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THE ADULTFILES
MONEYGlossary · Money · Building credit

Credit-builder loan

Last reviewed · 1 min readBy The Adult Files editorial team
The short answer

Backwards on purpose. The lender locks the money in a savings account, you make small monthly payments, and when you’re done, you get the money: credit and savings at the same time.

Check that the lender reports your payments to all three credit bureaus.

From FILE 005: the 5 doors.

Check our work

Sources

Official and government data first. Every quote is word for word; follow the link to check it yourself.

SOURCE 01Sep 13, 2024

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · “What are some ways to start or rebuild a good credit history?”

“Credit builder loans – You build credit and savings at the same time, through a loan from your bank or credit union.”

consumerfinance.gov (opens in a new tab)
SOURCE 02Aug 19, 2026

Experian · “Why Being an Authorized User May Not Help You Get Credit”

“Make sure your lender reports your payment activity to all three credit bureaus.”

experian.com (opens in a new tab)