You can now pay a friend back more easily than ever before. Thanks to apps such as Venmo and PayPal, sending money from one place to another is as easy as clicking a button. It is for this reason that money transfer apps have become one of the most popular ways to transfer money.
Mercator Advisory Group, a payment industry adviser, reported that 70% of Americans use mobile transfer apps. Some users, however, are wary of using such apps for fear it will adversely affect their credit score. How true is this claim?
Learn about money transfer apps and how they affect your credit score.
WHAT ARE MONEY TRANSFER APPS?
Peer-to-peer (P2P) apps, also called money transfer apps, allow individuals to transfer money fast and securely to other individuals. Popular money transfer apps include:
- Venmo
- PayPal
- Zelle
- WorldRemit
- Cash App
- Facebook Pay
There are some basic differences among money transfer apps, such as different features, speeds, prices, the ability to do international transfers, and the user interface. Nevertheless, they all serve the purpose of providing a secure network for transferring funds.
These applications are popular among Americans because they allow instant and hassle-free fund transfers, and they can also be linked to your bank accounts and credit cards.
DO MONEY EXCHANGES APPEAR ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT?
A credit report is an important tool used by banks, investors, landlords, and even some employers to evaluate your credit handling skills. With this report, individuals have all the information they need to determine their financial standing and habits. This includes your personal information, public records, credit inquiries, and a credit history.
Keeping a clean credit report is imperative because it can have an impact on all aspects of your life. Therefore, many people using money transfer apps wonder if their transactions will appear on their credit reports.
To understand this, you must understand what a checking account is. Checking accounts are bank accounts that individuals use to deposit and withdraw money. A checking account allows you to make unlimited withdrawals and deposits at any time. Despite being an essential part of everyday finances, your checking account is not included on your credit report. This is because you use it regularly for normal activities such as making deposits, withdrawing money, and transferring funds to other accounts. Overdrawing your checking account frequently will appear on your credit report, however. The reason is that most of the time, your credit report only deals with any money you have borrowed in the past or currently.
DO MONEY TRANSFER APPS AFFECT YOUR CREDIT SCORE?
A credit score is a numerical score calculated by the credit bureaus based on your credit report. Almost everything that appears on your credit report can affect your credit score positively or negatively. When you pay your bills on time, your credit score increases, reflecting your good financial behavior. On the other hand, late payments can negatively impact your credit score and indicate that you have difficulty managing your finances.
Borrowing large sums of money, frequently maxing out your credit card, and failing to pay your bills on time can all negatively impact your credit score. In turn, this can make it impossible to qualify for a loan, rent or even get a job.
However, money transfer apps do not directly affect your credit score. This is because their normal use of transferring money to another account is not shown in the credit report.
TIPS TO KEEPING A GOOD CREDIT SCORE
It is crucial to keep a good credit score, as we discussed earlier. To keep an eye on your credit score, you can consult credit monitoring services. Stay ahead of the game and check your credit score today! It is also imperative to practice sound financial habits to maintain a high credit score.
Here are a few tips and tricks on helping maintain a good credit score:
- Always pay your bills on time
- Avoid increasing your credit card balance
- Ensure that your longest-running credit account remains open
- Make full payments where possible
- Monitor your credit report to ensure there are no errors and to keep an eye on your financial habits
- Avoid applying for new credit
Transferring money between people is fast and easy with money transfer apps. They are secure, easy to use, and come with several features to make money transfers seamless. However, many people fear that these apps may negatively affect their credit reports and scores. You will not experience any adverse effects on your credit score if you use these apps regularly, since transferring money does not directly affect your credit report.
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