Banking / Loans: Most Popular Articles

Annual Percentage Yield - APY
Annual percentage yield (APY) is a tool for evaluating how much a deposit earns you. Here you'll find out what is unique about APY, how to calculate it, and how to get the best APY.

Free Credit Report
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires that U.S. consumers be entitled to a free credit report each year. Don't be tricked into signing up for a subscription service. You can access your annual free credit report online or call to have it sent to you.

First Time Home Buyer Loans
First time home buyer loans allow buyers to get into a house more easily. However, just because you’re a first time home buyer doesn’t mean you should use a first time home buyer loan. These programs have restrictions and strings attached. While they are a perfect fit for some, first time home buyer loans are the wrong choice for others.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a way to compare the costs of a loan. Although it’s not perfect, it gives you a nice standard for comparing the percentage costs on different loans. This page covers the basics of APR, and how you can calculate it.

Online Bank Account Cons
Online bank accounts are great. They typically offer high rates for web-savvy saver. However, the high returns come at a cost. Here are a few reasons NOT to use online bank accounts.

ING Direct - Banking Reviews
This review covers the ING Direct online savings account. Learn the basics about the ING Direct offer, and find out about any extras.

FHA Loans
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) runs several programs to promote home ownership. In most cases, FHA loans are mortgages obtained with the help of the FHA. With a small down payment, buyers can purchase a home. FHA loans make it easier for people to qualify for a mortgage, but they’re not for everybody.

Loan Amortization Calculator - A Free Online Loan Amortization Calculator With Data Table
Loan Amortization Calculator A Loan Amortization Calculator For Any Purpose The loan amortization calculator

APR Calculator - A Free Online APR Calculator
APR Calculator Calculate Annual Percentage Rate (APR) The APR calculator is intended to help you figure

Build Credit
If you don't have a history of using credit, lenders don't know if you are a good customer. You need to build credit. Find out more about why you should get started, and we'll cover some easy ways to build credit.

I Need Money Blues
At some point in our lives, we all reach the point where we say “I need money”. If you’re at that point, here are some ideas on getting the money you need. I hope to steer you in the right direction and cure the "I Need Money Blues".

Compound Interest Calculator - A Free Online Compound Interest Calculator
Compound Interest Calculator A Compound Interest Calculator For Savers The compound interest calculator

High Yield Savings Accounts
A number of banks offer a High Yield Savings Account. What exactly does that mean, and how is it different from any other account? Let’s look at what these banks mean when they refer to a high yield savings account, and where you can find them.

Cashier's Checks
Cashier’s checks are checks issued by banks. Cashier’s checks are most often used when a payee is not certain that a check will clear, or when rapid settlement is necessary. Here, we’ll cover some of the details on cashier’s checks.

Bank CD Rates
Make sure that you fully understand how bank CD rates work. This resource informs you about how bank cd rates are determined. You'll know what to look for, and we'll direct you towards the best bank cd rates.

Savings Bonds - Overview
Savings bonds are really easy to buy. This page covers the basics of buying bonds in person or online.

CD Basics
Certificates of Deposit (CD’s) are one of the safest investment vehicles out there. Learn how they work, how to get the best CD rates, and what pitfalls to watch out for.

Simple Interest
Simple interest is the most basic type of interest. In order to understand how various types of transactions work, it helps to have a complete understanding of how interest works. We'll cover the basic idea, the simple interest calculation, and the limitations of simple interest.

7 Steps to Open Bank Account
If you want to open a bank account, you'll want to read this roadmap. I'll cover the 7 essential steps to open a bank account, whether you want to open a bank account online or in person. You'll have an open bank account in no time.

HSBC OnlineSavings Account
HSBC does business in a few select regions. However, you can take advantage of their services anywhere with their HSBC OnlineSavings Account. At the time of this writing, the HSBC OnlineSavings Account offers one of the highest-paying savings accounts (without imposing fees or minimums).

CD Interest Rate Scorecard
The CD Interest Rate Scorecard highlights some of the leading CD interest rates. It is most useful for a quick answer on where to stash your cash. If you really want the best rates, you can start here and continue on for even better deals.

CapOne High Yield Savings
A prominent online bank offering is the Capital One High Yield Savings account. This is like a lot of other online bank accounts. However, there are some unique features to the High Yield Savings account.

Internet Bank Accounts
While internet bank accounts can help you earn more interest, you have to make sure you get the right one. Compare the most common features of internet bank accounts and decide which ones are most useful to you. We’ve conducted reviews of the most popular accounts, and you’ll know exactly which internet bank account to open.

How Subsidized Loans Work
Subsidized loans are loans for which the borrower does not pay interest. Interest would normally be charged periodically according to the annual percentage rate (APR). However, with a subsidized loan the interest is paid by another party.

Emergency Cash Loans
Emergency cash can come from a variety of places. Ideally, you’ve got an emergency fund built up. If not, you may need an emergency cash loan. This page covers emergency cash loans, and the best places to find them.

Cashier's Check Fraud
Cashier’s check fraud is one of the most popular crimes in the internet age. Once thought to be safe, cashier’s checks now require extra attention. Make sure you know all the red flags of cashier’s check fraud so you can avoid expensive scams.

Home Equity Loans
Home equity loans allow a homeowner to borrow money by pledging the house as collateral. Borrowers who want to borrow a relatively large amount of money or who don’t have good credit often find the home equity loan to be attractive. Read up on the basics and get some tips on managing your home equity loan.

How to Write a Check - Step 4
When you first get your checkbook, you may not know how to write a check. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. This visual example shows how to write a check with pictures and descriptions of each step. In addition, you learn how to write a check in a way that reduces the chance of a scammer altering the check.

Debt Consolidation Programs
Debt consolidation programs are usually just a big loan that pays off other smaller loans. They can be very beneficial to borrowers, but these programs also have their pitfalls. Read up on how you should use debt consolidation programs and how to find the best deal.

How to Write a Check - Step 5
When you first get your checkbook, you may not know how to write a check. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. This visual example shows how to write a check with pictures and descriptions of each step. In addition, you learn how to write a check in a way that reduces the chance of a scammer altering the check.

Bank Savings Accounts
Bank savings accounts are a critical part of everybody's financial picture. If you need a safe place to keep money, a bank savings account is often a good choice. Here’s a quick review of what savings accounts are and why you might want to have a bank savings account.

FHA Home Loan Pitfalls
FHA home loans are not perfect for all borrowers. Of course, they make home ownership a reality for a number of buyers. In fact, they’re the perfect choice for buyers with a certain profile – who might otherwise be forced to rely on predatory lenders. However, FHA home loans have some drawbacks that you just need to be aware of.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure
Deed in lieu of foreclosure is a way to get out of a home loan...

GMAC Bank Money Market Savings
GMAC Bank, part of the General Motors organization, has an online savings account worthy of review. GMAC Bank raves about how they keep costs low and pass the savings on to you. This page is a GMAC Bank Money Market Savings Account review.

Bank CD Basics
Bank CDs are among the safest investments available. To get the most from your bank CD investing, you should know how CDs work, where to find them, and what to watch out for. Our bank CD resource page guides you through the process.

Money Market Funds
Money market funds are a popular cash management tool. Before you use money market funds, make sure you know what they are, how they work, and what risks you might be taking. We'll also cover some of the best places to find money market funds.

ChexSystems Reporting
Readers often ask what happens if you bounce a check. Will it affect your credit score? The answer is no, but you should still avoid writing rubber checks. ChexSystems tracks and reports people who have had trouble in the past, and some banks will deny you an account if ChexSystems has bad information on you.

FICO Credit Score
One of the most commonly used scoring tools is the FICO credit score. It’s important to understand how the FICO credit score is determined. There are just a few pieces to the puzzle, and focusing on these pieces can help you improve your FICO credit score.

Start Up Business Loans
Start up business loans are difficult to come by. If you’re not having luck with other sources, let’s dig in and start the process of winning a start up business loan.

Home Equity Loan Tax Deduction
One nice feature of home equity loans is that borrowers may get a tax deduction on interest paid for the loan. Before you try this, you should understand that the tax deduction is not unlimited. Find out how the tax deduction really works.

How to Write a Check - Step 6
When you first get your checkbook, you may not know how to write a check. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. This visual example shows how to write a check with pictures and descriptions of each step. In addition, you learn how to write a check in a way that reduces the chance of a scammer altering the check.

Auto Loans
If you're buying a car and short on cash, you'll need an auto loan. Be prepared before you head out to the lot. To save yourself thousands, use these 6 keys to a great auto loan. Then you can ride around knowing you got the best deal.

NFL Checks
Want to support your favorite team of touchdowners and tacklers? NFL checks are one more way to do so. More and more fans ask how they can get their favorite NFL team on personal checks. It’s not easy. This page gives you a few ideas on how you can get NFL checks.

Print Your Own Checks
Before you print your own checks, make sure you know how to do it correctly. You can save a lot of time and money, but simple mistakes can ruin all of your gains. This page will show you how to successfully print your own checks and avoid hassles.

Annuities Overview
An annuity is a contract between the buyer and an insurance company. In general, the insurance company promises to do something with the buyer’s money. This page should serve as a general overview of annuities. After you understand the concept you can look into the various annuity types.

How to Write a Check - Step 1
When you first get your checkbook, you may not know how to write a check. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. This visual example shows how to write a check with pictures and descriptions of each step. In addition, you learn how to write a check in a way that reduces the chance of a scammer altering the check.

ING Electric Orange Checking
ING Direct offers an interest bearing checking account with no fees. This page describes the free ING Direct Electric Orange checking account. Learn how this free checking account works, and find out what the pros and cons are.

Credit Unions
Most people never notice the differences between credit unions and banks. However, as an educated consumer looking to get the best deals (that is you, right?) you should know how the institutions differ. By reading these fast facts about credit unions, you’ll know what to expect.

2nd Mortgage Quick Tips
2nd mortgages can be tempting because you can get a large amount of money. However, there are some common pitfalls you should keep an eye out for. Take a quick glance over these 2nd mortgage quick-tips. You’ll be in a better position to negotiate the best 2nd mortgage.

Small Business Loans
Working with banks on small business loans can be easy or difficult – it just depends on how prepared you are. Follow this formula for obtaining small business loans and you can move on to the more important things.

Second Mortgages
When you need money, sometimes a second mortgage is the answer. Second mortgages serve a variety of purposes, and are described with various names. This page is a basic overview of second mortgages, how they are used, and disadvantages of second mortgages.

HSBC - Online Checking Account
Consumers looking for a good free online checking account might be pleased with HSBC. They offer online bill pay, free checking, and the ability to zap money back and forth to various banks. Perhaps most importantly, you can move money almost instantly between the online checking account and HSBC’s OnlineSavings account for a competitive interest rate.

How to Write a Check - Step 2
When you first get your checkbook, you may not know how to write a check. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. This visual example shows how to write a check with pictures and descriptions of each step. In addition, you learn how to write a check in a way that reduces the chance of a scammer altering the check.

Choosing a Bank
Choosing the best bank for your needs is easy. First, you have to figure out exactly what you need from a bank. Once you know what to look for, you can quickly evaluate the competition and end up with the best bank account out there. See how to choose the right bank for your needs, and get some ideas for starting your checklist.

How to Write a Check - Step 3
When you first get your checkbook, you may not know how to write a check. It's really easy once you get the hang of it. This visual example shows how to write a check with pictures and descriptions of each step. In addition, you learn how to write a check in a way that reduces the chance of a scammer altering the check.

How to Fix Your Credit Report
In order to get the best loan rates, sometimes you need to fix your credit report. For a variety of reasons, credit reporting agencies may have bad information. To fix your credit report, follow these simple steps. Then go back and get the loan terms you deserve.

How IRAs Work
If you have to save for your own retirement, an IRA is probably one of the first things you should look into. While IRAs can be complicated, you can accomplish a lot if you just understand some basic concepts. We'll cover some of the basic IRA material that you need to know, and you can work your way toward your retirement goals.

Free Checking
Before you sign up for a free checking account, you should understand how free checking works. We'll cover the typical free checking offer and what services should be included. You'll also find out why banks offer free checking.

Peer to Peer Lending Overview
Peer to peer lending allows you to skip the bank and borrow from individuals. You can borrow from complete strangers or just use peer to peer lending services to structure loans between friends and family. This page covers how peer to peer lending works, the major services, and how you can take advantage of it.

Emigrant Direct American Dream
A review of the Emigrant Direct American Dream Savings Account. Overview of the product and highlights. Contribute your own Emigrant Direct American Dream Savings Account review so that others know what to expect.

Direct Deposit
Direct deposit is a great way to move money electronically. You don't have to mail or sign any checks over to the bank, and your money tends to move more quickly when you use direct deposit. Read on for more information about direct deposit and setting up direct deposit for your accounts.

Getting a Mortgage
If you're considering a home purchase in the near future -- or within a few years -- you should brush up on your mortgage knowledge. This page tells you what you should do before applying, what to watch for during the process, and how to use a mortgage after you've bought your home.

Discount Points
Points are dollars you pay as a percentage of your loan. A common use for points is to secure a lower interest rate on your loan. We'll cover how points work and highlight some ways to calculate whether points are worth the expense.

Online Banking 101
Online banking allows you to manage your money more easily, and earn a competitive return. This page helps you get started out on the right foot.

Debt to Income Ratios
Debt to income ratios give lenders a quick rule of thumb to determine how much you can borrow. They try to keep loans affordable by keeping payments to a modest percentage of your total income. With debt to income ratios, they can quickly figure out a reasonable monthly payment – and use that number to calculate your total loan amount.

Surprising CD Rates
Why would short term CD rates be the same as (or better than) longer term CD rates? You might expect that longer term CDs should pay a better APY than shorter term ones. Sometimes that’s not the case. When this happens, the banks are telling you something.

What to do in a Bank Robbery
Bank robbery is too common in the US. If you’re ever in the bank when there is a bank robbery, you need to know how to handle yourself. A few simple tips will help you survive the incident and perhaps catch the robber.

How to Write a Check Safely
You probably already know how to write a check. The question is: do you know how to write a check safely? By tapping into your checking account, scammers can wreak havoc with your finances. If you know how to write a check using some of the techniques below, you’ll improve your chances against scammers.

Brokered CDs
Brokered CDs are simply CDs offered by a financial intermediary. It’s important that you understand how to buy brokered CDs, how you’re paying for them, and what to watch out for. Let’s cover some fast facts about brokered CDs.

CD Penalties
CD's are great savings vehicles for some. However, the most commonly overlooked drawback to CD's is the early withdrawal penalty. Read all about CD penalties, how they work, and how you might be able to avoid paying a penalty.

Online Bill Pay FAQ
Online bill pay can help you manage your bills without having to worry about paper bills and checks. This FAQ covers the various types of online bill pay and how you can set up online bill pay quickly and easily.

B of A - Keep the Change
Need some creative ways to save more? You might look at the Keep the Change program from Bank of America. Bank of America will round up every Visa debit card purchase to the nearest dollar and deposit the difference in your account. They’ll even throw in a few bucks. This page explains the Bank of America Keep the Change program.

Dollars Rowing
Dollars Rowing. By Sutherland (John) Productions, Inc. Public Domain Photo Courtesy of the Internet Archive.

How to Ruin Your Credit
Having access to other people’s money is overrated. If you’re of the same mind, you may want to completely eliminate any chance of somebody lending you money. Here are some tips on how to destroy your credit score.

Before You Co-Sign a Loan
Co-signing happens when somebody promises to back up a loan for somebody else. Somebody may ask you if you’ll co-sign a loan for them. They’re asking you to become legally liable to pay off a debt if they are unable to pay it off themselves. This page discusses co-signing from a co-signer’s perspective.

Bank Accounts For Kids
Want to get your children interested in saving? Take them on a Savings Safari. A Savings Safari is a program where banks and credit unions open a bank account for kids and make the process fun and interesting. Over the years, this will hopefully keep your child interested in saving and learning about money.

Interest With Free Checking
Free checking accounts are wonderful because you get a lot of features for free. However, you have to give up a very important feature: earnings on your free checking account balance. For those of us who want to earn a little extra, there is a way to earn interest and still have a free checking account.

Interest Only Loans
A quick overview of how interest only loans work. Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of interest only loans, and resources for calculating payments on these loans.

How to Find a Co-Signer
Co-signing happens when somebody promises to back up a loan for somebody else. If you apply for a loan and you don’t qualify, you may need a co-signer. This person’s strong credit or higher income may help you qualify for the loan you want. This page discusses co-signing from a borrower’s perspective.

Find the Best Savings Account
When shopping for a savings account, you need to find a bank that will give you a good deal. The best savings accounts are safe, pay a competitive yield, and make your life easy. This page maps out how you can find the best savings account.

Money Market Account vs Fund
Money market accounts are bank alternatives to money market mutual funds. What’s the difference? The main factors are risk and choices. Let’s do a comparison of money market funds vs. money market accounts so you can make the best choice.

Debit or Credit?
When you purchase with plastic you’re often asked if you’d like to make it a debit or credit transaction. What’s the difference? The choice you make determines how your purchase is processed, who pays the bill for that processing, how long it takes, and what your rights are. See how interchange fees work and just how important your choice is.

Skimming Scams
Don’t fall prey to ATM skimming scams. Scammers can quickly read a card’s information and use it to access your account fraudulently. With a small device, your card’s information gets stored so that criminals can easily get to it later. See how skimming devices work and how you can avoid getting stung.

How Amortization Works
Amortization is the elimination of a debt over time. With an amortization schedule, you can see how payments are applied to principal and interest. This page explains amortization, and then you can generate an amortization schedule with our free online calculator.

Debit vs Credit
When you use plastic, you've got to choose between debit vs credit. Which is best? Like all things in life, the debit vs credit decision involves tradeoffs. This page covers the pros and cons and helps you decide whether you should use debit vs credit in your everyday life.

Debit Cards
Debit cards are similar to credit cards, except debit cards pull money out of your checking account. Debit cards do not create or increase a loan like credit cards do.

Floating Checks
Check float refers to the amount of time it takes for money to leave your checking account. Check float helps to keep some people out of trouble, but it will increasingly cause problems for those who rely on it. Make sure you understand what you’re doing if you’re taking advantage of the float.

Bank of America Military Bank
Bank of America Military Bank offers services to a wide variety of government employees. The program offers some special incentives to those who qualify. Bank of America Military Bank is a part of the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA).

Business Bank Loans
When a business first starts operation, a business bank loan is often what keeps things moving. How do you get a good business bank loan? It depends on the nature of your business. This page is intended for smaller businesses trying to find funding through business bank loans.

Know Your Bank's Hold Policy
Does your bank place a hold on your funds? It’s important to know how a hold works, what can cause it, and what your bank’s rules are. Most importantly, you need to know how to keep your bank from freezing your entire account.

Open a Credit Union Account
Opening an account at a credit union is fairly easy. This page covers the three basic steps required to open a credit union account.

Phishing Scams
To protect yourself, you need to know exactly how phishing scams work and how to avoid becoming a victim. This article covers common tricks used in phishing scams, and gives you tips on detecting fraudulent emails. Also, we'll cover the steps that victims of phishing scams need to take.

Roth 401k Overview
Roth 401k is simply another choice for 401k plans. It allows participants to defer after-tax salary dollars. Find out the basics of Roth 401k plans and how Roth 401k is different.

WaMu Free Checking Review
The Washington Mutual free checking offer is stirring things up in the banking world. While almost everybody has a free checking account, the Washington Mutual free checking account offers just a bit more. This page gives you the details on what to expect.

Line of Credit
A line of credit is a pool of available money that you can borrow. This page covers the basics of how lines of credit work.

Prosper.com
Prosper.com is a social lending site. Instead of borrowing from a bank, you can borrow money from other individuals. One or more people may offer to loan you money, and they may even compete with each other to get you a better rate. This page covers the basics of Prosper.com, and gives you resources for more information.

Student Loans 101
Student loans are a way to pay for higher education. Whether you love debt or you hate it, student loans are an investment in your future. They can make an education possible when there is no other way. This page covers the basics of student loans and points you towards additional resources.

Mortgage
Definition of a mortgage. A mortgage is an agreement to...

Closing Costs
A description of how to manage closing costs. Just because one provider has lower closing costs doesn't mean it's your best bet. You have to look at your mortgage as a complete package -- including closing costs, interest rates, restrictions, and other features.

Stafford Loans
Stafford Loans are available through US Department of Education funding programs. This page covers the basics of Stafford Student Loans. A unique characteristic of Stafford Loans is that they're easy to qualify for in most cases.

Roth 401k Pitfalls
Roth 401k offers the ability to have a different tax status for your money, but there may be some Roth 401k pitfalls. Compare Roth 401k plans to traditional plans before you make a choice with your retirement savings. This page highlights the disadvantages of Roth 401k.

Certified Check
A check guaranteed by the bank to be good.

Short Sale
Definition of short sale. When related to loans, a short sale is the sale of an asset for less than the loan balance...

How Credit Scores Work
A credit score is just a number. The credit score tells lenders how likely you are to default on a loan. By understanding how credit scores work, you can figure out what lenders are looking for and how you can improve your credit score.

Emergency Cash
Emergency cash can get you through hard times. To make it work for you, you need to set your fund up properly. This page covers how to manage your emergency cash, how much to have, and ways to think about your emergency savings.

Overdraft Protection Plans
We all make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes involve writing a check for money that isn’t available in our bank account. If you face this risk, you’ll want to know about overdraft protection plans.

Variable Annuity
A variable annuity is an annuity with exposure to investments. If a fixed annuity pays a fixed rate of return, a variable annuity pays a variable rate of return. Before making a final decision for or against a variable annuity, you should understand how they work.

How to Get the Best CD Rates
Certificates of Deposit (CD’s) are among the safest investment vehicles out there. To get the best CD rates, you have to know where to look and what to do. This page helps you find the best CD rates available.

Don't Always Bank on Annuities
Banks sell a lot of annuities. To be more precise, a person at the bank acts as an agent and sells an annuity issued by an insurance company. Sometimes the annuity is exactly what the customer needed. However, there are too many stories about consumers walking out of the bank with a product they didn’t need. This page offers a few bits of information to help consumers make better decisions.

Virgin Money
Virgin Money is a person to person lending service that allows you to structure formal loans with people you know. Through person to person lending, you skip the bank and borrow from an individual (or group of individuals). This page is an overview of Virgin Money and the various person to person lending options there.

Payday Loans
Payday loans are short term loans you can use to get through a rough spot. Before you use a payday loan, make sure you understand the costs and risks. This page gives you a quick overview of how they work, and ideas on what you can do to avoid using payday loans.

Subprime -Definition
Subprime refers to a borrower that is not 'prime'. These subprime borrowers...

HSA Providers
Almost any insured bank or credit union can be your HSA provider. If they can offer an IRA (individual retirement account) they can offer an HSA. However, that doesn’t mean they have to offer HSAs. This page provides an overview of HSA offerings and listing of HSA providers.

CD Maturity
Maturity is the date when your CD term ends. At that time, your agreement with the bank comes to an end: the bank can stop paying you the interest they promised, and you can take your cash and walk with it. Find out the details of CD Maturities and why maturity dates are important.

Lender Related Closing Costs
Here are some common closing costs that will be specific to your lender. When comparing mortgages, it's important to look closely at the closing costs from each lender. Some closing costs will be the same no matter who you get your loan from – such as document recording fees that you pay to your local government. However, other costs can change or be negotiated.

Bigger Down Payment vs Points
Home buyers sometimes ask about the difference between discount points and a down payment. Each of these items is a cost that comes out of your pocket up front, so they seem quite similar. To your current budget, they’re identical. However, over the long term you’ll find that they do very different things.

How Credit Bureaus Work
Credit bureaus play a vital role in your borrowing life. They serve as your reputation in a world where the banker doesn't know you. The credit bureaus collect information about you and pass it on whenever somebody needs to get the scoop on you.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages
Adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) are home loans with a rate that varies. As interest rates rise and fall in general, rates on adjustable rate mortgages follow. These can be useful loans for getting into a home, but they are also risky. This page covers the basics of adjustable rate mortgages.

Beneficiary
A beneficiary is a person who receives assets at a contract owner’s death. The contract owner picks the beneficiary at opening the account, or later. There are two basic types of beneficiaries: primary beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries.

Loan to Value Ratio
The loan to value ratio (LTV) tells you how much of a property is being financed...

ING Direct Orange for Business
ING Direct has an online savings account for businesses. This page gives an overview of the ING Direct Orange for Business savings account.

What it Means to Annuitize
When you annuitize, you "flip the switch" and and start taking income from an annuity. Annuitizing is a serious decision, but it's not required. This page covers what happens when you annuitize, and whether or not you should do so.

How CDs Work
If you’re just getting started with bank CDs, you should learn the basics. You’ll need to know some basic terms and concepts to take advantage of CDs. Once you know the rules of the road you can get started

High Risk Mortgages
A quick overview of mortgages that have caused problems for borrowers. You'll find a description of each one along with links to more detailed resources. Make sure you know what you're getting into if you use one of these loans.

Negative Amortization Loans
A negative amortization loan is a type of loan that doesn’t reduce your balance. In other words, you're not paying back any principal. In fact, with a negative amortization loan your loan balance increases over time.

Fixed Rate Mortgages
Fixed rate mortgages allow a borrower to know in advance what all future payments will be. The rate on a fixed rate mortgage should be competitive, and depends on what general interest rates are at the time. To learn all the details, including how to get the best fixed rate mortgage, read this article.

E-Loan Savings Account
E-Loan has an online savings account worthy of review. The E-Loan savings account has moved into the competitive space of banks offering the best interest rates. This page reviews the E-Loan savings account so you can decide if you’ve got any need for the account.

FDIC Insurance
FDIC insurance protects you from losses if your bank goes belly-up. You think of the bank as a very safe place for your money, but banks loan your money out and invest it in a variety of ways. If those activities go sour, what happens to your money? This page discusses how FDIC insurance protects customers.

Unsecured Loans
Unsecured loans are not attached to any collateral. This page gives a definition of unsecured loans.

Loan Deferments
When you are unable to repay a loan, you may go into deferment. Different loans have different requirements, so you’ll want to investigate your loan before attempting a student loan deferment. This page summarizes the concept of deferment so you can better understand whether or not you’re eligible – and if it’s a good idea.

Annuity Premiums
Annuity premiums are the dollars paid into an annuity. In many cases, you can think of annuity premiums as if they were account deposits. It’s a confusing word that gets used because an annuity is technically an insurance contract.

How to Order Personal Checks
When you write checks, you have to refill your bank account as well as your checkbook. What’s the best way to order personal checks after you’ve used your bank-issued checks? This page covers the options available to you.

Using Loan Money
A lot of borrowers ask what they can use loan proceeds for. When taking on a loan, some people get more money than they actually need. More brazen borrowers take a loan out without any desire to use the loan for its intended purpose. Some people want to invest the money and earn more than the interest rate they’re paying for the loan (earning a ‘spread’).

Credit Card Activation Scam
Credit card fraud is always advancing. Scammers have found a way around the requirement that you activate credit cards from your home phone number.

Refund Anticipation Loans
A refund anticipation loan (RAL) is like an advance on your tax refund. Instead of waiting for your refund from Uncle Sam, you get a refund anticipation loan so you can spend the money sooner. However, some problems arise when you use refund anticipation loans.

Getting a Loan at Prosper.com
Getting a loan at Prosper.com involves more than just asking for one. In order to get money (and get it at a reasonable rate) you have to create a good listing. This page covers the essentials of creating a loan listing at Prosper.com.

Debt Workout Programs
Borrowers sometimes find themselves in over their heads. One way to avoid foreclosure or default is to use a workout program. Debt workout programs are agreements between a troubled borrower and a lender.

Lockbox Services
Lockboxes allow organization to streamline receipts. When customers and business partners write you a check, you need to get those payments into the bank so that you can use the money. Lockbox services make that process more efficient than almost any business can hope for on its own.

ATM Security
While ATM's have added some convenience to our lives, a few risks have also popped up. ATM's give criminals another opportunity to get at your money, and you should take steps to reduce your risk. Most of us can stay out of trouble with simple common sense, but you should periodically review some proven tactics. Follow these seven steps, and you'll improve your odds against the scamsters.

PIN - Personal ID Numbers
Personal identification numbers (PINs) are security features. Often referred to as PIN numbers (yes, it's redundant), PINs are important to keeping your money and your information safe. Picking a good PIN number and remembering it is easy if you use a few tricks.

CD Basics - Investor Pitfalls
Bank CDs are among the safest investments available. To get the most from your CDs, you should know how they work. Like all things in life, CDs have disadvantages. Learn what to watch out for and you'll probably never have a problem.

In School Deferment
In school deferment allows you to temporarily suspend payments on your student loans while you are in school. Your “in school” status is triggered by enrolling at least half time in an eligible institution. To begin an in school deferment, you must submit a request through your lender.

Origination Fee
Definition of origination fee. A fee related to establishing your loan.