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…
Key takeaways The Federal Reserve doesn’t directly set auto loan rates — but it does affect the cost for lenders to borrow money. The Federal funds rate was cut for a third and final time in 2025 and was not changed in the first meeting of 2026, so it currently…
The Federal Reserve made no changes in its January 2026 meeting, keeping the target rate at 3.50-3.75%. The end of 2024 and through 2025 stabilized auto loan rates, and Bankrate experts predict auto loan rates are unlikely to shift much through 2026. Car prices have increased, and inventory shortages have…
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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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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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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 are looking for holiday debt relief after a season of overspending, the immediate answer is to pause credit card use, assess the total damage, and switch to a “bare-bones” budget. When it comes to holiday shopping a lot of consumers go into debt getting that perfect gift. According to a lending…
Sean Murphy, Getty Images If you get a speeding ticket, you’re probably most worried about the fine, but speeding tickets can make an even bigger dent in your budget when your auto policy renews. In Florida, speeding ticket fines cost an average of $125, but a single speeding ticket raises…
Michal Krakowiak/ Getty Images If you’re already planning your next vacation, now might be a good time to start earning rewards to fund it. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can help with that. For a limited time, new cardholders can earn a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit,…
lillisphotography/Getty Images Key takeaways A deed of reconveyance, also known as a satisfaction of mortgage, is a document that proves you’ve paid off your mortgage. The deed of reconveyance releases the lien the mortgage lender placed on your property. You’ll need this document to prove a clear title when you…
Key takeaways CDs and share certificates both earn guaranteed returns over a set period. CDs are offered by banks and pay interest; share certificates are offered by credit unions and pay dividends. Both are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor (FDIC for CDs, NCUA for share certificates). Credit unions…
Key takeaways Online banks typically offer higher annual percentage yields on savings products and charge fewer fees than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. If you need to deposit cash regularly, you’ll likely want the convenience of a brick-and-mortar bank’s ATM network as many online banks don’t accept cash deposits. Large brick-and-mortar banks…
In her half-century on earth, Torry Holmesly has been subjected to neglect, violence, eviction and homelessness. So, if you ask her about what life is like in a banking desert, forgive her for looking at you funny. And yet, Holmesly, 50, is far from a fool. She knows that not…
Dmitrii Marchenko/GettyImages Key takeaways With a Roth IRA, you contribute money without getting an up-front tax break (unlike a traditional IRA, which offers a tax deduction in the year you contribute). The tax break comes later: You can withdraw your money tax-free in retirement. Ideally, you keep your money in…
I’m a big fan of getting money back from purchases I would have made anyway. I rarely carry cash, use a debit card or write a check. Instead, I used three credit cards for most of my purchases in 2025, and when all was said and done, I earned close…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate The average savings account rate is a benchmark for the overall interest-rate environment, but it’s not a rate you should settle for. Rather, aim for an annual percentage yield (APY) many times the national average, such as those offered by high-yield savings…
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