5 foundations of credit (5 c's) -CHARECTOR - what is your reputation, what is your credit history and or payment history -CAPACITY (D.T.I) debt to income, the ability to be able to repay the loan you took out -CAPITAL what financial assets do you have at the moment -COLLATERAL (what assets do you have to secure the loan you took out -CONDITION (what is the purpose of the loan what are your (interest fees)