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☆ Interest rate hikes have made financing a car pricier — especially if you have bad credit. How much you could pay
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tim Boyle | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesYour credit score is one of several variables consideredThe higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate you may qualify for. watch nowThe difference in the interest rate available across different credit scores can be stark. For illustration: With a credit score in the 720-850 range, the average interest rate for a five-year, $45,000 car loan is just under 5.8%, according to FICO's latest data. Compare that to what someone whose credit score fell between 660 and 689 would pay. "This is the amount of credit you're using on your credit cards divided by your credit limits," Rossman said.

☆ Here's what the Federal Reserve's fourth 0.75 percentage point interest rate hike means for you
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The Federal Reserve raised the target federal funds rate by 0.75 percentage point for the fourth time in a row on Wednesday, marking an unprecedented pace of rate hikes. The federal funds rate, which is set by the central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. As the federal funds rate rises, the prime rate does, as well, and your credit card rate follows suit within one or two billing cycles. Still, it's not the interest rate but the sticker price of the vehicle that's causing an affordability problem, McBride said. Federal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers won't be impacted immediately by a rate hike.

☆ What rising interest rates mean for your credit, loans, savings and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“Interest rates have increased at the fastest pace in 40 years,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com. They’re offering far higher rates – with some topping 3% currently – and have been increasing them as benchmark rates go higher. At the most recent auction in October, for instance, the 5-year TIPS had an interest rate of 1.625%. Home loans: Lock in fixed rates nowMortgage rates have been rising over the past year, jumping more than three percentage points. That said, “don’t jump into a large purchase that isn’t right for you just because interest rates might go up.

Fraudsters will try to get your personal information and answers to security questions on social media. "The reason fraudsters are so interested in social media and social engineering is because they can get answers to those questions." Insider's Featured Identity Theft Protection Services Aura – All-In-One ID Theft ProtectionIDShield 3 Bureau Individual PlanIdentityForce Ultra Secure+Credit Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Editor's Rating 4.6/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.7/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Editor's Rating 4.8/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Learn more On Aura's website Learn more On IDShield's website Learn more On IdentityForce's websiteHere are five tips to help you avoid identity theft scams on social media. Anytime anyone's asking for personal information, find a different way of getting in contact with that individual," says Lord.

☆ Here are tips for buying a home in a cooling market, according to top-ranked financial advisors
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Sarah O'Brien | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Add in higher mortgage rates, elevated home prices and unrelenting high inflation — i.e., the current home-buying environment — and it may feel decidedly unattainable. This means having a good handle on your current financial situation. While the purchase of a house is a single transaction, affordability is largely about monthly mortgage payments. "Look at your current credit score and see if you need to make improvements," Higgins said. Look at your current credit score and see if you need to make improvements.

☆ TransUnion, Equifax, Experian may have violated credit reporting rules, Rep. Jim Clyburn says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A key Democrat wants credit reporting agencies Equifax , Experian and TransUnion investigated for allegedly failing to respond to consumer complaints during the pandemic. Clyburn asked the chief executive officers of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion in May for the companies' responses to consumer complaints in the early days of the pandemic. The subcommittee partly credited the pause on student loan payments and an increase in pandemic-related identity theft to credit reporting errors. The bureau also cited the credit reporting companies for accepting these findings without an independent investigation. "Errors in credit reports can reduce consumers' credit scores, potentially blocking access to loans, housing, and employment, among other serious consequences."

☆ Analysts are standing by these stocks with 'robust upside' ahead of Q3 earnings
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Earnings season is underway and Wall Street analysts are picking their favorite stocks to buy ahead of third quarter results. In addition, "capital allocation optionality provides sources of earnings upside," according to the firm. We could see EPS of ~$1 by 2030, and view the stock as undervalued given the growth and earnings potential. This shows the earnings potential of Pfizer beyond the loss of exclusivity of key drugs through the end of the decade. ... .Capital allocation optionality provides sources of earnings upside."

☆ ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Is Still a Credit-Score Blind Spot
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Annamaria Andriotis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. consumers signed up for billions of dollars of “buy now, pay later” plans last year. Almost none are reflected in their credit scores. Equifax Experian PLC and TransUnion began allowing buy now, pay later companies to report their short-term payment plans earlier this year. But some of the biggest players in the business, including Affirm Holdings Klarna Bank AB and Afterpay aren’t yet doing so.

☆ How to Improve Your Credit Score, According to Experts
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

That’s why we asked three credit experts what they think of common credit score tips—and how you can really make the most of them. In the scenario above, if you doubled your credit limit—or got an additional credit card with the same credit limit—your credit utilization would go down to 5%. What experts say: Experts agree that getting more available credit can indeed help your credit utilization and credit scores. You might see positive changes to your credit as soon as your new credit limit makes it to your credit report. Some of the easiest options include becoming an authorized user on a family member’s credit card or applying for a secured credit card, which involves depositing money with the credit card issuer.

☆ How your credit score is calculated and why it's important
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Here’s a look at how you can create healthy habits to avoid having a low credit score:What is a credit score? If your credit score is over 750, you’re considered to have a great credit score, said McCreary. “There is this sort of dream scenario of having an over 800 credit score, that is a very high credit score and very few people get there,” said McCreary. “Fair” credit scores are considered to be in the 580-669 range, a credit score below 580 is considered a poor credit score. Being aware of your credit score and maintaining healthy habits around it is crucial to having a good credit history.

☆ Free weekly credit reports are available through the end of 2023. Why you may want to check yours now
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Your credit score can make or break your ability to open a credit card or buy a new car or home at attractive interest rates. Keeping tabs on your credit report — which outlines your debts, bill payment history and other financial information — can help you do that. The three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — recently extended the availability of free weekly credit reports to consumers through the end of 2023. The reports are available at the Annual Credit Report website. While the free credit report you'll get won't show your credit score, it can offer clues in terms of how to boost that number.

The minimum credit score that you'll need to buy a house varies by lender and loan type. You may be surprised to learn that minimum credit score requirements will vary by lender and loan type. Minimum credit score: No minimum, but with a credit score of at least 640 you could qualify for streamlined credit analysisIt's important to point out lenders are free to set higher minimum credit score requirements than what the loan-backing organizations require. When it comes to your credit score, your bank or credit card issuer may provide your score for free. If not, you can also use a free credit score monitoring tool like Credit Karma or Credit Sesame.

☆ Renters are finally being rewarded for paying the bills on time with cash back, gift cards, and even boosted credit scores
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-02 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Historically, the US's 44.2 million renters have written checks to their landlords and kissed that cash goodbye. In lieu of a security deposit, Up&Up users "invest" one month's rent into their Up&Up Wallet. Bilt: Building credit is as easy as paying rentAt the rental-rewards startup Bilt, renters are rewarded for paying rent. Piñata: Crack open the rewards while rentingPiñata, too, offers rewards for renters, alongside credit reporting. They can also have their rent payments reported to TransUnion.

☆ America’s dependence on credit cards is growing. The Fed’s rate hike will make it more painful
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Martha C. White | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As prices continue to rise, Americans are becoming increasingly reliant on credit cards to make purchases. “The effect on existing credit card borrowers is probably actually worse,” he said, because of the rate hikes the Fed has undertaken already this year. Credit cards were a big cause of that: In the second quarter, 233 million new credit accounts were opened, the largest increase since 2008. Of the new debt that accumulated during that quarter, $46 billion was credit card debt. Credit bureau TransUnion found that there are more credit cards today, and there is more debt on those cards.

☆ With mortgage rates above 6% for the first time since the Great Recession, we had a personal finance expert break down the 4 best ways to lock in the lowest rate possible
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Jennifer Streaks | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Detailed below are four ways you can ensure you're getting the lowest possible rate right now. If you're looking to apply for a mortgage in such an environment, it's as important as ever to make sure you're getting quoted the lowest possible rate. Get all of your quotes together and take a thorough look, this includes closing costs, fees and points and make sure that you get the best deal possible," McBride states. You do not want to have any large outstanding balances that may conflict with a new mortgage payment," McBride says. It's important to show that your income can handle adding this mortgage loan to your financial picture.

The Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is worth considering if you fly Alaska or collect the airline's miles, and it's currently offering a record-high bonus. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card the best card for you? How to earn miles from the Alaska Airlines Business cardWith the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card, you'll earn 3 Alaska miles per dollar spent on Alaska Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. If you're not quite in that range, there are plenty of great travel rewards credit cards that you may be eligible for with good credit score, including the personal Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card (you can read our review of the Alaska Airlines credit card for more information). If you're a small-business owner and fly Alaska Airlines frequently, the Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is worth it.

If you want daily triple-bureau credit monitoring and monthly credit score and credit report tracking, you should opt for the mid-tier PrivacyGuard® Credit Protection, which costs $19.99 per month. Things to consider before signing up for a credit monitoring serviceHere's what you should consider before signing up for a credit monitoring service: Cost: Typically, these services bill monthly. When ranking the best free credit monitoring services, we focused on the following features: Number of credit bureaus monitored: Services that monitor credit reports from more than one credit bureau were ranked higher since it's rare for free services to monitor several reports. When ranking the best paid credit monitoring services, we focused on the following features: Cost: Lower-cost services that offered more benefits ranked higher in our reviews. Keep in mind that credit monitoring services can only alert you of changes to your credit file, not fix or prevent any errors.

Credit monitoring services can provide you with early notice of potential fraud on your credit report, so you can take steps to protect your personal information. Below, Select reviews the top six credit monitoring services that can help you keep track of your credit and get alerts on potential fraud. Best free credit monitoring servicesBest paid credit monitoring servicesBest free credit monitoring servicesIf you're not willing to pay money for a credit monitoring service, you can consider one of these free options. Best paid credit monitoring servicesIf you want a more comprehensive credit monitoring plan, consider one of the paid plans below. If you want daily triple-bureau credit monitoring and monthly credit score and credit report tracking, you should opt for the mid-tier PrivacyGuard® Credit Protection, which costs $19.99 per month.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Here are four ways credit cards affect your credit score that you should be aware of:1. Credit historyThe age of your credit card account matters. Here's a few types to get you started:Secured credit cardSecured credit cards are great for those with little credit history or a low credit score. Credit card with no annual feeCredit cards with no annual fee are more your everyday variety of credit card. Use a budgeting and credit monitoring appWith multiple credit cards, it's good to have a central location for information.

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While most lenders tend to require a minimum credit score of 620, Rocket Mortgage accepts applicants with credit scores as low as 580. Types of mortgage loans offered: Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo Minimum credit score: 540 for FHA, 620 for conventional. For a conventional mortgage, lenders typically want a credit score 620. Types of loans offered: The most common kinds of mortgage loans include conventional loans, FHA loans and VA loans. The most common kinds of mortgage loans include conventional loans, FHA loans and VA loans.

Persons: Citibank's, you've, JD Powers, It's, J.D ., it's Organizations: FHA, Rocket Mortgage, Card, Rocket, U.S, Navy Federal Credit Union Navy Federal Credit, Navy, Navy Federal Credit Union, Navy Federal, Citibank Citibank Mortgage, Citibank, Jumbo, Better Business, PMI, Mortgage, USDA, Guild Mortgage, CrossCountry, CrossCountry Mortgage, Federal Credit Union Navy Federal Credit Union, of Defense, Homebuyer, JD, District of Columbia, J.D, Better, Consumer, Government, CNBC, CNBC Select's, Facebook, Twitter Locations: VA, New York, U.S, San Diego, Oregon

Knowing where to find your credit score and understanding what it means are key to effectively managing your finances. There are also a number of websites, like Credit Karma, that offer free credit scores when you sign up for their services. Length of credit history (15%): A longer credit history is a positive, but not a requirement for a good score. Credit score vs. credit reportIf you look at a credit score as the grade lenders use to determine your creditworthiness, think of the credit report as all the "work" that goes into that grade. Keeping a close eye on your credit score and credit reports, whether you get them for free or pay for them, are key to staying on sound financial footing.

Understand how credit scores workIn general, your credit scores fall in a range between 300 and 850, which are determined by the information recorded in your credit reports. "Every time you apply for a new line of credit, your credit score will initially drop," Amaral says. Keep old credit accounts openBecause your FICO scores are partially based on how old your credit accounts are, if you close older accounts, your credit scores may drop. Monitor your credit scores and track your progressIt's important to track your credit scores as you take these steps to increase your credit. Keeping your credit cards paid off or maintaining low balances will help improve your credit utilization ratio, which should be less than 30% of your available credit.

Affirm is one of the few buy now, pay later providers that offer consumers long-term financing options with a 0% APR. Since you don't pay interest on your Afterpay loan, you don't have to worry about not being refunded for interest. You'll be hit with an $8 fee, or 25% of your transaction, whichever is less, for each late payment. Available merchants Pay in 4 is available at millions of merchants through the app, but it's not accessible for merchants that aren't integrated with PayPal. Our methodologySelect focused on the following features when examining popular buy now, pay later providers: APR: Some BNPL loans charge interest while others do not.

If you want to earn cash back with minimal effort and no annual fee, the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card is a good option. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Capital One Quicksilver the best cash-back credit card for you? There are four main types of cash-back credit cards, and the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card falls into the flat-rate rewards category. Unlike some other cash-back credit cards, there's no minimum redemption amount with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Concierge serviceCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card cardholders can access a concierge service 24 hours a day to help with things like dining reservations, event tickets, and travel bookings.

If you're opening your first credit card or want to rebuild a tarnished credit history, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an attractive option if a regular credit card isn't available to you. All three credit bureaus receive payment reports from Discover, and on-time payments with the Discover it® Secured Credit Card will help build a positive credit history. How to apply for the Discover it Secured cardWhen you apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, your credit report will be reviewed. Discover it Secured card benefits and featuresFor a secured credit card, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card has a decent list of benefits. The Discover it® Secured Credit Card gives you complimentary access to your FICO credit score and reports information with TransUnion.

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