The importance of establishing a credit history

ERIKA:
We have George González, Oportun’s communications director, with us today. Good morning.

GEORGE:
Good morning, Erika.

ERIKA:
Can you tell us a little about Oportun and how it helps our community?

GEORGE:
Of course. Oportun is a fintech lender and a neo-banking platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to make financial health simple for anyone.

In addition to operating with a strong social mission, we are focused on providing our customers with inclusive, affordable, and empowering financial products and services.

ERIKA:
Tell us why establishing a credit history is so important.

GEORGE:
Having good credit is essential to achieve financial success in this country. A person’s credit score can affect their type of housing, the type of car they drive, or even their employment options.

ERIKA:
How can you establish a credit history?

GEORGE:
The most common way is applying for a personal loan or applying for a credit card.

But we have to be clear that the options for a person without a credit history are limited. For example, to apply for a loan may require some form of deposit, or a credit card may have a very high interest rate.

ERIKA:
Tell us how Oportun can help.

GEORGE:
We can help by extending a loan with a fixed interest rate and fixed payments, and with the ability pay the loan in months instead of weeks.

ERIKA:
How can we check our credit history?

GEORGE:
The easiest way is by requesting it for free at one of the three national credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. By law, consumers have the right to request a copy of their credit history for free once a year.

ERIKA:
Establishing a good track record is very important and Oportun can help you. Call the number on the screen or visit the website for more information.

Thank you very much, George.

GEORGE:
Thank you for having me.