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…
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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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VIEW press/Contributor/Getty Images Wells Fargo is a financial institution that offers its customers personal, small business, commercial, corporate and investment banking solutions. There are currently around 5,600 branches and 11,000 ATMs nationwide. Wells Fargo Bank near me You can find a Wells Fargo retail banking…
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2. Coaching and Tutoring Take stock of your areas of expertise – maybe you speak a second language or solving math equations comes…
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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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Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate President Donald Trump’s support of crypto markets has led to a slew of changes this year. Regulatory crackdowns have eased and new pro-crypto bills have passed. Lawsuits against major crypto companies have been dropped and Bitcoin has hit a couple of all-time highs, breaking…
Gold seems to be hitting new all-time highs month after month. The yellow metal soared through $3,600 an ounce in early September, and judging by the commodity’s price chart, the sky’s the limit. One major investment bank came out recently with its gold price prediction. Spoiler alert: Gold could continue…
Loren Jerae, a 26-year-old stay-at-home mom in Charlotte, North Carolina, has already begun Christmas shopping. She’ll frequent thrift stores, online marketplaces and clearance racks for the next few months until she’s curated the perfect pile of presents for her 5-year-old son. As a young mom, “I didn’t want our finances…
When a disaster strikes, you’re thinking about the safety of yourself and your loved ones, sometimes followed by the daunting task of rebuilding your home. Taxes are likely the furthest thing from your mind. But when the dust settles, the government does offer some tax assistance for disaster victims in…
Tax credits and tax deductions are two powerful ways to save money on your taxes. Credits cut your tax bill dollar-for-dollar — they’re the most valuable type of tax benefit for most taxpayers — while deductions reduce the amount of income subject to tax, which lowers your overall bill. If…
Key takeaways There are some cards that allow you to automatically earn rewards in your top spending categories without opting in. The advantage for you is that you don’t need to put in an effort to identify certain categories to earn rewards each period. It’s better to use these cards…
Key takeaways A money order is similar to a check, except the money for it is taken out of your account at the time of purchase instead of when the recipient cashes it. You’ll have a difficult time finding a merchant willing to accept cards for money order purchases. If…
Key takeaways Preapproval will help you get the best rate available and give you leverage to negotiate at the dealership. Consider the overall cost of an auto loan in addition to the monthly payment — and don’t clue the dealership salesperson in on your budget too early. Shop around with…
Key takeaways The best time to refinance is when your credit score or overall financial situation has improved. Generally, you should aim to either lower your interest rate or your monthly payment — preferably both. Avoid refinancing when auto loan rates are high or if you won’t be able to…
Key takeaways According to a new Realtor.com report, more than a quarter of U.S. homes, worth $12.7 trillion, face extreme hurricane, flood or wildfire risks, with many properties underinsured or lacking coverage. Rising home insurance costs and insurer withdrawals from high-risk areas are leaving many homeowners with unaffordable premiums, high…
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