When do credit card companies report to credit bureaus? #CashNews.co

to qualify for better loan terms and more can be a lengthy process. That’s why it helps to know the details of how and when your account information affects your credit file — so you can ensure you’re practicing the best credit habits to get a great score.

One thing that may not be on your radar yet is how the date when your credit card issuer reports information to the credit bureaus can have an affect on your overall credit. Here’s what to know:

When do credit card companies report to credit bureaus?

The three major credit bureaus in the United States are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; these are the companies that collect financial information from lenders and creditors used to determine your credit score.

Credit card companies are not required to report to every credit reporting agency, though they often do. When you check your credit report with a specific credit bureau, look for your credit card account information. If you see information about your account and payment history, your credit card company has reported it to that credit bureau.

Credit card companies typically report your card information to credit bureaus monthly. However, there is no standard reporting date, and each one of your credit cards may be reported at different times or with a different regularity.

Your credit card company will often report card activity around the same time as your monthly statement closes each billing cycle. That closing date might fall on the same day each month (like the 1st or the 15th) or after a standard number of days (every 28 or every 30 days). You can find these dates on past credit card statements or through your online card account.

When you access your credit file through any of the credit reporting agencies online, you may be able to check your statement closing dates against the reporting date on your credit report. Your report will show the last reported date for each of your open credit cards, which you can compare to your credit card’s statement date.

Information can differ between your card account and credit report

You can use your card and make payments anytime, but credit card issuers only report around once per month. Some issuers may submit information more or less frequently to credit agencies (there’s no standard rule or law).

As a result, the information on your credit file may not always reflect your current online credit card account. If you’re working to pay down a credit card debt balance, for example, and make a large, lump-sum payment, you may not see your new, lower balance on your credit file until the following month.

Even if you don’t carry a balance, this reporting timeline means it’s unlikely your credit report shows a $0 balance each month.

For example, your card account with a statement closing date of June 25 may have a grace period until July 21 — leaving you over three weeks to pay down the balance in full before , penalties, or kick in. You might pay the balance in full on July 1 and have a $0 balance before your due date, while your credit report shows the balance you had on June 25, until the bureau receives a new update from your issuer next month.

Why does it matter when your issuer reports to the bureaus?

If your issuer reports that you have a balance on your card, that isn’t necessarily negative. However, the higher your reported balance grows — if, for example, you only pay the — the more it could affect your .

That’s the amount of available credit you’re using compared to what you have available, and it’s best to keep the ratio around 30% or lower.

If your issuer reports a balance of $5,000 on your credit card with an $8,000 limit, for example, that’s a utilization ratio of 62.5% — more than double the recommended 30%. You may intend to pay that balance down significantly or pay it off in full by your actual due date, but if the issuer reports before your payment, you could see the higher utilization reflected in your credit score.

is part of “amounts owed,” which accounts for 30% of your overall FICO Score and is the second-most influential factor. While one month of high utilization isn’t going to crash your credit rating, it is something you’ll want to watch over time, especially if you put most of your expenses on your credit card.

Should you make multiple credit card payments each month?

If you’re concerned about how reporting affects your credit utilization, you may want to consider making multiple monthly payments. Submit an early credit card payment before the end of your statement period to reduce the balance that’s reported to the credit bureaus and .

One strategy you might use is syncing payments with your pay periods if you receive biweekly paychecks. Take the same example as above: A $5,000 balance on a card with an $8,000 credit limit. But instead of waiting to pay off the entire balance before your due date, you contribute half ($2,500) when you receive a paycheck one week before your monthly statement period ends.

Now, when your issuer reports to the bureaus after your statement closes, your account will show a balance of $2,500 out of an available $8,000. That results in just 31% utilization, which could have a much better effect on your credit score.

Do you need to know when your credit card company reports to credit bureaus?

Keeping up with your statement closing dates and the frequency with which your issuer reports to the credit bureaus is helpful — but it’s not the most important thing you need for a better credit score or .

Actual reporting dates can be vague and variable. Credit card companies are also not required to report account information to every credit bureau (though many do). Because each credit agency can only offer a score based on the information they receive, this may result in different scores from different credit bureaus.

Instead, stay diligent about tracking your spending and staying within your budget. Know your credit card limits (plus your available credit across all accounts) and stay within the 30% utilization range whenever possible.

It can also help to make multiple monthly payments to bring down your balance before your monthly statement date. While doing so may not be necessary every month, it can be useful when you use your card to make a large purchase with a or to or .

Practice these other over time to keep your credit score up:

• Keep a positive history of on-time credit card payments.

• by paying your balance whenever possible.

• Stay cautious about opening account within a short time.

• Keep an eye on your credit reports over time to ensure that no false or fraudulent information is lowering your overall score.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.