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Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

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Old Jul 7th 2013, 12:14 am
  #16  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by RICH
A checking account won't do much for a credit score, but it does establish a history, and will give you a "score" within that bank.
I disagree - my report came back as "no history". It sounds like you have benefited from a bank's internal policies.
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Old Jul 7th 2013, 12:26 am
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Not sure that's the kind of credit history the OP was after, guys.

Anyway, the answer is, as suggested by some, no. It may get you some street cred with the bank at which your account resides. Or it may not.
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Old Jul 8th 2013, 11:42 pm
  #18  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Ive been here 14 months or so now and although my credit score is mid 600s which I think is Average/Fair I still cant get a loan in my own name because of lack of History. I guess in another 6 months I may be ok.

Secured credit cards are the way to go, they would let me get one of those the day I opened my account.
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Old Jul 9th 2013, 1:06 am
  #19  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by rculater
I mean after a year or 2.

No other US credit cards, loans, phones etc - just a bank account.

Thanks
"Credit history" means having a history of credit! That means you purchase something on credit and then pay the credit bill - or not. I don't see how having a basic checking account will help in that regard.
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Old Jul 9th 2013, 7:54 pm
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

pissing match on bank history. Almost as much fun as newbie bashing.
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 12:30 am
  #21  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by ned1983
Ive been here 14 months or so now and although my credit score is mid 600s which I think is Average/Fair I still cant get a loan in my own name because of lack of History. I guess in another 6 months I may be ok.

Secured credit cards are the way to go, they would let me get one of those the day I opened my account.
Within a week of moving here I had 3 credit cards opened (BoA Platinum, BoA travel rewards & AMEX Platinum). So i'm not sure why you're needing to have secured cards??
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 12:41 am
  #22  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by hungryhorace
Within a week of moving here I had 3 credit cards opened (BoA Platinum, BoA travel rewards & AMEX Platinum). So i'm not sure why you're needing to have secured cards??
Lack of credit history probably
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 1:40 am
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by RICH
Lack of credit history probably
I had none either.
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 1:59 am
  #24  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by hungryhorace
I had none either.
Not possible, based on the majority of posts here. What is different about your situation?
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 2:41 am
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by RICH
Not possible, based on the majority of posts here. What is different about your situation?
It's entirely possible. My AMEX was opened using my account history in the UK. Bank of America gave me two of their top cards no issues - the Platinum straight from checking account opening and the second after speaking with one of their underwriters about my financial circumstances.

Honestly, I really don't see what the hassles are getting non secured cards, because as I say, I got three top ones within a week of being here.

NB: My status here is on an L1-A visa as a senior manager + commensurate salary.
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 3:02 am
  #26  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by ned1983
Ive been here 14 months or so now and although my credit score is mid 600s which I think is Average/Fair I still cant get a loan in my own name because of lack of History. I guess in another 6 months I may be ok.

Secured credit cards are the way to go, they would let me get one of those the day I opened my account.
Normally the credit score will rise very quickly but the problem is lack of history. Some new arrivals had a credit score in the high 700s within 6 months but still could not get a loan at reasonable rates due to lack of credit history.
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 4:32 am
  #27  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by hungryhorace
It's entirely possible. My AMEX was opened using my account history in the UK. Bank of America gave me two of their top cards no issues - the Platinum straight from checking account opening and the second after speaking with one of their underwriters about my financial circumstances.

Honestly, I really don't see what the hassles are getting non secured cards, because as I say, I got three top ones within a week of being here.

NB: My status here is on an L1-A visa as a senior manager + commensurate salary.
Getting a credit card is the easy bit.

Amex certainly helps with their global transfer.

Still, your situation of getting two other cards is not usual, even for high rollers.
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 12:05 pm
  #28  
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Code:
Honestly, I really don't see what the hassles are getting non secured cards, because as I say, I got three top ones within a week of being here.
I dont have a SNN.

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Old Jul 10th 2013, 12:15 pm
  #29  
 
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by hungryhorace
..... NB: My status here is on an L1-A visa as a senior manager + commensurate salary.
Money talks!

Honestly, banks can issue credit cards to anyone they want to, not having a credit score is not an absolute bar to getting credit. But if you immigrate with no job, or a low paid job, and no credit history, (as many posters here on BE apparently do) it will be very tough to get most banks to issue you with a credit card. However, if you show up in the US on a job transfer, at a senior level, with "commensurate salary", the rules are not going to be the same.
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Old Jul 10th 2013, 1:28 pm
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Default Re: Will a basic checking bank account give me some form of credit history.

Originally Posted by rculater
Code:
Honestly, I really don't see what the hassles are getting non secured cards, because as I say, I got three top ones within a week of being here.
I dont have a SSN.
Not to pry, as it's none of my business, but are you not able to get an SSN? Or is it a case that you're waiting for it to come through?

I found that even AMEX wouldn't open up an account for me using my UK history until I had a SSN.
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