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Chase Premier Plus Checking℠ 3.5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5 out of 5 Stars Annual Percentage Yield (APY) 0.01% effective as of 7/1/2022. Interest rates are variable and subject to change Minimum Deposit Amount $0 Fees $25 View Full Details Learn MoreChase Premier Plus Checking℠ 3.5 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5 out of 5 Stars Annual Percentage Yield (APY) 0.01% effective as of 7/1/2022. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE.

☆ What’s Your Savings Rate? These Banks Are Paying 10 Times the National Average
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

Savings accounts have followed suit, with many top accounts yielding 3%, or even 4%, up from less than 1% earlier this year. The average savings account still earns just 0.3%, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Accordingly, the highest APYs you can expect to find on savings accounts today are clustered close to that figure. If your main priority is simply the best rate, some online banks with less name recognition are pushing the envelope even further. Leon says digital institutions tend to be among the most competitive in their rates for CDs as well as savings accounts.

☆ Auto-Loan Interest Rates Are Skyrocketing. No One Told Credit Unions.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Ben Eisen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some car buyers are turning to credit unions to find attractive loan rates. There is still one place to get a good deal on an auto loan: Credit unions. They have been offering some of the lowest rates around, undercutting banks and other lenders by a wide margin.

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. High interest rate Check mark icon A check mark. High APY Check mark icon A check mark. Virtual debit card, physical debit card, and access to Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay Check mark icon A check mark. Mobile check deposit Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ How to Build an Emergency Fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

“Covid really drove home the importance of having an emergency fund,” says Diana Linn, a wealth advisor in Newton, Mass. But the rest of setting up an emergency fund, from estimating your needs to opening an account, is relatively simple. Chen recommends multiple emergency funds, with different time frames and purposes: a short-term fund for any last-minute necessary purchase like a new car battery that you’d otherwise charge on a credit card; a midterm fund for repairs, like a new water heater; and a long-term emergency fund for when you lose your job. Decide how to reach your savings targetThe surest way to build up an emergency fund is to regularly put aside a portion of your earnings into an emergency savings account, preferably as an automatic debit from a checking account. Decide where to keep your emergency fundThere are several savings vehicles you can use for your emergency fund, both online and otherwise.

☆ Here are the 34 tech companies most likely to be snapped up by private equity firms like Vista and Thoma Bravo in 2023, according to bankers and market data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Ben Bergman | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

With a stock price down 45% in the last year, though, it may soon find itself on the other side of the table. But it has $732 million in cash on hand, with zero debt, and analysts are projecting 16% revenue growth. This year, though, Varonis has come back to earth — its stock price has sunk over 57% in the last 12 months. However, with strong projected 2023 revenue growth of 18.6%, Zuora remains a strong target for PE firms. Its stock price has been hammered, going down about 40% this year and making it the subject of mergers-and-acquisitions chatter.

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. High interest rate Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Virtual debit card, physical debit card, and access to Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay Check mark icon A check mark. Mobile check deposit Check mark icon A check mark.

You can buy a CD as a gift for a minor, but you can't give a CD to another adult. How to buy a CD as a gift to a minorWhile you cannot buy a CD as a gift for an adult, you may get a CD as a gift for a minor. Here is a step-by-step guide you can take to buy a CD as a gift for a child:1. Our best CD rates guide has an overview of competitive CD rates for a variety of terms. If you are managing a custodial account, Carlos recommends setting a reminder for the date the CD term will end.

☆ Here are the 34 tech companies most likely to be on the holiday shopping lists of private-equity firms after valuations plunged this year, according to bankers and private data
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Ben Bergman | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

☆ Fed Rate Hikes Mean ‘Fantastic’ Savings Rates. Are You Still Earning Less than 1%?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

A series of rate hikes from the Federal Reserve—including a 0.5 percentage point increase on Wednesday—has left its benchmark federal-funds rate rate in a range of 4.25% to 4.5%, the highest level seen in 15 years. “Savings rates right now are fantastic,” says Joe Duran, co-head of Goldman Sachs Workplace and Personal Wealth. “Banks want to be competitive, so when Fed rate increases happen, they are usually quick to increase savings rates,” says Duran. Where Savings and CD Rates Are Headed NextWith interest rates steadily increasing, the key question for savers becomes: Should I lock in rates now, or wait for even better offers? In fact, the average savings rate nationally is only 0.24%, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp—quite paltry considering where the Fed rate is.

☆ What to do about the highest interest rate in 15 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

In its last policymaking meeting of the year, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate for the seventh time in a row, to a range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Otherwise, any remaining balance will be subject to a new interest rate that could be higher than you had before if rates continue to rise. That said, “don’t jump into a large purchase that isn’t right for you just because interest rates might go up. If that’s not possible, consider paying off that balance by taking out a HELOC with another lender at a lower promotional rate, McBride suggested. The floating rate is tied to a short-term benchmark rate, such as the fed funds rate, so it will go up whenever the Fed hikes rates.

☆ The M&A market just went out with a bang after a terrible year, and it could be a sign of good times to come
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

(Hint: it's not on Wall Street.) Meanwhile, the largest deal of the year — Microsoft's $68.7 billion bid for Activision — might not even happen, thanks to regulators. But credit unions and community banks aren't happy with the new terms, The Wall Street Journal reports. Big tech nabs from Wall Street. Company culture on Wall Street: not great!

☆ 10 of the best companies to work for if you want to advance your career―some jobs pay more than $100K/yr
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The company was among the best for career stability and growing talent. It ranked among the best companies for career launchpad, career stability and advancement without a degree. MicrosoftTech giant Microsoft came in among the top companies for career stability, growing talent and advancement without a degree. It ranked among the best companies for career launchpad, career stability and advancement without a degree. It ranked among the best companies for career launchpad, career stability, growing talent and advancement without a degree.

☆ Small Banks Warn They Might Have to Drop Zelle Over Scam Payment Costs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Imani Moise | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The company that runs Zelle said fraud and scam payments represent less than 0.1% of payments across the network. Community banks and credit unions might drop out of partnerships with instant-payment apps like Zelle if required to reimburse customers who fall victim to scams, two industry trade groups said. Facing pressure from lawmakers and regulators to do more to protect customers from fraud, the seven large banks that own Zelle are working on a plan to standardize refunds for customers duped into sending money. Scams using instant-payment apps like Zelle, Venmo and CashApp are expected to cost Americans $3 billion by 2026, up from $1.6 billion in 2021, according to a recent report by ACI Worldwide, a payments-software company.

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You'll need three things to save money as a teenager: a savings account, a job or an income stream, and a goal. And an even bigger benefit of learning how to save money as a teenager is that you can start building a savings habit that will last forever. Then, you'll just need to bring the right documents and sign the paperwork to set one up to start saving. Start thinking ahead about how you'll use the money you're saving, and how to maximize that money. If you're saving for a car, start learning about the costs associated with owning a vehicle, how to buy one, and which car is right for you.

☆ Best Balance-Transfer Credit Cards
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +16 min

We looked through cards from both large national banks and smaller credit unions to find the best 0% balance transfer offers that can help you pay down credit card debt. In addition to being the best balance transfer card, the Unlimited Cash Rewards card remains useful after you have paid off your credit card balance. While balance transfer credit cards can be a great tool for paying down debt, transferring your balance to a new credit card is not usually free. How We PickedTo pick Buy Side from WSJ’s Best Balance Transfer Credit Card, we looked for no-annual-fee credit cards offering balance transfers for new customers with 0% APR promotions. We preferred credit cards with longer balance transfer promotional periods and lower balance transfer initiation fees.

How Washington State Employees Credit Union worksWashington State Employees Credit Union is a community development financial institution (CDFI) with 22 branches throughout Washington. Washington State Employees Credit Union trustworthiness and BBB ratingWashington State Employees Credit Union hasn't been involved in any recent public controversies. Washington State Employees Credit Union vs. Kitsap Credit UnionKitsap Credit Union is another CDFI in Washington. Kitsap Credit Union has a high-yield checking account while Washington State Employees Credit Union has a cash-back checking account. Washington State Employees Credit Union vs. Gesa Credit UnionGesa Credit Union has 30 branches in Washington and is also certified as a CDFI.

☆ How to Refinance Your Student Loans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +14 min

You can refinance federal student loans, private student loans or both. “If you have several student loans, refinancing is a good way to help streamline payments,” says Joe DePaulo, co-founder of College Ave Student Loans, an online lender. How to refinance student loans in 5 stepsThe process of refinancing student loans typically only takes two to three weeks from start to finish. Student loan refinancing FAQWhen is a good time to refinance student loans? While both federal and private student loans are eligible for refinancing, only federal student loans qualify for Direct loan consolidation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't set a minimum credit score for VA loans, but lenders typically do. VA loan borrowers need to meet minimum service requirements set by the VA, as well as minimum credit requirements set by their lender. VA lenders that accept low credit scoresAs you prepare to apply for a mortgage, look for lenders that have low minimum credit score requirements or are willing to work with borrowers who have rocky credit histories. If you currently have no credit score, you may be able to use non-traditional credit with certain lenders to prove your creditworthiness. Lowering your credit card balances will also decrease your credit utilization ratio, which can increase your credit score.

We selected Capital One 360, Synovus Bank, Regions Bank, Delta Community Credit Union, and Credit Union of Atlanta as the best banks and credit unions in Georgia. These financial institutions have savings account rates that are lower than the average savings account. Delta Community Credit Union members will need to open the Delta Community Credit Union Personal Savings Account. Robins Financial Credit Union (Federally insured by the NCUA): Robins Financial Credit Union has a free checking account, but our top credit union has lower minimum opening deposits. We reviewed the 10 biggest banks and credit unions in the state, plus any financial institutions featured in our Black-owned banks and credit unions guide and Hispanic American-owned banks and credit unions guide.

☆ This non-profit has raised over $10 million to support Indigenous women entrepreneurs: 'It's up to us to close the racial wealth gap'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Here's how one non-profit, Native Women Lead, is enabling Indigenous women's economic mobility:'It's up to use to close the racial wealth gap'Native Women Lead was founded in 2017 by eight Native American women entrepreneurs: Jaime Gloshay, Kalika Davis, Lisa Foreman, Kim Gleason, Vanessa Roanhorse, Alicia Ortega, Stephine Poston and Jaclyn Roessel. That conversation inspired the creation of Native Women Lead, an Albuquerque-based non-profit that aims to help Indigenous women entrepreneurs across the world access the capital, mentors, financial education and support needed to thrive in their careers and narrow the wealth gap. To date, Native Women Lead has provided about $500,000 to 65 Indigenous women entrepreneurs through the two funds, partnering with credit unions and investing firms such as Nusenda Credit Union and ImpactAssets to connect entrepreneurs with capital. While closing the wealth gap might start with funding opportunities, Native Women Lead views wealth as "more than just revenue or profits," Stephine Poston, one of the group's co-founders, says. Keeping this in mind, Native Women Lead offers wellness-focused retreats for Indigenous women as well as fireside chats on self-care practices, healing from trauma and other mental health topics.

Personal loans are often reserved for those with the best credit scores, but there are other options to borrow money if needed. Using a credit card, getting a payday alternative loan from a credit union, or borrowing from family or friends are all options if you're not able to get cash through a personal loan. Use them after you've searched your personal loan options and have used your emergency fund. Consider shopping around with a few different lenders before deciding that a personal loan won't work, and dip into emergency savings before getting a loan. If you've searched around for a personal loan to cover your debts and can't find one for you, here are three alternative options.

☆ Senate Banking Committee Chair Brown scrutinizes banking fees as consumers struggle with inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs scrutinized predatory fees charged by banks and other financial institutions during a Tuesday oversight hearing of regulators. Committee Chairman Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said the biggest banks and credit unions are doing well despite historic inflation and economic uncertainty. He said the overdraft fees charged by some credit unions "can be detrimental to members and inconsistent with the system's mission." Agency examiners are requesting audits of credit union overdraft programs, including information about overdraft policies and procedures. "Our financial regulators have answered that call, and I will continue to work with them to make sure our banking and credit union system works for everyone," Brown said.

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