Michael M. Santiago / Staff/Getty Images Key takeaways The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut its benchmark rate in coming months, and APYs on competitive savings accounts could fall, in turn. For the time being, savers are enjoying APYs that are higher than they’ve been in more than a…
Three years ago, when inflation was rising at the fastest pace in almost half a century, Lori Schkufza could still see the silver-linings. She had a full-time job with benefits as a digital animator. Even though her expenses had grown, her income had increased, too. Now, however, the 38-year-old Buffalo,…
Key takeaways A real estate broker is a licensed real estate agent who has also completed additional training to earn a broker’s license. Brokers can help buyers and sellers navigate some of the more complex details of real estate, such as zoning and title issues. Real estate brokers can work…
Car insurance rates continue to climb, and drivers are feeling the dent in their wallets year after year. The national average cost of full coverage car insurance climbed 12 percent from 2024 to 2025, leaving many drivers wondering why coverage has gotten so expensive. Most states require drivers to carry…
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New York startup Casap has raised $25 million in new funding to help banks tackle the thorny problem of credit…
Many people in economics, finance, business, and regular consumer life have been waiting for the forecast inflation, the tariff shock,…
President Trump’s 2026 budget would freeze spending for many services for older adults, deeply cut others, continue his efforts to…
The Trump administration is clamping down on federal student loan defaults; at the same time, Republican lawmakers in Congress just…
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Key takeaways A mortgage preapproval is a statement of how much money a lender is willing to let you borrow to pay for a home. There are several important steps in the preapproval process, such as shopping around for lenders and gathering financial documents. Getting…
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Key takeaways It may be difficult to obtain a new loan after you enter a debt management plan, especially if you have recently…
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OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANK In 2022, President Biden signed an executive order directing the government to develop a framework for digital…
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Key takeaways The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has introduced a wide range of tax cuts and adjustments that small business owners should pay attention to and prepare for. New deductions around pass-through income, tipped and overtime wage and bonus depreciation can allow small business owners and workers to lower…
Colleen Campell, a former executive director at the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office, questions why Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is seemingly always in the spotlight. “PSLF is 2 million borrowers and there are 43 million student loan borrowers,” says Campbell, who received PSLF relief for some of…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key Takeaways Key takeaways A FICO score below 580 or a VantageScore of less than 601 is considered a bad credit score. If your score falls in the bad credit range, you will face less favorable outcomes with lenders (who…
Key takeaways Ongoing rollbacks at the CFPB may lead to some deregulation in consumer lending, but it’s unlikely to reach pre-2010 conditions. Consumers could see the return of inflated interest rates, forced arbitration clauses and more expensive fees moving forward. Facing fewer consequences, some lenders may revert to aggressive tactics…
Key takeaways Bankruptcy discharge of student loans is very difficult, but not impossible, and requires demonstrating undue hardship in an adversarial proceeding. Exceptions exist, such as the possibility of discharging loans that are not qualified education loans. Recent policy changes by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice permit the…
Credit union credit cards can offer lower interest rates and unique benefits compared to cards from larger banks. Many of them still include rewards cards, and if you’re in the stages of building credit you can find some decent secured cards. We’ve compiled a list of the credit union cards…
Key takeaways If you’re living with a disability, you can list your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) as income on your mortgage applications. This makes it easier to meet a lender’s income requirements and qualify for a mortgage — even if you aren’t receiving employment…
Key takeaways When you agree to purchase a home, one of the first steps you’ll likely need to check off the list is putting earnest money in escrow — a signal to the seller that you’re committed to getting the deal done. A third party will control the escrow account,…
Oscar Wong/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Speak to any rental car company employee before renting a car, and you’ll surely be asked if you want to purchase extra insurance. But at $15 to $30 a day (typically), buying this additional coverage is like paying $5,000 to $11,000 a year to…
Key takeaways Cash back credit cards make sense when you want to earn simple rewards for each dollar you spend. A points or miles card may be a better option if you travel often and want to earn rewards for travel on your purchases. If neither option is the perfect…
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