Friday Sep 11, 2009
One New York restaurant is only accepting plastic, as fewer consumers carry or use cash much anymore.
Monday Aug 31, 2009
A prepaid card can be a great way to learn responsibility — if you follow these five rules.
Wednesday Aug 26, 2009
It happens all the time: You swipe a credit card to buy a new pair of jeans, pay for a fancy dinner or withdraw some cash. Each time a transaction occurs, a flurry of digits and codes moves from one location to another.
Tuesday Aug 18, 2009
What consumers need to know if their debit or credit card information has been compromised.
Thursday Jul 16, 2009
Credit card merchant fees are the latest target by legislators, consumer groups and retail trade groups, but I for one don't particularly mind these "behind the scene" fees for several reasons.
Friday Jun 26, 2009
Although debit card growth recently eclipsed credit card growth, credit cards still have many advantages over credit cards. Five primary advantages center around consumer protection issues.
Sunday Jan 25, 2009
Americans may not be able to live a cash-only lifestyle, but they can survive on less credit, says Jennifer Waters. Here's a look at how consumers' spending habits have changed in this economic climate.
Sunday Dec 14, 2008
It is still profitable to rack up those rewards points on your credit card. Kelli Grant suggests some ways to make the most of the rewards programs for when you're paying with plastic.
Thursday Sep 11, 2008
As many colleges have put restrictions on credit card marketing on their campuses, financial-services companies are promoting "prepaid debit cards." While there are benefits to a prepaid card, there are extra fees and risks to consider.
Friday Jul 18, 2008
The credit crunch has lots of people dipping into their 401ks, but almost every expert says that's a big 'no-no.' 401k debit cards only increase the temptation. Find out more about them in this MarketWatch article.
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Year Fixed | 4.62%  |
4.67% |
| 30 Year Fixed | 5.15% | 5.15% |
| 1 Year ARM | 3.48% |
3.51% |
| 5/1 Year ARM | 3.62% |
3.68% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | 4.89%  |
4.88% |
| 10 Year Loan | 7.47% | 7.47% |
| 15 Year Loan | 7.61% |
7.60% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Interest Checking | 0.28% | 0.28% |
| Money Market/Savings | 0.38% | 0.38% |
| 12 Month CD | 1.13%  |
1.15% |
| 60 Month IRA CD | 2.40% |
2.41% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Back Cards | 12.66% |
12.68% |
| No Annual Fee Cards | 12.08% |
11.97% |
| Reward Cards | 12.75% |
12.61% |
| Small Business Cards | 11.01% |
10.94% |
| Student Cards | 13.77% |
13.49% |
| Platinum Cards | 12.26% |
12.11% |
Protecting yourself from identity theft is really just using basic common sense. Keep an eye on all of your financial accounts on a regular basis (don't stuff those statements in a drawer, read them!). Set up email alerts on accounts for unusual activity (transactions over a certain dollar amount.) At a minimum get your free credit report annually (or more frequently by using the 3 different agencies.) Forget about the cute guy playing the guitar, advertising freecreditreport.com........he's not telling the truth! That service is not part of the annual free credit report legislation.