Statement Closing Date Planner

The single most misunderstood credit card rule

Most people believe paying before the due date protects their credit score. It doesn't. Your bank reports your balance on the statement closing date — which is typically 21–25 days before the due date.

If you charge $500 to a $1,000 limit card and only pay after the due date, your bureau reports will show 50% utilization every single month — even if you pay in full every time. To report low utilization, pay before the closing date.