{"id":57318,"date":"2023-07-31T19:38:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T19:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T09:41:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:41:57","slug":"understanding-credit-and-credit-scores","status":"publish","type":"rbc_my_money_matter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Credit and Credit Scores"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel pad-b-0 pad-t-0\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner pad-t-0 pad-b-0\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6ba379fd wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"h3\">You check your weight and your heart rate; what about your credit score? Understand your score, and how it determines how much a bank can lend to you. Find tips for improving your score.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-ee8a0338-db35-4ad1-b3ab-887fb1b7b0d4\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel pad-t-0 pad-b-0\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner pad-t-0 pad-b-0\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns  mar-b-0 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column mar-r mob-mar-r-0 mob-mar-b-dbl is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<article id=\"post-86422\" class=\"loop-post featured-vertical mob-pad-b-dbl post-86422 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-credit-and-debt rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-ways-to-bank rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-12 mar-b mob-mar-b-dbl\">\n\t\t\t\t<div \n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Magnifying glass sitting on a credit report\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"576\"\n\t\t\theight=\"384\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/Picture1_379b67.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=680\"\n\t\t\talt=\"Magnifying glass sitting on a credit report\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%; \"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-12 mob-mar-t-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/good-credit-score\/\" class=\"h3 loop-post-title mar-t-0\">What\u2019s a good credit score and how do you get one?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Establishing a strong credit score is the cornerstone of financial wellbeing.  Explore the factors that contribute to building good credit score and&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbccom-latest-posts\">\n<article id=\"post-57835\" class=\"single-post-card-wrapper post-57835 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-banking-digital-banking tag-credit-and-debt rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-business rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-post-card\">\n    <div class=\"latest-post-card\">\n      \t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/5-myths-about-your-credit-score\/\" class=\"h4 post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 truncate-third-line\">5 Myths about Your Credit Score<\/a>\n                    <p class=\"post-description\">Canadians have a lot of misconceptions about how credit scores work, from how they\u2019re calculated to what makes them go up or down. We debunk 5&#8230;<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<article id=\"post-58169\" class=\"single-post-card-wrapper post-58169 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-credit-and-debt rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-business rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-bankruptcy rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-personal-bankruptcy\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-post-card\">\n    <div class=\"latest-post-card\">\n      \t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/bankruptcy\/personal-bankruptcy\/bouncing-back-rebuilding-credit-after-bankruptcy\/\" class=\"h4 post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 truncate-third-line\">Bouncing Back: Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy<\/a>\n                    <p class=\"post-description\">Use these strategies to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy. It takes time and effort, but improving your credit score is entirely doable.<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<article id=\"post-58144\" class=\"single-post-card-wrapper post-58144 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-credit-and-debt rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-ways-to-bank rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n  <div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-post-card\">\n    <div class=\"latest-post-card\">\n      \t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/6-ways-to-rebuild-your-credit-score\/\" class=\"h4 post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 truncate-third-line\">6 Ways to Rebuild Your Credit Score<\/a>\n                    <p class=\"post-description\">If your credit score is suffering due to missed payments, or mounting bills and debt, there are steps you can take to get back on track.<\/p>\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-9f3030a4-7783-4ae4-80e6-4953f965bbfb\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block section-cool-white pos-rel  pad-t-0 pad-b-0 overflow-hidden has-f-5-f-8-f-9-background-color has-background\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner pad-t-0 pad-b-0\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-0662c34e-c8fc-4b2d-a376-6772bd71c49f\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mar-b-0 mar-t-0\" id=\"h-tools-calculators-and-courses\">Tools, Calculators and Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-carousel-container is-layout-carousel-carousel is-mobile-per-page-1.2 is-desktop-per-page-3 is-style-full-height-shadow-overflow\"><div class=\"carousel-wpr top-controls desktop-top-right desktop-top-right-dots-hidden mobile-controls-hidden\" data-mobile-per-page=\"1.2\" aria-label=\"Carousel Container\" data-visible-slide=\"3\" data-infinite-loop=\"true\"><div class=\"carousel-ctrl\"><div class=\"carousel-indicators\"><\/div><button class=\"carousel-prev slick-arrow\" aria-label=\"previous slide\"><\/button><button class=\"carousel-next slick-arrow\" aria-label=\"next slide\"><\/button><\/div><div class=\"col-wpr eh-wpr carousel-inner\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-carousel-inner carousel-item carousel-item-card-link\" aria-label=\"Carousel slide\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5773cda6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:24px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3a5424e9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-icon-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" class=\"icon icon-80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-tool.svg\" alt=\"icons\/icon-tool\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-de988dbb-a08e-49f8-8c93-fef816e81654\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-credit-protection-selector\">Credit Protection Selector<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/insurance\/credit-protection-selector.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"carousel-item-card-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-carousel-inner carousel-item\" aria-label=\"Carousel slide\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5773cda6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:24px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3a5424e9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-icon-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" class=\"icon icon-80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-compare.svg\" alt=\"icons\/icon-compare\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-586a182e-f44a-411c-8a0d-9ea7cf9f9521\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-compare-a-card\">Compare a card<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/compare-credit-cards.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"carousel-item-card-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-carousel-inner carousel-item\" aria-label=\"Carousel slide\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5773cda6 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;padding-top:24px;padding-right:24px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:24px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3a5424e9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-icon-block\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" class=\"icon icon-80\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-take-action.svg\" alt=\"icons\/icon-take-action\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-d54aef1b-5a0b-499a-9103-6b2d245ba6fa\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-choose-a-card\">Choose a card<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/credit-cards\/tools\/choose-a-credit-card.html\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"carousel-item-card-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-a2e3d10f-b7b8-4db1-8da6-8eb62b22fa97\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel pad-b-0 pad-t-0\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner pad-t-0 pad-b-0\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-9744d4f9-72f4-433c-ac8c-809e49ce4a8a\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mar-t-0 mar-b-0\" id=\"h-more-from-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">More from Understanding Credit and Credit Scores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns mar-b-0 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\t\t<div class=\" wp-block-rbc-latest-posts wp-block-rbc-latest-posts-type-2\">\n\t\t\t\n<article id=\"post-57835\" class=\"rbc-latest-posts-content-card-type-2 post-57835 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-banking-digital-banking tag-credit-and-debt rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-business rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr display-flex mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-5 mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Image showing a young woman paying bills with a credit card\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"640\"\n\t\t\theight=\"549\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/Thumbnail-feature-535-1.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=640\"\n\t\t\talt=\"Image showing a young woman paying bills with a credit card\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-t-0 col-xs-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/5-myths-about-your-credit-score\/\" class=\"h4 card-title loop-post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mar-b-0\">5 Myths about Your Credit Score<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mar-t-hlf\">Canadians have a lot of misconceptions about how credit scores work, from how they\u2019re calculated to what makes them go up or down. We debunk 5&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article><!-- #post-57835 -->\n\n<article id=\"post-94751\" class=\"rbc-latest-posts-content-card-type-2 post-94751 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-budgeting tag-credit-and-debt tag-managing-money tag-paying-for-school tag-personal-finance rbc_content_type-article rbc_audience-students rbc_audience-youth rbc_lob_group-loans rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr display-flex mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-5 mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"A group of five young adults sitting at a caf\u00e9 table, smiling and taking a selfie together. They are casually dressed and appear to be enjoying coffee and each other\u2019s company. The setting is bright with natural light coming through large windows.\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"640\"\n\t\t\theight=\"427\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/06\/shutterstock_1016243905_gradfinances.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=640\"\n\t\t\talt=\"A group of five young adults sitting at a caf\u00e9 table, smiling and taking a selfie together. They are casually dressed and appear to be enjoying coffee and each other\u2019s company. The setting is bright with natural light coming through large windows.\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-t-0 col-xs-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/budgeting\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Budgeting<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/improving-your-credit-score\/beyond-the-books-your-post-grads-playbook-to-help-you-conquer-student-debt\/\" class=\"h4 card-title loop-post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mar-b-0\">Beyond the books: Your Post-Grad\u2019s Playbook To Help You Conquer Student Debt<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mar-t-hlf\">Master your post-grad finances with this essential guide to help you navigate student debt and building a solid financial foundation in Canada.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article><!-- #post-94751 -->\n\n<article id=\"post-94348\" class=\"rbc-latest-posts-content-card-type-2 post-94348 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-budgeting tag-credit-and-debt tag-managing-money tag-paying-for-school tag-personal-finance tag-students rbc_content_type-article rbc_audience-parents rbc_audience-students rbc_audience-youth rbc_lob_group-loans rbc_lob_group-students rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-goals-aspirations rbc_mmm_category-going-to-college-or-university rbc_mmm_category-medical-or-dental-students rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-school-and-career rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores rbc_mmm_category-understanding-loans\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr display-flex mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-5 mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Diverse students studying. Represents higher education and financial aid.\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"640\"\n\t\t\theight=\"427\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_513707488_0fbed9.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=640\"\n\t\t\talt=\"Diverse students studying. Represents higher education and financial aid.\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-t-0 col-xs-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/paying-for-school\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Paying for School<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-loans\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-student-loans-in-canada\/\" class=\"h4 card-title loop-post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mar-b-0\">Everything You Need to Know About Student Loans in Canada<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mar-t-hlf\">A clear guide to student loans, grants, and credit options to help you pay for post-secondary education in Canada.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article><!-- #post-94348 -->\n\n<article id=\"post-88060\" class=\"rbc-latest-posts-content-card-type-2 post-88060 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-banking-digital-banking tag-credit-and-debt tag-managing-money rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-business rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr display-flex mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-5 mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Image of person looking at an app on their smartphone to check their credit score.\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"640\"\n\t\t\theight=\"427\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/07\/shutterstock_1640431096_CreditScore_CostofLivingCrisis-1.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=640\"\n\t\t\talt=\"Image of person looking at an app on their smartphone to check their credit score.\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-t-0 col-xs-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/struggling-to-make-ends-meet\/improving-your-credit-score\/how-to-maintain-a-strong-credit-score-during-challenging-times\/\" class=\"h4 card-title loop-post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mar-b-0\">How to Maintain a Strong Credit Score During Challenging Times<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mar-t-hlf\">While credit can act as a financial safety net during tight times, it\u2019s important to maintain a strong credit score in the meantime. Here\u2019s why&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article><!-- #post-88060 -->\n\n<article id=\"post-86422\" class=\"rbc-latest-posts-content-card-type-2 post-86422 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-credit-and-debt rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-ways-to-bank rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief rbc_mmm_category-improving-your-credit-score rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-struggling-to-make-ends-meet rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr display-flex mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-5 mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"Magnifying glass sitting on a credit report\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"576\"\n\t\t\theight=\"384\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/04\/Picture1_379b67.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=640\"\n\t\t\talt=\"Magnifying glass sitting on a credit report\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-t-0 col-xs-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/good-credit-score\/\" class=\"h4 card-title loop-post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mar-b-0\">What\u2019s a good credit score and how do you get one?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mar-t-hlf\">Establishing a strong credit score is the cornerstone of financial wellbeing.  Explore the factors that contribute to building good credit score and&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article><!-- #post-86422 -->\n\n<article id=\"post-77599\" class=\"rbc-latest-posts-content-card-type-2 post-77599 rbc_my_money_matter type-rbc_my_money_matter status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry tag-banking-digital-banking tag-credit-and-debt tag-managing-money rbc_content_type-article rbc_lob_group-business rbc_difficulty_level-beginner rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing rbc_mmm_category-money-academy rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\">\n\t<div class=\"col-wpr display-flex mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-5 mar-b-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\trole=\"img\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"A mother and a child looking at the laptop\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"post-card-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\tdecoding=\"async\"\n\t\t\tloading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\twidth=\"640\"\n\t\t\theight=\"427\"\n\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/10\/CreditCardBalanceProtection_article.jpg?quality=80&#038;w=640\"\n\t\t\talt=\"A mother and a child looking at the laptop\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-post-image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-t-0 col-xs-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/credit-and-debt\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credit and Debt<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/credit-and-borrowing\/understanding-credit-and-credit-scores\/what-you-need-to-know-about-balance-protection-insurance-for-your-credit-card\/\" class=\"h4 card-title loop-post-title mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mar-b-0\">What You Need to Know About Balance Protection Insurance for Your Credit Card<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"mar-t-hlf\">Should you opt for credit card balance protection insurance? Here&#039;s what you need to know about the protection these policies provide, and if they&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article><!-- #post-77599 -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"load-more-button text-center mob-pad-t-hlf pad-t\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"btn tertiary mar-t-0\">View More Articles<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:10%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:30%\">\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-0a050063-5f37-4a6a-ad72-0aeb5457b5fb\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-89254019-8ea2-447a-8735-8b12332890a1\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel pad-b-0 pad-t-0\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner pad-t-0 pad-b-0\" style=\"border-radius:0x\"><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style class=\"advgb-styles-renderer\">\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-ee8a0338-db35-4ad1-b3ab-887fb1b7b0d4 {\n\t\theight: 64px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-ee8a0338-db35-4ad1-b3ab-887fb1b7b0d4 {\n\t\t\theight: 64px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-9f3030a4-7783-4ae4-80e6-4953f965bbfb {\n\t\theight: 96px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-9f3030a4-7783-4ae4-80e6-4953f965bbfb {\n\t\t\theight: 64px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-0662c34e-c8fc-4b2d-a376-6772bd71c49f {\n\t\theight: 96px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-0662c34e-c8fc-4b2d-a376-6772bd71c49f {\n\t\t\theight: 64px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-de988dbb-a08e-49f8-8c93-fef816e81654 {\n\t\theight: 24px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) 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64px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":57266,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"rbc_content_type":[],"rbc_audience":[],"rbc_lob_group":[],"rbc_difficulty_level":[],"rbc_mmm_category":[319,304,371],"class_list":["post-57318","rbc_my_money_matter","type-rbc_my_money_matter","status-publish","hentry","rbc_mmm_category-credit-and-borrowing","rbc_mmm_category-money-academy","rbc_mmm_category-understanding-credit-and-credit-scores"],"acf":{"contently_publication_id":"","custom_author":"","rbc_video_header":"","rbc_media_duration":"","rbc_toc_for_mmm_tag":"h2","rbc_toc_for_mmm_limit":6,"rbc_toc_for_mmm":null,"rbc_toc_for_mmm_action":"Generate Table Of Contents"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - 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