The JCPenney® Rewards Credit Card, operated by GE Money Bank, is a rewards card for J.C. Penney® customers. Cardholder benefits may include special discounts and exclusive savings, sneak peeks of sales and events, JCP Rewards program, monthly rewards certificates, and the opportunity to earn Gold/Platinum Rewards Credit card status.

Credit scores — they’re like report cards for grown-ups. It’s a three-digit “grade” you get on a scale that ranges from 300 to 850. Your score indicates your creditworthiness to potential lenders, banks, landlords, insurance companies, and even to some employers, for instance. I’m sure you know that the higher your score the better.

Credit card perks can be very useful and with one or two good cards — you could be enjoying free airline flights, free hotels stays and more.

FICO isn’t the only number used to determine your credit risk — the score that counts is the one your lender uses. There is no single credit score number — the compilers of the widely accepted FICO Credit Score allow lenders to customize their system, so different lenders produce different scores.

This has become less “strange” in recent years, but closing your credit cards can hurt your score.