Like most Americans, you probably have some debt. Maybe you have poor credit, too. Or you just have zero credit, like most students straight out of college. Well, never fear, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of getting that loan. Be it a car loan or a home loan, these tactics will help:

Get financially literate

This is a world where if you don't know your finances, you will get taken advantage of, sooner or later. Unfortunately, finance is not taught in most high schools. Most people graduate with little sense of how to even balance a checkbook, let alone invest their money for retirement.

You've got to take your financial education into your own hands. It will be empowering, I promise. You could start by reading some small articles on wikipedia. Pick something that interest you, or something you've always been curious about, and Google it. You might be curious about Swiss banks, or the stock market, or why your bank is called a credit union. Maybe you want to know what customer acquisition is, anyway. Read up on anything that interests you about finance. Anything you learn will help.

Learn from the pros

The next step, after exploring anything and everything to increase your financial literacy, is to get some advice. Suze Orman is a favorite of mine, and there are many other easy-to-read authors who have written books just for you. You will learn how to improve your credit, set financial priorities, save, and invest.

Go for that bank loan

Even with poor credit, there may be a bank that will give you a loan. If you have a steady income and can show the bank that you are taking measures to solidify your credit, they may make an allowance. However, you may get denied on your first try. The loan officer at the bank is depending on software, largely, to make a decision about you. What kind of software? They may use a variety of tools to discover your financial history, including a business rule engine, loan origination system, and business process management tool, all of which give them detailed reports about your financial responsibilities.

If at first you don't succeed, try try again

Your chances are better each time you apply, especially if you focus on community banks. Community banks are generally more willing to make exceptions for local citizens, rather than international banks, which are less sympathetic to people with challenging credit histories. A local bank needs your business, too. You will need to prove to them that you will be able to pay back your loan. Will you need to take a second or third job? Take on extra employment for the short term, provide documentation of that income to your bank, and borrow from family if you need to. Arriving at the bank with a printed out plan of how you will repay the loan, plus verification of employment or promised help from relatives, can make for a convincing loan application. Think of your loan application as a job interview. You will want to be organized and professional in every way possible.

Remember, even if you cannot secure a loan at this time in your life, you can take active steps to improve your financial situation, applying for a loan down the line. Soak up financial education in any way you can muster, keep an eye on your spending, and things can only improve for you.

Amy Brevard is a Freelance Writer working with Innuity. For additional information about customer acquisition, business rule engine, loan origination system, and business process management tool go to Zootweb.