DUBUQUE, Iowa—As part of its mission to help members build their credit scores for a brighter financial future, Dupaco Community Credit Union is reporting its Great Credit Race produced several winners and lessons along the way.
The six-month battle to build credit ended with Emily in first place with a credit score of 725. She won $1,000 for her efforts. Second-place finishers Chuck and Sophia both raised their scores to 721 and received $500.
The competition provided an opportunity for the 12 racers, and their observers, to gain a better understanding of how credit works and how it impacts every stage of life. Each racer received a Dupaco Visa credit card with a $1,000 limit and one-on-one credit and budget coaching.
According to Dupaco, strategies that helped Emily win the Race:
- Charge only what you can afford to pay back.
- Pay off your credit card balance as soon as it posts.
“I usually tried to pay it off whenever it came into my online banking so I wouldn’t forget to do it,” Emily said.
She charged anywhere from $5 to $50 each month, using her Visa card to pay for purchases she already planned to make. “I would buy gas or candy from the drug store. It was never anything huge,” she said.
The leading racers followed similar strategies, using their credit cards for smaller purchases and quickly paying off their balances.
“If you’re going to use a credit card, you need to stay on top of it,” Emily said. “Your credit score affects you in the future when you go to get a loan for things like a car or house.”
Dupaco said its Great Credit Race is one more way the credit union is fulfilling its mission to improve each member’s financial position.
“Ultimately, the goal is to benefit not just our racers but our membership,” says Noah Kachelski, Dupaco member service representative and Great Credit Race coach. “We were able to use our racers as an example of what you can do. Whether you’re brand new to credit or have had some bumps in the road, the Race shows that you can do it too, and we’re here to help.”
Dupaco said the Race complements its other products and services—including Credit History Lessons, Credit Coach loans and Bright Track credit score monitoring—that help members improve their scores and gain access to better rates.