After you have received a discharge of your debts through bankruptcy proceedings, you will need to focus on improving your credit history. While bankruptcy places a negative mark on your credit history for seven years, as does any delinquent debt or any other negative action, you can take steps to reestablish credit. One way to move toward credit repair after bankruptcy is to take out a secured loan from your bank, and repay it in a timely fashion. Many banks offer these loans that are secured by an existing bank account. This security ensures that the bank gets reimbursed for the loan proceeds should you become delinquent on the loan, and still gives you the opportunity to begin rebuilding your credit. People who reaffirm on a debt through their bankruptcy proceedings, such as a car loan, also may find it easier to reestablish credit following a bankruptcy.