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☆ TransUnion CEO Chris Cartwright says consumer appetite for credit is still high
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTransUnion CEO Chris Cartwright says consumer appetite for credit is still highChris Cartwright, TransUnion CEO, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk the U.S. consumer and credit market.

Persons: Chris Cartwright, TransUnion

☆ What exactly goes into closing costs?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But there is an often-overlooked expense when buying a home: closing costs. At the same time, the Biden administration plans to take aim at so-called “junk fees” hidden in closing costs. New York, Delaware and Washington, DC, have the highest average closing costs, according to Bankrate; while Missouri, Indiana and North Dakota have the lowest. Lowering closing costs on your ownThere is one relatively simple way to lower your overall closing costs: shop around. “When you compare those offers, examine not just the rate itself but also the closing costs.

Persons: homebuyers, —, Biden, ” Jeff Ostrowski, , ” Ostrowski, you’re, homebuyers haven’t, Brian Connolly, it’s, “ It’s, ” Connolly, Connolly, ”, Freddie Mac, ” Genaro Villa Organizations: CNN, Consumer Financial, National Association of Realtors, realtors, University of Michigan, NAR, homebuyers Locations: New York , Delaware, Washington, Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, Bankrate, AnnualCreditReport.com

☆ Medical Debt Shows Up Less Often on Credit Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rohit Chopra, the bureau’s director, said in a statement that “further reforms” were needed to scour medical debt from credit histories. The bureau is considering a rule to ban medical debt from consumer credit files. The bureau estimated in a 2022 report that well over half the debt that appeared on credit reports as being in collection was medical debt. People can incur medical bills unexpectedly, and many think that their health insurance will cover the costs. And the consumer bureau previously found that medical collection debt reported to the credit bureaus was “plagued by inaccuracies.”

Persons: —, TransUnion —, Rohit Chopra Organizations: Consumer Financial

☆ One personal decision can create a mess of financial challenges for transgender Americans—'it takes a lot of courage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Changing their name may be an important step a transgender or nonbinary person takes to embrace their identity. But doing so is seldom easy and can create even more problems — particularly for your finances — after the fact, according to a recent white paper published by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Credit reports using deadnames — former names that individuals no longer use — are common and can result in credit discrimination against trans people, J.P. Morgan says. Getting approved to rent an apartment is just one of the issues that can arise out of inaccuracies on your credit report. Potential employers, utilities and phone companies and more may pull your credit report as part of a background check to hire you or establish services at your home.

Persons: J.P, Leo Aquino, Shelby Anderson, Morgan, deadnames, —, Aquino, hadn't, Anderson Organizations: Morgan Wealth Management, CNBC, Social Security Locations: U.S

"It is becoming clearer and clearer that the Fed isn't going to lower interest rates anytime soon," said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. "If Americans want lower interest rates, they're going to have to do it themselves." What determines your credit card rateSince most credit cards have a variable rate, there's a direct connection to the Fed's benchmark. It's also an ideal time for consumers to take advantage of all the options credit card issuers are offering. A balance transfer credit card moves your outstanding debt from one or more credit cards onto a new card, typically with a lower interest rate.

Persons: —, Matt Schulz, Michele Raneri, aren't, Schulz, Ted Rossman, Rossman, It's Organizations: Federal Reserve, TransUnion, Finance, Treasury Department Locations: U.S

☆ Here is the average credit score at every age in the U.S.—see how yours stacks up
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Although Americans' average credit scores recently dropped for the first time in a decade, many appear to be maintaining a relatively healthy score. The average credit score dipped by one point, from 718 to 717, according to FICO's March 6 blog post. Your FICO and VantageScore credit score can fall anywhere between 300 and 850, and a 717 score is considered to be "very good," according to the VantageScore model. Here are VantageScore's rankings and ranges:Very Poor: 300 to 499300 to 499 Poor: 500 to 600500 to 600 Good: 601 to 660601 to 660 Very Good: 661 to 780661 to 780 Exceptional: 781 to 850When you break down the average credit score by age, most Americans appear to have a good score as well. It's understandable that older generations tend to have higher scores since they've had a longer time to establish and maintain their credit.

Persons: they've Organizations: CNBC

☆ Check out the pitch deck that helped adtech identity company ID5 raise $20 million from investors including TransUnion and Martin Sorrell's S4S
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Adtech company ID5 said Tuesday it had raised $20 million in Series B investment. The ID5 identifier has been deployed by more than 66,000 publishers, per the metadata company Sincera. ID5 has now raised just over $27 million in funding to date, though the company declined to disclose its post-money valuation. New investors in this round included the credit reporting and data agency TransUnion and advertising veteran Martin Sorrell's venture capital firm S4S Ventures. Check out key slides from the pitch deck that helped ID5 raise $20 million in Series B funding.

Persons: ID5, Mathieu Roche, Martin Sorrell's, Sorrell, Matt Spiegel, Spiegel, Matt, Roche Organizations: Business, Data Protection, Publishers, Trade, S4S Ventures, Progress Ventures, Seventure Partners, Capital Partners, Aperiam Ventures

☆ Plan to buy a home in the next year or two? Here are 5 steps to take now to get your finances ready
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Mortgage lenders will consider lots of different metrics and circumstances when assessing your creditworthiness. Check your credit reports and credit scoresTwo other factors lenders will consider are your credit history and credit score. Kill the credit card debtA key way to improve your credit score is to reduce your credit card debt. “The minute they pull your credit score, it is going to [reflect] what is on my credit card that day,” MBA’s Seiler said. “Because there are many variables that affect an individual consumer’s credit score, we can’t say a specific number of months,” FICO’s Zeibert said.

Persons: ”, Avi Adler, Sara Zuckerman, Margaret Poe, Poe, you’ll, Eddie Seiler, Joe Zeibert, You’re, ” Adler, MBA’s Seiler, ” FICO’s Zeibert, “, ” Seiler, Zuckerman, Adler, ” Zuckerman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Long & Foster, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Mortgage, Association Locations: New York, annualcreditreport.com, TransUnion

☆ Here are some big money blind spots you need to avoid, advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Here are some of the biggest financial blind spots, according to several certified financial planners on CNBC's Digital Financial Advisor Council. 1. Credit scoresConsumers often don't understand the importance of their credit score, said Kamila Elliott, CFP, co-founder and CEO of Collective Wealth Partners based in Atlanta. The average person with a credit score between 760 and 850 would get a 6.5% interest rate, according to national FICO data as of April 1. The latter's monthly payment would cost $324 more relative to the person with a better credit score — amounting to an extra $116,000 over the life of the loan, according to FICO's loan calculator. "Ten out of 10 people couldn't explain how the tax withholding system works," said Ted Jenkin, CFP, CEO and founder of oXYGen Financial based in Atlanta.

Persons: Kamila Elliott, Wills, Barry Glassman, I'm, Glassman, Elliott, That's, Ted Jenkin, Uncle Sam, Jenkin Organizations: Getty, Digital Financial, CFP, Wealth Partners, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Wealth Services, Westend61, Collective Wealth Partners, Business, Employers, Workers Locations: Atlanta

The role of credit bureaus in credit card applicationsCredit bureaus play a pivotal role in the credit card application process. How credit bureau information influences approval decisionsCredit bureau information plays a pivotal role when financial institutions make credit decisions. Credit bureau reporting frequently asked questionsDo all banks use the same credit bureau for credit card applications? Even though the three credit bureaus score credit slightly differently, improving your credit habits will typically raise your score across the board. Our guide to the best credit cards for pre-approval can help you identify which credit cards you're most likely to be approved for.

Persons: you'll, Here's, TransUnion, Experian, Banks, Chase, —, cardholders, Discover's, Wells, Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo's, that's Organizations: Vantage, Bank, American Express, American Express American, Credit, Bank of America Bank of America, Bank of America, Chase Chase Bank, Chase, Capital, Citi Citi, Citi, Discover Discover Locations: Equifax, Transunion, Wells Fargo Wells, Experian, Wells, Chevron

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Tesla, Delta, Skechers, Apple, Disney, Micron, Citi, Amazon & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Morgan Stanley initiates Compass Pathways at overweight Morgan Stanley said in its initiation of Compass that it's bullish on shares of the mental health biopharma company. Morgan Stanley reiterates Taiwan Semiconductor as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on shares of TSM. Morgan Stanley reiterates Delta as a top pick Morgan Stanley said Delta's push into "premium" will reward investors. Bank of America reiterates Micron as buy Bank of America said it sees further share gains for Micron. Morgan Stanley reiterates Planet Fitness as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on the fitness company.

Persons: Jefferies, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, it's, it's bullish, Hunt, Werner, Robinson, Morgan Stanley, Delta, Wells, Evercore, Bill, Tesla, Oppenheimer, Sweetgreen, Baird downgrades, Baird, Tommy Bahama Organizations: Microsoft, Barclays, Barclays downgrades J.B, J.B, C.H, Taiwan Semiconductor, DAL, " Bank of America, Nvidia, Broadcom, Bank of America, Micron, Devon Energy, Bloom Energy, Energy, Disney, underperform Bank of America, Baird downgrades Fifth, Bancorp, Royal Caribbean, Citi, Citigroup Inc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, TPG Inc, TPG, TE Connectivity, Chevron Corp, Citi downgrades Oxford Industries Locations: TSM, Wells Fargo, Devon, F1Q, Cincinnati, Royal, Oxford

AT&T has also begun notifying customers whose personal information was compromised. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesFull names, email addresses, mailing address, phone numbers, dates of birth and AT&T account numbers may have also been compromised. HAS AT&T SEEN DATA BREACHES LIKE THIS BEFORE? AT&T has seen several data breaches that range in size and impact over the years. Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward.

Persons: “, Troy Hunt, we’ve, ”, Hunt, You'll, Matt O'Brien Organizations: Associated Press, AP, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Dallas, Australia, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Americans could save up to $300 a month on their mortgages if interest rates drop as expected in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Homeowners who recently purchased properties with interest rates as high as 8% face much higher monthly mortgage payments than those seen a few years ago. Of course, interest rates will not return to 3% anytime soon, but homeowners don't need rates to drop much to see a big difference in their bank accounts. Homeowners with high-interest mortgage loans are expected to quickly refinance when rates drop. While mortgage interest rates started to fall in late 2023, they were above 7% for much of the year, peaking near 8% in October, and recently climbed back above 7%. Win McNamee/Getty ImagesWhenever cuts happen, a drop in rates would save existing and new homeowners money each month.

Persons: —, Michele Raneri, Raneri, Eric Audras, Raphael Bostic, Jerome Powell, Win McNamee Organizations: Service, Business, TransUnion, Atlanta Fed, CNN, . Federal Reserve Locations: TransUnion

☆ Average credit card balances jump 10% to a record $6,360 as more consumers fall behind on payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Americans now owe $1.13 trillion on their credit cards, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday. In that case, credit cards are one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. The average credit card charges a record-high 20.74%, according to Bankrate. Millennials increasingly lean on creditStill, consumers often turn to credit cards, in part because they are more accessible than other types of loans. How to tackle credit card debt

Persons: Ted Rossman, Cardholders, Wise, that's Organizations: Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, TransUnion

Credit expanded by just 0.4% in the month, according to the Federal Reserve’s monthly credit report released Wednesday. And it still leaves consumers with record levels of credit card debt. Of that, credit card balances grew by $212 billion to $1.13 trillion, while mortgage balances rose by $112 billion to $12.25 trillion. “Credit card and auto loan transitions into delinquency are still rising above pre-pandemic levels,” said Wilbert van der Klaauw, economic research advisor at the New York Fed. Average card balances rose by 10% from a year ago to $6,360, a record.

Persons: ”, Wilbert van der, TransUnion, Michele Raneri, Scott Haymore, “ Deleveraging, Wells Fargo Organizations: Federal, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Auto, New York Fed, millennials, TransUnion, TD Bank Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Wells Fargo

☆ Why is Travis Kelce so concerned about my credit score?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

And now, he would like to talk about everybody's — credit scores. It's the type of message that can briefly fill you with panic since credit scores can make or break your financial life. The checking account and debit card are pretty vanilla, and Boost doesn't guarantee a higher credit score. America is filled with people with bad credit scores who want to improve, and probably a lot of them are football fans. "But America is filled with people with bad credit scores who want to improve, and probably a lot of them are football fans."

Persons: Travis Kelce, Taylor, He's, It's, Experian, Kelce, Katie Stratman, it's, isn't, Matt Schulz, Aaron Klein, Rajiv Bhatia, Chi Wu, Swift, —, Klein, Emily Stewart Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, American Express, Chiefs, Netflix, Citibank, Brookings Institution, Treasury, Morningstar, National Consumer Law Center, Capital, Business Locations: Experian, America

While there's no universal minimum credit score to rent an apartment, landlords generally prefer applicants with a good credit score, which is at least 670. While your credit score will suffice for some landlords, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, landlords are also allowed to view your credit reports. The average credit score of a Gen Z consumer is 680 compared to the average baby boomer's credit score of 745. Though these services won't directly help you build credit, keeping track of your credit score is a crucial part of the credit building process. Apartment credit score requirements frequently asked questionsCan you rent an apartment if you do not have credit?

Persons: —, TransUnion, Kendall Meade, Jay Zigmont, Will, Jamela Adam, Read Organizations: Fair, Childfree, Forbes, . News, Mint Intuit Locations: AnnualCreditReport.com, SoFi, Chevron

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday did what everyone expected, holding interest rates steady for now. But it also avoided saying anything about what it plans to do with rates in the future, dashing hopes for now that rate cuts are in the offing soon. “The Committee judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are moving into better balance,” the statement read. Over 12 months, the core rate has come down to 2.9%, he pointed out, adding, “We’re wanting to see more data. “However, they do need to be careful about holding rates up too far, too long.”Economists are predicting a slowdown this year.

Persons: Jerome Powell, ” Powell, “ We’re, You’ve, Powell, ”, Greg Friedman, Brian Henderson, “ There’s, Charlie Wise, Wise Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, ”, Dow Jones, Peachtree Group, BOK, “ Locations: American

☆ More Tenants Can Now Add Rent Payments to Their Credit Score
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

As it stands, few landlords routinely report rent payments to credit bureaus. (Negative rent information can end up in credit files if a landlord reports delinquent accounts or sends them to a collection agency.) But in recent years, policymakers have been exploring whether consumers can benefit from having on-time rent payments included in credit scores, just as payments for mortgages, car loans and credit cards are. Reporting on-time rent payments is viewed as a way to reduce disparities in homeownership. TransUnion has been able to include rent payments in its credit reports since 2016 and has seen increasing interest from property managers, said Maitri Johnson, vice president of tenant and employment screening at the credit bureau.

Persons: isn’t, Fannie Mae, TransUnion, Maitri Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Self Financial, Urban Institute Locations: homeownership

☆ What student loan borrowers should know about their credit as bills restart
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

D3sign | Moment | Getty ImagesFederal student loan bills resumed in the fall after a pause of more than three years. "Negative information shouldn't be reported during the 12-month on-ramp period, but positive information should be included," Rossman said. Still, check for errors on your credit reportStudent loan borrowers should regularly check their credit reports to make sure the information is accurate, Kantrowitz said. If your loan servicer makes an error, such as reporting your loan as delinquent during the on-ramp period, you'll want to bring it to their attention quickly, he said. In this case the creditor would be your student loan servicer, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.

Persons: Ted Rossman, Rossman, Kantrowitz, — Organizations: U.S . Department of Education Locations: Annualcreditreport.com

☆ Paying rent usually won't boost your credit score. Here's what renters need to know to make it count
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty ImagesWhile rent payments do not traditionally affect your credit, a growing number of so-called rent-reporting services are trying to change that. But these services don't all operate the same way, and some may have less value for renters. There are also services geared to landlords that offer rent reporting for tenants, including ClearNow, Esusu and PayYourRent. Landlords usually shoulder the cost of these programs, but there may be processing fees depending on how you make your rent payments. When rent payments are included in credit reports, consumers see an average increase of nearly 60 points to their credit score, according to a 2021 TransUnion report.

Persons: Luis Alvarez, —, Matt Schulz, Michael Sherman, Schulz Organizations: Digitalvision, Finance, Zillow, Zillow Group

☆ A Gen Z college student who drives for Uber Eats and DoorDash shares how he uses 'multi-apping' to make money
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Between his commute to school and gig work, Kaiser said the Nissan Sentra he bought in mid-2021 already has over 85,000 miles on it. Balancing work with school takes practiceKaiser said his food delivery and Kohl's gigs have sometimes left insufficient time for his academics. If he has too much on his plate, he'll sometimes take a whole week off from food delivery. After graduation, Kaiser hopes to land an entry-level IT job and scale back his Uber Eats and DoorDash hours. But for now, he said he values his food delivery gigs, which have provided him not only a flexible income stream but some positive social interactions.

Persons: —, Joseph Kaiser doesn't, Kaiser, Uber, Zers, Gen, who's, Kaiser's, I've Organizations: Service, University of Central, Business, Kohl's, Microsoft, Nissan Locations: University of Central Florida, Kohl's, Kaiser

☆ The 2023 stock winners investors should let ride, sell or hedge in the new year
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Michael Khouw | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Let 'em ride: Several of 2023's best-performing stocks were grossly undervalued at the beginning of the year. So while investors recognized the company could deliver massive earnings and free cash flow, they were afraid Zuckerberg had gone off the reservation. The stock sports topline growth, substantial margins, a strong balance sheet, substantial free cash flow, and a moat around its business. It's time to hedge some of those gains (or take profits): The second best-performing stock in the Russell 1000 for 2023 is Coinbase (COIN) . If you own, but don't want to sell, consider purchasing the March $45/$35 put spread as a particle hedge, as illustrated below.

Persons: David Ricardo, Ricardo, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, doesn't, Russell, cryptocurrencies, aren't, Equifax Organizations: Russell, Vertiv, Builders, Topbuild Corp, Nvidia, Investors, MU, Walmart, Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, Experian, PayPal, Palantir Technologies, Government Locations: uptrends

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Persons: you've, It's, You'll, HBO Max, Hulu, you'll Organizations: Business Insider, U.S, EV, Business, Netflix, Spotify, Bank, Go, Card, Quicksilver, Capital, U.S . Bank, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Apple Music, Apple, DirecTV, ESPN, HBO, MLB TV, NBA, NHL, Paramount, Showtime, Slacker, Starz, YouTube, Go Visa, Visa Locations: U.S, Luminary

Updating your name with the credit bureaus can prevent delays in credit applications and other credit reporting errors. Hinterhaus Productions/Getty ImagesTransgender and nonbinary people can report their legal name change to credit bureaus. One of the many steps in your legal transition is to report your legal name change to all three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — so it'll appear on your credit report. Its also recommended that you change your name with each of your lenders before updating your name with the credit bureaus. Box 4500Allen, TX 75013TransUnionUnlike the other two credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion requires you to change your legal name with every individual financial institution listed on their credit report first.

Persons: Hinterhaus, —, there's, TransUnion, Ryan Klippel, Klippel, folx, you'll, Experian Experian, Allen, it's Organizations: Social Security, Service, Optas, Social, TransUnion, National Center for Transgender Equality, UC Berkeley, Google, Security Locations: myEquifax, Allen , TX, Chester , PA, California

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