Without a healthy credit profile, you may find it difficult to secure any number of affordable credit and loan products, including mortgages and car loans. For this reason, making an effort to ensure your credit is strong is crucial, but it can be difficult to do so without the proper tools.
That’s where KOHO’s Credit Building Programs come in. These programs make credit building easy and affordable.
Let’s dig deeper to see how these Credit Building Programs can help you improve your credit history.
Key Points
1. KOHO offers two Credit Building Programs: Credit Building, a credit-building line of credit, and Flexible Credit Building, a secured line of credit. You set up both in the KOHO app.
2. Credit Building costs $10, $7, or $5 a month depending on your plan, and it is included free on the new Core account.
3. Neither program requires a hard credit check, and your payments are reported to a credit bureau (Equifax) to help build a positive history.
4. Flexible Credit Building needs a $30 to $500 security deposit plus a $5 monthly fee, which is also free on Core.
5. KOHO says users have seen their credit scores rise by +74 points on average using its credit building tools.
Who Is KOHO?
KOHO is a Toronto-based fintech company that offers banking services and products, including their mobile app and prepaid credit cards. The company is not a bank itself but rather has partnered with Peoples Trust to provide consumers with secure banking products that can be used across the globe.
The company was developed with the goal of providing Canadians with convenient financial products. More importantly, KOHO’s mission is to help Canadians establish and build healthy credit that will open the door to more financial products in the future.
KOHO currently offers four full-service accounts.
KOHO Core Account
KOHO Core is the newest account and the only one that is completely free, with no monthly fee, no direct deposit requirement, and no minimum balance. For a credit-building article, the standout part is that secured credit building is included free and stays free for as long as you hold the account, so you can start building your credit history without paying a monthly subscription.
- $0 per month, with no direct deposit requirement, no minimum balance, and no conditions to keep the price
- Secured credit building included free, permanently, rather than as a paid add-on
- 2% interest on your full balance
- 1% cash back on groceries, transit, and food and drink, plus up to 6.5% extra with select merchants
- Free credit score monitoring
- Free e-Transfers
- Instant virtual card, so you can spend online right away
- Physical and virtual card, with card colour options
- No credit check to open the account
Use code LOANSCANADA when you sign up for a KOHO account and get $40 FREE when you add funds to your account.
KOHO Essential Account
The Essential Account is KOHO’s lowest-cost paid account. Account holders can earn interest on their account balance and use their prepaid credit card to make purchases and earn cash back rewards.
- Has an annual fee of $48, or $0 if you set up a direct deposit or contribute $1000 per month
- 1% cash back on groceries, transportation (gas, parking, rideshare apps, etc.), and eating and drinking
- Up to 6.5% extra cash back with select merchants
- Earn 2% saving interest on the entire balance in your KOHO account
- Free e-transfers
- No NSF fees
- Credit Building for $10/month
- Flexible Credit Building also available
- Get your credit score for free in-app
Use code LOANSCANADA when you sign up for a KOHO account and get $40 FREE when you add funds to your account.
KOHO Extra Account
The Extra Account is KOHO’s second most expensive account and comes with additional perks.
- Has an annual fee of $144
- 1.5% cash back on groceries, transportation (gas, parking, rideshare apps, etc.), and eating and drinking
- 0.25% cash back on all other categories
- Up to 6.5% extra cash back with select KOHO partners
- Earn 2.5% saving interest on the entire balance in your KOHO account
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1 Free International ATM withdrawal each month
- Credit Building for $7/month
- Flexible Credit Building also available
- Get your credit score for free in-app
Use code LOANSCANADA when you sign up for a KOHO account and get $40 FREE when you add funds to your account.
KOHO Everything Account
The Everything Account is KOHO’s most expensive account, but it also comes with the most perks.
- Has an annual fee of $177
- 2% cash back on groceries, transportation (gas, parking, rideshare apps, etc.), and eating and drinking
- 0.50% cash back on all other categories
- Up to 6.5% extra cash back with select KOHO partners
- Earn 3.5% saving interest on the entire balance in your KOHO account
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1 Free International ATM withdrawal each month
- Discounted Credit Building for $5/month
- Flexible Credit Building also available
- Get your credit score for free in-app
Use code LOANSCANADA when you sign up for a KOHO account and get $40 FREE when you add funds to your account.
| KOHO Joint is now available on all 3 KOHO plans. Two users can now manage everyday spending and savings together, each with their own card and full access to the account. If either account holder has an Everything Plan, those premium benefits automatically apply to the Joint Account at no additional cost. |
What Are The KOHO Credit Building Programs?
KOHO offers two Credit Building Programs, Credit Building and Flexible Credit Building. New users can register for these Credit Building Programs in their KOHO app. Credit Building has a monthly fee of $5, $7, or $10, depending on the account they have, and it is included free on the Core account. Flexible Credit Building requires users to provide between $30 and $500 of security.
Overview Of The KOHO Credit Building Program Features
| Credit Building | Flexible Credit Building | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | KOHO Core: Free KOHO Essential: $10/month KOHO Extra: $7/month KOHO Everything: $5/month | $30 to $500 security deposit $5 monthly service fee (free on Core) |
| Eligibility | Active KOHO account Canadian resident Age of majority in your province | Active KOHO account Canadian resident Age of majority in your province |
| Credit check? | Yes (soft check, no effect to score) | Yes (soft check, no effect to score) |
| Availability | Across Canada | Across Canada |
KOHO Credit Building
KOHO Credit Building is a credit-building line of credit. Users cannot access any money from the line of credit. Instead, they pay a monthly subscription fee that is reported to one of the credit bureaus in Canada. This is what can help build a healthy credit history.
Users can stay opted in for as many months as they want. KOHO recommends at least 3 months for the best results.
All you have to do is make sure that there is enough money in your account every month to cover the subscription fee (KOHO will automatically withdraw this amount each month).
Upon registering for the program, KOHO will conduct a “soft inquiry” of your credit report, which does not affect your credit score.
KOHO Flexible Credit Building
On the other hand, KOHO Flexible Credit Building is a secured line of credit. Users need to provide between $30 and $500 to act as security for the line of credit. This money needs to be put aside within your KOHO account. Users must also pay a $5 monthly service fee, though this secured credit building is included free on the Core plan.
Once the line of credit is active, you can make purchases with the line of credit and repay what you owe at the end of the month. These payments are then reported to one of Canada’s credit bureaus and this is what can help build a healthy credit history.
New Offer: Get 50% Off Credit Building
New users can now access Credit Building monthly or with a 3-month plan for $15 — a 50% discount. KOHO users have seen their credit scores increase by +31 points on average within 4 months.
How Much Does KOHO Credit Building Cost?
The Credit Building Program costs $5, $7, or $10 per month, depending on the account you have, and it is free on the Core account. There are no other costs involved, you simply need to make sure you have the money in your account every month so that KOHO can withdraw your payment and report it to a credit bureau.
The Flexible Credit Building Program requires the user to provide between $30 and $500 to act as security and pay a $5 monthly service fee, which is also free on the Core account.
Pros And Cons Of The KOHO Credit Building Program
There are several perks to using either (or both) of the KOHO Credit Building Programs to help you build a healthy credit history, but there are also a couple of drawbacks to keep in mind.
Pros
- Convenient: Simply sign up for Credit Building or Flexible Credit Building in the KOHO app.
- Affordable: At $5, $7, or $10 per month (free on Core), it fits just about any budget, and Flexible Credit Building lets you choose how much security you provide.
- Track your progress: Follow how your credit score is doing right in the app.
- No hard credit check: KOHO only does a soft inquiry, so applying does not hurt your score.
- Earn cash back: Earn up to 2% cash back on groceries, transportation, food, and drink, plus up to 6.5% extra with select merchants.
Cons
- Not always free: On the paid plans, both programs come with a cost, though it is manageable. Credit building is only free on the Core account.
- Missed payments: If you miss any payments, your credit score may take a hit.
How To Apply For The KOHO Credit Building Program
Applying for both the KOHO Credit Building Program and the KOHO Flexible Credit Building Program is easy. Just follow these steps:
Final Thoughts
Having a healthy credit profile is an important part of your credit life. And while building a good credit score can be challenging without some help and know-how, KOHO Credit Building Programs can make the entire process incredibly easy. With minimal effort and cost, you can work toward building a healthy credit history for yourself.
KOHO Credit Building Program FAQs
Yes, but it’s a soft credit check, which means it won’t impact your credit score.
Yes, KOHO’s Credit Building and KOHO Flexible Credit Building are available across Canada.
Every repayment you make is reported to Equifax, one of Canada’s two major credit bureaus, to help build your credit history.
Yes. Secured credit building is included free on the new Core account. On the Essential, Extra, and Everything plans, Credit Building costs $10, $7, or $5 a month.
