Image: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate Slight gains for home equity rates in the latest week. The $30,000 home equity line of credit rose one basis point to 7.32%, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the five-year $30,000 home equity loan gained two basis points to 7.92%. Even with…
Key takeaways Using a personal loan to pay off credit card debt could be a smart move if you can secure a lower rate or are juggling multiple credit card payments Paying off credit card debt with a personal loan may not be right for you if you’re overwhelmed by…
Key takeaways There’s no universal “right amount” for a savings account, but most people need three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund plus cash for any short-term goals — and not much more than that. Money sitting in a traditional savings account earning the national average of…
Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates fell this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.16%, down from 6.23% last week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week average 52-week low 30-year 6.16%…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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When you sell stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or other equity investments for more than you paid, the profit is generally subject to capital gains tax. The capital gains tax on equity depends on how long you held the investment, your taxable income and whether the…
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By Julie Jaggernath If you’ve been spending your time shoveling snow recently, try using it as a chance to think about what money…
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These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
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Credit card debt is one of the most common financial challenges couples face, and learning how to manage credit card debt together can strengthen both finances and relationships. Honest communication, shared financial goals, and a clear plan can turn tackling credit card debt together from a stressful situation into a…
Key takeaways Nine states in the U.S. have no income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. (Washington does levy a tax on long-term capital gains.) Moving to a state with no income tax may seem like a smart money move, but other factors…
irina88w/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates ended January at 6.18%, matching their lowest levels since 2022. But can rates keep falling? That seems unlikely, mortgage experts say. The Federal Reserve announced Jan. 28 that its benchmark interest rate would remain unchanged, reflecting a mostly healthy economy. While the central…
Morsa Images/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Bankrate tracks the best certificate of deposit (CD) rates and recent interest rate trends for you. Here are the current national average annual percentage yields (APYs) as of Saturday, January 31, 2026, according to Bankrate’s most recent survey: 1-year CD yield: 1.89…
Key takeaways Only 46% of U.S. adults have enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses, making saving money more crucial than ever. Automatic transfers to a high-yield savings account earning around 4% APY can help build emergency funds without extra effort. Cash-back apps and comparison shopping can save…
If the IRS notifies you of an audit, and you expected a tax return, you probably have a lot of questions. Will you ever get your tax refund? Does the audit automatically stop it? The answer depends on the IRS’s review and whether the items under audit affect the refund…
Getty Images/Greg Hinsdale You hear a lot these days about tapping home equity – borrowing against the worth of your home – for cash. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) have become popular ways for homeowners to access their available equity to pay for expenses like…
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images Key takeaways Short-term loans provide financing with a brief repayment period and often require collateral to obtain. These loans are generally capped at $2,000 and are often used by borrowers who are strapped for cash or who have a low credit score. Loan funds are…
Holiday spending came in at the high end of projected ranges for 2025 despite numerous economic challenges. According to Mastercard, U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive) increased 3.9% year-over-year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, 2025. CNBC and the National Retail Federation published a similar increase, reporting holiday sales grew 4.1%…
ljubaphoto/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points. When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to…
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