Credit Strong Review: Build Credit And Savings At The Same Time

For people with poor or no credit, trying to get a loan or open a credit card account can seem like mission impossible.

It's a classic "chicken and egg" problem. You need to make consistent on-time payments on a line of credit to build a strong credit score. But without a strong credit score, how will you ever get approved for such a credit line?

One solution is Credit Strong, which essentially allows you to make "payments" to yourself. And Credit Strong will report your loan payments to the three major credit bureaus to help you build credit. Plus, at the end of your repayment term, you'll have a nice nest egg of cash savings waiting for you! 

Interested? In this article, we’ll look at how it all works.

Who Is Credit Strong?

Credit Strong is a secured-lending fintech that helps people build credit with Credit Builder loans. It is a division of Austin Capital Bank, which was founded in January 2006. Currently, it's able to fully lend in all states, with the exception of North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Vermont.

Credit Strong is not registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) but does have a BBB profile. There are 12 complaints under its profile, but its team has been responsive to all complaints.

What Do They Offer?

Credit Strong helps people build credit through installment loans. But instead of giving the money to you upfront, it's deposited it into a savings account. Then you begin making fixed monthly payments. 

The loan incurs interest but so does the savings account which helps to offset your total cost. By making a series of payments on their loan, customers have a chance to increase their credit score. And Credit Strong will report the customer’s payments to all three credit bureaus.

For this review we'll be focusing on Credit Strong's personal credit-building plans. But it should be noted that they also offer two business credit-builder accounts (a 5-year and 10-year plan).

Not A Credit Repair Service

Credit Strong’s service shouldn’t be confused with a credit repair service. Credit repair services help remove negative marks on a person’s credit report. Credit Strong doesn’t do any credit repair. It's only reporting a customer’s payment history to the three major credit bureaus.

If the customer has good credit management, its reporting can help increase the customer’s credit score. But if you miss payments on your Credit Strong loan, the system can work against you. 

Credit Strong will report delinquent payments to the same three credit bureaus that receive its reports on timely payments. This can actually result in decreasing your credit score. Just as it's important to maintain on-time payments with creditors, you also want to be sure to do the same with Credit Strong.

Loans Without Upfront Money

Credit Strong isn’t a traditional lending service. Not only do you not receive any money upfront, but you also pay fees that are higher than that of a comparable traditional loan. If all you need is a personal loan, you're better off getting an unsecured loan from a bank or credit union.

Credit Strong is specifically designed to help people increase their credit score and establish a positive payment history. First, you pick a "loan" amount and term. For example, with their Subscribe 1,000 plan, you could make $15 payments for 10 years to build up a savings of $1,000 that is returned to you at the end of your term.

Of course, making 120 payments of $15 equals $1,800 in total cost. So you're essentially paying $800 in interest to save $1,000 and build credit along the way. That might not sound like a great deal. But with Subscribe and Magnum plans you can choose shorter terms to reduce your interest cost. The minimum term is 1 year and the maximum is 10 years. And Credit Strong's Build & Save plans, which have 12- or 24-month terms, are specifically designed for people who want to reach their savings target within a specific time-frame.

Another really nice thing about Credit Strong is that you can cancel at any time without penalty. If you cancel before the end of your repayment term, you'll receive a refund for all the money you deposited minus the interest. And as long as your didn't have any late or missed payments before your account was closed, no negative marks will be added to your credit reports. Also, if you decide to pay off your Credit Strong loan early, there is no early payoff fee.

How Fast Will My Credit Score Increase?

There are currently two competing credit score systems - VantageScore and FICO Score. The FICO score is by far the most widely used and probably the one you’ll want to watch as you work to improve your credit. Here's how to monitor your FICO score.

With either credit scoring system, payment history is an influential scoring factor. If you've never used credit before, it will take at least 6 months for FICO to give you your first credit score. 

However, if you're just looking to slightly improve your score to qualify for a credit card or other form of financing, even just a few on-time payments with Credit Strong could push you across the finish line.

Related: How To Get A Free Credit Score Report

Are There Any Fees?

Yes, Credit Strong currently has seven plans. The fees and interest rates for each are detailed in the table below:

How Does Credit Strong Compare?

When compared to Self Lender, Credit Strong's interest rates are favorable while Self's admin fees are a bit lower. But it should be noted that neither of these companies offer any immediate cash access. 

If that's something you're looking for, you may want to consider SeedFi instead, which can provide up to $4,000 of upfront cash through its Borrow & Grow plans. SeedFi's traditional Credit Builder plans are also very affordable at just $1 per month. 

Here's a closer look at how Credit Strong compares to the competition:

How Do I Open An Account?

You can visit the Credit Strong website to open an account. Credit Strong says that it takes about 5 minutes to complete the application. Your credit will not be affected by applying as Credit Strong will not check your credit. However, you will need to have a checking account, debit card, or prepaid card in good standing in order to qualify.

Is My Money Safe?

Yes, Credit Strong accounts are held in Austin Capital Bank, which is FDIC-insured. FDIC insurance offers up to $250,000 of deposit protection per account. And since none of Credit Strong's loans come in amounts anywhere near that level, your entire account will be insured.

How Do I Contact Credit Strong?

You can contact Credit Strong customer support by phone at (833) 850-0850. Operating hours are Monday – Friday 7 AM to 7 PM (CT). You can also correspond with their team via Live Chat on their website.

As of writing, there are only three reviews of Credit Strong on Trustpilot, which pales in comparison to its competitor SeedFi which has over 1,000 reviews (nearly all of which are positive). Credit Strong has a B rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) but isn't currently BBB-accredited.

Is It Worth It?

For anyone wanting to build credit, Credit Strong could be a good solution. It's easy to get approved for a credit line without a credit check and a significant portion of your "loan" payments later become cool cash in your pocket.

Just make sure to compare Credit Strong's interest rates and fees with other companies that offer Credit Builder accounts like Self. For more a detailed comparison of the two companies, check out our review of Self.

As for the savings account earning interest, don’t expect to make any money. After the loan fees are taken into account, the net will be an overall expense. If interest is what you're after, consider one of our favorite high-yield savings accounts instead.

Credit Strong FAQs

Here are a few of the most common questions that people ask about Credit Strong:

Can you receive any money upfront from Credit Strong?

No, their plans are solely intended to build credit and savings, not to serve as emergency loans.

Does Credit Strong require a security deposit?

No, Credit Strong doesn't work like a secured credit card and doesn't require any upfront deposits.

How does Credit Strong appear on credit reports?

Credit Strong accounts are reported to the credit bureaus as installment loans.

Can you withdraw any built-up savings from your Credit Strong account?

No, withdrawals are not allowed until you reach the end of your payment term or you cancel your account.

Credit Strong Features