Banking / Loans December 2010 Archive

First it was the robo-signers.  Now automated appraisal programs are causing trouble for homeowners. For a while, home appraisals were just a formality.  Banks wanted to know what a home was ... Read More

In the past, free credit scores were rare.  You generally had to sign up for a "trial" service (and provide a credit card) or get scores from a cooperative lender. Starting ... Read More

Credit unions seem just like banks, but there are a few differences. A major difference (and a criticism that banks regularly raise) is that credit unions don't pay taxes -- they're ... Read More

It's hard to earn anything at the bank these days.  Interest rates are painfully low, so there's little incentive to save.   But what if you want to save and ... Read More

PBS recently aired a 5-part series covering the mortgage crisis.  If you want to get up to speed on how loans brought the economy to a screeching halt, the Making ... Read More

Writing checks this holiday season? If so, keep your eyes on your bank account. Businesses and charities can convert your paper check into an electric document. This ... Read More

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) can pay more than savings accounts, but there's a tradeoff:  your money is locked up for a while. What if you need the money or you find ... Read More

Do you comparison shop before shelling out hard-earned cash? Most people do -- but not always at the most important times.  According to LendingTree, 96% of us say we comparison shop.  ... Read More

Does your credit suffer when you take money out of a CD before it matures? There's a lot of confusion out there about how credit works.  This week, Liz Pulliam Weston ... Read More

Mint.com tracks spending for millions of consumers. By accessing bank accounts, credit cards, and other accounts from various locations, Mint puts data in one place -- automatically updating information and ... Read More

Identity theft can happen any time of year.  However, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) reminds you to keep your wits about you every holiday season. You may be busy ... Read More

Savings account interest rates are at abysmal lows these days.  Consider yourself lucky if you're getting 1% APY. Why are rates so low?  Just a few years ago you could do ... Read More

Checks get used less and less.  Most people seem to be happy about that, but not everybody. Marketplace reports that check printing companies hope to keep checkwriting alive.  Their campaigns say ... Read More

ING Direct is a big name in the online banking world.  Now they're helping little savers with the Kids Savings Account Previously, you couldn't open an ING Direct account for a ... Read More