http://banking.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2012-02-17T16:57:49Z Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:57:49 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/22/choose-your-pin-wisely.htm <p>Does your bank allow you to choose your own personal identification number (PIN)? Some banks don't, because some customers make it too easy on the thieves.</p> <p>A new study shows that if consumers choose their own PIN, thieves <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/20/security-of-self-selected-pins-is-lacking/?src=recg">have a decent shot at guessing it</a> when they find a wallet containing personal information (such as the owner's date of birth). When your bank chooses your PIN for you, the odds go down substantially.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/22/choose-your-pin-wisely.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/22/choose-your-pin-wisely.htm Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:45:23 +0000 2012-02-22T20:45:23Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/17/confusing-bank-transfer-day-numbers.htm <p>There's been a lot of confusion about the impact of Bank Transfer Day, the movement to transfer accounts from large banks to credit unions.</p> <p>The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) estimated that 650,000 consumers joined credit unions on BTD, but later revised that number to 214,000. Then, a Javelin study suggested that 610,000 people switched banks as a result of BTD (although some of them switched to another bank, as opposed to a credit union).</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/17/confusing-bank-transfer-day-numbers.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/17/confusing-bank-transfer-day-numbers.htm Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:57:49 +0000 2012-02-17T16:57:49Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/16/bad-news-about-the-foreclosure-deal.htm <p>The $26 billion settlement between large banks and the states is a big deal, but it won't put the housing market's problems behind us.</p> <p>Everybody seems relieved to have the negotiations behind them, but it's not over yet. Banks will get limited protection under the settlement, but future lawsuits are not off the table. That means more uncertainty and resources devoted to unwinding the mortgage mess.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/16/bad-news-about-the-foreclosure-deal.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/16/bad-news-about-the-foreclosure-deal.htm Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:10:09 +0000 2012-02-16T15:10:09Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/08/chase-pays-for-overdraft-shuffling.htm <p>Remember the practice of shuffling checking account transactions to maximize overdraft fees? Banks are now paying for it, although they still came out ahead.</p> <p>Chase used to re-order all the transactions that came through your checking account each day. They claimed that it helped you make your most important payments (generally the largest payments like rent, mortgage, and insurance premiums). Consumer advocates saw it differently: by blowing out the majority of your account balance in one transaction, those small debit card purchases could produce more overdraft fees.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/08/chase-pays-for-overdraft-shuffling.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/08/chase-pays-for-overdraft-shuffling.htm Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:13:32 +0000 2012-02-08T14:13:32Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/02/the-new-world-of-bank-fees.htm <p>If you hadn't noticed, fees are rising at the bank. Almost everything costs more now, and things that used to be free now result in a fee.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/02/the-new-world-of-bank-fees.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/02/the-new-world-of-bank-fees.htm Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:49:16 +0000 2012-02-02T14:49:16Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/01/tax-refund-loans-rarely-worth-it.htm <p>It's the time of year when tax preparation services fight to win your business. One of the ways they get you in the door is by offering quick cash. If you've got a refund coming, they'll give you access to that money today.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/01/tax-refund-loans-rarely-worth-it.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/02/01/tax-refund-loans-rarely-worth-it.htm Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:36:18 +0000 2012-02-01T14:36:18Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/26/prepaid-debit-vs-secured-credit-cards.htm <p>If you want to use plastic when you purchase, you have quite a few options. In addition to the debit vs. credit card decision, you can choose among different <em>types</em> of debit and credit cards.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/26/prepaid-debit-vs-secured-credit-cards.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/26/prepaid-debit-vs-secured-credit-cards.htm Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:56:08 +0000 2012-01-26T15:56:08Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/23/b-of-as-5-fee-drove-customers-away.htm <p>Bank of America tried to institute a $5 per month charge for debit card customers last year, but the move turned out to be a disaster. B of A eventually scrapped plans to charge the fee, but the damage was done: customers got angry about a fee they believed was unfair.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/23/b-of-as-5-fee-drove-customers-away.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/23/b-of-as-5-fee-drove-customers-away.htm Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:25:51 +0000 2012-01-23T19:25:51Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/19/different-banks-different-rates.htm <p>Unhappy with the interest rate on your savings account? Consider switching banks. Rates are low all over, but some banks pay more than others.</p> <p>Money-Rates.com recently published a study on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.money-rates.com/research-center/americas-best-rates">savings account rates available nationwide</a>. A highlight from their research:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/19/different-banks-different-rates.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/19/different-banks-different-rates.htm Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:21:45 +0000 2012-01-19T09:21:45Z http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/17/bank-lending-increases-2.htm <p>Ever since the financial crisis, bank lending has been dismal. Either it wasn't easy to get a loan, or banks claimed that not enough qualified borrowers were asking for money.</p> <p>Now things look different. Banks report that <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204555904577166523861298962.html">the amount of money out on loan is actually increasing</a> -- for the first time in a long time. That's most likely good news for the economy. If businesses and consumers borrow money (responsibly), the economy is likely to recover; more jobs should eventually follow.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/17/bank-lending-increases-2.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://banking.about.com/b/2012/01/17/bank-lending-increases-2.htm Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:09:00 +0000 2012-01-17T20:09:00Z