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%…
Maca and Naca/GettyImages The average tax refund tends to be just over $3,000, but that number might climb to north of $4,000 in 2026, thanks to the massive tax bill that became law in 2025. That law included a higher standard deduction amount, more generous tax brackets and other changes…
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…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
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…
Featured Articles
You’ve heard of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans, which let you borrow against the value of your home, getting ready cash for renovations, debt consolidation or anything else. But jumping through the income-qualification hoops that characterize much home-based financing may…
Dept Managmnt
2. Coaching and Tutoring Take stock of your areas of expertise – maybe you speak a second language or solving math equations comes…
Banking
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANKBankers wants to discuss AI strategy. They’re excited about chatbots, machine learning models, generative AI tools, and AI…
Credit Cards
All News
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways A business credit score is like your personal credit score, only it applies to the financial health of your business. Business credit scores help separate your personal and business finances, lower insurance rates and make business financing more accessible. Business credit scores…
Is this method of consolidating debts a good idea? If you are considering using a credit card as a debt consolidation option here is what you need to know. A low interest credit card often comes with strings attached, so be very cautious if you’re considering applying for a new…
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.…
Serhii Sobolevskyi/Getty Images Par for cryptocurrencies, Ethereum has been volatile since day one and ruled by whims over its nearly 10-year life. Case in point: A game called CryptoKitties launched on Ethereum in November 2017, allowing players to buy, breed and trade digital cats. The game briefly went viral, taking…
Key takeaways Membership in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program can increase rewards earnings by 25 to 75 percent on every transaction. Qualifying for the program requires a minimum three-month combined average daily balance of $20,000 across eligible accounts. Taking advantage of the Preferred Rewards program boosts the rewards…
The idea of investing can be intimidating for many beginner investors who are just starting out, but it’s an important part of saving for various financial goals and building wealth. You’ll encounter many different market environments throughout your investing life, so don’t get too caught up in whether right now…
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…
Annuities are often popular with retirees and those looking to retire because of the steady income stream they can provide. But annuities tend to come with high costs and commissions for salespeople that eat into investors’ returns. Some firms now offer annuities without commissions, which could be better for investors.…
Key takeaways Chase Bank leads California with over 900 branches statewide, making it the top choice for in-person banking access. Quontic Bank offers the highest rates for online banking, with savings accounts earning over 4 percent APY. Patelco Credit Union provides members access to 30,000+ fee-free ATMs nationwide through the…
Editor's Pick
