If you think maintaining a clean credit history isn’t that big a deal, take another look: There can be a spread of as much as six percentage points (even more) charged to consumers with excellent credit--often called the prime market--vs. those who have a tarnished history--sometimes called the subprime market.

MSN Autos reports that, “in the world of credit, ‘sub-prime’ is actually the rule rather than the exception...The majority of car buyers--approximately 60%--are classified as subprime. In many cases, all it takes is a 60-day overdue payment to earn a subprime rating. Only 40% of consumers have a squeaky--clean credit rating.”

Let’s add a few more numbers to the analysis. Greg McBride, financial analyst for Bankrate.com, says the average car loan is about $22,000. And Datatrac reports, in CUNA’s News Now, that credit unions charge an average one-and-one-half percentage points less for a new car loan, and charge an average two percentage points less for a used vehicle loan.

Even without crunching the numbers, two things are crystal clear. 1) It pays to protect your good credit record. 2) It pays to see the people at Pinnacle Credit Union for your car loans.

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Holiday Schedule December 24 All offices close at noon December 25-26 All offices closed December 27 Fulton Industrial Blvd open* December 31 All offices closed January 1, 2004 All offices closed     *Fulton Industrial Blvd. office open 9 a.m.- 2p.m.