBA loan approvals and declines have been shrouded in secrecy. Entrepreneurs simply did not know how banks were looking at their credit scores and other financial information.
To add insult to injury, little to no insight was given when their business was declined.
Your personal credit score is one of the important numbers used to generate your Loan Ready Score.
The seventh annual credit score survey, released by the Consumer Federation of America in 2017, suggests that knowledge of personal credit scores is eroding.
Here’s a quiz to check your smarts about this important metric!
Question 1
If I have a strong business credit score, my personal credit score won’t matter when seeking a small business loan.
Answer: False
As a business owner, you might not think personal scores are important. Think again! If you’re seeking a small business loan, your personal credit score will be one important number considered and will impact the cost of that loan. In general, the higher the credit score, the lower the loan cost.
Question 2
Your personal credit score shows lenders your annual income and marital status.
Answer: False
Your personal credit report includes a healthy amount of information but the following does not appear:
Question 3
Personal credit reports simply reveal a number.
Answer: False
Consumer credit reporting agency Experian outlines the information included in personal credit reports.
Question 5
Your personal credit report helps lenders determine your personal annual income.
Answer: False
Jim Anderson, a management counselor for SCORE, explains why personal credit scores are so important. “A major consideration for a lender to make a loan is the ‘character’ of the borrower,” Anderson says. “Lenders want to loan money to people who have a positive track record for paying their obligations as agreed.”
Question 6
Payment history is weighted more that other factors when calculating a personal credit score.
Answer: True
Your personal credit report is calculated by looking at the following:
Question 7
I can get a free copy of my credit report.
Answer: True
Every consumer is entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Be wary of sites outside of these three that offer free credit reports. Many are only free for a short time period then you have to pay. Read the fine print!
If you are looking for not only your credit report from all three bureaus, but you credit score too click here...
Question 8
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will report the exact same personal credit score.
Answer: False
While most of the information collected on consumers by the three credit bureaus is similar, there are differences. For example, one credit bureau may have unique information on a consumer that is not being captured by the other two.
Need credit repair? Click here...
What You Need to Know
We can’t say this enough: It’s imperative that you can show a strong personal credit score when seeking a small business loan. The better your score, the more favorable the interest rate and terms. If you’re interested in low-cost funds, consider an SBA loan.
SBA loans are known as the “gold standard” due to very low rates and long terms. To prequalify for a working capital or debt refinance SBA loan for $30,000 to $350,000 from a Masoba Capital bank partner, the business owner’s personal credit score must be above 650. To apply for a $500,000 to $5,000,000 SBA Commercial Real Estate loan, the business owner’s personal credit score must be above 675.
Of course, your business is more than just your personal credit score. Banks that provide SBA loans look at a number of different factors like debt coverage, debt usage and business revenue trends. To start the process, simply apply here.
To add insult to injury, little to no insight was given when their business was declined.
Your personal credit score is one of the important numbers used to generate your Loan Ready Score.
The seventh annual credit score survey, released by the Consumer Federation of America in 2017, suggests that knowledge of personal credit scores is eroding.
Here’s a quiz to check your smarts about this important metric!
Question 1
If I have a strong business credit score, my personal credit score won’t matter when seeking a small business loan.
Answer: False
As a business owner, you might not think personal scores are important. Think again! If you’re seeking a small business loan, your personal credit score will be one important number considered and will impact the cost of that loan. In general, the higher the credit score, the lower the loan cost.
Question 2
Your personal credit score shows lenders your annual income and marital status.
Answer: False
Your personal credit report includes a healthy amount of information but the following does not appear:
- Salary
- Employment status
- Marital status and spouse’s credit history
- Assets (Bank balances, retirement accounts, investments or brokerage accounts)
- 401(k) loans
Question 3
Personal credit reports simply reveal a number.
Answer: False
Consumer credit reporting agency Experian outlines the information included in personal credit reports.
- Personal information: Your name, including any aliases or misspellings reported by creditors, birth date, Social Security number, current and past home addresses, phone numbers, and current and past employers.
- Accounts: A list of your credit accounts, including revolving credit accounts, like credit cards, and installment loans, such as mortgages or auto loans. The list includes creditor names, account numbers, balances, payment history and account status (including whether or not the account is past due).
- Public records: Court judgments, bankruptcies and tax liens.
- Recent inquiries: Who has recently asked to view your credit report and when.
Question 5
Your personal credit report helps lenders determine your personal annual income.
Answer: False
Jim Anderson, a management counselor for SCORE, explains why personal credit scores are so important. “A major consideration for a lender to make a loan is the ‘character’ of the borrower,” Anderson says. “Lenders want to loan money to people who have a positive track record for paying their obligations as agreed.”
Question 6
Payment history is weighted more that other factors when calculating a personal credit score.
Answer: True
Your personal credit report is calculated by looking at the following:
- 35% Payment History
- 30% Amounts Owed
- 15% Length of Credit History.
- 10% Type of Credit Used (Revolving, installment, mortgage, etc.)
- 10% New Credit
Question 7
I can get a free copy of my credit report.
Answer: True
Every consumer is entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Be wary of sites outside of these three that offer free credit reports. Many are only free for a short time period then you have to pay. Read the fine print!
If you are looking for not only your credit report from all three bureaus, but you credit score too click here...
Question 8
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion will report the exact same personal credit score.
Answer: False
While most of the information collected on consumers by the three credit bureaus is similar, there are differences. For example, one credit bureau may have unique information on a consumer that is not being captured by the other two.
Need credit repair? Click here...
What You Need to Know
We can’t say this enough: It’s imperative that you can show a strong personal credit score when seeking a small business loan. The better your score, the more favorable the interest rate and terms. If you’re interested in low-cost funds, consider an SBA loan.
SBA loans are known as the “gold standard” due to very low rates and long terms. To prequalify for a working capital or debt refinance SBA loan for $30,000 to $350,000 from a Masoba Capital bank partner, the business owner’s personal credit score must be above 650. To apply for a $500,000 to $5,000,000 SBA Commercial Real Estate loan, the business owner’s personal credit score must be above 675.
Of course, your business is more than just your personal credit score. Banks that provide SBA loans look at a number of different factors like debt coverage, debt usage and business revenue trends. To start the process, simply apply here.