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☆ Businesses add $90 billion in surprise 'junk fees' each year, and it's starting to backfire
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Businesses are adding $90 billion in fees to consumer's bills each year, according to one estimate. US consumers spend more than $650 a year per household on "junk fees," per the CEA. AdvertisementBusinesses are adding $90 billion in surprise "junk fees" to customers' bills each year — and it is starting to backfire. Junk fees are hidden costs that are added to product prices. Last June, President Joe Biden said his administration had taken steps to crack down on junk fees.

Persons: —, Noelle Weaver, Bradley Walker, Walker, Merrilee Bridgeman, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, White House Council, Economic Advisers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Wall Street, Democratic Locations: New Orleans, Charlotte , North Carolina

The statement balance is the total amount you owed on your credit card at the end of the last credit card billing cycle. Deciding whether to pay the statement balance or the current balance depends on your financial goals and situation. Yes, paying off your current balance can affect your credit score and lower your credit utilization ratio, which is beneficial for your credit score. Why is my current balance higher than my statement balance? Is it better to pay the statement balance or current balance to avoid interest?

☆ Workers are paying to get part of their paychecks early. It's 'payday lending on steroids,' one expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Fotostorm | E+ | Getty ImagesMillions of American workers are paying for early access to their paychecks. So-called "earned wage access" programs, which operate either directly to the consumer or through employers, let workers tap a portion of their wages before payday, often for a fee. Earned wage access has gotten more popularEarned wage access goes by various names: daily pay, instant pay, accrued wage access, same-day pay and on-demand pay, for example. "It's another version of payday loans," Monica Burks, policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending, a consumer advocacy group, said of earned wage access. However, a recent study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that earned wage access products "generally cost less than typical costs associated with payday loans."

Persons: it's, Marshall Lux, Lux, hasn't, Cherie Chung, EarnIn, MoneyLion, Monica Burks, —, Thad Peterson, There's, EWA, Peterson, Harvard's, we're, Stacy Greiner, Dave, Ben LaRocco, Miranda Margowsky, Margowsky, Atif Siddiqi, Siddiqi, Safwan Shah, Shah, doesn't, Harvard's Chung Organizations: Harvard University, Finance, Harvard Kennedy School, Lux, Harvard, Hilton, Uber, Walmart, Companies, Center for, California Department of Financial Protection, Center for Responsible, U.S, Government, Office, GAO, Datos, Commerce, Economic, Financial Technology Association Locations: Kroger, McDonald's, California, Vermont

NEW YORK (AP) — The Biden administration proposed banning another type of bank “junk fee” on Wednesday, targeting fees that are typically charged by banks when a transaction is declined in real time. It's the second major proposal by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over fees that Americans sometimes run into when they bank, following the bureau's announcement that it plans to reduce overdraft fees to as little as $3. The CFPB used the example of a customer trying to buy $100 in groceries with $90 in their bank account, and the transaction is declined at checkout. When this happens, banks can charge a fee when a customer attempts to withdraw or debit their account more than their available funds. Biden has made the elimination of “junk fees” one of the cornerstones of his administration’s economic agenda heading into the 2024 election.

Persons: —, Biden, “, Banks, ”, Rohit Chopra, Joe Biden, Chopra Organizations: Consumer Financial

WHAT IS AN OVERDRAFT FEE? HOW CAN I AVOID INCURRING OVERDRAFT FEES? The simplest way to avoid overdraft fees is to find an account that does not charge them. Capital One and Ally Bank also offer consumers accounts that will not charge overdraft fees. Some banks call this “overdraft protection,” rather than “overdraft coverage.”WILL THE BANK EVER WAIVE OR REVERSE AN OVERDRAFT FEE?

Persons: you'll, —, Charles Schwab Organizations: Consumer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Ally Bank, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

☆ Consumer watchdog agency proposes limits on overdraft fees at big banks and credit unions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday said it is proposing a rule that would curb excessive overdraft fees charged to customers of large banks and credit unions, potentially saving consumers as much as $3.5 billion a year. Too often, the consumer watchdog agency has noted, bank customers are surprised by overdraft fees and those who can least afford them are charged the most frequently. Annual overdraft fee revenue in 2019 was an estimated $12.6 billion,” CFPB said. Today, big banks have made many modifications to their overdraft practices, effectively lowering their overdraft revenue to roughly $9 billion a year. The CFPB rule would lower that amount further by requiring big banks and credit unions to be as forthcoming about the terms of extending an overdraft loan as they are for other lending products.

Persons: ”, Rohit Chopra, CFPB, ” CFPB Organizations: New, New York CNN, Consumer Financial, Biden Administration Locations: New York, United States

☆ Consumer Bureau Proposes Overdraft Fee Limits for Large Banks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Stacy Cowley | More About Stacy Cowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday proposed a rule that would sharply limit overdraft charges at America’s largest banks and credit unions, a change that the agency estimated could save households up to $3.5 billion a year in fees. The proposal, which must go through a comment period and would not take effect until at least late 2025, aims to end the $35 overdraft fee that has become the standard at many banks. The bureau’s rule would give banks a few options for setting a lower fee. They could charge a break-even fee — based on the individual bank’s own costs — or a benchmark fee determined by the bureau. Alternatively, the banks could treat overdrafts as a line of credit and provide the disclosures required by the Truth in Lending Act, including interest rates.

Organizations: Consumer Financial Locations: America’s

NEW YORK (AP) — The squabble over billion of dollars in overdraft fees that Americans get charged every year is intensifying. While banks have drastically cut back on overdraft fees in the past decade, the nation's biggest banks still take in roughly $8 billion in overdraft fees every year, according to data from the CFPB and bank public records. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesBanks charge a customer an overdraft fee if their bank account balance falls below zero. What started off as a courtesy offered to some customers, the popularity of debit cards beginning in the 1990s led to Americans wracking up tens of billions of dollars in overdraft fees. While big banks have cut back on overdraft fees, smaller banks have not, and a number of them heavily rely on overdrafts to be profitable, industry analysts said.

Persons: Biden, “ It's, Joe Biden, “, Greg McBride, ”, Aaron Klein, ” Klein, Rohit Chopra, ” Chopra, Chopra, Barack Obama, Carter Dougherty, overdrafts, can’t Organizations: Consumer Financial, Biden Administration, Federal Trade Commission, Bank of America, Banking, Bankrate, Brookings Institution, Armed Forces Bank, Republican, Trump Administration, American Bankers Association, Financial Reform

☆ Americans spend nearly $300 a year on checking fees—here's how to avoid them
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Many Americans continue to pay checking account fees — even though they don't have to, a new report from from financial services company Bankrate confirms. Common checking account charges include fees for out-of-network ATM withdrawals, overdrafts and non-sufficient funds. All told, checking account holders spend an average of $24 per month on fees, according to a Bankrate poll published earlier this year. However, many of these fees are avoidable with a no-fee checking account, a number of which are available through online banks or credit unions. Some might even pay interest on your balance, too, although the rates are usually less competitive than what checking accounts with fees offer.

Organizations: Bankrate

You'll likely need a government-issued ID, proof of address, and more to open a bank account. You must be 18 to open a bank account, although you can open one if a parent or guardian co-owns the account. You can open a bank account for minor, but you must bring a parent or guardian with the necessary documentation to open the account with you. How to choose a bank accountThe best bank account for you will depend on your priorities. Opening a bank account FAQsWhat documents do you need to open a bank account?

Persons: you've Organizations: Service, Department of Motor Vehicles, Social, Social Security Locations: Wall, Silicon

As a financial planner, my clients often ask how much cash they should have on hand in their bank accounts. I recommend keeping enough to cover your expenses, plus any cash you may need in the next five years. For cash you'll need in 10 years (but less than 20), I tell my clients to invest it — a savings account will lose value over time. How much cash you need on hand right nowThe first thing you need to account for is your normal, month-to-month living expenses and spending. The only extra cash you need sitting around for this need might be a small buffer in your checking account to guard against accidental overdrafts.

Persons: it's, shouldn't Organizations: Service, Vanguard, Fidelity Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ New York City pension chief urges pay clawbacks at Bank of America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Since the financial crisis of 2008, provisions to recover pay have been strengthened at top U.S. banks to limit risk-taking. Bank of America did not admit wrongdoing in its July 11 agreements with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Lander oversees public-employee pension funds with some $300 million worth of Bank of America (BAC.N) stock. It said Bank of America charged multiple fees to customers who did not have enough funds in their accounts from February 2018 until February 2022. The bank said it voluntarily reduced overdraft fees and eliminated all nonsufficient fund fees in 2022.

Persons: Brad Lander, Lander, Wells, Michael Garland, Ross Kerber, Matthew Lewis Organizations: New York, of America's, Bank of America, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Reuters, Bank of, Human, of America, Thomson Locations: New, Charlotte , North Carolina, Reuters , New York City, New York City, Boston

☆ Overdraft Fees Are Dwindling, Study Finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Are the days of overdraft fees almost over? The dreaded bank fees are shrinking, even as the share of households paying them remains the same, new financial research shows. Banks charge overdraft fees to cover shortfalls when customers spend more than the amount in their checking accounts. The typical overdraft fee is $15, half the amount it was two years ago, according to Moebs Services, a financial research firm. (Its calculation is based on more than 3,600 institutions, including banks, credit unions and financial technology companies.)

Persons: Banks, overdrafts Organizations: Financial Health Network, Moebs Services Locations: overdraft

Below, you'll find our top picks for the best banks for avoiding ATM fees. The best banks for avoiding bank ATM fees have free regional or national ATM networks, so you won't be charged for using an ATM. The Best Banks for Avoiding ATM FeesLendingClub Bank: Best online bank for avoiding domestic ATM feesConnexus Credit Union: Best credit union for avoiding domestic ATM feesChase: Best national bank for avoiding domestic ATM feesCharles Schwab: Best institution for avoiding international ATM feesTD Bank: Best regional bank for avoiding domestic ATM feesBetterment: Best online banking platform for avoiding domestic ATM feesWe've included brick-and-mortar banks, online banks, credit unions, and online banking platforms, so you can choose from a variety of options. Unlimited refunds on out-of-network ATM fees Check mark icon A check mark. You could also refer to the schedules of fees document to review ATM fees and ATM withdrawal limits."

Most people only need two bank accounts financial planner Brannon Lambert told HerMoney: A checking account and a savings account. You'll earn more interest with a high-yield savings account than a traditional savings account. See Insider's best high-yield savings accounts right now>>How many bank accounts should I have? Most people just need one checking account and one savings account, Lambert said. The sheer number of bank accounts you have doesn't hurt your credit.

Chase Overdraft Assist is available with all checking accounts except Chase First Checking, Chase High School Checking, and Chase Secure Checking. Chase Overdraft Assist is available with all checking accounts except Chase First Checking, Chase High School Checking, and Chase Secure Checking. What to do if you can't get your overdraft fees coveredUnfortunately, you might not always get a refund on an overdraft fee. With free overdraft protection, you won't have to pay an overdraft fee or a fee to utilize overdraft protection. Many online banks and credit unions either have free overdraft protection or don't charge any overdraft fees.

[1/3] Don Cameron stands next to one of his flood capture projects on his Terranova Ranch in Helm, California, U.S., January 25, 2023. Today, California water experts see Cameron as a pioneer. Terra Nova's basins are filled with 1.5 to 3.5 feet of water, Cameron said Wednesday. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on March 10 making it easier for farmers to divert floodwaters onto their lands until June. "We're at the beginning of a lot of momentum for groundwater recharge programs," said Gosselin, of the state groundwater office.

What's the difference between the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards and the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards? Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Cash BackBoA Unlimited Cash Rewards welcome bonusNew Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card cardholders can earn $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. How to earn cash back with the Unlimited Cash Rewards cardThe Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Bank of America Preferred Rewards tiers Preferred Rewards Gold: 25% more rewards on eligible Bank of America rewards credit card spending (earn 1.875% cash back)25% more rewards on eligible Bank of America rewards credit card spending (earn 1.875% cash back) Preferred Rewards Platinum: 50% more rewards on eligible Bank of America rewards credit card spending (earn 2.25% cash back)50% more rewards on eligible Bank of America rewards credit card spending (earn 2.25% cash back) Preferred Rewards Platinum Honors: 75% more rewards on eligible Bank of America rewards credit card spending (earn 2.625% cash back)How to use cash back from the BofA Unlimited Cash Rewards CardWith the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card, you've only got a few redemption options:Statement credits to your credit cardDeposits made directly into a Bank of America checking or savings accountCredits to a qualifying Merrill Cash Management AccountCredits to a qualifying 529 account with MerrillThere's no minimum amount for one-time redemptions as statement credits, deposits to BoA checking/savings accounts, or to qualifying Merrill Cash Management Accounts. Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Benefits and FeaturesThe Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card doesn't have a ton of extra perks, but there are a few worth noting.

☆ Biden wants to kill junk fees — here's what could change and how you can minimize fees right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Jason Stauffer | Elizabeth Gravier | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But you don't have to wait for the government to take action to reduce your exposure to junk fees. Comparison shop (as well as you can) Ferreting out junk fees can be tricky and different products and services have their own red flags. The CFPB wants to limit credit card late fees and the Biden Administration is pushing for Congress to pass the Junk Fee Prevention Act, which addresses four types of junk fees. Credit card late fees The CFPB has proposed a new rule to limit credit card late fees to $8. While it doesn't come with a welcome bonus or a 0% intro APR period, it also doesn't charge any fees — including late fees.

High-yield savings accounts reward you with higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts and allow your money to grow faster thanks to compound interest — which lets you earn interest on interest. While rates can fluctuate over time, high-yield savings accounts generally offer APYs over 10 times greater than the national average on savings accounts. To determine which high-yield savings accounts are the best overall, CNBC Select analyzed and compared dozens of savings accounts offered by online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best high-yield savings accounts.) Our methodologyTo determine which high-yield savings accounts offer the best return on your money, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. savings accounts offered by online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions.

While rates can fluctuate over time, high-yield savings accounts generally offer APYs over 10 times greater than the national average on savings accounts. To determine which high-yield savings accounts are the best overall, CNBC Select analyzed and compared dozens of savings accounts offered by online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best high-yield savings accounts.) Find the best savings account for you: Help your money grow by finding the savings account that offers the best rates and features for you. Our methodologyTo determine which high-yield savings accounts offer the best return on your money, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. savings accounts offered by online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions.

Learn more A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.25 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Learn more A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Learn more A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.25 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Learn more A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.75 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Pros Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ 3 strategies to help give your finances a much-needed reboot this year, according to a financial expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Christine Mui | Jason Stauffer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Welcome back to Money Made Easy, where we focus on simple ways to manage your finances and save money. Plus, qualified borrowers can apply for up to $100,000, and this lender doesn't charge an origination fee, early payoff fee, or late fee. For short-term financial goals, high-yield savings accounts can help you grow your money by earning a much better return than a traditional savings account. Automating your transfers to a savings account can help this process, making it easier and helping you know that you're continuously growing your account. Find the best savings account for you: Help your money grow by finding the savings account that offers the best rates and features for you.

SummarySummary Companies Coal miners struggling to fund expansion plansThermal coal costs more than coking coal after price surgeMost Western bankers pulling back from coal industryLONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - It's the best of times, it's the worst of times. At least when it comes to mining coal. With funding hard to come by from Western banks, coal miners outside China have turned more to equity markets this year. "With regard to thermal coal mining, any transaction in coal mining requires an enhanced environmental risk review," a Deutsche spokesperson said, adding that the bank was updating its coal policy. Bens Creek listed shares partly because of the lack of appetite from banks to support any expansion of coal mining, chief executive Wilson said.

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