Paying your balance more than once per month makes it more likely that you'll have a lower credit utilization rate when the bureaus receive your information. And paying multiple times can also help you keep track of your spending and cut back on any overspending before you fall into debt.
Helping your credit scores
When you make multiple payments in a month, you reduce the amount of credit you're using compared with your credit limits — a favorable factor in scores. Credit card information is usually reported to credit bureaus around your statement date.
Can I make multiple payments on my credit card each month? Yes, you can make as many payments on your credit card as you'd like every month. But the most important question is, "Is paying a credit card twice a month beneficial?" And the answer to that, for the most part, is also "yes."
When you pay your credit card weekly, it can reduce your credit utilization and improve your credit score. Paying weekly also makes it easier to stay on top of your spending and stick to a budget. It's more convenient to pay monthly, especially because credit card companies don't have a weekly autopay option available.
Does overpaying your credit card affect your credit? Fortunately, overpaying your credit card won't hurt your credit score. You might know that carrying a balance on your credit card affects your credit utilization ratio — or how much of your credit line you're using.
By making a credit card payment 15 days before your payment due date—and again three days before—you're able to reduce your balances and show a lower credit utilization ratio before your billing cycle ends. That information is reported to the credit bureaus.
Making Multiple Payments Can Help You Avoid Late Payments
The best reason to do so is to avoid late credit card payments. Since payment history is the most consequential factor in your credit score, a single late payment can lead to a drop in your score.
I've gotten into the habit of paying my credit cards off every two weeks, and I recommend this strategy to everyone. While you should always strive to pay your bills in full to avoid interest, this approach is even more impactful for cardholders who carry balances.
There is no limit to how many times you can pay your credit card balance in a single month. But making more frequent payments within a month can help lower the overall balance reported to credit bureaus and reduce your credit utilization, which in turn positively impacts your credit.
Paying off debt might lower your credit scores if removing the debt affects certain factors such as your credit mix, the length of your credit history or your credit utilization ratio.
Paying your balance more than once per month makes it more likely that you'll have a lower credit utilization rate when the bureaus receive your information. And paying multiple times can also help you keep track of your spending and cut back on any overspending before you fall into debt.
Paying your credit card early could help your credit score
By making an extra payment toward your current balance before the billing cycle ends, you can help lower your credit utilization ratio—the total percentage of available credit you're using.
If you're close to maxing out your credit cards, your credit score could jump 10 points or more when you pay off credit card balances completely. If you haven't used most of your available credit, you might only gain a few points when you pay off credit card debt.
To increase your credit score to 800, you'll need a nearly flawless payment history, a credit utilization rate well below 30%, a healthy mix of credit types, and an extensive credit history. The average American has a credit score of 716, well within the range of what is considered a good credit score.
Bottom line. Paying your credit card bill early is not intrinsically good or bad, but it can help you avoid negative habits such as high credit utilization and late payments. Paying your credit card early won't directly influence your credit score, but it can help in creating good financial habits down the line.
Your credit utilization ratio is only one factor that makes up your credit score, and making multiple payments each month is unlikely to make a big difference. One scenario where it might have an impact is if you have a relatively low overall credit limit compared to the amount of purchases you make each month.
Essentially, this rule states you should make half of your credit card payment 15 days before your due date, then make the other half of your payment three days before your bill is due. This strategy is designed to boost your credit by increasing the number of on-time payments reported to the credit bureaus.
Most major credit card issuers do accept cash payments for credit cards. It's always worth double checking your card's terms and conditions.
Fewer interest charges
Credit card companies calculate interest based on your average daily balance. Making a payment halfway through the month could lower this number. When the company calculates your interest, there could be a smaller charge than if you had only made one payment that month.
Using a good deal more of your credit card balance than usual — even if you pay on time — can reduce your score that much until a new, lower balance is reported. A mistake in your credit report can also do it.
What is the 5/24 rule? Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
The Amex 2/90 rule limits the number of American Express credit cards you can get approved for to two within a 90-day period.