Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz

Credit & Personal Finance

For decades, consumers have been told that carrying a credit card balance helps build a stronger credit score. But does this popular financial advice actually improve creditworthiness, or does it simply generate unnecessary interest charges? Credit experts agree that credit utilization and payment history play major roles in determining credit scores, yet they disagree on whether maintaining a balance provides any meaningful advantage. As rising interest rates make credit card debt increasingly expensive, understanding the difference between responsible credit use and costly misconceptions has become essential for anyone seeking to improve their financial health.