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…
Money is an uncomfortable topic for many, yet it’s an important ongoing conversation to have in a relationship. Financial secrets undermine trust. And for many, it may even feel like betrayal. More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults (43%) believe keeping financial secrets is at least as bad as physical…
Key takeaways Decisions made by the Federal Reserve to increase the benchmark rate do not directly impact auto loans but rather the cost for banks to lend. The higher the Fed sets rates, the higher auto loan rates will likely be. The Fed made its third and last rate cut…
The holiday season is a time filled with joy, celebration, and, often, a lot of expenses. As the festivities wind down, many find themselves facing the reality of depleted bank accounts, credit card debt, and the daunting task of rebuilding their financial safety nets. An emergency fund serves as a…
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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: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate No movement in home equity rates, as the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at its first meeting of 2026. The $30,000 home equity line of credit and the five-year $30,000 home equity loan were flat for the week, remaining…
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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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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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Wesley Lapointe/For The Washington Post / Getty Images The average Social Security recipient can expect to see a $648 annual raise in 2026. Though the final numbers will not be announced until October 24th, estimates point to the Social Security Administration’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increasing benefits by 2.7 percent starting…
Key takeaways With a fixed-rate mortgage, the rate literally remains fixed: It carries the same interest rate and monthly payment for the entire life of the loan. But an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate that changes at preset intervals, increasing or decreasing the monthly payment each time. The…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates edged lower again this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.26 percent, down from 6.35 percent the previous week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week…
Key takeaways If your credit card was declined while you were trying to make a purchase, don’t panic — there are several reasons why this could’ve happened, many of which can be resolved quickly. Some common reasons your credit card might be declined include having the card’s credit limit maxed…
Key takeaways The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card offers a flat 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases. (Earn an elevated 2 percent cash back on all purchases for the first year from account opening.) Bank of America Preferred Rewards members stand to get the…
Key takeaways The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers simplicity and low fees as a travel rewards starter card. The rewards rate and perks aren’t likely to appeal to people with robust travel rewards experience. The card does, however, offer an introductory APR period, which is uncommon among…
Andy Challenger is the person businesses call when it’s time to let workers go. And for the past year and a half, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing. A third-generation outplacement consultant at Challenger, Gray & Christmas — the firm his grandfather founded in the 1960s after his own layoff —…
Key takeaways Both the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offer flexible rewards points with multiple redemption options, a base rate of 1.5X points on regular purchases, no foreign transaction fees and a higher rewards potential if you’re a member…
If you have ever changed jobs or you have already started saving for retirement, you have likely encountered both Traditional IRAs and Rollover IRAs. However, these two similar-sounding accounts can play very different roles in your financial future. Knowing how each works can mean the difference between maximizing your tax…
Key takeaways APR reflects the total annual cost of a personal loan, including both fees and interest. Many lenders state their APR online to make it easier to compare before you apply. Your APR will be based on your credit score, income and other financial factors. The annual percentage rate,…
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