Key takeaways Travel agents have evolved from simply booking flights and hotels to providing personalized and authentic travel experiences that fit within budget. The cost of using a travel agent varies, but most agencies charge a service fee that typically ranges from $100 to $500. In some cases, credit card…
Hispanolistic Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Online lenders are more likely to have accessible loan requirements for startups than bank lenders SBA loans are an option, with the SBA approving thousands of startup business loans per year If you can’t get a business loan, try alternatives like…
Key takeaways As of March 2025, new federal rules will remove all medical debt from consumer credit reports, including unpaid balances over $500. Previously, medical debt over $500 could appear on credit reports after one year in collections, but this will no longer be the case once the rule takes…
Most of Bankrate’s best regional banks of 2025 offer customers high yields on deposits as well as low account fees, low to reasonable minimum balance requirements and digital-banking conveniences. Many also offer convenient, user-friendly mobile apps and online banking services. Some of the top-tier regional banks have very few branches…
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A perfect storm is brewing for millions of federal student loan borrowers, who may experience dramatic increases in their monthly…
As the Biden administration exits Washington, President-elect Donald Trump inherits a federal student loan system that looks much different than…
Republican lawmakers in Congress are circulating a number of proposals to cut federal spending as part of a massive bill…
Wildfires in southern California have burned at least 47,000 acres in the Los Angeles area—the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire,…
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Key takeaways Most bank failures end in a sale. When a bank fails, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will take on the bank’s troubled assets and healthy banks may buy the rest. Customer accounts may be closed when a bank fails and checks distributed for…
Dept Managmnt
Dealing with tax debt can be overwhelming. Whether caused by financial setbacks or errors in filing, owing money to the Internal Revenue Service…
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No matter how often bank regulators, international standard setters, rating agencies, or financial reform advocates warn banks that climate change is serious, the…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass is attainable by using Southwest credit card welcome bonuses to meet the 135,000-point requirement. Applying for a…
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Key takeaways In general, stick to a traditional dealership if you want to negotiate, and buy online if you want the convenience of home shopping without high-pressure salespeople. Shopping online means viewing more vehicle options than you could by just visiting dealerships. While buying a car online usually grants you…
Tax credits and deductions are two powerful ways to save money on your taxes. Credits cut your tax bill dollar-for-dollar — they tend to be most valuable type of tax benefit for most taxpayers — while deductions reduce the amount of income subject to tax, which lowers your overall bill.…
Key takeaways Vacant homes have a higher risk of damage or vandalism. Vacant home insurance can be included as an endorsement to a standard homeowners policy or purchased as a standalone policy, but it generally does not cover personal property or water damage. The criteria for a home to be…
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup January 25, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Chicago bank first failure of 2025Consumer credit delinquencies still risingMedian weekly earnings growth outpaced inflation in 2024More consumers making minimum credit card paymentsMortgage rates fall a littleMortgage applications stableAll…
Key takeaways Precomputed car loans front-load interest payments much more than simple interest car loans, but you will still pay more interest at the beginning of a loan regardless of the way interest is calculated. While you’ll pay the same amount of interest over the full loan term, precomputed car…
Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass lets you designate a companion who can fly with you for free (minus taxes and fees) on any Southwest flight you book with cash or points for up to two years. You can score a Companion Pass by earning 135,000 qualifying points or taking…
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images Key takeaways The 60-day rollover rule typically kicks in when you transfer money between retirement accounts, but this applies to other types of accounts as well. Not rolling over your account within 60 days of receiving your distribution can cost you. A direct rollover is usually your…
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images Zelle is a mobile payment application that enables you to send money electronically from your bank account to the accounts of family members or friends. Conveniently, the money can appear in the recipient’s account almost instantly, and you don’t need to bother handling cash or writing a…
Key takeaways Your ability to pay rent with your credit card depends on your landlord’s rules. If your landlord doesn’t accept credit card payments directly, you might have to use a third-party service like Plastiq — but the processing fees involved will likely cancel out any rewards you earn, so…
Key takeaways Automatic transfers can help grow your savings with no additional effort on your part. There are different types of automatic transfers, including direct deposit split, recurring savings transfers and round-up savings programs. We all know the importance of saving money, but life’s daily demands can make it challenging…
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