How do I rebuild my credit after bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy hits your credit hard, but it also wipes the slate so you can rebuild, and people often recover faster than they expect. Start within a few months of discharge: open a secured card or a credit-builder loan, since these approve people with damaged credit and report your fresh on-time payments to the bureaus. Pay every bill on time, every time — payment history is the biggest factor and the fastest way to climb. Keep balances very low, avoid new collections, and don't chase too many accounts at once. Check your reports to confirm discharged debts show a zero balance and are marked 'included in bankruptcy,' and dispute any that don't. A Chapter 7 stays on your report up to ten years and Chapter 13 seven, but its drag fades steadily as you add positive history. Many people reach the high 600s within two to three years of disciplined rebuilding.