If strong economic headlines aren’t lining up with the way the economy feels to you, take it from the nation’s top economists: This is one of the strangest economic moments in recent memory (at least since an unforeseen global pandemic brought the gears of commerce to a sudden halt in…
Here’s the kicker about credit card debt — as soon as it starts rolling down the hill, interest charges mean it gains momentum and size. Unfortunately, it’s a slippery slope that many credit cardholders find themselves on… and increasingly stuck there long-term. Credit card interest rates are some of the…
President Donald Trump offered two new proposals this week aimed at the stubbornly complex issue of home affordability. Trump on Wednesday said he would move to ban institutional buyers from the housing market. Then on Thursday, he proposed a mortgage bond program aimed at lowering mortgage rates. Will either achieve…
Photography by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate Key takeaways Credit card points are a type of rewards currency that you can earn in exchange for eligible credit card spending. To earn boosted points on your credit card, you’ll need to maximize bonus category spending, earn any available welcome…
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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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Alexandr Dubynin/Getty Images Key takeaways Personal loans aren’t among Bank of America’s product offerings. You can access a small, affordable short-term loan if you’re a current customer and meet the eligibility criteria. You can also explore Bank of America’s HELOC, car loan, mortgage and credit…
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Tip 3: Learn How to Create a Better ‘To Do’ List When we make resolutions, we tend to resolve to do certain things.…
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These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
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Key takeaways Your required minimum distribution (RMD) amount changes each year based on the IRS’s life expectancy calculation for your age. You calculate your RMD by dividing your year-end account value by the estimated remaining years in your lifetime, as per an IRS table. If you miss the RMD deadline,…
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the single most expensive mistakes you can make on the road. If you’re charged with a DUI, tickets and fines are only the start of your financial challenges — but the total cost of a DUI can add up…
Rolf Bruderer/Getty Images Key takeaways Gap insurance covers the difference between your claim payout and your remaining loan or lease balance if your car is stolen or totaled in a covered claim. Gap insurance is typically less expensive when purchased as a policy endorsement through your insurance company rather than…
Yellow Dog Productions/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate You’ve picked out your new car at the dealership and qualified for a car loan, but before you can sign on the dotted line and drive away, the dealer says you need full coverage car insurance. Full coverage car insurance typically…
For years, Americans have heard this mantra: There isn’t enough housing in the United States. The ongoing shortage explains why affordability is such a challenge, and why so many Americans are spending their 30s as renters rather than homeowners. The reality has grown a bit more complicated. As the housing…
This past Thanksgiving weekend saw a record-breaking 203 million shoppers, surpassing the 197 million in 2024, according to the National Retail Federation’s Annual Consumer Survey. Americans are gearing up to do more holiday shopping ahead of the holidays. In a world where consumerism often overshadows sentiment, consumers are looking for…
Faced with sticky inflation and a job market that’s losing steam, many Americans are feeling rattled these days. And when it comes to the year ahead, 32% think their personal finances will worsen in 2026, Bankrate’s recent Financial Outlook Survey found — the highest level of pessimism since 2018, when…
Robo-advisors automate the investing process for you, making it simple to invest in a diversified portfolio of assets — and they cost much less than a typical financial advisor. It’s little wonder that many investors have turned to them, and robo-advisors now manage hundreds of billions of dollars. What a robo-advisor does…
Key takeaways The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) protects your money if your bank fails. Deposits are insured for up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. FDIC insurance covers traditional bank deposit products such as checking and savings accounts. In the event of a bank failure,…
You can use money from a health savings account (HSA) to pay for COBRA health insurance, allowing you to cover premiums with tax-free withdrawals. COBRA premiums qualify as medical expenses under HSA rules, which can make an HSA useful for maintaining coverage after leaving a job. Before using these funds,…
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