Updated Articles and Resources

By Justin Pritchard, About.com Guide since 2005

Free Credit Scores - Do they Really Exist? Created: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Credit scores affect whether or not you’ll get a loan, and how favorable the terms are. Free credit scores are hard to find though. Most companies advertising free credit scores intend to c...
9 Answers About Student Loan Consolidation Created: Sunday, June 04, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
Student loan consolidation is the act of putting various (or even one) loan into a new package. You get some special benefits, and you can structure the loan the way you want.
Capitalize - Loans - Capitalized Interest Created: Sunday, September 12, 2010 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
When you capitalize interest, you skip the payments. However, you still owe the money and you'll have to pay eventually. Your lender adds the interest charges to your loan balance, so you owe mor...
Deferments - How Loan Deferments Work Created: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
When you are unable to repay a student loan, you may go into deferment. Different loans have different requirements, so you'll need to investigate your loan. Learn more about how deferment works ...
ING Direct Checking - The Electric Orange Checking Account Created: Sunday, March 11, 2007 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
ING Direct offers an interest bearing checking account with no fees, called the Electric Orange Account. Find out how the account works and what the pros and cons are.
Bank of America Military Bank - Services of the Bank of America Military Bank Created: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 Updated: Friday, May 25, 2012
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 o...
Deposit Cash - How and Where to Get Cash Into the Bank Created: Monday, May 21, 2012 Updated: Monday, May 21, 2012
So you’ve got some cash, and you’d like to deposit it to a bank account. What are the options? Find out how to deposit cash, along with some helpful tips.
Deposit Checks - How and Where to Deposit Checks Created: Thursday, February 19, 2009 Updated: Monday, May 21, 2012
So you need to deposit a check. It may be the first time, or it may have been so long that you forgot how to deposit checks. Make sure you know your options, including where to go, where not to g...
Getting a Student Loan Without a Cosigner -- Your Options Created: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Although it's not easy to get a student loan without a cosigner, you can improve your chances. Learn what to watch for and what to do if lenders turn you away.
When You Can’t Get Business Credit Without Personal Guarantees Created: Sunday, February 21, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
New ventures have a hard time getting business credit without personal guarantees. Lenders don’t know how to judge you, so they demand that you put some skin in the game. Before you sign, l...
Do I Need a Credit Card for Business Use? Created: Monday, February 15, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Question: Do I need a credit card for business use? I use my personal card for everything and enjoy earning rewards. Is there any point in getting another credit card? Learn whether or not you ...
Business Bank Loans - What it Takes to get Business Bank Loans Created: Sunday, October 16, 2005 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
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 ...
Do I Need Separate Credit for Business Loans? Created: Saturday, February 13, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Do I need special credit for business loans? Can't I just use my personal credit to get loans? If you plan to borrow regularly, you should establish separate credit for business purposes. Find o...
Business Credit Basics - What is Business Credit? Created: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Business credit is similar to personal credit. It is a way for others to determine how likely you are to pay loans and bills. While personal credit is important for small businesses, you should t...
Building Business Credit - Why and How Created: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
You may be able to get loans using your personal credit, so why bother building business credit? It’s best to keep personal and business matter separate. Building business credit works diff...
How to Build Business Credit Created: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Just like personal credit, you need to build business credit. The process is similar to building personal credit. However, you should add a few extra steps as you build business credit.
Business Credit Card Facts - The Bad News About Business Credit Cards Created: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Using a business credit card can help you manage your business and build credibility. Because it’s an important move, make sure you know the challenges. Let’s review key points you...
HARP 2.0 - Learn About the Home Affordable Refinance Program Created: Thursday, April 05, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Get details on the HARP 2.0 program, including highlights and eligibility requirements. For underwater homes, HARP allows refinancing at any loan-to-value ratio. Learn how to use the program.
Refinance Programs Available - After the Mortgage Crisis Created: Monday, April 16, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Several mortgage refinancing programs are available to help struggling homeowners. Find out what they are and how to use them.
Do Obama Refinancing Programs Exist? Created: Saturday, April 07, 2012 Updated: Saturday, April 07, 2012
Question: I keep seeing advertisements that say Obama’s refinancing program can save me money. Are these ads for real? Answer: The advertisements may or may not deliver what they promise, b..
Question: My lender started the foreclosure process. Should I move out? Created: Thursday, February 24, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
My lender started the foreclosure process. Should I move out? Answer: Foreclosure is a long process, and the logistics differ from state to state. It may take...
Foreclosure Advice to Avoid Created: Sunday, March 14, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
When your home is on the line, it pays to get good foreclosure advice. Where can you get useful information? Friends and family may offer foreclosure advice, but usually aren’t the best sou..
Mortgage Help - Options and Mortgage Help Programs Created: Sunday, June 14, 2009 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Since the mortgage crisis boiled to a head in 2008, several mortgage help programs were put in place to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Over time, the programs evolved to address borrowers in n..
Mortgage Crisis - What Caused the Mortgage Crisis Created: Monday, October 06, 2008 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
In 2007, the US economy entered a mortgage crisis that caused panic and triggered other financial problems. The mortgage crisis was a result of too much borrowing and flawed financial modeling, la..
Loan to Value - Definition and Calculation for the Loan to Value Ratio Created: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 Updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012
The loan to value ratio (LTV) tells you how much of a property is being financed...
Auto Loans - 6 Keys to Getting Great Auto Loans Created: Sunday, June 12, 2005 Updated: Tuesday, April 03, 2012
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 ri...
Debit Cards - Compare Debit Cards to Credit Cards Created: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 Updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
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.
Hold - Banking Glossary - How Bank Holds Work Created: Sunday, October 30, 2005 Updated: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
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 y..
Co-Signing Nightmares - I'll Never Co-Sign Again After... Created: Monday, March 26, 2012 Updated: Monday, March 26, 2012
Co-signing can help a friend or family member get a loan. Unfortunately, there are risks. Read stories and find out what others wish they knew before they co-signed. Have you co-signed a loan and l..
Co-Signing - Before You Co-Sign a Loan Created: Sunday, February 25, 2007 Updated: Monday, March 26, 2012
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 p..
Private Student Loan Overview - Compare and Contrast With Government Loans Created: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Updated: Monday, March 26, 2012
When borrowing for education, you can use private student loans and federal student loans. Each type of loan comes with tradeoffs. Learn how private student loans work and how they’re differe..
Alternatives to Private Student Loans Created: Friday, March 23, 2012 Updated: Friday, March 23, 2012
Student loans are easy to get but hard to pay off. As education costs continue to rise, student debt burdens can only increase. How can you keep your loan balance low while attending classes? Here ..

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