You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that…
We all use our checking accounts for the basic purposes — direct deposit of our paychecks, paying monthly bills and making debit card purchases. And while usually you’re seeing money leave your checking account, there are ways you can actually earn money with your checking account too. Here are ways…
Key takeaways You don’t need a down payment to refinance, but you’ll likely have to come up with cash for closing costs. Some lenders let you roll closing costs into the mortgage to avoid upfront expenses. You can also try negotiating with the lender to waive them. Either way, conduct…
miniseries / Getty Images Key takeaways MBA accreditation is a process that evaluates the quality of an MBA program. There are three main types of accreditation for MBA programs: regional, national and programmatic. Employers hiring new candidates tend to prioritize graduates from accredited schools. MBA accreditation is a process that…
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While there has been much conversation on not buying from companies with poor diversity, little has been said about investing…
Lifestyle inflation occurs when your expenses increase as you earn more income. It can start subtly—dining at pricier restaurants, upgrading…
Chime, the largest digital bank in America, grew its revenue to $1.7 billion in 2024, an increase of roughly 30%…
Technology has transformed some parts of the daunting homebuying process–making it easier to search and compare properties online, to prepare…
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Key takeaways Popular assumptions about credit and repayment are often wrong. Interest rate changes do not affect loan payments as much as you might think. Student loan consolidation and refinancing your student loans aren’t always financially beneficial. Most students need a cosigner to qualify for…
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A few years ago, I made what seemed like an impossible decision: I was going to pay off $300,000 in debt, including student…
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Apple, FedEx and Oracle all got loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. But rules and red tape keep many banks from making…
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Key takeaways A mortgage loan estimate is a standard three-page document detailing the estimated costs, structure and other terms of a loan. Mortgage lenders are required by law to provide borrowers with a loan estimate within three business days of receiving the loan application. The loan estimate helps borrowers understand…
Key takeaways Annual travel credits are a perk offered by some travel credit cards. Travel credits vary in terms of coverage and requirements, but generally cover travel expenses like airline fees and upgrades. Using a credit card with an annual travel credit can potentially offset the annual fee and offer…
Key takeaways Fidelity and Charles Schwab are industry standard-bearers for low-cost, high-quality, well-rounded brokerage offerings. Both offer a treasure trove of advice and education for newcomers and advanced trading tools for seasoned investors. Minor differences in product offerings will determine which broker best serves your needs. Fidelity is known for…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is the balance of your mortgage loan divided by the value of the property you’re buying, usually expressed as a percentage. A lower LTV ratio can help you get a lower interest rate on your mortgage. Lenders…
A weeklong Amazon boycott, driven by a viral grassroots movement’s call for an “economic blackout,” ended Friday. But the boycott seemed to have little impact on the price of Amazon (AMZN) stock throughout the week. After the boycott’s launch Friday, March 7, Amazon stock underwent a transient 2.12 percent dip,…
It’s Spring Break season and the weather is only starting to warm up across much of the country, but it’s actually now or never if you want to plan a summer trip. That’s particularly true if you’re hoping to score free travel with a credit card sign-up bonus. It pays…
Doing taxes isn’t exactly easy, and “tax deduction” brings to mind piles of receipts and complicated calculations, just to save a few bucks. Here’s the good news: You don’t need to itemize deductions to take advantage of valuable tax breaks and reduce your taxable income. Every year at tax time,…
staticnak1983/GettyImages With the right tax software, you can file your taxes quickly and accurately. If you’re looking for great value in tax software, TaxAct is a strong choice. TaxAct offers affordable prices compared with other software providers, such as TurboTax and H&R Block. Plus, it offers an easy-to-use platform that…
Anna Moneymaker/GettyImages If you make less than $150,000 a year, President Donald Trump wants to abolish your taxes, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview with CBS on Tuesday. “I know what his goal is: No tax for anybody who makes less than $150,000 a year. That’s his…
Key takeaways You can save on interest payments by transferring debt to a zero-interest intro APR balance transfer card. In addition to transferring credit card debt, some balance transfer cards allow you to transfer personal loans, auto loans, home equity loans and student loans. Not all card issuers allow you…
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