Key takeaways With the back-to-school shopping season in full swing, families should take every opportunity they can to save money. One way to lower costs is to shop during a tax-free weekend or holiday, if one is offered in your state. To boost your savings further, pair tax-free weekend shopping…
Key takeaways You can maximize cash back earnings on Amazon purchases through a variety of options, including a boosted cash back credit card or Amazon-branded card. Amazon Prime members can also take advantage of free shipping and deep discounts. And don’t forget about the deals you can score on Amazon…
Photography by Getty Images The Discover it® Cash Back (and its student card) have announced bonus categories for Q4 2025, and they should be easy for most cardholders to fully maximize. Once you activate the bonus categories, you’ll earn 5 percent cash back on purchases on Amazon.com and at drugstores…
katleho Seisa/Getty Images Key takeaways Borrowers can prequalify for Bank of America credit cards and avoid taking a hit to their credit score. Prequalifying can increase the chances of getting approved for a card, and strategies such as paying on time and disputing inaccuracies can make prequalification easier to achieve.…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate If you’re rethinking whether to spread the holiday cheer by tipping this year, you might not be alone. Fewer Americans are planning to tip their service providers this holiday season compared to last year — from their housekeepers, trash…
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Experience with the Program: How Debt Management Helped a First-Time Renter Katie’s journey shows clearly how debt management helped her regain control over…
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These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
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SDI Productions/Getty Images Key takeaways Banks exist that cater to specific political views, faiths, environmental concerns and social causes. Finding the right bank requires combining your core values with thorough research. Local banks and credit unions often support community initiatives that align with your beliefs. When choosing a bank, most…
Key takeaways Money market accounts combine the features of checking and savings accounts and are FDIC- or NCUA-insured up to $250,000 per depositor. Money market funds aren’t federally insured or regulated, but they are considered conservative investments with very low risk of principal loss. Top-yielding money market accounts currently pay…
As they struggle to persuade Americans to buy new homes, homebuilders have leaned hard on a new tactic: Builders’ mortgage arms are wooing consumers with cut-rate home loans. The average mortgage rate for new construction buyers was 5.27% during the third quarter of 2025, compared to 6.26% for buyers of…
If you have infractions on your driving record in the Garden State, including speeding tickets, at-fault accidents or a DUI, you may need to look for high-risk coverage from a New Jersey insurance company. Affordable insurance for high-risk drivers can take a little work to find, but by shopping around,…
Key takeaways Personal loans and home equity loans can provide a much-needed source of funding if you need cash. Personal loans are less risky because they’re unsecured, but they often come with higher interest rates. Home equity loans may be more accessible to borrowers with lower credit scores, but you…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Gap insurance in Texas, also known as guaranteed asset protection, helps cover the difference between what you owe on your car and its actual cash value (ACV) if it’s totaled or stolen. This optional coverage may be especially valuable for Texas drivers…
Image by MementoJpeg/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Money market accounts combine features of checking and savings accounts — you earn interest like a savings account but get check-writing and debit card access like a checking account (not all MMAs offer these features). High-yield savings accounts typically offer rates…
Key takeaways Most bank account denials stem from ChexSystems reports showing past account problems like unpaid negative balances, bounced checks, or suspected fraud — not your credit score. You can get your ChexSystems report free once every 12 months under federal law, dispute errors, and work to resolve outstanding issues…
Image by GettyImages, Illustrated by Bankrate Key Takeaways APY (Annual Percentage Yield) shows how much interest your savings account or CD will earn in one year, including the effect of compound interest. The best savings accounts currently pay around 4.20% APY, while average savings accounts pay just 0.61% APY—that’s over…
Key takeaways High-yield savings accounts pay up to 4.20% APY (400x more than traditional savings accounts at 0.01%), making them the best choice for emergency funds and short-term savings goals. CDs lock your money for fixed terms (1 month to 5 years) in exchange for guaranteed rates, while money market…
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