Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates fell this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.16%, down from 6.23% last week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week average 52-week low 30-year 6.16%…
Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage can help you lower your rate, access your home’s equity or move to a fixed-rate loan. For most homeowners, the best time to refinance is when you qualify for a lower rate than you’re currently paying. If you want to refinance, calculate the break-even point…
Key takeaways Bank accounts with named beneficiaries (called “payable-on-death” or POD designations) transfer directly to those people — no court involvement, no waiting. The beneficiary just needs a death certificate and valid ID. Joint accounts with rights of survivorship automatically belong to the surviving owner, though FDIC coverage drops from…
Donald Trump and his administration have made a lot of big promises to improve affordability since taking office. Those promises have ramped up as consumers increasingly feel pinched by the U.S. economy, from sticky inflation and a stagnant job market to high interest rates. The macroeconomic data broadly suggests that…
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Key takeaways Most states require drivers to carry liability coverage, including bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Uninsured/underinsured motorist and personal injury protection coverage are optional in some states and required in others. Collision and comprehensive coverage are optional, but if you finance or…
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Key takeaways Looking at the past four decades, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage peaked in 1981, rising just above 16%. The average 30-year fixed rate bottomed in 2021 at just under 3%. For 2025, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate was 6.66%. As of Jan. 28, 2026, the…
Morsa Images/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Bankrate tracks the best certificate of deposit (CD) rates and recent interest rate trends for you. Here are the current national average annual percentage yields (APYs) as of Saturday, January 31, 2026, according to Bankrate’s most recent survey: 1-year CD yield: 1.89…
Key takeaways Only 46% of U.S. adults have enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses, making saving money more crucial than ever. Automatic transfers to a high-yield savings account earning around 4% APY can help build emergency funds without extra effort. Cash-back apps and comparison shopping can save…
Getty Images/Greg Hinsdale You hear a lot these days about tapping home equity – borrowing against the worth of your home – for cash. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) have become popular ways for homeowners to access their available equity to pay for expenses like…
If the IRS notifies you of an audit, and you expected a tax return, you probably have a lot of questions. Will you ever get your tax refund? Does the audit automatically stop it? The answer depends on the IRS’s review and whether the items under audit affect the refund…
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images Key takeaways Short-term loans provide financing with a brief repayment period and often require collateral to obtain. These loans are generally capped at $2,000 and are often used by borrowers who are strapped for cash or who have a low credit score. Loan funds are…
Holiday spending came in at the high end of projected ranges for 2025 despite numerous economic challenges. According to Mastercard, U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive) increased 3.9% year-over-year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, 2025. CNBC and the National Retail Federation published a similar increase, reporting holiday sales grew 4.1%…
ljubaphoto/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points. When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to…
Christina Zelow Lundquist/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new, bigger one. The borrower receives the difference between the two balances in cash. The terms of your refinanced mortgage might differ from your original loan, including a new interest…
Key takeaways Decisions made by the Federal Reserve to increase the benchmark rate do not directly impact auto loans but rather the cost for banks to lend. The higher the Fed sets rates, the higher auto loan rates will likely be. The Fed made its third and last rate cut…
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