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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Key takeaways Chase allows customers to cancel their credit cards over the phone, by mail and online. Closing a credit card account may negatively impact your credit score, so it’s important to carefully consider your options. There are alternatives to closing your Chase credit card, such as requesting a product…
Key takeaways The Chase Instacart Mastercard® delivers 5 percent cash back on the first $6,000 of qualifying Instacart orders annually (then 1 percent), as well as a modest welcome bonus that’s easy to earn. With decent cash back rewards in other everyday categories — including gas stations, restaurants and select…
Key takeaways Wells Fargo operates over 500 branches across Texas, providing the most extensive branch network in the Lone Star State. Texas Capital Bank earned Bankrate’s 2024 Regional Bank Award with competitive rates and no monthly fees for Texas residents. Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union serves over 1 million members with…
Key takeaways The IRS’ rule of 55 lets workers who leave their jobs take penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals early. To take advantage of the rule of 55, your company’s retirement plan must allow these early withdrawals. Some workers, such as those who would be pushed into a higher tax bracket, should…
Stewart Cohen/Getty Images Key Takeaways Home values have consistently hit record highs in recent years, which has created a surge in more equity-rich homeowners. To be considered “equity rich”, a property’s outstanding mortgage balance should be less than half of its market value. Being equity rich makes it easier to…
Key takeaways The median American has $8,000 in transaction accounts (savings, checking, money market), while the average balance is $62,410 as of 2022 Federal Reserve data. Only 46% of U.S. adults have enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Emergency Savings Report. Savings vary…
Key takeaways You can significantly boost your net worth by maximizing contributions to retirement accounts and leveraging employer matches. Strategically tackle high-interest debt, especially credit card debt, by paying more than the minimum. Utilize budgeting tools to streamline your spending and identify ways to save money. Building your net worth…
Annuities are often purchased to help secure a reliable stream of income in retirement. Life insurance companies are the primary provider of annuities. Each company on our list offers a variety of annuity products, each with unique features and benefits. With so many options out there, the challenge lies in…
Selling your home can have tax consequences if its value has gone up. The IRS offers an exemption that lets you exclude some of the profit from capital gains tax when selling your primary residence, as long as you meet certain rules. This can save you a significant amount of…
In this do-it-yourself digital age, home sellers and buyers alike might wonder if they really need real estate agents — or, more precisely, if they need to pay agent fees. Just how crucial are these agents to a successful real estate transaction? Well, a good agent is really pretty useful.…
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