Getty Images/Greg Hinsdale You hear a lot these days about tapping home equity – borrowing against the worth of your home – for cash. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) have become popular ways for homeowners to access their available equity to pay for expenses like…
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images Key takeaways Short-term loans provide financing with a brief repayment period and often require collateral to obtain. These loans are generally capped at $2,000 and are often used by borrowers who are strapped for cash or who have a low credit score. Loan funds are…
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…
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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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Sixty percent of Americans under age 65 — that’s about 164.7 million people — receive their health insurance through their employer, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis. That means losing a job can feel like a one-two punch: the loss of both income and…
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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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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 CD early withdrawal penalties typically cost 60 to 365 days of interest, with longer terms carrying steeper penalties. Breaking a CD early may be worth it if you need funds to avoid high-interest debt, make a major down payment, or lock in significantly higher rates. CD early withdrawal…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate A construction loan is a short-term, high-interest loan used to finance building a home. Funds are paid out in phases over the course of construction and typically cover land, materials, contractor labor and permits. They tend to have stricter qualification requirements than…
Key takeaways Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card…
The Federal Reserve isn’t expected to make any rate cuts at its January meeting, but its first gathering of the year still has a lot at stake for American households grappling with expensive borrowing costs, affordability challenges and a tough job market. The big question many Fed watchers are hoping…
Thomas Barwick / GettyImages Each month on Rent Day — the first of every month — Bilt delivers a new set of bonus opportunities for cardholders and members. Offers range from earning bonus points to exclusive experiences just for members. In celebration of February Rent Day, Bilt Rewards members can…
DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images Key takeaways Bridge loans are short-term loans that help cover costs during transitional periods, most often if you must buy a new home before selling your old one. Like a mortgage, your home may serve as collateral for a bridge loan. Some bridge loans allow you to pledge…
Key takeaways A bank statement loan allows you to qualify for a mortgage using bank statements rather than pay stubs or tax returns. It’s most often used by self-employed borrowers. Not all mortgage lenders offer bank statement loans. You might need to work with a mortgage broker to find one.…
Key takeaways Mobile banking apps now offer AI-powered financial insights, biometric security, real-time fraud detection and automated savings tools beyond basic account access. According to Chase, 86% of consumers prefer to use a single app to do their banking. When selecting an app, prioritize security features, user experience and financial…
Hispanolistic/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Offered by many financial institutions, online bill pay is typically a free, secure service that enables consumers to make various types of payments electronically. Payments made via online bill pay can be made using a website or an app. Keep track of your…
Michigan car insurance laws state clearly that drivers in the Great Lake State must have a certain amount of car insurance to drive legally on public roads. Failure to do so can lead to fines and other penalties—and higher coverage rates down the line. Michigan is a no-fault state, which…
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