I’m US Finance Guide, the admin here. I created this community because there are a lot of people trying to access the US financial system without an SSN, but the information is scattered, confusing, and often incomplete. Some people are trying to open their first US bank account. Some are trying to build personal credit from zero. Some want high-limit credit cards or personal loans. Others are non-US founders trying to handle LLC banking, payment processing, business credit, or 0% business funding. This community is here to bring those conversations into one place. We’ll be sharing practical information, real experiences, approval data points, and step-by-step guidance around US banking, credit, ITIN guidance, personal loans, LLC banking, business credit, and funding. 1. If you’re here, drop a quick intro: Create a new post, so you can earn points and future access to courses... And introduce yourself and write... Where are you based, and what are you working on right now , banking, personal credit, business credit, funding, or something else? 2. Check out the classroom and the getting started course 3 Post in the community, share your data points, what worked, what didn't , struggles. Write your posts so they can help the whole community. Glad to have you here.

Thanks for the approval. I’m happy to be part of this group

Here are some tips to improve your credit score. Improve utilization - get utilization down to between 1-9% on individual cards and across all cards. Fix late payments and charge offs - get them removed if you can Increase card limits - the higher your card limits, the better utilization will be and also your creditworthyness image to lenders. would you rather trust someone who had $500 limit for five years or someone with $20k that has gradually increased and managed 20k well? Diversify - get as many different types of credit as you can for both installment and revolving lines. Depth - fix thin profile, if you only have 1-3 credit lines, you have a very thin profile, see above, get more and also diversify. but apply strategically, you don't need huge volume, it should be natural and gradual. apply for products that will benefit you over the long term Credit age - makes a difference. if you keep applying for lots of new credit, your avg age goes down. when opening new accounts, are they products you can keep forever or a long time to support and increase credit age? Payment history - this should be first priority. make payments on time every time and have this reported over a long time. Hope it helps, What are you best tips for increasing credit score ?

Points vs. Cash Back One of the biggest debates in the credit card world is whether to earn points or cash back. Some people enjoy collecting points and miles because they can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, premium travel experiences, and other valuable perks. They like maximizing transfer partners and getting the most value from every redemption. Others prefer the simplicity of cash back. There are no award charts or travel plans to worry about. You earn rewards and use the cash however you want. Which camp are you in? Tell us whether you prefer points or cash back and why. If you have a favorite card or a great redemption story, share that too.

New to Credit? Here's What You Need to Know! One of the biggest mistakes people make is expecting a credit score right away. It takes about 6 months of credit history before a FICO Score is typically generated. During those first 6 months, your goal is simple: - Open 2–4 quality credit accounts, such as credit cards and/or a small loan. - Let those accounts report every month. - Make 100% of your payments on time. - Keep your credit card utilization under 10% - Avoid applying for a lot of new credit while you're building your foundation. - Building great credit is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient, stay consistent, and let time work in your favor. Six months of smart habits can set you up with a strong credit profile for years to come.