Home » Consumer News
Capital One (NYSE: COF) Introduces “InterestPlus” Online Savings Account
Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) announced late last week that it added InterestPlus Online Savings to its line of high-yield direct banking products. The savings account currently offers a 1.6 percent annual percentage... More of this article »
SunTrust Inc. (NYSE: STI) Expands Live Solid Initiative with Budgeting Application for Facebook
SunTrust Banks, Inc. (STI) has launched Daily Dollar on Facebook. It’s the bank’s latest application in support of its Live Solid initiative. Daily Dollar taps into two complementary cultural shifts – a desire to rebalance priorities... More of this article »
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) and JP Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) Report Growth in 15-Year Mortgage Market
As more homeowners look to refinance, Wells Fargo (WFC) and JP Morgan Chase (JPM) are seeing surprisingly substantial increases in the origination of 15-year mortgages. Through November, Wells Fargo saw 15-year mortgage originations... More of this article »
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Refinance Rates Set to Increase before Christmas
Wells Fargo refinance rates have recently reached new all-time lows but are now beginning to creep upwards. During the last week in November, refinance rates for mortgages sat around 4.49% for 30 year fixed-rate loans. Since then,... More of this article »
Wells Fargo offering 4.15% 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Refinance Rates (NYSE: WFC)
Wells Fargo’s mortgage refinance rates have hit another all-time low. Currently borrowers are getting mortgage refinances at 4.15% for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are at 4.54%, which is just above its... More of this article »
Bank of America’s (NYSE: BAC) Refinance Rates Drop Even Further, Now at 4.55%
Bank of America’s (NYSE: BAC) refinance rates have continued to delve lower as the month of December begins. According to the most recent data, Bank of America’s 30 year refinance rate is currently at an all time low with an... More of this article »
Citibank (NYSE: C) Cancels Overdraft Protection for Customers with Balanced Checkbooks
Citibank (NYSE: C) and other firms offer overdraft protection because it’s a very profitable business. Banks can collect massive fees and interest when customers overdraft while using their overdraft protection services. It appears... More of this article »
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Offers Customers Fraud Prevention Tips For The Holidays
Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) produced a press release last week offering its customers safety tips to help avoid being defrauded during the holiday shopping season. The advice is for both online shopping, along with transactions done... More of this article »
SunTrust, Inc. (NYSE: STI), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) tout loyalty programs to increase revenue
Earning miles with Delta Air Miles with a travel debit card from SunTrust (STI). Wells Fargo (WFC) will let you apply reward points towards a home equity loan. And Regions Financial’s allows you to earn 4% cash back on downloads... More of this article »
Citibank (NYSE: C) Unannounced Account Closing Highlights Necessity for Multiple Credit Cards
With credit card companies such as Citibank (NYSE: C), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) and others raising interest rates on their credit cards, cutting limits and in some cases closing down cards without any... More of this article »
Credit Cards Continue to Gouge Consumers
The Credit Card Industry has drawn significant criticism lately, as consumers have begun to focus on their cost of funds, just as institutions do. While Congress has debated and passed new legislation set to curtail these actions,... More of this article »
Consumer Alert: Fake Credit Unions Ripping-Off Customers with Advanced-Fee Loan Scams
Con artists come out of the woodwork during times of uncertainty and take advantage of those who are desperate for help, and this last recession has been no exception. It’s been reported that a new wave of fake credit unions are... More of this article »
U.S. Personal Bankruptcy to Reach Near Record Levels in 2009
The number of people finding bankruptcy in the United States will likely be the second-highest total ever. With stagnant wages and increasing levels of unemployment, nearly 130,000 families filed for bankruptcy last month alone. The... More of this article »
Vanguard Reports Majority of 401(k) Account Balances Have Recovered
Investment giant Vanguard has released a new report that shows what’s really happening with consumer’s 401(k) balances. The new report released by Vanguard takes into consideration the low in March and the recent run-up in stocks... More of this article »
Editorial: Personal Responsibility Still Matters in the Post Overdraft Reform World
As legislation works its way through Congress, consumers will likely be no longer hit with several $30 or $40 fees whenever they overdraft their checking accounts, but that doesn’t mean that consumers need not worry about making... More of this article »
Retirement Savings Contribution Credit Offers Tax Benefits for Retirement Savers
In the last several years, Congress has made it much more desirable to save for retirement. One of the tax credits which was introduced provides tax credits for low income earners that are putting money away for retirement, called... More of this article »
How Foreclosures, Short Sales and Bankruptcies Affect Your Credit Score
Consumers have known that short sales, foreclosures and bankruptcies can have significant negative impacts on their credit reports and credit scores. A new report was recently released that details how much your credit score will be... More of this article »
Using Cash While Traveling Overseas: How to Avoid Credit Card Junk Fees
If you were traveling abroad a decade ago, you would probably take money in the form of traveler’s checks in order to pay for the good and services while you’re there. Times have changed; plastic has become the preferred means... More of this article »
First Time Homebuyer’s Tax Credit Set to Expire November 30th
The wildly popular first-time homebuyers tax credit that was included as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is set to expire on November 30th. The first-time homebuyers tax credit has been wildly popular, so much so... More of this article »
Mortgage Interest Rates Hit New Lows
Mortgage interest rates are sitting at about the lowest they have ever been. The averaged 30-year fixed rate loan is hovering at about 4.97% and the average 15-year loan is sitting at just 4.25% as of the week of September 25th, 2009. These... More of this article »
Certificate of Deposit Rates to Drop Even Lower
Certificate of Deposit interest rates are likely to continue to drop because of a new rate cap that will be going into effect. Starting in January of 2010, the federal government will begin to index the interest rates that major national... More of this article »
Bank Of America (NYSE: BAC) To Limit Overdraft Fees, Offer Opt-Out Options
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) announced that it will cap the fees it charges when customers overdraw accounts and place an annual limit on the number of times a customer can overdraw their accounts on point of sale transactions. The... More of this article »
American Banking News Announces Free Online Savings Account Guide for Consumers
American Banking News is proud to announce the release of a comprehensive guide for consumers that are looking to get a better return with their savings account. Everyone should have some amount of cash in liquid savings, whether it... More of this article »