Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate Slight gains for home equity rates in the latest week. The $30,000 home equity line of credit rose one basis point to 7.32%, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the five-year $30,000 home equity loan gained two basis points to 7.92%. Even with…
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…
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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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,…
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For many taxpayers, the standard deduction makes it unnecessary to itemize. However, this also limits which deductions you can claim, including donations to charity. Recent tax changes have affected claiming and qualifying for charitable deductions if you don’t itemize your return. Knowing the current rules…
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By Julie Jaggernath If you’ve been spending your time shoveling snow recently, try using it as a chance to think about what money…
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OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANKBankers wants to discuss AI strategy. They’re excited about chatbots, machine learning models, generative AI tools, and AI…
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If you’re scrambling to compile tax documents as the filing deadline approaches, you’re not alone. A tax extension can offer welcome breathing room, but it also comes with rules and potential pitfalls that many taxpayers misunderstand. Knowing how long an extension lasts, what it does and doesn’t cover and what…
Credit card debt is one of the most common financial challenges couples face, and learning how to manage credit card debt together can strengthen both finances and relationships. Honest communication, shared financial goals, and a clear plan can turn tackling credit card debt together from a stressful situation into a…
Key takeaways Nine states in the U.S. have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. (Washington does levy a tax on long-term capital gains.) Moving to a state with no income tax may seem like a smart money move, but other factors…
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…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate The Federal Reserve doesn’t set mortgage rates outright, but its decisions do play a role in the percentages lenders offer would-be homeowners. And even if the Fed keeps its benchmark rate unchanged, mortgage rates can still fluctuate. Here’s how the Fed’s monetary policy…
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%…
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