Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate Slight gains for home equity rates in the latest week. The $30,000 home equity line of credit rose one basis point to 7.32%, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the five-year $30,000 home equity loan gained two basis points to 7.92%. Even with…
Key takeaways There’s no universal “right amount” for a savings account, but most people need three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund plus cash for any short-term goals — and not much more than that. Money sitting in a traditional savings account earning the national average of…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates fell this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.16%, down from 6.23% last week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week average 52-week low 30-year 6.16%…
Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage can help you lower your rate, access your home’s equity or move to a fixed-rate loan. For most homeowners, the best time to refinance is when you qualify for a lower rate than you’re currently paying. If you want to refinance, calculate the break-even point…
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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…
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Federal income tax applies to most people who earn income in the U.S., but the tax code includes limited exceptions. Whether someone is exempt from federal income tax depends on factors such as income level, filing status, age, disability status, religious affiliation and the type…
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By Julie Jaggernath If you’ve been spending your time shoveling snow recently, try using it as a chance to think about what money…
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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 Nine states in the U.S. have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. (Washington does levy a tax on long-term capital gains.) Moving to a state with no income tax may seem like a smart money move, but other factors…
Key takeaways Only 46% of U.S. adults have enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses, making saving money more crucial than ever. Automatic transfers to a high-yield savings account earning around 4% APY can help build emergency funds without extra effort. Cash-back apps and comparison shopping can save…
If the IRS notifies you of an audit, and you expected a tax return, you probably have a lot of questions. Will you ever get your tax refund? Does the audit automatically stop it? The answer depends on the IRS’s review and whether the items under audit affect the refund…
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…
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…
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…
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