The full impact of ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgrade of U.S. debt remains unclear. But one outcome credit analysts say is almost certain is higher consumer interest rates.
credit cards
How College Kids Can Build Credit by Graduation
I never thought it would happen. I’ve been throwing away credit card offers addressed to my daughter for years. But now that she’s 21, entering her senior year of college, I figured it was time for her to experience plastic, …
CFPB Will Tackle Credit Card Issues Soon, Advocates Predict
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officially opens its doors today. Conceived in the wake of the subprime meltdown and the subsequent financial market crash, the CFPB was envisioned as a financial services version of something like the Consumer Product Safety Commission, except that instead of pulling lead-tainted toys or …
5 Money-Saving Credit Card Tricks for Travelers
Everybody knows about reward credit cards that let you accrue points or miles toward your next getaway. But there are other ways your credit cards — and how you use them — can save you money. You can stretch your summer …
College Revenues From Credit Card Companies Hit the Skids
A new Federal Reserve report shows that in 2010, credit card issuers paid $73 million to colleges as part of marketing deals — down 14% from $85 million in 2009.
How Banks Are Aiding and Abetting Identity Theft
Why in the world are banks still using SSNs as a major form of customer identification?
Finally, Money Advice That Will Make You Skinnier
One more reason to opt for paper over plastic as often as possible: your health (physical and financial).
Where’d All the Cash Go? U.S. Treasury’s Printing Press Slows
Many economists and investors complain that the federal government has effectively been “printing money” through its loose monetary and fiscal policies. But in a strictly literal sense, the very opposite turns out to be true: In …
J.P. Morgan Chase Tight-Lipped About Credit Card Debt Lawsuit Dismissals
Mortgage lenders are under scrutiny for their foreclosure practices and record-keeping, including abuses like so-called “robosigning” and trying to foreclose on homes without proper documentation. Bank of America agreed to pay …
New Reward Programs Coming to a Card Near You
Traditionally, banks have paid for reward programs with fees they earn elsewhere in their business. But the Credit CARD Act of 2009 and interchange and overdraft fee reform all cut into this revenue. The type of reward program …
Credit Scores: Is 750 the New 680?
Buried in the housing data of the past few days (housing volume is down over the last month while prices are slightly up) was the most interesting release: the performance report of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Your Credit Card Data Is Probably at Risk
Hackers are getting smarter when it comes to stealing your personal account information. The recent data breach at Citi — which turned out to affect some 80 percent more customers than initially reported and led to $2.7 million …