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Lenders can choose whether they report information to the credit bureaus, which bureaus they report to, and what information they report.
What and when credit cards report to the credit bureaus is an important part of building credit, as the information given is used to update your credit report and corresponding credit score.
Does Citibank report to the 3 major credit bureaus?
No, Citibank only reports to one of the three major credit bureaus:
- Equifax
When does Citibank report to the credit bureaus?
Citibank reports to Equifax every 30 days. The actual reporting day varies based on when you opened your account, meaning the reporting day will likely be on or within three days of your statement closing date.
Your statement closing date is the final day of your credit card billing cycle. To find your statement closing date, you can:
- Check your credit card statement.
- View your billing cycle information in your online account.
- Call the number on the back of your credit card and ask a customer service representative.
How often does Citibank report to the credit bureaus?
Citibank reports to the credit bureaus every 30 days.
What information does Citibank report to the credit bureaus?
Citibank reports the following details to the credit bureaus:
- Late payments
- Credit history with Citibank
Your credit history likely includes current or closed Citibank accounts, account opening and closing dates, and previous payment history.
How to build credit with a Citibank credit card
Because Citibank only reports to one of the three major credit bureaus, it’s not an ideal credit card issuer for borrowers trying to build credit. Furthermore, the Citibank customer service team only indicated that they report late payments, so your responsible borrowing (e.g., on-time payments) may not be reported and used to update your credit report.
However, you can still use your credit card to build credit and improve your credit score. To build credit with your Citibank credit card:
- Use your card regularly: Using your Citibank card responsibly each month potentially gives Citibank a positive borrowing history to report, and keeps your account from being closed. If you have a low credit limit or worry about being able to pay your credit card bill, charge a small recurring purchase to the card (like your Netflix or Amazon subscription).
- Use less than 30% of your credit limit: An important factor in determining your credit score is your credit utilization rate, which is how much of your total credit you’re using. You want this number low, so try to only use less than 30% of your credit limit, or less than 10% for an even better rate.
- Pay your bill on time: The most important part of building credit and raising your credit score is making on-time payments to your Citibank account. Pay your credit card bill in full by the due date to avoid interest charges. At the least, pay your minimum monthly payment by the due date to prevent negative marks on your credit report and late payment fees.
- Ask for a credit limit increase: Taking on a larger credit line will strengthen your credit by reducing your credit utilization and showing lenders that you can control your spending. All you need to do is get Citi to increase your credit limit.
- Keep your account open: The length of your credit history also contributes to your credit score, so keep your Citibank credit card account open to increase your average credit age.