Discover Bank Online Savings Account Review

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Sun Feb 25 09:00:18 PST 2018

Discover Bank is an online only bank that offers excellent rates for savers with low fees. In this review, we cover its products, rates and fees. Interested in opening a savings account at Discover® Bank? Read this article first. Most every consumer knows the Discover brand, but for it’s extensive line of credit card products. […]

The post Discover Bank Online Savings Account Review appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Quicken 2018 Review

by Jim Wang @ Wallet Hacks

Fri Mar 09 04:00:58 PST 2018

Quicken is one of the oldest personal finance software packages. Quicken's origins go all the way back into the 1980s, when Scott Cook and Tom Proulx founded Intuit in Palo Alto, CA. As Intuit's history tells it, they realized that personal computers would change the way people did personal accounting. Quicken was programmed in Microsoft […]

The post Quicken 2018 Review appeared first on Wallet Hacks.

Free Business Checking Accounts: April 2018

by Howard Young @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 14:25:39 PDT 2018

We get the frustration and countless hours you spent on trying to find the best business checking accounts on the market. It can be quite a hassle and often the best rates aren’t easy to find. To relieve the stress, here is a list of the best free checking accounts for 2018. Features are often... Keep Reading↠

The post Free Business Checking Accounts: April 2018 appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

Loan Forgiveness for Doctors

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim P) @ CreditDonkey

Tue Mar 20 00:00:00 PDT 2018

These programs can help wipe away medical school debt. Read this repayment guide for doctors.

Forgiveness and Repayment Options for Doctors

Did you know that federal and state government branches provide financial assistance to doctors working in specific areas? You can use this money to help you pay off your student loans. First, you have to meet specific requirements.

Unfortunately, you don't leave medical school with just a degree to practice medicine. If you are like the average medical school student, you leave with $192,000 in medical school debt. In addition, many med school students still have their average $37,000 in undergrad debt to pay.

That could mean an average of $229,000 in debt before you even start working. Unfortunately, a doctor's salary doesn't start as high as you think.

First, there are residency requirements. The average doctor makes $53,580 - $57,500 per year during a 3-year residency. Specialty doctors make slightly more, with an average of $70,390. That's still not enough to cover such large amounts of debt.

The interest on your student loans alone could amount to more than what you make per year. Before you let yourself get buried in debt, learn the various forgiveness and repayment options available to you.

The Problem with Forbearance

Before we look at the forgiveness options, it's important to talk about forbearance, as it always seems like the "easy choice."

While it's nice to not have to make any payments while you work your way through residency, it can hurt in the end.

Sure, you can stop making your payments, but the interest doesn't stop accruing. On $192,000 in loans at 6.8% interest, you'd rack up $39,000 in accrued interest. This makes your new loan amount $231,000 just by putting the loans in forbearance.

You are better off paying your debts as best you can, even if you only pay the interest. Better yet, though, you can utilize one of the many repayment and forgiveness options at your disposal.

Choosing Loan Forgiveness

Before you enter into a loan forgiveness or repayment plan, though, keep in mind that you may have to work in a specific area or at a specific practice for a specified period. If you don't meet the program's requirements, you lose your chance for loan forgiveness or repayment assistance.

The largest downfall of loan forgiveness is the areas you may have to work. Usually it's for a nonprofit hospital or an area with a high need for doctors. However, the tradeoff can make it well worth it in the end.

Loan Forgiveness Options

Below are the most common loan forgiveness options for doctors. We offer the highlights of each program as well as a link to help you learn more about the program.

National Health Service Corps

A two-year commitment to a National Health Service Corps high-need site could yield you $50,000 towards your medical school debt. You can work in a variety of settings, including:

• Primary care medical
  
• Dental
  
• Behavioral health professional

The longer you serve at the site, the more money you receive toward your medical school loans. Priority is given to providers who work on sites with a Health Professional Shortage Area rating of 26-14, with 26 being the highest rating for areas in dire need.

After your two-year commitment, you can apply to continue your service in exchange for further loan forgiveness.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program isn't just for doctors, but they can definitely benefit from the program. This federal program helps to encourage employment in public service jobs. In order to qualify, you must:

• Have Direct Student Loans with a balance
  
• Make 120 payments on a qualified repayment plan
  
• Work full-time in a public service sector (government or not-for-profit site)

At the end of 10 years, the balance of your remaining Direct Loans may be forgiven if you meet all of the PLSF requirements.

Military Forgiveness Options

Army:
Army physicians have several options for loan payment assistance, including:

• Financial Assistance Program: The Army provides certain physicians working to complete their residency with grants of more than $45,000 per year. In addition, they provide a $2,000 monthly stipend.

• Active Duty Health Professions Loan Repayment Program: As an army physician, you may receive up to $40,000 per year for your 3-year residency.

• Healthcare Professionals Loan Repayment Program: You may be eligible to receive up to $250,000 for loan repayment if you work in specific specialties in the Army Reserve, AMEDD Professional Management, or Individual Mobilization Program. If you qualify, you may receive up to $40,000 per year towards your medical school loans. You can receive up to a total of $250,000 for your lifetime.

Navy:
Navy physicians are privy to similar benefits as Army physicians, including:

• Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program: Extending your active duty as medical personnel may make you eligible to receive up to $40,000 per year to put towards your medical student loans. The Navy pays your institution directly, helping to lower your loan balance and interest owed.

• Financial Assistance Program: You may be eligible to receive grants up to $45,000 per year towards your medical school debts plus a monthly stipend of $2,276 while you are in residency training.

Air Force:
The Air Force has one program that is very similar to the Financial Assistance Program provided by the Navy. It provides financial assistance during your residency with a maximum of $45,000 for each year you are in residency. They also provide a stipend of $2,000 each month to help you pay your living expenses. Once you complete your residency, you'll have a service obligation of one year for every year you participated in FAP.

Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program

The Indian Health Service encourages medical professionals to serve in the Indian and Alaska Native communities with high need for health professionals in certain fields by providing financial assistance for their student loans. Professionals must commit to 2 years of service in exchange for up to $40,000 in loan repayment.

You may be able to extend your service on a yearly basis until you no longer have outstanding qualified student debts.

State Programs for Loan Forgiveness and Debt Repayment

In addition to the federal programs above, many states throughout the US have programs for their residents. Many of the programs are through the National Health Service Corps, but on a state level. These programs encourage the employment of medical professionals in high-need areas.

However, several states have independent loan repayment assistance plans. Again, these programs often encourage employment in specific areas of high need in exchange for assistance with loan repayment.

Below are the state programs available today:

• Alabama
  The Board of Medical Scholarship Awards in Alabama awards student loans to medical students in exchange for a contractual agreement to work in a rural, medically underserved area. Priority is given to residents with an economic need. The length of time you must work in the area depends on the population of the area in which the recipient received the award.

• Alaska
  Doctors throughout the state of Alaska can receive loan repayment benefits in the SHARP-3 program. No specific areas considered "high need"; the whole state is included. Doctors in "regular fill" positions may receive up to $35,000 in loan forgiveness per year. Doctors in "hard to fill" positions may receive up to $47,000 per year.

• Arizona
  The Arizona State Loan Repayment Program offers loan repayment for the residents of Arizona. The Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment funds to doctors working in a shortage area. Doctors must agree to a 2-year term working full-time in order to receive up to $65,000 in loan repayment funds. The actual amount received depends on the HPSA score - the higher the need, the more money you receive. Doctors can extend their contract until their loans are paid in full, assuming the funds are available.

• California
  The California State Loan Repayment Program provides California residents with up to $50,000 for education loans. In exchange for the award, recipients must give a 2-year commitment to work at a State Loan Repayment Program Site. Applicants can commit to a 2-year, full-time obligation or a 4-year, part-time obligation to cover their educational loan debt.

  The Steven M Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program offers loan repayment assistance to allopathic and osteopathic doctors and surgeons. You must work in one of these fields in a Health Professional Shortage Area, but not be under any other contractual obligations for loan forgiveness. Committing to full-time work for three years may provide you with up to $105,000 in loan repayment in exchange for your service.

• Colorado
  The Colorado Health Services Loan Repayment Program offers loan repayment options for qualified student loans in exchange for practicing in a Health Professional Shortage Area. You must work at either a public or nonprofit practice that accepts public aid and/or offers discounted services for low-income patients. If you work full-time for three years, you may receive up to $90,000 in loan repayment. Part-time physicians may earn up to $45,000 in loan repayment.

• Delaware
  The Delaware State Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment for primary care doctors, mental health professionals, and dentists working in an HPSA. Your level of service and specialty determine how much money you may receive in exchange for a 2-year service commitment. Advanced level doctors may receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment and mid-level may receive up to $70,000 in loan repayment. However, typically, the amounts are capped at $70,000 and $50,000, respectively.

• Georgia
  The Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAA)offers qualified physicians and dentists up to $25,000 per service year in exchange for their work in an HPSA. Initially, you can work in the HPSA in exchange for loan repayment funds for 2 years. You may apply for further benefits and service for a maximum of 4 years total.

• Hawaii
  The Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program provides qualified physicians working in high-need areas with loan repayment funds. You must commit to working full-time for 2 years or half-time for 4 years in order to qualify. Hawaii has numerous sites that qualify for the funding, even those with an HPSA score of 0.

• Illinois
  Doctors licensed to work in Illinois who agree to work in an underserved area may receive up to $25,000 per year with the Illinois National Health Services Corps State Loan Repayment Program. In exchange for the payment, doctors must agree to a 2-year service commitment. However, if you owe less than $50,000 on your medical student loans, you may only receive up to $12,500 per year. Doctors may work half-time to fulfill the obligation; however, they must agree to extend their term to 4 years in order to receive the maximum $50,000 benefit.

• Iowa
  The Primary Care Recruitment and Retention Endeavor (PRIMECARRE) offers a 2-year grant for loan repayment in exchange for work in an HPSA. The program is open to doctors, dentists, and mental health professionals. Full-time doctors, dentists, and health care professionals may receive between $30,000 and $50,000 for the entire two-year commitment. Part-time applicants may receive between $15,000 and $25,000.

• Kansas
  The Kansas State Loan Repayment Program requires a 2-year commitment in an HPSA in exchange for up to $50,000 in loan repayment funds. Certain professionals may be able to extend their service for up to a total of 5 years for an additional $45,000 total in loan repayment funds. The amount received goes down by year. For example, in Year 3, medical professionals may receive up to an additional $20,000, but in Year 4, they can receive up to $15,000 and Year 5 $10,000.

  The Kansas Bridging Plan provides loan forgiveness of up to $26,000 for those enrolled in residency programs in a rural Kansas community. Applicants must work in the chosen community for 36 consecutive months in order to obtain the loan forgiveness.

• Kentucky
  The Kentucky State Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment funds to those agreeing to a 2-year service agreement in an HPSA. Doctors typically receive up to $80,000 for their service. However, the KSLRP requires a 50/50 match from a sponsor. The sponsor can be the employer, other state programs, relatives, or yourself. Every dollar the KSLRP provides must be matched dollar-for-dollar.

• Louisiana
  The Louisiana State Loan Repayment Program provides doctors with up to $30,000 per year for a 3-year commitment in a high-need area. If you still have educational loans with an outstanding balance at the end of 3 years, you may apply for an extension for up to 2 years and an additional $24,000.

• Maryland
  The Maryland State Loan Repayment Program provides doctors with up to $50,000 per year in loan repayment funds for commitment to a 2-year service in a high-need area. Doctors must work a minimum of 40 hours per week with at least 32 of those hours in direct patient care. The practice must accept federal aid as well as operate on a sliding scale for lower income patients. Applicants may reapply for benefits after the 2-year period for an additional 2-year period, for a total of $200,000.

• Massachusetts
  Primary care doctors in Massachusetts may receive up to $50,000 per year in loan repayment under the Massachusetts Loan Repayment Program. Eligible doctors must commit to 2-years of service in a high-need area. The amount of compensation you will receive depends on the level of need and type of work provided.

• Michigan
  The Michigan State Loan Repayment Program provides up to $200,000 in loan repayment funds for eligible physicians. This is over a period of 8 years, which work in 2-year increments. After the initial 2 years, you must reapply for an extension if you still have outstanding educational loans. You must work 40 hours a week for at least 45 weeks per year in a high-need area in order to qualify.

• Minnesota
  The Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program provides eligible physicians and licensed health professionals with up to $20,000 per year in loan forgiveness in exchange for 2 years of service in an HPSA. Physicians that work part-time are eligible to receive up to $10,000 per year for loan repayment.

  The Minnesota Urban Physician Loan Forgiveness Program provides up to $100,000 for 4 years of service ($25,000 per year) for physicians in under-served areas. This highly selective program chooses participants based on qualifying factors, including the type of training and experience the applicant possesses.

• Missouri
  The Missouri Health Professional State Loan Repayment Program provides applicants with up to $50,000 in loan repayment in exchange for 2 years of service in a high-need area. They accept applications throughout the year, but don't make their selection until April of each year.

• Montana
  The Montana Rural Physician Incentive Program offers full-time physicians up to $100,000 in loan repayment for up to 5 years of service in a high-need area. Eligible doctors must have full hospital privileges in the area they work and reapply for the program every year that they still have outstanding loans.

• Nebraska
  The Nebraska Loan Repayment Program provides eligible doctors practicing in rural, high-need areas of Nebraska with up to $30,000 per year in exchange for a 3-year service commitment. 50% of the funds come from the state, while the other 50% must come from an eligible sponsor willing to match the funds to reach the $30,000 annual total.

• Nevada
  The Nevada Health Service Corps provides loan repayment options for doctors willing to work in high-need or rural areas of Nevada. The typical contract requires 2 years of service in exchange for loan repayment assistance. The State of Nevada does not set specific repayment amounts. Instead, they base it on a case-by-case basis.

• New Jersey
  The Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program of New Jersey provides eligible doctors working in underserved areas with up to $120,000 in loan repayment funds over a period of 4 years. This program does not have any deadlines and applications are accepted year-round.

• New Mexico
  The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment funds in exchange for 2 years of service in a Health Care Professional Shortage Area in New Mexico. Eligible doctors are able to receive up to $25,000 per year to apply towards their outstanding student loans based on the availability of funds at the time of application.

• North Carolina
  The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation Community Practitioner Program provides primary care doctors working in high-need areas with help with educational loans. In exchange, they ask for a 5-year commitment in a high-need area. The amount of the repayment varies by year and the amount of debt you carry. However, the average maximum is around $70,000 in loan repayment funds.

• North Dakota
  Physicians willing to serve in high-need areas in North Dakota may receive up to $150,000 in loan repayment with a 5-year service agreement. The Health Care Professional Student Loan Repayment Program provides the funds alongside a commitment from the community to contribute a portion of the funds.

• Ohio
  The Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program helps increase the presence of primary care health professionals in underserved areas. In exchange for your service, you may be eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year for a 2-year service agreement working on a full-time basis. If you extend your service and have outstanding loans, you may be eligible to receive up to $35,000 per year for an additional 2 years of service.

• Oklahoma
  The Oklahoma Medical Loan Repayment Program provides eligible doctors with a maximum of $160,000 in loan repayment over a period of four years. If you are eligible, based on your service, you may receive up to $25,000 during the first year of service, $35,000 for the second year, $45,000 for the third year of service, and $55,000 for the fourth year. Your eligibility is determined at the end of each year to determine if you completed the service requirements.

• Oregon
  The Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment Program encourages health professionals to work in high-need areas. In exchange, doctors may receive a percentage of their outstanding loan balance forgiven. The amount you receive depends on the rating of the area you work (how high is their need for help) and the amount of debt outstanding. If you work in a very high-need area, you could receive up to 20% of your outstanding loan balance forgiven per year. If you serve in a moderate-need area, you may receive up to 15% of your balance per year, and serving in any other area may leave you with the ability to receive up to 10% of your balance forgiven per year.

• Pennsylvania
  Primary care physicians working full-time in a shortage area may receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment funds with the Pennsylvania Primary Health Care Loan Repayment Program. You must commit to a 2-year service agreement, but you can extend the contract if you still have outstanding loans. If you work half-time, you are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in loan repayment.

• Rhode Island
  The Rhode Island Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program provides you with funds to pay back your loans in exchange for your service in areas that lack primary care services. You must work in direct patient care for a minimum of 2 years to qualify. The amount you receive depends on your service and the availability of funds at the time.

• South Carolina
  The South Carolina Rural Physician Incentive Grant Program provides doctors with up to $25,000 per year of service for up to 4 years. Doctors must practice in areas with a population of less than 50,000 in order to qualify. Doctors working in rural areas with more than 50,000 people may earn up to $15,000 per year for loan repayment.

• South Dakota
  The South Dakota Recruitment Assistance Program provides loan repayment to eligible doctors serving in rural communities that commit to 3 years of service in the area. In order to qualify, you must sign a contract with the South Dakota Department of Health. In exchange, you could receive up to $208,754 (twice the cost of the resident tuition of a medical student at the University Of South Dakota School Of Medicine).

• Tennessee
  The Tennessee State Loan Repayment Program (TSLRP) provides primary care physicians with loan repayment in exchange for 2 years of service in an area of need. Physicians may receive up to $50,000 for the 2-year service. You may extend the contract to receive a maximum of $20,000 per year as long as you still have outstanding loans.

• Texas
  The Texas Physician Education Loan Repayment Program provides up to $160,000 in loan repayment funds in exchange for four years of service in a high-need area. The payment of funds is divvied up over the 4 years to ensure that you complete your service agreement before receiving the incentive.

• Utah
  The Utah Rural Physician Loan Repayment Program provides eligible doctors serving in high-need areas for 2 years with $15,000 per year in loan forgiveness. This amount must be matched by the employing hospital, giving doctors a total of $30,000 per year towards their student loans. If you still have outstanding loans at the end of 2 years, you can apply for an extension on a year-by-year basis.

• Vermont
  The Vermont Educational Loan Repayment Program for Health Care Professionals provides doctors working in shortage areas with up to $20,000 per year towards student loan payments. You must serve for a minimum of 2 years in order to be eligible. Usually, you must work at least 20 hours a week for at least 45 weeks out of the year.

• Virginia
  Primary care doctors and mental health professionals may be eligible to receive loan repayment funds with the Virginia State Loan Repayment Program. Doctors committing to work for at least 2 years in a high-need area may receive up to $100,000 for those two years of service. If debt still exists after the two years, you may apply to extend the contract.

• Washington
  The Washington Loan Repayment Program provides primary care physicians with up to $75,000 in loan repayment in exchange for a 3-year service agreement. Doctors must work at least 24 hours a week in order to qualify. They must also take no more than 40 days off per year to remain qualified for the program.

• West Virginia
  Primary care physicians with a 2-year service agreement may receive up to $40,000 to repay their student loans if they work in a high-need area. The West Virginia State Loan Repayment Program allows doctors with outstanding loans after the 2 years to extend their contract for an additional $25,000 per year for two years.

• Wisconsin
  The Wisconsin Health Professions Loan Assistance Program provides up to $50,000 in loan payment assistance to doctors working in an HPSA for at least 3 years. The Rural Physician Loan Assistance Program provides an additional $50,000 maximum financial assistance for student loans for those serving in rural areas of Wisconsin. The maximum amount of the award between the two programs is $100,000.

Bottom Line

Depending on where you live and your specialty of choice, you may have several loan forgiveness options at your disposal. Before you choose one or more options, consider your needs and professional goals. Consider the length of commitment you must make and how it affects your future plans.

Of course, loan forgiveness could mean eliminating a large amount of debt. This could allow you to reap the rewards of a successful career much sooner than you thought possible. Do your research and take your time finding out the fine print details to make sure the program is right for you.

Loan Forgiveness for Doctors appeared first on CreditDonkey

Capital One 360 Review: $100 To $1,000 In Bonuses & Promotions

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Mon Mar 26 22:00:45 PDT 2018

Find new Capital One 360 promotions, bonuses and offers here. Capital One 360 is the online suite of accounts (i.e. Savings, Checking, Business,etc.) available from Capital One bank. Online checking and savings accounts are becoming more and more popular now, due to the convenience and lack of many fees familiar with the local banks. By cutting […]

Barclays Online Savings Review

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Wed Mar 14 06:00:25 PDT 2018

Barclays online savings account offers one of the highest interest rates and lowest fees available today. In this review, we cover the details to help you determine if Barclays Bank is right for you. Barclays Bank is a relative newcomer to the U.S. online savings market. It’s been around as a bank, though, since 1690. […]

The post Barclays Online Savings Review appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

A Survey of the Best HSA Accounts Available Today

by Abby Hayes @ Consumerism Commentary

Thu Nov 16 09:28:00 PST 2017

A Health Spending Account is a great way to pay for healthcare or save for retirement. To help, we’ve surveyed the very best HSA accounts available today. It used to be that consumers didn’t have much choice when it came to HSAs. Many of these accounts were little more than dedicated-use high-interest savings accounts. Now […]

The post A Survey of the Best HSA Accounts Available Today appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Best Robo Advisors

by Kevin Mercadante @ Consumerism Commentary

Tue Jan 23 03:00:00 PST 2018

A robo advisor can make it easy to invest in an IRA or taxable account. But how do you choose? Here’s our 2018 list of the best robo advisors for your money. This is something of a controversial topic. There are any number of “best robo-advisors” lists, and they all look a little bit different. […]

The post Best Robo Advisors appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Store Credit Cards, Balance Transfers & More: Make the Smart Money Decision

by Liz Oliver @ LRRCU

Fri Oct 13 08:55:31 PDT 2017

Every day we’re faced with making decisions about our money. What feels like a smart money choice in the moment may have repercussions in the future. You might be tempted to save money on a purchase now only to have your credit score suffer.  You might choose to delay payments on a big ticket item […]

The post Store Credit Cards, Balance Transfers & More: Make the Smart Money Decision appeared first on LRRCU.

How to Find the Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans

by Abby Hayes @ Consumerism Commentary

Thu Jan 11 06:00:00 PST 2018

The cell phone company war bodes well for consumers, with cellular plans reaching all-time lows. Here are some of the cheapest cell phone plans we could find. Over the past few years, cell phone providers have declared an out-and-out war to win over consumers. This spells good things for the consumers, who can now take […]

The post How to Find the Most Affordable Cell Phone Plans appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Best Bank Deals, Bonuses, & Promotions In Michigan

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 16:06:24 PDT 2018

Editor’s Note: Not your state? No worries, you can click on the state(s) above to see the Best Bank Deals, Bonuses, & Promotions being offered in your state. New to bank bonuses? No worries! See our Beginners Guide To Bank Bonuses. As a state surrounded by the Five Great Lakes, Michigan is also surrounded by great bank deals!... Read More →

The post Best Bank Deals, Bonuses, & Promotions In Michigan appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

The Plum Card from American Express Review: Get A 1.5% Discount When You Pay Early + No Annual Fee First Year

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 15:23:22 PDT 2018

The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone. At a glance, The Plum Card® from American Express is great for those who need that extra time to pay off debt... Read More →

The post The Plum Card from American Express Review: Get A 1.5% Discount When You Pay Early + No Annual Fee First Year appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Top 2-Year CD Rates – April 2018

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 08:57:05 PDT 2018

Below is our guide to help you, our readers, find the best or top 2-Year CD rates. In summary, certificate of deposits, otherwise known as CDs, will offer you the best secure return on your money when you invest it with your bank or credit union of choice. The best route to take if you want to... Read More →

The post Top 2-Year CD Rates – April 2018 appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Which Credit Card Should Be Your First?

by Aliyyah Camp @ Consumerism Commentary

Mon Nov 13 04:50:10 PST 2017

Getting a credit card as a young adult is a big step. To help, we’ve researched the best first credit card options and how to make this important choice. Getting your first credit card is a significant financial milestone. Maybe you’re a college student jumping into personal finance for the first time. Or maybe you’ve […]

The post Which Credit Card Should Be Your First? appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Ally Invest Review

by Kevin Mercadante @ Consumerism Commentary

Mon Dec 18 04:00:00 PST 2017

Ally Invest offers is a low cost and very easy to use online broker. Formerly TradeKing, we cover all of its features and costs in this review. You’ve probably heard about Ally Bank. They’re perhaps the best-known online bank, offering some of the highest interest rates available on savings accounts and certificates of deposit. As […]

The post Ally Invest Review appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Banco Nacional De Mexico S.A. (Mexico) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Tue Mar 13 04:25:26 PDT 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Banco Nacional De Mexico S.A. (Mexico) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Banco Nacional De Mexico S.A. account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to […]

Instacart Review: Why I Love This Grocery Delivery Service

by Holly Johnson @ Club Thrifty

Mon Mar 19 04:00:29 PDT 2018

The post Instacart Review: Why I Love This Grocery Delivery Service appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Instacart is a grocery delivery service that saves you time by delivering food straight to your door. In this Instacart review, I'll cover the benefits, explain where it falls short, and help you decide whether Instacart is the right choice for you!

The post Instacart Review: Why I Love This Grocery Delivery Service appeared first on Club Thrifty.

5 Best Money Market Rates for 2018

by Michael Pruser @ Consumerism Commentary

Thu Mar 22 03:00:00 PDT 2018

The best money market rates today pay interest in the top 5% of all deposit accounts. These rates come from online banks. Here’s our list of the top 5. I’ve never been a big saver. And that’s especially when it comes to putting money into an online savings account or money market. During the adult […]

The post 5 Best Money Market Rates for 2018 appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

The Ultimate Guide to Saving on Summer Music Festival Tickets, Food and Travel

by Brittney Laryea @ MagnifyMoney

Fri Mar 23 12:46:42 PDT 2018

Spring marks a time for many music and arts fans to prepare for the summer festival season. As they should. Music festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Burning Man and Electric Zoo are famously possible among young people all over the world, but they are also infamous for being ridiculously expensive. Without proper planning, you could easily … Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Saving on Summer Music Festival Tickets, Food and Travel

The post The Ultimate Guide to Saving on Summer Music Festival Tickets, Food and Travel appeared first on MagnifyMoney.

10 Legitimate Ways to Watch Free Movies Online

by Abby Hayes @ Consumerism Commentary

Wed Nov 29 04:00:00 PST 2017

There are now more ways than ever to watch free movies online. Here are 10 of them, some of which offer recently released flicks. If you’re anything like me, your family time and date nights often involve watching movies. There’s nothing our five-year-old likes better than curling up on the couch with some popcorn to […]

The post 10 Legitimate Ways to Watch Free Movies Online appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Retail Strategy and Insights: Staying Ahead of the Curve—Daymon Extends National Coverage

by Michael Warnick @ Retail News Insider

Mon Oct 02 21:18:26 PDT 2017

It’s a challenging retail landscape out there—with pressure from all sides to control costs, protect margin and at the same time, innovate and differentiate. To weather the storm, large national brand consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) are cutting back on certain services they used to help retailers with, like in-store execution and reporting. Now the […]

Delores Taylor, co-star of ‘Billy Jack’ films, dies at 85

by Associated Press @ Ohio.com

Tue Mar 27 17:09:15 PDT 2018

LOS ANGELES: Delores Taylor, who co-starred with her husband, Tom Laughlin, in his productions of the Billy Jack series of films, has died in Southern California, her daughter said Monday. She was 85.

The post Delores Taylor, co-star of ‘Billy Jack’ films, dies at 85 appeared first on Ohio.com.

Safe Online Banking: For You & Your Money

by Kara Vincent @ LRRCU

Mon Mar 26 13:44:22 PDT 2018

From 24/7 account access to quick and easy bill paying, online banking offers members a convenient way to handle their finances. However, the rise of technology also brings an increase in potential hackers, scams, and fraud cases. Whether you’re looking to shield your small business or family’s finances, there are many strategies to stay vigilant […]

The post Safe Online Banking: For You & Your Money appeared first on LRRCU.

Wells Fargo Banking Promotions: $200 Checking Bonus

by Jim Wang @ Wallet Hacks

Wed Mar 14 04:00:49 PDT 2018

Banks need accounts. You need more cash. How about $200 to open a Wells Fargo Everyday Checking account and making it your main bank account? That's what Wells Fargo is willing to do if you're willing to open an account and set up a direct deposit of at least $500. After you've had three deposits […]

The post Wells Fargo Banking Promotions: $200 Checking Bonus appeared first on Wallet Hacks.

Mid Atlantic is pleased to welcome The Peoples Bank of Mississippi to the family

by Nicky Snyder @ Mid Atlantic Capital Group

Thu Mar 01 14:03:23 PST 2018

Mid Atlantic is pleased to welcome The Peoples Bank of […]

The post Mid Atlantic is pleased to welcome The Peoples Bank of Mississippi to the family appeared first on Mid Atlantic Capital Group.

Wells Fargo Platinum Card Review: 0% APR for 18 Months on Purchases and Balance Transfers + No Annual Fee

by Hilary Tran @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 12:06:24 PDT 2018

Wells Fargo offers its customers the best with their Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card. This card offers a 0% APR balance transfer and purchase rate for 18 months. In comparison to other credit cards, Wells Fargo has greatly increased this 0% APR period, adding to its merit as a credit card. If this sparks an interest, keep reading... Read More →

The post Wells Fargo Platinum Card Review: 0% APR for 18 Months on Purchases and Balance Transfers + No Annual Fee appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Best Free Checking Account – April 2018

by Liz Pham @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 14:07:05 PDT 2018

Look no further than below for Best Free Checking Accounts! You will find the best publicly available bank signup bonus, offers, deals, and promotions. You’ll find this exclusive free checking account promotions list to be the absolute best to earn thousands of dollars in free cash! Don’t forget to check our full list of Free Business... Keep Reading↠

The post Best Free Checking Account – April 2018 appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

Top 3-Year CD Rates – April 2018

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 16:07:09 PDT 2018

Below is our guide to help you, our readers, find the best or top 3-Year CD rates. In summary, certificate of deposits, otherwise known as CDs, will offer you the best secure return on your money when you invest it with your bank or credit union of choice. The best route to take if you want to... Read More →

The post Top 3-Year CD Rates – April 2018 appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

North Shore Bank Checking Account Bonus: $300 Promotion (Illinois, Wisconsin)

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 15:15:18 PDT 2018

If you would like to start your weekend out strong with a generous bonus, then pay attention now! North Shore Bank is offering residents of Illinois and Wisconsin a chance to earn a $300 bonus when you open a new Checking Account online using promo code March Special by March 31, 2018. To receive the generous bonus, simply open a new checking account. A... Keep Reading↠

The post North Shore Bank Checking Account Bonus: $300 Promotion (Illinois, Wisconsin) appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

Mid Atlantic welcomes its newest family member

by Nicky Snyder @ Mid Atlantic Capital Group

Tue Mar 06 06:35:16 PST 2018

1st Source Bank Retirement Plan Services is a full service […]

The post Mid Atlantic welcomes its newest family member appeared first on Mid Atlantic Capital Group.

Bank of America Platinum Visa Business Credit Card Review: $200 Bonus

by Hilary Tran @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 14:24:22 PDT 2018

Bank of America is currently offering their Bank of America Platinum Visa Business Credit Card for all eligible users. With this card, you can now earn a $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 or more in the first 60 days of account opening. Not only that, but you’ll also get 0% introductory APR and top rated benefits,... Keep Reading↠

The post Bank of America Platinum Visa Business Credit Card Review: $200 Bonus appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

Banco Bradesco SA (Brazil) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Thu Feb 15 03:14:47 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Banco Bradesco SA (Brazil) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Banco Bradesco SA account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Top 18-Month CD Rates – April 2018

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Mon Mar 26 13:59:00 PDT 2018

Below is our guide to help you, our readers, find the best or top 18-month CD rates. In summary, certificate of deposits, otherwise known as CDs, will offer you the best secure return on your money when you invest it with your bank or credit union of choice. The best route to take if you want to... Read More →

The post Top 18-Month CD Rates – April 2018 appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Chase Premier Plus Checking℠ Review: $300 Coupon Bonus

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Fri Mar 23 22:02:02 PDT 2018

Find the latest promotions and bonus offers for the Chase Premier Plus Checking℠ Account here. Coupon offers are refreshed throughout the year, so check back often for the best deals. All Chase Bank related offers are kept up-to-date on our Chase Bank Promotions page. Established in 1982 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Chase Bank is the second […]

TAB Bank CD Rates: 6-Month Term 1.82% APY, 9-Month Term 1.92% APY, 24-Month Term 2.33% APY CD Rate [Nationwide]

by Andy Truong @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 08:00:16 PDT 2018

Available nationwide, you can earn CD rates of 1.46% up to 2.53% APY when you open a new TAB Bank CD Account with a minimum $1,000 opening balance. Below is all the information and details you need to open your TAB Bank CD Account to earn CD rates of 1.46% up to 2.53% APY! Editor’s Note: If you’re interested... Read More →

The post TAB Bank CD Rates: 6-Month Term 1.82% APY, 9-Month Term 1.92% APY, 24-Month Term 2.33% APY CD Rate [Nationwide] appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Chase Freedom Credit Card $150 Bonus + 5% Quarterly Cash Back + No Annual Fee

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 15:43:28 PDT 2018

Compare this card with other cash back related cards here. With the Chase Freedom® Card, you can earn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases during your first 3 months of opening an account! Additionally, you can enjoy a 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate and... Read More →

The post Chase Freedom Credit Card $150 Bonus + 5% Quarterly Cash Back + No Annual Fee appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Bank of America Platinum Visa Business Credit Card $200 Bonus

by Hilary Tran @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 14:54:27 PDT 2018

Bank of America is offering the Bank of America Platinum Visa Business Credit Card. Starting now, you can earn a $200 bonus when you spend $500 within the first 60 days of opening your account. With this card you’ll also get features such as 0% introductory APR and top rated benefits, all for no annual fee. Keep on reading if... Read More →

The post Bank of America Platinum Visa Business Credit Card $200 Bonus appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card $200 Cash Rewards Bonus + Unlimited 1.5% Cash Rewards + No Annual Fee

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 10:53:39 PDT 2018

With the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card, you can earn you $200 cash rewards bonus if you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. If you want to find out more about this card offer, please continue to read below. 0% APR Balance Transfer Categories For this card, you are given a... Read More →

The post Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa Card $200 Cash Rewards Bonus + Unlimited 1.5% Cash Rewards + No Annual Fee appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

BBVA Bancomer, S.A. (Mexico) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Sat Mar 03 03:09:58 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your BBVA Bancomer, S.A. (Mexico) account from abroad. You can receive money into your BBVA Bancomer, S.A. account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD Rates: Earn 12-Month 2.10%, 24-Month 2.20%, 60-Month 2.80% APY CD Rates [Nationwide]

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 13:56:45 PDT 2018

Available nationwide, you can earn CD Rates from 0.60% up to 2.80% APY when you open up a new Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD Account! Below is all the information and details you need to open your Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD Account to earn 0.60% up to 2.80% APY! Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD... Read More →

The post Marcus by Goldman Sachs CD Rates: Earn 12-Month 2.10%, 24-Month 2.20%, 60-Month 2.80% APY CD Rates [Nationwide] appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

8 Ways to Get Free Amazon Gift Cards

by Stephanie Colestock @ Consumerism Commentary

Tue Nov 21 14:44:00 PST 2017

The one thing better than an Amazon gift card is a free Amazon gift card. Here are eight ways to score free Amazon gift cards. If you’re anything like me, you’re used to seeing “Amazon” on your bank statement. Those boxes with blue tape are a mainstay on my front porch, delivering everything from vitamins […]

The post 8 Ways to Get Free Amazon Gift Cards appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Capital One 360 Savings Account Review

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Mon Mar 26 07:00:54 PDT 2018

Capital One 360 is one of the oldest online banks. In this review, we look at the savings products it offers, the interest rates, and the fees. When Capital One purchased ING Direct to create Capital One 360, it made a splash in the online savings account market. Now, Capital One 360 offers a whole […]

The post Capital One 360 Savings Account Review appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

'Ready Player One' takes Spielberg back and to the future

by Jaap Buitendijk @ www.herald-dispatch.com - RSS Results

Tue Mar 27 18:41:45 PDT 2018

This cover image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows director Steven Spielberg, left, and Tye Sheridan on the set of "Ready Player One." (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

How Many Savings Accounts Do You Need?

by Abby Hayes @ Consumerism Commentary

Fri Nov 10 04:51:08 PST 2017

Back in the day, we had just one savings account. Mine came with a passbook. Now we ask–how many savings accounts do you need? We have the answer. These days, more banks are offering low- or no-fee savings accounts. This can make it tempting to open a lot of different accounts. And, in some cases, […]

The post How Many Savings Accounts Do You Need? appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Chase Total Checking Account $200 Coupon Available Online Now

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Mon Mar 26 22:00:29 PDT 2018

Get updated Chase Total Checking® coupon bonuses and new promotions here. Typical bonus amounts that have been available for this Checking account include $150, $200 and $300 offers. Originally established in 1982, Chase Bank is now headquartered in Newark, Delaware and is one of the nation’s largest banks as measured by total assets. Chase offers a […]

Are Online Banks Safe?

by Rob Berger @ Consumerism Commentary

Tue Mar 20 07:00:35 PDT 2018

Online banking is a reality for everybody. Even traditional banks with branches offer account access online. But are online banks safe? Here are several tips to help keep your money secure online. This article was first published several years ago. At that time, most individuals were still doing their banking transactions in person or over […]

The post Are Online Banks Safe? appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Focus Credit Union Referral Bonus: $50 Promotion (Oklahoma only)

by John Catral @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 14:00:27 PDT 2018

Are you interested in putting more money in your pockets? Focus Credit Union is offering residents of Oklahoma a $50 bonus for you and a friend or family member when you refer them for a Checking Account with direct deposit. To get started, be sure to fill out the online referral coupon. After your friend has met... Keep Reading↠

The post Focus Credit Union Referral Bonus: $50 Promotion (Oklahoma only) appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card 60,000 Bonus Points + 5,000 Bonus Points When Adding Your First Authorized User (Could This Card Be Discontinued?)

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Mon Mar 26 14:13:22 PDT 2018

Compare this card with other hotel related cards here. When you sign up for a IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card, you will earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. To top that offer, you can earn 5,000 bonus points when you add your first authorized user and make... Read More →

The post IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card 60,000 Bonus Points + 5,000 Bonus Points When Adding Your First Authorized User (Could This Card Be Discontinued?) appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

MemoryBank $100 Checking Account Bonus & 1.60% APY

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Tue Mar 27 09:27:10 PDT 2018

Find the latest bonuses and promotions from MemoryBank udpated here. Launched in 2016, MemoryBank is a newer online banking institution offering Checking accounts available nationwide. Operating online, you are going to have much better interest rates compared to traditional banks. MemoryBank customers will also have access to a network of over 85,000 ATMs. Similar to […]

HSBC Bank (Brazil) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Fri Feb 23 02:58:09 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your HSBC Bank (Brazil) account from abroad. You can receive money into your HSBC Bank account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details to the […]

Scotiabank (Mexico) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Tue Mar 20 03:59:33 PDT 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Scotiabank (Mexico) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Scotiabank Mexico account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details to the sender […]

The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2018

by Michael Pruser @ Consumerism Commentary

Tue Jan 30 05:00:49 PST 2018

Enjoy free travel with this list of the best travel rewards credit cards of 2018. I’ve personally used several of these credit cards for free flights and hotel stays. It’s time to plan your holiday travel. That may mean cashing in the travel rewards you’ve accumulated on credit cards–or it may mean starting to use […]

The post The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2018 appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Best Way to Finance a Used Car

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim P) @ CreditDonkey

Fri Mar 23 00:00:00 PDT 2018

If you aren't careful, financing a used car could end up costing you more than the total cost of a new car. Used car loans often have higher interest rates and shorter terms.

Lending money on used collateral poses a higher risk for lenders. The uncertainty of the car's value and unpredictable condition puts lenders at risk.

This doesn't mean you can't finance a used car or that it has to be expensive. Finding your own financing can solve this problem.

Many car buyers think they have to use dealer financing. You don't. In fact, you probably shouldn't unless you've shopped around for your own deal first.

Not shopping around for a used car loan could cost you. You run the risk of high-interest rates, high down payment requirements, and shorter terms.

Keep reading to learn how to find the right loan for you.

Know Your Credit Score

You must be an informed consumer when shopping for a car and car loan. Before you step foot on a car dealer's lot, pull your credit report. You are entitled to a copy of each of the three credit bureau's credit reports annually. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com for your copy of one or all three reports. These reports show your credit history.

Go over each report and look at the accuracy of what is reported. If there are any errors, report them right away. Write a letter to the agency reporting the error. Include proof of the error along with it. Even though the credit bureau must contact the company reporting the error, you should contact them as well. This will give you a better chance of getting the incorrect information fixed.

Any delinquent information on the credit report that is correct will remain. The best thing you can do is make sure everything is up-to-date. Don't apply for a used car loan with current late payments. Bring all accounts current first. Pay down any balances that you can as well. The less outstanding debt you have, the better your chances of approval.

Your free credit reports will not show a credit score, though. If you are concerned about your score because of delinquent accounts, you can secure free credit scores from Credit Karma. This will give you a good idea of your credit score's range. If your score is below 650, work on fixing your credit before finding a car loan.

Know What You Can Afford

Having a figure in mind will help you stay on track when shopping for a car loan. Lenders use general standards when qualifying you for a loan. They will tell you the maximum loan amount you can receive. Realistically, though, can you afford it? That's what you must determine.

Look over your budget. How much room do you have for a car payment? Keeping your monthly payment at 10% of monthly net income is a good rule to follow. If you make $4,000 per month, your car payment shouldn't exceed $400. This leaves room for other transportation costs, such as gas, maintenance, and insurance. Ideally, your transportation costs shouldn't exceed 20% of your monthly take-home pay.

Once you know how much you can afford, use a car affordability calculator. This can help you determine how much car you can purchase. The only information you need is:

• Monthly loan amount
  
• Amount of down payment
  
• Estimated value of a trade-in (if applicable)
  
• Estimated interest rate
  
• Desired term

After you arm yourself with this information, it's time to shop around.

Get Your Own Financing

Don't make the mistake of going straight to the dealer. It might seem convenient, but it may cost you a lot more than other options that may be available out there.

Start by shopping at local and online banks and credit unions. If you have a relationship with a bank already, contact them. They may have special deals for current customers, especially if you have a good history with them. You'll find a large range of rates and fees among lenders. Make sure you compare them closely to determine which one is right for you.

Don't assume the lower payment is the right option either. Look at the term. A shorter term means a slightly higher payment, but less interest. A longer term means a lower payment, but more interest. The longer you borrow the money, the longer you pay interest.

Choose the loan that fits your budget but doesn't cost excessive interest. Minimizing the loan term will usually give you the best option.

Once you choose a deal, get it in writing. When you go to the dealer, this will be a large part of your negotiation tools.

Negotiating a Deal

Once you have your financing, it's time to negotiate the price of the car. Keep in mind, the dealer will try to get you to take their financing. They'll even tell you they can offer you a better deal if you take their financing.

Car dealers make a lot of their profit off the financing deals. Car dealers receive bids from various banks for financing for their customers. It's similar to the process you would go through if you obtained your own bids from lenders. However, lenders allow the dealer to "mark-up" the rate. Today, the average mark-up is 2.5%. If a bank offers the dealer a 4% loan for your car purchase, the dealer may quote you 6.5%, pocketing the 2.5% difference.

When you walk in with your own financing, dealers have two options. They can take the cash deal or meet/beat the offer you already have. This gives you more negotiating power when buying the used car.

Don't lose your nerve when negotiating. Chances are, the sales manager will try to "sweeten the deal" by throwing in other incentives. He may even try throwing a lower interest rate at you. Don't take it at face value. Get the details in writing. Then compare the offer to what your bank provided. Make sure the term and fees are the same.

If the deal isn't the same, be ready to walk. Don't feel pressured to buy the car, no matter how much you want it. There are other cars out there and you aren't dependent on the dealer for financing.

Other Options

Taking out a used car loan isn't the only way to pay for a used car. Of course, cash is always accepted, but only 46% of used car buyers pay cash. If you don't want a car loan, consider these options:

• Home equity loan: If you have equity in your home and can access it, you may use it to buy a used car. Home equity loans usually offer lower interest rates than auto loans. You may also be able to write off a portion of the interest you pay on the loan on your taxes.

• Personal loan: If you have a good relationship with your bank, you may secure an attractive rate on a personal loan. Banks don't usually ask how you'll use the funds. Make sure you compare the rates and fees closely, though. Personal loans are usually unsecured, which could mean higher rates.

• Peer-to-Peer loans: If your credit isn't great and you don't like the offers you receive, try peer lending online. This is becoming more mainstream today as more investors pool their money for lending. The financing usually occurs quickly. The red tape is often minimal too, compared to a standard bank or credit union.

The Bottom Line

Buying a used car can save you thousands of dollars off the price of a new car. You don't take the depreciation hit new car buyers take. Losing 30% of your investment in one year is a big loss. Minimizing that loss by buying used can be a great choice. You just have to be choosy about your financing options.

Do your homework and make sure you are an attractive applicant. Maximize your credit score and increase your down payment for the best terms available today.

Best Way to Finance a Used Car appeared first on CreditDonkey

'Ready Player One' takes Spielberg back and to the future

by Jaap Buitendijk @ www.herald-dispatch.com - RSS Results

Tue Mar 27 18:41:45 PDT 2018

This cover image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Simon Pegg, from left, Mark Rylance and director Steven Spielberg on the set of "Ready Player One." (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Macatawa Bank Visa Bonus Rewards Card Review: 2,500 Bonus Rewards Points ($25 Cash Back)

by Hilary Tran @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 13:27:02 PDT 2018

Sign up today for the Macatawa Bank Visa Bonus Rewards Card to earn 2,500 bonus points, redeemable for $25 cash back, after your first purchase on your new card. With this card you get introductory 0.00% APR for the first 6 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers with no annual fee. You also get a 25%... Keep Reading↠

The post Macatawa Bank Visa Bonus Rewards Card Review: 2,500 Bonus Rewards Points ($25 Cash Back) appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

The Best Current and Historical Bank Interest Rates — March 2018

by Rob Berger @ Consumerism Commentary

Thu Mar 01 04:00:28 PST 2018

We’ve tracked bank rates since 2008. The latest list shows the best bank interest rates available nationwide as of March 2018 (with daily updates). Since many banks are constantly updating their interest rates offered on savings, money market and checking accounts, this chart should come in handy. On the 1st of every month, this page […]

The post The Best Current and Historical Bank Interest Rates — March 2018 appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Travel Credit

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Dylan Y) @ CreditDonkey

Sun Mar 18 00:00:00 PDT 2018

The $300 annual travel credit is one of the best Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits. Learn what purchases count as travel, how to redeem the credit, and when it resets.

Chase Sapphire Reserve has established itself among the top-tier travel credit cards, with a 50,000 point bonus, long list of travel perks and benefits, and selection of airline and hotel transfer partners. The card's many perks and benefits can help to balance out its $450 annual fee, with $300 in annual travel credits doing most of the heavy lifting.

For frequent travelers who are likely to use their travel credits in full each year, this perk can effectively offset the annual fee.

Cardholders can also sign up for the Reserve's other cost-saving perks - such as Priority Pass membership and credit towards the TSA Pre or Global Entry application fee - to get the most of the $450 annual fee.

So how do you know if you'll be able to take advantage of those $300 annual travel credits, and how do you redeem them? Read on for details.

What purchases are eligible for travel credits?

Luckily, when compared to other credit cards that issue travel credits, Chase is liberal in what it considers to be a travel purchase.

The AMEX Platinum Card (from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner) offers up to $200 annually in statement credits against incidentals with one selected airline - and the user must designate their airline in advance.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your $300 in travel credits can be redeemed against the cost of your tickets, fees, and upgrades with any airline (although in-flight purchases are not covered), whether they're charged by you or by an authorized user.

Outside of flying, the Reserve's travel credits cover a wide range of transportation and hospitality options:

Merchants in the travel category include airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.

(Source: Chase Rewards Category FAQ's)

Not only are expenses in the travel category eligible for travel credit redemption; they'll earn you 3x points when you charge them to your Sapphire Reserve card. And with your rewards points on the Reserve worth 1.5 cents each when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, that value can add up quickly.

Will I still earn points on travel purchases?

Yes. When you receive statement credits against a travel purchase on your Reserve card, you'll still accumulate 3x points for that spending. This includes purchases made to meet the spending minimum for the Reserve's 50,000-point sign-up bonus.

How do I redeem travel credits?

Travel credits are issued at the beginning of each cardmember year for applications submitted on or after May 21, 2017. Once Chase issues them, your travel credits will automatically be applied to your account as you charge eligible purchases - so you won't need to call in or file a request to redeem credits.

This makes travel credit redemption remarkably easy with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it also makes it easy to lose track of how many travel credits you've used.

If you're planning to use your credits for a flight or other large travel expense, remember that smaller charges - like parking garages, highway tolls, and taxis - can chip away at your store of travel credits in the meantime.

What about authorized users?

All travel purchases made by you and by your account's authorized users are eligible. Keep in mind that authorized users won't get their own $300 in travel credit - you'll be drawing from the same pool of travel credit.

Adding an authorized user to your Sapphire Reserve account costs $75 per year per authorized user.

Bottom Line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve $300 Travel Credit is a great benefit.

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Travel Credit appeared first on CreditDonkey

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: This content was first published on March 18, 2018. Information including APR, terms and benefits may vary, be out of date, or not applicable to you. Information is provided without warranty. Please check Chase website for updated information.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Best Bank Account Promotions And Bonuses March 2018

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Mon Mar 26 22:01:13 PDT 2018

Find the best bank promotions, bonuses, offers and deals for 2018 here. Account bonuses are categorized into Personal, Savings and Business accounts and split into pages, so be sure to look through all the pages to view all the best current offers. Listed below are the best promotions from the biggest banks in the nation, such as Wells […]

Is the 3,000 AS bonus miles for Rocketmiles long-term?

by hightide @ FlyerTalk Forums

Tue Mar 27 19:12:24 PDT 2018

I found this: https://www.rocketmiles.com/mileage-plan-bonus?utm_campaign=alaska-direct-q12018-mileage-plan-bonus&utm_medium=partner-direct&utm_source=alaska It states that March 31, 2018 is the deadline to take advantage of the bonus. I'm...

CIT Bank Review and Bonuses

by Stephanie Colestock @ Consumerism Commentary

Mon Nov 06 04:00:58 PST 2017

CIT Bank bonus offers can be very rewarding. We track these bonuses and CIT rates, which currently are the best you’ll find for an online savings account. Everybody needs a safe place to tuck away their emergency fund or vacation savings. A high yield savings account is a great option. Considering that the average savings […]

The post CIT Bank Review and Bonuses appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

First South Financial Referral Bonus: $25 Promotion (Tennessee only)

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 15:30:43 PDT 2018

If you are a resident of Tennessee, listen up! First South Financial is offering qualified customers a $25 bonus whenever they refer a friend or family member to open a new account by March 31, 2018! There are very few requirements to be eligible for the referral bonus. After the requirements has been met, you will get... Keep Reading↠

The post First South Financial Referral Bonus: $25 Promotion (Tennessee only) appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

7 of the Best Places to Open an IRA in 2018

by Kevin Mercadante @ Consumerism Commentary

Tue Jan 16 03:00:00 PST 2018

Opening an IRA is an important decision. To help, here is our survey of the best IRA accounts for 2018, including fees and features of each option. Just about every bank, investment brokerage, and robo-advisor welcomes Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). But there are a handful of institutions that stand out above the rest. Below are […]

The post 7 of the Best Places to Open an IRA in 2018 appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

The Latest: White House says China informed US of Kim's trip

by @ www.herald-dispatch.com - RSS Results

Tue Mar 27 18:43:30 PDT 2018

BEIJING (AP) — The Latest on a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to China (all times local):

The Correct Way to Pay Off Personal Debt: The Debt Avalanche

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Fri Dec 01 05:00:46 PST 2017

The debt avalanche is the fastest and cheapest way to pay off you debts. But is it always the best way? Sometimes the debt snowball may be better. When it comes to math, things are pretty straightforward. No matter what language you speak, one and one always equals two. And, in theory, finances should work […]

The post The Correct Way to Pay Off Personal Debt: The Debt Avalanche appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Scient Federal Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus [CT]

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 13:41:29 PDT 2018

Scient Federal Credit Union is offering Massachusetts residents the opportunity to earn a $150 checking bonus with a new checking account and meeting certain requirements. Below is all the information and details you need to earn your Scient Federal Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus! Membership: If you are an employee or retiree of one of their select employer groups (SEG), you can enjoy... Read More →

The post Scient Federal Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus [CT] appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Foreign Transaction Fee

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Dylan Y) @ CreditDonkey

Sat Mar 17 00:00:00 PDT 2018

Chase Freedom Unlimited may not be a good travel partner. Here's what you need to know about its foreign transaction fees.

If you use the Chase Freedom Unlimited, it's probably your go-to card for everyday spending. But will this card still be as useful while you're abroad?

In this article, we'll break down how the Chase Freedom Unlimited foreign transaction fee works. We'll also offer some alternatives for what you can do to avoid this fee while abroad.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Overview

Although the Freedom Unlimited isn't one of Chase's dedicated travel rewards cards, it does come with some nice rewards. Here's how it works:

Chase Freedom Unlimited can be a great card for your regular everyday spending. But you probably won't want to make it your go-to for spending abroad. If you do, this card's foreign transaction fee might make a sizeable dent in your vacation savings.

What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee?

Foreign transaction fees (FTFs) are, in a sense, exactly what they sound like. If your card comes with this fee, you'll have to pay extra to the bank for every transaction you make with outside of the United States.

That means that your meals, hotels, transportations, and shopping abroad can all come with an extra fee. In fact, you don't even have to be abroad to accrue foreign transaction fees. Even making online purchases with non-U.S. based retailers - like some foreign airlines - can come with a FTF.

Banks will typically charge as much as 3%. That's small enough that it might not deter you from making a few minor purchases, but high enough that it can quickly become frustrating. For example, between hotels, bus rides, tours, and eating out, most of us could easily charge $1,000 during a trip. That could rack up an additional $30 in fees.

FTFs show up as separate charges on your credit card statement. So when you get home, it'll be easy (and depressing) to calculate exactly how much you wasted on fees.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Foreign Transaction Fee

While it might be the perfect everyday card, the Freedom Unlimited does come with a foreign transaction fee: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. That might not exactly break the bank. Still, no one wants to spend their vacation savings on bank fees.

In short, this everyday spending card might need to take a week (or two) off during your next international trip.

Not to worry - there are plenty of international travel-friendly credit cards out there. If you carry multiple credit cards, it could be worth taking a few minutes to see if you have any cards with no foreign transaction fee.

Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees with These Cards

If you're looking for a cashback card you can take abroad, there are some other comparable cards with no FTF. These cards have no annual fees either:

Other Chase Cards with No FTF

Or you can look into applying for a new Chase card. The bank offers several cards that earn travel rewards and have no foreign transaction fee. Here's how they stack up:

1. Chase Sapphire Preferred: The Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular midrange travel reward cards out there, and for good reason. It offers a huge sign-up bonus, and you can earn extra points on travel and dining purchases.

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve: The Sapphire Reserve is the luxury equivalent of the Sapphire Preferred. This card is geared toward frequent and/or luxury travelers, with a high annual fee and a long, long list of top-tier travel perks and benefits.

3. Chase Ink Business Preferred: If you're looking for a business credit card, the Ink Preferred is for you. It earns extra points on travel - among (many) other spending categories - and offers a valuable sign-up bonus.

Bottom Line

The Chase Freedom Unlimited can be a handy card for earning rewards on your regular spending. But in the travel arena, it doesn't shine. There are a couple of other options for cashback cards with no foreign transaction fee. Chase also offers some travel rewards cards that not only have no FTFs, but make great companions for the Freedom Unlimited.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Foreign Transaction Fee appeared first on CreditDonkey

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: This content was first published on March 17, 2018. Information including APR, terms and benefits may vary, be out of date, or not applicable to you. Information is provided without warranty. Please check Chase website for updated information.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: The information for the Discover it® - Cashback Match™ and Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

QuickBooks Online Review

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim P) @ CreditDonkey

Wed Mar 21 00:00:00 PDT 2018

QuickBooks Online offers small business owners a cloud-based accounting program that provides many features, including business payments, income, and reporting.

QuickBooks Online operates solely online, but offers more than just basic accounting. It's meant to help small business owners simplify the back-end of running a business.

A few of the features you'll find with QuickBooks Online include:

• Invoicing
  
• Creating and evaluating financial reports
  
• Expense tracking
  
• Profit & loss statements
  
• Client portal for clients to see their invoices, pay them, or address concerns
  
• Bank reconciliation
  
• Inventory

Getting started with QuickBooks Online is as easy as entering a little information about your company and watching a few tutorials. Don't let these simple steps fool you, though. In order to get the most out of the program, plan to invest many hours setting your preferences and learning how various features work.

With one dashboard for everyone to work on, it helps to eliminate confusion and, most importantly, mistakes throughout the company. Rather than worrying about logging out and letting another employee do their job, you can all work on it together. The risk of miscommunication may be decreased with the cloud-based program.

Who Is QuickBooks Online Best For?

Hands down, QuickBooks Online is reserved for small businesses and freelancers. If you operate with very few employees, yet have complex transactions, this system may work well for you.

QuickBooks advertises this program for mid- and large-sized businesses too. It does offer the complex accounting features companies of this size may need. However, companies with many employees may want to look elsewhere, as the costs for payroll can add up rather quickly.

Reasons Why We Like It

• Easy to use interface and navigation: The color-coded interface makes it easy to find what you need quickly. You can view everything on one page or get more detailed information by clicking on each topic and creating filters.

• Easy invoice customization: Creating a brand for your company is important, which is why we like the customization features in QuickBooks Online. You can import your company logo and information to create one-of-a-kind invoices for your business. You can also customize the look of the email the system sends out when it's time to send invoices. It also gives the option to use pre-made templates if you prefer.

• Unlimited invoices via email: Sending invoices online may save you time and even money on postage. It also helps keep everything in one place and may help you get paid faster.

• Mobile accessibility: You can access your dashboard on your phone, making it possible to manage your accounting from just about anywhere.

• Online banking: You can link bank accounts and credit cards to your QuickBooks Online account. This eliminates the need for manual entry of every transaction as the system automatically downloads each transaction. QuickBooks currently integrates with more than 18,000 banks.

• Works well with third-party apps: If there's a function you need that QuickBooks Online doesn't offer, they offer many third-party apps that may offer the services you need. The benefit in working with partnered apps is the integration they provide for your accounting system.

• Customize your dashboard: If you have the time, you can customize your preferences so that the dashboard only shows the information you need. You'll have to activate each feature that you need, which is best to do at the onset of setting up your account with QuickBooks Online.

• No software to install: We love the cloud-based systems because you get the automatic backup and the ability to export to programs like Excel. But you also gain the ability to work on the system from just about anywhere, while also sharing the details with as many as five other authorized users.

Reasons You May Want to Look Elsewhere

• Doesn't include payroll: If you want to include payroll in your accounting system, you may want to consider a full-service program. QuickBooks Online does offer payroll, but at an additional monthly cost plus a surcharge per employee.

• It's not for beginners: Beginners might feel overwhelmed at QuickBooks Online's user interface. There is a definite learning curve that requires time and patience. You'll see accounting-specific jargon that can make you feel lost if you are not familiar with it. If you have the time to go through the numerous video tutorials, though, you may be able to jump on board quickly.

• No project management features: If you want project management software, you'll have to choose among the third-party apps that integrate with QuickBooks Online.

• You need internet: If your internet connection is down, you won't have access to QuickBooks Online. You'll either have to wait for the internet to come back or go to a public place using Wi-Fi. However, that comes with its own security issues.

Pricing

QuickBooks Online differs from the standard PC version where you pay for the program once and it's good for a few years. With this version, you pay a monthly subscription. It's like a pay-as-you-go program. However, you can add additional features onto the basic services, such as payroll, tax filing, and credit card acceptance.

QuickBooks Online offers three different programs:

Simple Start
Price: $15 per month (but they often run promotions for introductory periods)

This plan works well for freelancers and those running rather small businesses online or in-person. At a glance features:

• Import income transactions right from your payment processors, such as Square, PayPal and your bank
  
• Import expense transactions right from your bank and credit cards, as well as photos of your receipts
  
• Create, send, and track invoices
  
• Create and send estimates
  
• Track sales and connect with your favorite POS
  
• 20+ built-in reports
  
• Integration with your bank accounts and third-party apps

Essentials
Price: $35 per month (but they often run promotions for introductory periods)

Small businesses that want a few more capabilities may prefer this program, which offers all of the above plus:

• Pay and keep track of bills as well as set up recurring payments
  
• Create checks from any device and save to print later
  
• Add multiple employees with specific permissions
  
• Set up auto syncing so everyone is on the same page
  
• Track employee time or billable hours with clients
  
• 40+ built-in reports

Plus
Price: $50 per month (but they often run promotions for introductory periods)

Businesses with contractors or freelancers working for them utilize the services in the Plus plan, which includes all of the above plus:

• Inventory tracking, including alerts when stock is low
  
• Keep track of 1099 contractors, including payments made to them
  
• 65+ built-in reports

Support and Training

• Setup:
  Setup of QuickBooks Online is as simple as completing one form with your business information. From there, you decide how complicated you want things to get. Through the settings tab, you can set up the features that you know you need. QuickBooks takes those settings and creates a dashboard that suits your needs. You can tweak the setup at any time by going back to settings.

• Tutorials:
  The tutorials provided once you choose your features are all online. You can peruse the tutorials or just dive right in and figure things out as you go along. However, they do also offer webinars on a weekly basis. They are one hour long and require pre-registration. It's the closest thing you'll get to live training with QuickBooks Online.

• Customer Service:
  This is where everyone says QuickBooks is lacking. They do offer a multitude of online articles, which you can search to find answers to your questions.

  If your question isn't answered there or you want customer support on the phone, you'll have to call between 6 AM and 6 PM Monday-Friday or 6 AM to 3 PM on Saturday. The phone number for customer support is 1-800-488-7330.

  An alternative to calling customer service is to browse through the Community Forum or even ask your own question. Sometimes getting answers from those using the program is quicker and more efficient than waiting for a representative.

How It Compares

• QuickBooks Desktop: Choosing between QuickBooks Desktop or Online depends on your needs. The online version offers more mobility and customization, but requires a monthly fee and internet access. The desktop version is good for businesses operating from one location with few people needing access to the accounting software.

• Xero: Both Xero and QuickBooks Online offer robust accounting services. Where Xero may excel, though, is in customer service and unlimited employee access.

• Freshbooks: This cloud-based accounting service takes top prize for customer service, mobile app user friendliness, and a simple user interface. It does, however, only allow one person to use it at a time. Multiple users will cost an additional $10 per employee.

The Bottom Line

QuickBooks Online offers many features beneficial for small businesses. If you have less than five employees and are fairly knowledgeable about accounting, it could fit your needs. If you need more handholding or have more than five employees, you may want to look elsewhere.

QuickBooks Online Review appeared first on CreditDonkey

Banco Santander S.A. (Brazil) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Fri Feb 16 03:07:59 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Banco Santander S.A. (Brazil) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Banco Santander S.A. account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Bath trustees deny Medina Road rezoning request for senior living facility

by ABJ/Ohio.com correspondent @ Ohio.com

Tue Mar 27 17:07:22 PDT 2018

BATH: For the third time in two years, trustees voted down a rezoning request for 12 acres at 4837 Medina Road in the southwest portion of the township. During the March 19 meeting, trustees Elaina Goodrich and Jim Nelson voted no to the rezoning, while Trustee Becky Corbett voted for it.

The post Bath trustees deny Medina Road rezoning request for senior living facility appeared first on Ohio.com.

Synchrony Bank Review: CD, Savings Account, Money Market, and IRA Rates

by Lindsay VanSomeren @ MagnifyMoney

Tue Mar 27 05:00:46 PDT 2018

Synchrony Bank is a relative newcomer to the banking scene, having opened up right around the same time as the World Wide Web was being developed in the late 1980s. Today, it’s one of the largest online-only banks around, offering a range of products including high-interest savings accounts, CDs, money market accounts, and IRAs. Big … Continue reading Synchrony Bank Review: CD, Savings Account, Money Market, and IRA Rates

The post Synchrony Bank Review: CD, Savings Account, Money Market, and IRA Rates appeared first on MagnifyMoney.

Study: Average Female Height

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim Pinnelli) @ CreditDonkey

Sun Mar 25 00:00:00 PDT 2018

The average adult female measures 5 feet 3 inches. American girls tend to stop growing by the time they are just 14 years old. American women are only 42nd tallest in the world, falling from their once 4th place status.

Keep reading to learn interesting facts about the average woman's height.

The Average Woman's Height at All Ages

• What is the average height of a female aged 20 and over in the U.S.?
  The average female in the U.S. measures 63.7 inches, or about 5 feet 4 inches. This is the average of women from all races over the age of 20.

• What is the average height of a female teenager?
  The average female teen measures 63.9 inches at age 16. That's actually slightly higher than the average height for women aged 20 and over. This is due to the shrinking women go through as they age, bringing the average lower for adult women.

• What is the average height of a female over the age of 60?
  The average female aged 60-69 measures 63.2 inches. This is 0.5 inches less than the average for all women. Women continually shrink after age 69, though. By the time the average woman is 80 years old, she measures just 61.3 inches, or just over 5 feet tall.

The Average Height of Female Teenagers

• What is the average height of a 13-year-old girl?
  The average 13-year-old girl measures 62.4 inches. This is just 1.3 inches shorter than the average adult woman.

• At what height is a 16-year-old female considered tall?
  Girls in the 95th percentile at age 16 measure 68.1 inches. This is 4.4 inches taller than the average woman over the age of 20.

• At what age on average do female teens stop growing in height?
  Females tend to stop growing sooner than teenage boys. The average teenage girl stops growing between the ages of 14 and 15. The exact age depends on when a female menstruates, as they tend to grow an inch or two after hitting this milestone.

The Average Height of Young Girls

• How tall is the average 2-year-old girl?
  The average female is generally slightly shorter than the average male. The average 2-year-old girl measures 35.4 inches, whereas the average 2-year-old boy measures 36.3 inches.

• How tall is the average 10-year-old girl?
  The average 10-year-old girl measures 56.8 inches. At this point in their life, the average female is slightly taller than the average male, who stands at 56.3 inches at the age of 10.

• When does the average girl have the largest growth spurt?
  Girls tend to have their largest growth spurt between the ages of 2 and 3. Boys are a little slower in the growth department, as their largest growth spurt is between ages 3 and 4. However, as females stop growing around ages 13 or 14, boys keep going until they are almost an adult.

Average Female Height by Race

• What is the average height of an African American female over the age of 20?
  The average African American female measures 64.2 inches; this is just over 5 feet 4 inches tall.

• What is the average height of an Asian female over the age of 20?
  The average Asian woman measures 61.8 inches, or just about 5 feet 2 inches tall. This is just about 2 inches shorter than the average American woman.

• What is the average height of an Hispanic female over the age of 20?
  The average Hispanic woman over the age of 20 measures 62 inches tall, or 5 feet 2 inches.

Average Female Height Around the World

• Which country has the tallest average females?
  The tallest women in the world live in Latvia. The average Latvian woman measures a little less than 5 feet 7 inches tall.

• Which country has the shortest average female?
  The shortest women in the world live in Guatemala. The average woman in this country measures just 4 feet 10 inches tall! That's about the size of an average 10- or 11-year-old girl in the United States.

• How does the average American female's height compare to other countries?
  While American women used to be the 4th tallest in the world, they have since fallen to 42nd in line. Latvia, the Netherlands, and Estonia have us beat.

• Is America really getting shorter?
  Technically, American women aren't shrinking; however, they are not getting as tall as they once did. Experts blame this on the health of our society, starting in infancy. Obesity rates are up as women weigh an average of 15 pounds more than 20 years ago.

Weight of the Average Female

• What is the average weight of females aged 20 and over?
  The average female in the U.S. today weighs 168.5 pounds.

• At what age do women weigh the most on average?
  Women tend to gain the most weight between the ages of 50 and 59. This is in comparison to men, who gain weight mostly during their 40s.

• At what age do women start losing the most weight on average?
  As women age, they not only shrink in height, but tend to weigh less too. The biggest drop is between the ages of 70 and 80. The average woman goes from 168.8 pounds to 141.9 pounds.

Fun Facts

• Who is the tallest female in the world?
  The world's tallest woman was Yao Defen from China. She measured 7 feet 7 inches tall, and she died at the age of 40.

• Who is the shortest female in the world?
  The shortest woman in the world is Jyoti Kisanji Amge. She measures just 24.7 inches tall. That's 10 inches shorter than the average American 2-year-old.

Bottom Line

It is in every woman's best interest to eat right and fuel her body with good food. While genes play a large role in a woman's height, how she takes care of her health does too.

Sources and References:

• Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults
  
• eLife
  
• Guinness Book of World Records
  
• Guinness Book of World Records

Study: Average Female Height appeared first on CreditDonkey

Zions Bank Online Savings Account Review

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Fri Dec 15 06:30:47 PST 2017

In our detailed Zions Bank review, we cover its savings products, rates, and fees. We also compare it to other online banking options. As of today, Zions Bank offers one of the highest interest rates among high-interest savings accounts. But is it worthwhile to move your money there to take advantage of this interest rate? […]

The post Zions Bank Online Savings Account Review appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Indiana Members Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus [IN] (Carmel Branch Offer)

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 13:30:27 PDT 2018

Indiana residents can earn a $150 bonus by simply opening a new checking account with Indiana Members Credit Union and meeting certain requirements. Below is all the information and details you need to earn your Indiana Members Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus! Membership: Experience the credit union difference, and become a member of Indiana Members Credit Union. Joining is... Read More →

The post Indiana Members Credit Union $150 Checking Bonus [IN] (Carmel Branch Offer) appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

HSBC Bank Review: $100 – $1000 Checking Promotions

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Mon Mar 26 22:00:12 PDT 2018

Get new HSBC Bank promotions, bonuses and offers here for new Checking and Savings accounts. Typical bonuses in the past have been for $100, $200 and up to $750 in cash. HSBC Bank has over 200 branches throughout California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington. If you’re […]

Elements Financial $200 Checking Account Bonus & 2% APY

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Mon Mar 26 04:00:35 PDT 2018

Find updated offers and bonuses from Elements Financial here. Established in 1976 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Elements Financial is a credit union with just 6 locations in the state. However, membership is available nationwide by joining Tru Direction. Elements Financial most notably has their High Interest Checking account that’s worth a look. We’ll review […]

Loan Forgiveness for Nurses

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim P) @ CreditDonkey

Mon Mar 26 00:00:00 PDT 2018

Nurses can get loan forgiveness. This beginner's guide to student loan forgiveness programs can help you wipe away nursing student loan debt.

Loan Forgiveness for Nurses: What You Need to Know

Paying for nursing school doesn't have to be impossible. Even if you have loans stacked up higher than you can count, there are ways to get help. Both the federal and state governments offer several options.

As a nursing school student, you may have accumulated the average college debt of $37,000. If you decided to further your education and get your master's degree, your debts may be even higher. A nursing job might pay you well right out of school, but tackling that debt may feel impossible.

If you'd prefer to kiss those student loans goodbye, keep reading to learn the programs available to you as a public sector service provider.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

Nurses, including RNs, APRNs, and nurse educators, may receive payment for up to 85% of their nursing student loans that remain unpaid under the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.

In order to qualify, you must commit to work in an underserved area as a nurse for a minimum of 2 years. You must also work a minimum of 32 hours a week. Nurses completing the 2-year service may receive up to 60% of their unpaid debt paid for them. You have the option to extend your service for an additional year to receive another 25% of loan repayment.

Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge

Federal Perkins Loans are not disbursed any longer, but if you obtained one before September 30, 2017, you are still eligible for the Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge program. If you work as a full-time nurse, you may receive 100% of your Federal Perkins loans forgiven.

In order to receive 100% of your Federal Perkins Loans forgiven, you'll need to work as a full-time nurse for 5 years. You'll receive loan forgiveness as follows:

• 15% of the principal balance plus interest for the 1st and 2nd year of service
  
• 20% of the principal plus interest for the 3rd and 4th year
  
• 30% of the principal plus interest for the 5th year

In order to obtain the forgiveness, you must apply through the school supplying the Federal Perkins Loan or the loan servicer.

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

The HRSA program provides loan repayment for nurse practitioners with outstanding school loans working in a health care practitioner shortage area.

Nurse practitioners working in a high-need area with an HPSA score of 14 or higher may receive up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness in exchange for 2 years of service. NPs working in an HPSA with a score of 13 or below may receive up to $30,000 in loan forgiveness for 2 years of service.

Nurse practitioners working half-time at a facility with an HPSA score of 14 or higher may receive up to $25,000 for 2 years of service. NPs working half-time at a facility with an HPSA of 13 or lower may receive up to $15,000 in loan repayment for 2 years of service.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Employees working in the public service sector may receive federal student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. This applies to any health care provider working in a public health agency. You must make 10 years of payments (which equals 120 payments on your loans) before forgiveness will be considered.

The loan forgiveness pertains to Direct Student Loans. However, if you have any Federal Perkins Loans or Family Education Loans, they may qualify if you refinance them into a Direct Consolidation Loan. You must work full-time for a public service sector for the entire 10 years in order to qualify.

Military Forgiveness Options

Army:
The Army provides loan repayment programs for nurses in both active duty and in the Reserves.

Active duty nurses are eligible to receive up to $120,000 in nursing education loan repayment. Nurses can receive up to $40,000 per year for each year of service.

Nurses serving in the Reserves can work in their community while serving when called. If you work as a nurse in the Reserves, you may receive up to $20,000 per year for the first two years of service. You may then receive an additional $10,000 in loan repayment for the third year of service.

Navy:
If you are a nurse in the Navy, you may be eligible for the Health Professions Loan Repayment Program. This program provides up to $40,000 in loan repayment funds paid directly to your loan servicer per year.

Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program

Nurses serving in the Indian and Alaskan Native communities in areas of high need may receive up to $40,000 in loan repayment funds. The Indian Health Services Loan Repayment Program provides the funds in exchange for 2 years of consecutive service. You must work as one of the following nurse professionals in order to qualify:

• BSN
  
• Advanced Practice Nurse
  
• Physician Assistant

If you still have outstanding student loans after the initial forgiveness period, you may extend your service until you no longer have outstanding debt.

Nurse Loan Forgiveness and Repayment by State

• Alaska
  Residents of Alaska can serve as a nurse anywhere in Alaska and receive loan repayment benefits in the SHARP-3 program. In this program, the entire state of Alaska is considered "high need." Nurses are considered a "tier 2" for loan repayment options. Any type of nurse, including RNs, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, may qualify.

  Nurses in "regular fill" positions may receive up to $20,000 per year in loan repayment funds. Nurses in "very hard to fill" positions may receive up to $27,000 per year in loan repayment funds. Nurses working half-time may receive half of each subsequent award.

• Arizona
  The state of Arizona rewards nurses working in underserved areas with the Arizona Loan Repayment Program. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse midwives may qualify if they work full-time in an underserved area for 2 years. Qualified nurses working full-time may receive between $40,000 and $50,000 per year for the first two years of service.

  You may elect to extend your service if you still have outstanding debt. You may receive between $8,000 and $25,000 per year for each year following the 2-year commitment.

• California
  The Bachelor of Science Nursing Loan Repayment provides RNs with at least a BSN degree with up to $10,000 in loan repayment in exchange for 1 year of service. You must work in an underserved area, California prison, or facility for veterans to qualify.

  The California State Loan Repayment Program helps staff qualified nurses in high-need areas in California. You must be a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse midwife in order to qualify. In exchange for a 2-year service commitment, you may receive up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness (depending on the availability of funds each year).

• Colorado
  The Colorado Health Service Corps Repayment Program provides Colorado residents working in a high-need area with loan repayment options. If you work as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant, you may receive up to $50,000 for full-time work and $25,000 for part-time work. Qualified applicants must agree to work for a period of 3 years in order to receive the loan repayment.

• Delaware
  The Delaware State Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment options for nurses in the following areas:
  • Nurse practitioner
    
  • Certified nurse midwife
    
  • Psychiatric nurse specialist
    
  • Physician assistant

  Qualified participants may receive between $30,000 and $100,000 per 2-year contract for service in a high-need area.

• Florida
  The Florida Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program provides loan repayment for nurses agreeing to work in high-need areas. LNs, RNs, and ARNPs are eligible for the program. Applicants may receive up to $4,000 per year in loan repayment. You may reapply for the program for up to 4 years for a total of $16,000 in loan repayment funds.

• Georgia
  The Physician Assistant Loan Repayment Program (PALRP) provides physician assistants working in rural areas of Georgia with up to $10,000 per year in loan repayment funds. You can apply to renew your application up to 3 times after the first year.

  The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Loan Repayment Program provides advanced practice nurses working in rural areas of Georgia with up to $10,000 in loan repayment for one year of service. You may apply for renewal up to 3 times after completion of the first year.

• Hawaii
  The Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment options for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and physician assistants working in health professional shortage areas. You must commit to 2 years of service if you work full-time and 4 years for half-time work. The funds are on an "as available" basis.

• Illinois
  The Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program provides funds for nurse educators throughout Illinois. Recipients may receive up to $5,000 per year for student loan debt in exchange for 12 months of consecutive service. You may receive the funds for a total of 4 years.

  The Illinois National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) provides nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants working in high-need areas with up to $25,000 per year in loan forgiveness. This is in exchange for a 2-year contract for full-time service. If you still have outstanding loans after the two years, you may reapply for a 3rd and 4th year for more loan repayment funds.

• Iowa
  The Iowa Registered Nurse & Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program provides loan repayment funds to nurse educators and registered nurses in Iowa. You may be eligible to receive up to 20% of your outstanding federal student loan balance. The maximum award may not exceed the average tuition rate for in-state residents for the year. You may reapply for benefits every year as long as you have outstanding federal student loans.

• Kansas
  The Kansas State Loan Repayment Program offers nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physicians assistants with up to $20,000 per year in loan repayment. In exchange for the funds, you must agree to work for 2 years in a Health Professional Shortage Area in Kansas.

• Kentucky
  The Kentucky State Loan Repayment Program provides a unique program for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants. You may receive between $20,000 and $40,000 in total compensation for 2 years of full-time service. The difference, however, is the employer must match the state's contribution 50/50.

• Louisiana
  The Louisiana State Loan Repayment Program provides up to $15,000 per year for up to a 3-year full-time commitment. You may work as a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, certified midwife, or psychiatric nurse specialist in order to qualify. You may extend your service an additional 2 years if you have outstanding school loans after the initial repayment period.

• Maryland
  The Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP) provides loan repayment funds to registered nurses (among many other careers) working full-time in Maryland. Your gross salary may not exceed $60,000 and you must work full-time in a low-income area. You may receive between $1,500 and $10,000 per year for a total of 3 years. The amount of your award depends on your total debt.

• Massachusetts
  The Massachusetts Loan Repayment Program offers nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, and psychiatric nurse specialists with up to $50,000 in loan repayment funds in exchange for a 2-year commitment. You must work in a health care professional shortage area. The amount you may receive depends on your area of work.

• Michigan
  The Michigan State Loan Repayment Program provides up to $200,000 in loan repayment funds in exchange for a commitment to 2 years of service in a high-need area. You must work at least 40 hours a week for at least 45 weeks a year. The amount of repayment you receive depends on your job type and the amount of outstanding debt. Nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, and psychiatric nurse specialists may apply.

• Minnesota
  The Minnesota Nurses in Nursing Homes Program provides nurses in a nursing home setting with up to $5,000 in loan repayment per year. You must serve at least 2 years with the option to extend your contract for an additional 2 years.

  The Minnesota Rural Public Health Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program provides registered nurses in Minnesota with up to $5,000 in loan repayment per year in change for 3 years of service. You may extend your contract for a 4th year, if necessary.

  The Minnesota State Loan Repayment Program provides certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and psychiatric nurse specialists with up to $20,000 per year in loan repayment in exchange for your service in rural/shortage areas.

  The Minnesota Nurse Faculty Loan Forgiveness Program provides up to $9,000 per year in loan repayment funds in exchange for 3 years of service as a nurse educator. You may participate in the program for up to 4 years as long as you have outstanding student debt.

• Missouri
  The Nurse Loan Repayment Program provides RNs working in Missouri with up to $10,000 in loan repayment for a 2-year service agreement. Advanced practice nurses may receive up to $20,000 in exchange for a 2-year service agreement.

• Montana
  The Montana NHSC Student Loan Repayment Program provides nurses of many specialties with up to $15,000 in loan repayment per year for 2 years. This includes RNs working for a primary care doctor.

  The Montana Institutional Nursing Incentive Program provides loan reimbursement to registered nurses who work full-time in a state prison or hospital. You must prove you have a minimum of $1,000 in outstanding student loans in order to qualify.

• Nebraska
  The Nebraska Loan Repayment Program provides nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants working in shortage areas with up to $30,000 in funds per year. You are eligible for payment for up to 3 years. Half of the funds must come from a sponsor, such as an employer or other professional. The state matches the payment dollar for dollar.

• Nevada
  The Nevada Health Service Corps provides advanced care nurses with loan repayment in exchange for 2 years of service in a high-need area. The amount of the repayment is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on the availability of funds for the year.

• New Jersey
  The Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program of New Jersey encourages nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives to work in underserved areas of New Jersey. In exchange for your service, you may receive funds for loan repayment. You must commit to a 2-year period of service and work full-time.

• New Mexico
  The Health Professional Loan Repayment Program provides advance practice nurses with up to $25,000 per year in loan repayment. In exchange, you must agree to work in a high-need area in New Mexico for 2 years. Registered nurses are not eligible for this program.

• New York
  The NYS Nursing Faculty Loan Forgiveness (NFLF) Incentive Program provides registered nurses with a master's degree working as nurse educators with loan repayment funds. Applicants may receive up to $8,000 for qualified loans for up to 5 years for a maximum of $40,000.

• North Carolina
  Family nurse practitioners committing to a five-year service agreement in an underserved area may receive loan repayment through the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation Community Practitioner Program. The amount you may receive depends on the total amount of debt and the availability of funds.

• North Dakota
  Advanced practice registered nurses working in areas of health care professional shortages may receive up to $22,000 in loan repayment with the Health Care Professional Student Loan Repayment Program. You must agree to work in the high-need area for a total of five years in order to be eligible.

• Oregon
  The Oregon Partnership State Loan Repayment (SLRP) provides repayment funds for registered nurses as well as advanced practice nurses in Oregon. You must work at a non-profit entity or in a Health care shortage area. The amount of the award depends on the level of shortage in the area you work. You must agree to work for 2 years with the ability to extend the contract for an additional 2 years if a balance still exists.

• Pennsylvania
  The Pennsylvania Primary Health Care Loan Repayment Program provides up to $60,000 for full-time nurses and $30,000 for part-time nurses working in an underserved area. Only advanced practice nurses are eligible. You must agree to a 2-year service agreement in order to qualify.

• Rhode Island
  Registered nurses and advanced practice nurses can receive loan repayment funds with the Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program. You may work either full-time or half-time in a high-need area. The amount you receive depends on your level of service and the amount of your outstanding debt.

• South Dakota
  The South Dakota Recruitment Assistance Program provides advanced practice nurses with loan repayment funds with an agreement for 3 years of service. You must work in a rural setting and sign a contract with the South Dakota Department of Health. The amount you may receive depends on your outstanding loans and the average University of South Dakota tuition for physician assistants. The most you may receive is twice this average amount.

• Tennessee
  The Tennessee State Loan Repayment Program (TSLRP) provides advanced practice nurses with the opportunity to earn loan repayment funds. You must work in a high-need area for 2 consecutive years in order to qualify. The amount you receive depends on your outstanding debt and availability of funds.

  The Graduate Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program encourages RNs in Tennessee to become nurse educators by obtaining their master's degree or using the funds after obtaining their master's degree. You'll be required to sign a promissory note to enter a specific education program for 4 years. The loan will be forgiven after your 4 years of service.

• Vermont
  The Vermont Educational Loan Repayment Program for Nurses provides RNs with up to $10,000 in loan repayment funds per year. You must work at least 20 hours a week for 45 weeks a year at a high-need facility.

• Virginia
  The Virginia Loan Repayment Program is for RNs, midwives, and advanced practice nurses. You must work full-time at an eligible site in order to qualify. The amount of your award depends on the amount of your outstanding debt. You must commit to a 2-year service agreement in order to qualify.

• Washington
  Registered nurses, as well as advanced practice nurses, are eligible to receive up to $75,000 for a 3-year service obligation in a high-need area. The Washington Loan Repayment Program requires you to work at least 24 hours a week and take no more than 40 days of leave per year in order to qualify.

• West Virginia
  In exchange for a 2-year service agreement in a high-need area, you may receive up to $40,000 in loan repayment with the West Virginia State Loan Repayment Program. You may also apply for an additional $25,000 per year for another 2 years if you still have outstanding debt. Only advanced practice nurses may apply.

• Wisconsin
  Advanced practice nurses may receive up to $50,000 in loan forgiveness with the Wisconsin Health Professions Loan Assistance Program. You must work full-time in a shortage area for at least 3 years in order to qualify.

Bottom Line

You have many loan forgiveness options at your disposal if you are a nurse. The type of nurse and the amount of your debt will determine what you may receive. Make sure to exhaust all of your options. Hopefully then you can minimize the interest you pay and even the amount of money that comes out of your own pocket.

Loan Forgiveness for Nurses appeared first on CreditDonkey

Caixa Economica Federal (Brazil) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Wed Jan 31 02:42:39 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Caixa Economica Federal (Brazil) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Caixa Economica Federal account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Synchrony Bank CD Rates: 1.00% 6-Month, 2.05% 12-Month, 2.50% 60-Month APY [Nationwide]

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 12:43:10 PDT 2018

Available nationwide, you can earn 0.75% up to 2.50% APY CD Rates when you open up a new Synchrony Bank Certificate of Deposit Account! Below is all the information and details you need to open your Synchrony Bank CD Account to earn 0.75% up to 2.50% APY CD Rates! Synchrony Bank Certificate of Deposit Account... Read More →

The post Synchrony Bank CD Rates: 1.00% 6-Month, 2.05% 12-Month, 2.50% 60-Month APY [Nationwide] appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

7 Things to Do on Your First Trip to New York City

by Greg Johnson @ Club Thrifty

Wed Mar 21 04:00:37 PDT 2018

The post 7 Things to Do on Your First Trip to New York City appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Searching for things to do in New York City? Here are 7 essential sites that you need to visit on your first time to the Big Apple!

The post 7 Things to Do on Your First Trip to New York City appeared first on Club Thrifty.

10 Tips for Avoiding Overdraft Fees

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Thu Mar 08 04:00:37 PST 2018

What’s a quick way to empty your pockets? Paying for overdraft fees. Here are ten tips to help you avoid those bank penalties. Consumers overdraft their bank accounts . . . a lot. According to data compiled by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, these fees totaled more than $11 billion in 2015. More recent data […]

The post 10 Tips for Avoiding Overdraft Fees appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card 80,000 Bonus Offer + 5,000 Bonus Points When Adding Authorized User + (Being Discontinued? Revamped?)

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Mon Mar 26 14:14:13 PDT 2018

When you sign up for a Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card, you will earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. To top that offer, you can earn 5,000 bonus points when you add your first authorized user and make your first purchase within the same three month frame.... Read More →

The post Chase IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card 80,000 Bonus Offer + 5,000 Bonus Points When Adding Authorized User + (Being Discontinued? Revamped?) appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Indiana Members Credit Union Checking Bonus: $150 Promotion (Indiana only) *Carmel Branch offer*

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 14:30:47 PDT 2018

Are you interested in putting some extra cash in your wallet? Indiana Members Credit Union is currently offering residents of Indiana a generous $150 bonus when you sign up and open a new Checking Account with direct deposit. To get the first $50, you must apply and open a new checking account and keep the account... Keep Reading↠

The post Indiana Members Credit Union Checking Bonus: $150 Promotion (Indiana only) *Carmel Branch offer* appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

Sling TV Review: Pros and Cons

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kyle S) @ CreditDonkey

Mon Mar 19 00:00:00 PDT 2018

If you hate the idea of sending a big online payment to the cable or satellite TV company every month, join the crowd. We love our TV, but we hate paying big bucks for it.

That's why so many people have such glee in their voices when they utter the phrase, "cord cutting." The process of cord cutting involves canceling your cable or satellite TV service.

You then can pick up your TV signal through an over-the-air antenna or through a bundled streaming service, which comes into your home over your Internet connection. (We know that most people receive an Internet signal into their homes over a cord, but we'll let this technicality slide, because "cord cutting" feels so good when you say it.)

One of the most well-known bundled streaming TV services is Sling TV. It has multiple tiers of service, allowing you to save plenty of money while still receiving a chunk of your favorite channels. We'll help you figure out whether Sling TV's offerings will satisfy your entertainment needs.

How Sling Works

Sling TV is a streaming Internet service (you may also hear the terms skinny bundle or streaming TV bundle). This means the television signals arrive in your home over your Internet connection, rather than through a satellite TV or cable TV connection.

Sling TV offers a much more streamlined lineup of pay-TV channels versus a typical cable or satellite package, so it can be offered at a lower price. A skinny bundle doesn't have a bunch of taxes or hardware fees associated with it either, allowing for a lower price point.

The DISH Network satellite service owns and offers the Sling TV service, much like DirecTV offers the DirecTV NOW skinny bundle service. There are other skinny bundles available too, as we'll outline later.

You won't have a set-top box with Sling TV, but you may need some hardware to receive the signal. Sling TV will run over an app on an iOS or Android mobile device, or you can run it over a traditional large screen TV with hardware like Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, or Roku, among others.

Read on, we will go over the pros and cons of Sling TV below. But first, let's highlight the current Sling TV deals and promotions.

Sling TV Promotions: March 2018

Sling TV Tiers

Sling TV offers tiered TV, where you pick the tiers that contain the channels you want. A few packages are available with Sling:

• Sling Orange ($20 per month). Has 30 channels, including ESPN, Disney, and Comedy Central. This tier only supports one single stream.

• Sling Blue ($25 per month). Has 45 channels, including Fox Sports, NBC, and National Geographic. This tier supports 3 streams at once.

• Sling Orange + Blue ($5 discount). You also have the option of buying both services. You'll receive a $5 discount. With this option, Broadcast Extra is also included, where available.

We won't list all of the channels in each tier because they do change from time to time, so visit the Sling TV web site to see the current channel lineups.

Beyond that, you can add bundles for $5+ per month in categories like sports, news, comedy, lifestyle, kids, movies, and Spanish language, as well as premium subscription channels.

Some of the tiers have frustrating overlaps of channels. But rest assured, most of the popular cable and satellite TV channels are available in a tier somewhere on Sling TV.

Reasons to Subscribe to Sling TV

1. It's cheap. Most people make the switch to a service like Sling because they're looking to save money on their pay-TV monthly bill. With the basic tier starting at only $20 per month, it can be a huge savings over a satellite or cable bill that often tops $100 per month.

2. You hate extra fees. Cable and satellite TV providers do an excellent job of hiding extra fees in the bill for things like HD service, interactive digital guides, hardware usage, and taxes. You won't have to worry about these extra fees for Sling TV. You will have to provide your own hardware - and your own Internet connection, of course, which may have its own collection of hidden fees - but extra fees on the bill aren't a part of the Sling TV subscription.

3. You don't want a contract. If you dislike the idea of being locked into your TV service for 12 or 24 months, Sling TV is a great idea. With skinny bundles and streaming TV services, you can start the service or cancel at any time with no worries about being hit with a huge disconnection fee.

4. You like being able to watch content on multiple screens. Beyond running the programming on a large screen TV, it's easier than ever to watch your Sling TV programming on a mobile device or on a computer screen, as the service runs directly inside a web browser window now. It also has an app for use with mobile devices.
   The Orange service only allows one stream. You can watch on only one device at a time. The Blue service allows up to 3 streams, so multi-person households can watch on 3 different devices at once.
   

5. You like the idea of creating your own package. On top of the two basic tiers, Sling offers so many different mini-bundles that you're really in control of your TV channel lineup. You have a lot of different options available.

6. You can catch a show you missed. A lot of channels have a 3-day replay feature. You can replay content that has aired in the past three days. So if you missed a show, you still have a chance to catch up. But this is not available for all channels.

7. You want a DVR type of service. Sling TV doesn't have the traditional DVR hardware you'd find with satellite or cable service, but it does offer a cloud DVR storage option. For now, you can save up to 50 hours' worth of programming to your cloud account (but it does cost an extra $5/month). This function is not available on all channels.

8. You like a try-before-you-buy option. For new subscribers, you can test Sling TV for 7 days for free. If you cancel within the free period, you will pay nothing. This is a great way to test the service on your Internet service and hardware to see whether you have a reliable enough signal to give you a good experience.

9. You want to make account changes without a phone call. If you don't like spending time on hold and speaking to a cable or satellite salesperson trying to upsell you, you'll love the ability to make all changes to your Sling TV account - including changing your package tiers - online with no hassles.

Reasons to Consider Other Pay-TV Options

• You don't have a fast Internet connection for streaming: One of the biggest frustrations for Sling customers is spotty connection quality and service. If you don't have an exceptionally reliable and fast Internet connection, the video skips and intermittent outages will be incredibly frustrating. Those who live in rural areas almost certainly will not have a reliable enough Internet connection to use Sling at an acceptable level. Some high-demand programming, such as the college football championship game, has had reliability issues in the past as well.

• You rely on search and guides for finding programming. There's no interactive, TV guide available through Sling TV like you'll find with cable or satellite TV. And the service's search feature is not overly accurate. This can be a major frustration for a lot of people.

• You're not handy with hardware. If you don't feel comfortable setting up your own account and figuring out how to make your hardware work with Sling TV, you may not like skinny bundles. There's no technician you can call to come out to do the setup process for you. Fortunately, the hardware requirements are extremely simple with Sling, meaning even those with an aversion to technology can probably handle the process.

• You want local channels. Sling TV offers local channels in some locations, but not a lot of them. To receive those channels, you'll need an over-the-air antenna. The service is adding more areas for local channels constantly, though.

Other Streaming Services to Consider

If you would like to look beyond Sling, there are many different options for streaming services that should help you find an exact service that can meet your needs.

• Amazon Prime: If you need further evidence that Amazon is taking over the world, we present Amazon Prime. This is the same service that gives you free two-day shipping on any of your purchases from Amazon. As an added benefit, you receive Amazon Video downloads. Amazon has greatly expanded its offerings of original programming for streaming. However, if you're looking for live TV on popular channels like AMC or ESPN, Amazon Prime does not offer this.

• DirecTV Now: DirecTV Now is one of the most extensive streaming services available, offering a wide range of popular channels in many different categories at a lower price than the full DirecTV service. DirecTV Now has added local channels for many locations in the United States, and it's adding cloud DVR service and 4K programming in the near future.

• FuboTV Premier: FuboTV works best for sports fans, as you will receive numerous regional sports networks that carry the local pro teams. You'll also receive channels like FX and SyFy. Adding channels like NFL Network will cost a bit extra.

• Hulu Live: The Hulu Live streaming service builds on the original Hulu service, which carries a lot of older TV shows. But Hulu Live now carries live programming from several popular channels, including A&E, FX, Disney, and ESPN. It has local channels available in a limited number of locations now, but it is steadily increasing this number.

• Netflix: Netflix is similar to Amazon Prime, offering a lot of original programming, including extremely popular shows like Orange Is the New Black and Stranger Things. It doesn't have live pay-TV channels, but it has an extensive collection of older TV shows and movies that you can stream.

• Philo: This newer streaming service is the anti-sports service, offering channels like A&E, AMC, and HGTV, but no ESPN. It has two tiers of channels so you can find just the right price point.

• PlayStation Vue: If you already own a PlayStation gaming system, Vue is a perfect streaming system for you, as it runs through the gaming hardware. There are multiple programming packages available with live pay-TV channels, but some of the upper tiers can be pretty pricey. This service has several locations where it is offering local channels.

• YouTube TV: The newer YouTube TV has live TV channels and looks to compete with DirecTV Now, Vue, and Sling. Because this service is so new, its channel lineups are in a bit of flux. You will receive stations like Disney, ESPN, and USA for now, but more channels are on the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there local news channels?
Live local broadcast is only available in select markets. It also depends on if you have the Orange or Blue package. Orange customers can get ABC for an additional fee per month. Blue customers can get FOX and NBC in select markets. Outside of those markets, FOX and NBC are on-demand only.

Are there commercials?
Yes. Sling TV is like a streamed-down version of regular live TV. So it has all the commercials that a regular cable or satellite TV service would have. You cannot skip commercials unless you have the cloud DVR.

Is there on-demand content?
Sling does have on-demand videos, available on select channels. If a channel has on-demand videos, it will show up in the channel details. The content is determined by the individual channels. The channel decides what's available and for how long, so you may see videos come and go.

Are there on-demand movies?
Sling also offers the option to rent movies for an additional fee. Their library has everything from older movies and new releases. The rental price varies based on the movie.

Are there regional sports channels?
Blue customers receive FOX Regional Sports Networks based on their billing zip code. Note: your Regional Sports Network may blackout certain games, as the blackout rules are determined by the leagues, sports associations, and networks that purchase the rights to the broadcasts.

Bottom Line

If you want to save some money on your cable or satellite TV bill, the Sling TV streaming bundle should make your short list. Sling has a multitude of different options, allowing you to set up your channel lineup however you want. Sure, you'll probably still end up with a few channels you don't want, but Sling brings you as close to setting up your own channel lineup as any service out there.

It's also one of the least expensive, at least for the basic tier. Having the option of starting your bundled streaming service for as low as $20 per month is pretty nice. After all, we're guessing you want to consider a streaming service because you're trying to save a lot of money over your full service cable bill. Most people will end up spending more than $20, however, once they start adding in the extra tiers.

We'd like to see Sling TV have a more reliable signal, as its inability to run adequately at times on even average Internet connection speeds and streaming stick hardware is the biggest complaint. However, because of the low starting price Sling offers, we'd recommend you at least try the free trial period. If you can make the service run reliably over your Internet service, the ability to put together your own channel lineup makes this one of the better streaming skinny bundle services you'll find.

Sling TV Review: Pros and Cons appeared first on CreditDonkey

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.

Chase College Checking Account Review: Earn $50 Bonus

by Liz Pham @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 19:00:36 PDT 2018

Attention all incoming freshman and returning college students! Chase is offering you a chance to open a new Chase College CheckingSM account where you can earn a $50 bonus once you enroll in paperless statements and complete 10 qualifying transactions. You will also be happy knowing there is no monthly service fee from the the time you open... Keep Reading↠

The post Chase College Checking Account Review: Earn $50 Bonus appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

LendKey Review

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim P) @ CreditDonkey

Thu Mar 22 00:00:00 PDT 2018

Saving thousands of dollars on your student loans sounds perfect, and that's just what LendKey promises. Is it the real deal, though?

LendKey filled a void that existed in the student loan refinancing industry. Small banks and credit unions didn't have a way to extend their reach beyond their small community. Advertising their rates and offering online applications is often too costly for them. Enter LendKey, the company that brings small banks and/or credit unions together with potential borrowers.

What Is LendKey?

LendKey helps take the confusion out of shopping for a student loan refinance. With one simple platform, they give you access to hundreds of banks vying for your business. Don't confuse LendKey with lenders, though. They are a third-party online platform that connects you to the banks and credit unions offering the loans. You use LendKey to apply for the loans and from there, get matched with appropriate lenders.

If you choose a loan, you then move forward with the chosen bank. LendKey does not underwrite or fund the loan. LendKey offers its service free of charge to borrowers. The only cause for concern is the hard credit inquiry that will occur if you choose a lender and go through the application process with them. However, that would be the case no matter where you applied for a student loan refinance.

LendKey promises that you will lower your payments and simplify your finances. They also promise the chance to receive multiple offers with different options for your comparison.

Keep reading to see just how LendKey stacks up to its promises.

Who Benefits from LendKey?

If your income and/or credit situation has improved since you graduated college, refinancing your student loans may help. If you don't have the time or wherewithal to do the research yourself, LendKey helps you understand your options all in one portal. It takes the confusion and effort out of the process.

All you need in order to find out your available rates is to enter basic information about yourself. At this point, they conduct a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect your credit score. This gives you the chance to run the numbers and see if you actually benefit from a refinance.

A lower rate doesn't always mean you should do it. Look at all of your refinance options, including any federal programs (such as forgiveness programs), to make sure this is the right choice.

Reasons Why We Like It

Assuming that refinancing your student loan debt is the right choice, we like LendKey for the following reasons:

• Flexible underwriting guidelines: Because LendKey matches you with one of hundreds of lenders in their network, you'll find more flexibility with the underwriting guidelines compared to applying with lenders one at a time.

• No origination fees: Lenders networking with LendKey do not charge an origination fee for their service. This could save you thousands of dollars on the refinance.

• Have multiple options in one user-friendly portal: The offers you receive after completing the application are pre-screened offers. You can compare the offers without affecting your credit score. They base your approvals on your location, degree, types of loans, and loan amounts. The offers are then contingent upon proof of your income and credit score.

• Release a co-signer: After you successfully make 12-36 consecutive months of on-time payments, you may apply for a co-signer release. This gives you full ownership of the loan and releases your co-signer's liability.

• Simply your finances: Consolidating multiple student loans into one loan makes it easier to keep track of your balance and what you owe. It may eliminate confusion and even late payments by making your finances easier to handle.

• Consolidate private and federal student loans into one loan: You may be eligible to consolidate any type of student loan, including federal loans. However, you may want to consider all of your options before doing so.

• Fixed or variable rate options: LendKey matches you with lenders that offer both fixed and variable rate options. You can compare the different programs using LendKey's refinancing calculator to determine if refinancing is right for you.

• Discount for automatic payments: Once you accept a loan from LendKey, you can opt for automatic payments. This will reduce your rate by one-quarter of a percent.

Reasons You May Want to Look Elsewhere

• You have federal student debt: As we discussed above, it's not always a good idea to consolidate your federal student loans. The government offers a variety of repayment and even forgiveness options, including longer repayment periods, income-based repayment plans, and even plans that forgive your balance after meeting certain criteria. Refinancing with LendKey would eliminate these options.

• You don't have time to research the banks: LendKey doesn't do the research on the banks for you, nor do they offer any information on them. If you want to know a bank's reputation or the fine print that goes along with the loan, you have to call the bank yourself. This could mean more hours conducting research online or making phone calls. If you were looking for a streamlined service, this may not be it.

• You have parent loans: LendKey doesn't allow you to refinance your parent loans with your standard student loans. If you have parent loans, you may want to look at other institutions that allow the inclusion of these loans.

The Application Process

LendKey's application process is like that of any other bank offering student loan refinancing options. If you just want to check the available rates in your area, you'll only need limited information, including:

• Name
  
• Address
  
• Annual income
  
• School and degree type
  
• Loan amount and loan type

It should only take a few minutes to complete the initial application. You'll receive offers within a few minutes of submitting your application. You can then review the offers, do your research, and choose the loan that fits your needs.

Once you choose a lender to complete the application process with, you'll need to provide more information about yourself. This is all done through the LendKey interface, though. The lender will respond with a conditional offer, which lets you know what information/proof they will need to approve your loan.

How It Compares

• SoFi: Alumni and individual investors provide the funds for borrowers at SoFi. They offer loan programs similar to those from LendKey, but may have slightly lower interest rates.

• Earnest: Rather than your credit score and current income, Earnest looks at your savings pattern, number of investments, and job history to determine your ability to consolidate your student loans. Earnest offers loans as low as $5,000, which is less than most lenders in the LendKey network offer.

• CommonBond: With their streamlined application process, CommonBond is a plausible choice for your loan consolidations. They offer an elaborate program for borrowers who experience hardship after taking a loan, as well as many financial education programs.

The Bottom Line

LendKey can be a great way to save money and organize your finances. As is the case with any debt consolidation, weigh the pros and cons before moving forward. Determine the full amount of your savings, not only per month, but over the life of the loan. How much interest will you pay when it's all said and done? Compare that number to the total interest you would pay on your current loans combined.

Don't fall for the no origination fee and promise to save you thousands without crunching the numbers to see how it will help you.

LendKey Review appeared first on CreditDonkey

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.

Banco Santander SA (Mexico) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Fri Mar 16 03:48:29 PDT 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Banco Santander SA (Mexico) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Banco Santander SA account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Banco Citibank SA (Brazil) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Wed Feb 28 03:16:11 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Banco Citibank SA (Brazil) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Banco Citibank SA account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Study: Average Male Height

by feedback@creditdonkey.com (Kim Pinnelli) @ CreditDonkey

Sat Mar 24 00:00:00 PDT 2018

The average man measures 5 feet 9 inches in the United States. But the US ranks 37th in average height in the world. Read on to see how the average U.S. male stands up to the rest of the world.

Looking Closely at Average Male Height

• What is the average height of a male aged 20 and over in the United States?
  The average male over 20 years old measures 69.2 inches, or 5 feet 9 inches. This takes into consideration all males between the ages of 20 and up from all races.

• What is the average height of a male teenager?
  The average 16-year-old (the median age for a teenager) is 5 feet 7 inches. This is just shy of the average height of all men aged 20 and over.

• What is the average height of a male over 60?
  As you age, you may begin to lose a little bit of your height. The average male between 60 and 69 years old measures 69 inches, which isn't a lot of height loss. However, as men continue to age, they have an average height of just 67.6 inches at ages 80 and over.

The Average Height of Male Teenagers

• What is the average height of a 14-year-old boy?
  The average 14-year-old boy measures 66.7 inches, or 5 feet 7 inches. 14-year-old males in the 5th percentile of the average measure 5 feet tall. 14-year-old males in the 90th percentile measure 5 feet 9 inches.

• What height is considered tall for a 16-year-old boy?
  Boys in the 95th percentile of the average 16-year-old measure 6 feet 1 inch.

• When do teen boys stop growing taller?
  Teen boys can continue to grow slightly taller until they reach 19 or 20 years old. The average 19-year-old male measures 69.4 inches.. This is just a 0.3-inch growth from the age of 18, though, so it's not a tremendous growth spurt.

The Average Height of Young Boys

• How tall is the average 2-year-old boy?
  The average 2-year-old boy measures 36.3 inches, or just over 3 feet tall. However, they don't stay this little for long. In just four short years, at the age of 6, the average boy is 4 feet tall.

• How tall is the average 10-year-old boy?
  By the time boys are 10 years old, they measure an average of 4 feet 7 inches tall.

• When do boys have the largest growth spurt on average?
  The average boy grows the most between the ages of 3 and 4. The average boy grows from 3 feet 3 inches to 3 feet 6 inches in one year.

Average Male Height by Race

• What is the average height of an African American man aged 20 and over?
  The average African American male over 20 years old measures 69.5 inches, or 5 feet 10 inches.

• What is the average height of an Asian male aged 20 and over?
  The average Asian male over 20 years old measures 67 inches, or 5 feet 7 inches. Breaking it down by age, Asian men have the shortest average height after the age of 60. Asian men measure an average of 65.2 inches at this time.

• What is the average height of an Hispanic male aged 20 and over?
  Hispanic men over the age of 20 measure an average of 67.4 inches. By the time the average Hispanic man reaches age 60 and over, though, they measure an average of 66 inches.

Average Height Around the World

• Which country has the tallest average men?
  The Netherlands wins the prize for the tallest men on average. Men in this country measure 71.9 inches, or just about 6 feet tall. This is 4 inches taller than the average American man.

• Which country has the shortest average male?
  Timor-Leste has held the category of the shortest average male for more than 100 years. Men in this country are an average of 62 inches tall. In the United States, that's equivalent to the average 12 or 13-year-old boy.

• How does the average American male's height compare to others in the world?
  The United States is 37th in line when comparing the average male height. This might not seem alarming, but given the fact that the U.S. was 3rd in line 100 years ago, it doesn't bode well for American men.

• Why are Americans getting "shorter"?
  While it might not be the sole culprit, nutrition plays a large factor. Today, one out of every five children are obese. Since nutrition plays a role in a person's height along with inherited genes, it could be part of the reason American is "shrinking."

The Weight of the Average Male

• What is the average weight of males aged 20 and over?
  Today, the average male aged 20 and over weighs 195.7 pounds.

• At what age do men have the highest average weight?
  Call it a mid-life crisis, but men weigh an average of 201.7 pounds between the ages of 40 and 49. This is 15 pounds more than the average male in his 20s, and 27 pounds more than the average male in his 80s.

• At what age does the average man start losing weight?
  Just like height, it seems as if the average male really starts dropping weight when he is in his 80s. The average weight for a male 80 and over is just 174.6 pounds.

Fun Facts

• Who is the tallest man in the world?
  The tallest man in the world is from the United States. Robert Wadlow measured 8 feet 11 inches tall.

• Who is the shortest man in the world?
  The shortest man in the world lived in Nepal. Chandra Bahadur Dangi measured just 21 inches. This is the height of many newborn babies in the United States!

Americans stack up well when comparing the average height of a male. While there's not a lot you can do about your height, taking care of your health can help promote healthier and taller generations to come.

Sources and References:

• Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults
  
• eLife
  
• Guinness Book of World Records
  
• Guinness Book of World Records

Study: Average Male Height appeared first on CreditDonkey

MutualOne Bank Online Savings Account: Earn 1.71% APY [Nationwide]

by Andy Truong @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 08:30:20 PDT 2018

Available Nationwide, MutualOne Bank is offering you 1.71% APY on your funds when you fund a Online Savings Account with at least $10. Below is all the information you need to earn a 1.71% APY Rate when you open a MutualOne Online Savings Account. Editor’s Note: If you’re interested in getting a credit card, look at our full... Read More →

The post MutualOne Bank Online Savings Account: Earn 1.71% APY [Nationwide] appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

SoFi Money Review: A No-Fee, High-Yield Checking Account

by Hannah Rounds @ MagnifyMoney

Mon Mar 26 12:37:02 PDT 2018

, the financial institution known for low rates and low fees on student loans and mortgages, is making a foray into consumer checking accounts. SoFi Money™, SoFi’s forthcoming checking account, will offer a high-yield checking account with no account fees. The new account isn’t yet available to the public, so you’ll have to if you … Continue reading SoFi Money Review: A No-Fee, High-Yield Checking Account

The post SoFi Money Review: A No-Fee, High-Yield Checking Account appeared first on MagnifyMoney.

Is the 3,000 AS bonus miles for Rocketmiles long-term?

by hightide @ FlyerTalk Forums

Tue Mar 27 19:12:24 PDT 2018

I found this: https://www.rocketmiles.com/mileage-plan-bonus?utm_campaign=alaska-direct-q12018-mileage-plan-bonus&utm_medium=partner-direct&utm_source=alaska It states that March 31, 2018 is the deadline to take advantage of the bonus. I'm...

The Best CD Rates – March 2018

by Nick Clements @ MagnifyMoney

Tue Mar 27 05:00:21 PDT 2018

Updated March 27, 2018 If you are looking for a better yield on your savings, a high rate CD (certificate of deposit) offered by an online bank could be a good option. Internet-only banks offer much better interest rates than traditional banks. For example, a 12-month CD at Bank of America would require a $10,000 … Continue reading The Best CD Rates – March 2018

The post The Best CD Rates – March 2018 appeared first on MagnifyMoney.

Premier America Credit Union $100 Retirement Account Bonus [CA, TX Residents]

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Sat Mar 24 22:00:26 PDT 2018

Premier America Credit Union promotions and sign-up bonus offers will be updated at this page. Typical offers in the past have been for $100 to $200 in bonus cash. Headquartered in Chatsworth, California and established in 1957, Premier America Credit Union has around 20 locations in California and Texas. If you’re not a resident of either […]

Incredible Bank Online Savings And CD Accounts Promotions, Offers

by Tony Phan @ MoneysMyLife

Sat Mar 24 22:00:47 PDT 2018

Find the latest promotions and offers from Incredible Bank here. Headquartered in Wausau, WI, Incredible Bank is an internet only bank and does not have any physical branch locations to serve customers. By operating online, Incredible Bank is able to offer betters rates than deposit accounts provided by traditional financial institutions. Be sure to compare […]

Best Bank Bonuses in Washington

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Checking Savings

Tue Mar 27 15:33:33 PDT 2018

Editor’s Note: If this is not your state, you can click on the state(s) above to see the Best Bank Bonuses being offered in your selected state(s). If you’re going to Washington to visit the biggest building in the world, or the world famous Space Needle, take some time to also visit the Best Bank Bonuses in Washington.... Keep Reading↠

The post Best Bank Bonuses in Washington appeared first on Bank Checking Savings.

'Ready Player One' takes Spielberg back and to the future

by Jaap Buitendijk @ www.herald-dispatch.com - RSS Results

Tue Mar 27 18:41:45 PDT 2018

This cover image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows director Steven Spielberg on the set of "Ready Player One." (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Chase Freedom Unlimited Card $150 Bonus + 1.5% Cash Back

by Danny Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 15:48:55 PDT 2018

Compare this card with other cash back related cards here. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card, you can earn a $150 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases during your first 3 months of account opening! In addition, you can enjoy an unlimited 1.5% cashback on all purchases in which you can redeem at any time and for... Read More →

The post Chase Freedom Unlimited Card $150 Bonus + 1.5% Cash Back appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Best Student Checking Accounts in 2018

by Luke Landes @ Consumerism Commentary

Mon Dec 04 06:00:55 PST 2017

We’ve complied a list of the best student checking accounts in 2017. Options include online and traditional banks that pay bonuses, high interest rates, or both. As we head into a new year, thousands of young adults will be heading to college for the first time. It’s important to get started on the right financial […]

The post Best Student Checking Accounts in 2018 appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express 5,000 Membership Rewards Points Bonus

by Hilary Tran @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 15:29:03 PDT 2018

The editorial content on this page is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone. Sign up for the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express designed for business owners seeking a low cost and flexible... Read More →

The post Business Green Rewards Card from American Express 5,000 Membership Rewards Points Bonus appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

Debx Review: Score Credit Card Benefits Without the Debt

by Holly Johnson @ Club Thrifty

Tue Mar 20 09:06:51 PDT 2018

The post Debx Review: Score Credit Card Benefits Without the Debt appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Debx is a free financial app that allows you to use your credit cards like a debit card. In this Debx review, learn how connecting your accounts to Debx can help you take advantage or credit card rewards while decreasing your risk of accruing credit card debt.

The post Debx Review: Score Credit Card Benefits Without the Debt appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Banco Votorantim SA (Brazil) Wire Transfer

by banker @ Wire Transfer

Tue Feb 20 03:18:13 PST 2018

Wire transfer is the fastest mode of receiving money in your Banco Votorantim SA (Brazil) account from abroad. You can receive money into your Banco Votorantim SA account from a foreign country via International wire transfer. The transaction is initiated by the sender through a financial institution, however, you need to provide your banking details […]

Chase Ink Business Preferred Card 80,000 Bonus Points + 3 Points Per Dollar on Select Categories

by Anthony Nguyen @ Bank Deal Guy

Tue Mar 27 15:52:10 PDT 2018

Compare this card with other business related cards here. The Chase Ink Business PreferredSM Card offering a sign-up bonus of 80,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. When doing so, you will earn $1,000 towards travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®  and points will be... Read More →

The post Chase Ink Business Preferred Card 80,000 Bonus Points + 3 Points Per Dollar on Select Categories appeared first on Bank Deal Guy.

How to Open Your First IRA Account

by Stephanie Colestock @ Consumerism Commentary

Tue Feb 20 03:00:00 PST 2018

No more excuses. It’s time to open your first IRA account. We walk you through the entire process, including where to open your account. It’s easy! Establishing your first IRA, or Independent Retirement Account, is a big deal in the world of finance. This tax-advantaged account is a great way to save and invest for […]

The post How to Open Your First IRA Account appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

How to Save Money Without Worrying About Coupons

by Abby Hayes @ Consumerism Commentary

Sat Nov 25 05:00:00 PST 2017

Clipping coupons can save you money. It’s also a pain. Here’s how you can save money without coupons or the hassle that comes with them. The retail industry has everyone fooled. Millions of people spend their time scouring for deals, clipping coupons from the newspaper, plugging into the latest mobile deal applications, and sharing their […]

The post How to Save Money Without Worrying About Coupons appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.

The Best Business Savings Account Rates in 2018

by Gabby Hyman @ MagnifyMoney

Fri Mar 23 05:00:40 PDT 2018

In this review we’ll cover: The best business savings accounts — March 2018 Community Bank of Pleasant Hill, 1.32% APY, No minimum balance Community Bank of Raymore, 1.32% APY, $25 minimum deposit to open First Internet Bank, 1.26% APY up to $250,000, ATM services BofI Federal Bank: 1.06% APY, $25,000 minimum balance, ATM access Live … Continue reading The Best Business Savings Account Rates in 2018

The post The Best Business Savings Account Rates in 2018 appeared first on MagnifyMoney.

Sales Engagement: The Power of Plants—Supporting Shoppers’ Lifestyle Goals

by Michael Warnick @ Retail News Insider

Mon Oct 02 21:16:56 PDT 2017

October is Vegetarian Awareness Month, and while full-time vegetarians are still the minority, a growing number of consumers are moving toward a more “flexitarian” lifestyle—reducing their meat and dairy consumption and incorporating more plant-based meals into their diet. Sales Advisors can help shoppers reach these goals by highlighting products and recipes (or recipe adaptations) that […]

6 Ways to Get Free Redbox Codes

by Stephanie Colestock @ Consumerism Commentary

Thu Nov 23 14:54:00 PST 2017

Redbox is a great way to watch moves. And while it’s cheap, you can do even better. Here are six ways to get free Redbox codes. I’ll be honest: I can’t even remember the last time I paid just to watch a movie. Between streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and my Amazon Fire Stick, I […]

The post 6 Ways to Get Free Redbox Codes appeared first on Consumerism Commentary.