Key takeaways Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates moved up once again this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.27%, up from 6.19% 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…
Key takeaways The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) sets the benchmark rate, which impacts the rates auto lenders set. When the federal funds rate fluctuates, so will the cost to finance a vehicle. The Fed increased the benchmark rate 11 times between 2022 and 2023 and cut it three times…
Bloomberg Creative/Getty Images Key takeaways The federal funds rate impacts how expensive it is for lenders to loan money, so consumer loan rates typically change when the federal funds rate changes. During the Federal Open Market Committee’s December meeting, the regulatory body announced it would drop the target rate by…
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Last year, on the day before Tax Day, my mom was scheduled to fly into Philadelphia International Airport to stay…
The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
With Republicans ending the Grad Plus program, private lenders are eyeing billions in new business, while some students could be…
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Home improvements can make your home more comfortable, raise its value and lower energy costs over time. Some projects may also qualify for tax credits or deductions. These tax breaks can reduce what you owe when you file your taxes. In other cases, the cost…
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Get to Work – As Much as You Can Did you know almost half of Canada’s post-secondary students take on student loan debt?…
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For fintech startups, the first five years of the decade have been a roller-coaster ride. At the outset, companies were awash in easy…
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Key takeaways JPMorgan Chase leads U.S. branch counts, with approximately 4,970 locations, making it the most popular bank in the most states. Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America together operate roughly 12,900 branches — dominating banking from coast to coast. The most popular bank varies significantly by region: Chase…
Car prices keep soaring — the average price of a new vehicle topped $50,000 for the first time last year, and the share of Americans taking on $1,000 monthly car payments passed 1 in 5, also a record. If you’re considering a new car loan while also hoping to buy…
Alexander Spatari/Getty Images Key takeaways Our picks for the best brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions in California include Chase Bank, Patelco Credit Union and Golden 1 Credit Union. If you’re comfortable banking fully online, check out the consistently excellent rates at Ally Bank. Check out bank reviews, read the fine…
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit helps offset the costs of care for children under 13 and other qualifying dependents while you work or look for work. For 2026, you can claim a percentage of up to $3,000 in care expenses for one dependent, or $6,000 for two or…
The Credit for Other Dependents provides a $500 tax benefit for qualifying dependents who don’t meet the requirements for the Child Tax Credit. This credit covers dependents age 17 or older, including adult children, elderly parents and other relatives who rely on your financial support. Unlike the Child Tax Credit,…
Marklyn Johnson drove to the grocery store in March 2025 with her boyfriend and 5-month-old son. They needed groceries, and welcomed a warm indoor diversion on a cold Connecticut winter day. As they were checking out at the register, Johnson looked out the window and noticed her car was gone.…
Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate Home equity rates became more affordable in the latest week. The $30,000 home equity line of credit sank 14 basis points to 7.18%, its lowest level in more than three years, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the five-year $30,000 home equity loan…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates ticked up slightly this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.15%, up from 6.10% 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…
Key takeaways Non-U.S. citizens can open bank accounts in the United States, but the process typically requires visiting a branch in person and providing extra documentation such as a passport and an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Many major banks — including Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, and PNC —…
NoSystem images/Getty Images Key takeaways The Federal Reserve eliminated the six-withdrawal limit on savings accounts in April 2020, giving consumers unlimited access to their money — at least on paper. Here’s the catch: Many banks still restrict withdrawals to six per month even though they’re no longer required to by…
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