As of August 15th 2010, banks are no longer allowed to automatically enroll customers into overdraft protection plans for their checking accounts, according to the Federal Reserve’s new regulations. This means you have to “opt-in” or agree to overdraft protection or else your debit card will be declined when you’ve overspent.
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SmartyPig Race Out of Debt Contest – One Winner Gets Almost Five Thousand Dollars!
SmartyPig is running a new contest called “Race out of Debt.” The winner will get $4,951. Why $4,951? Well, it seems that’s the average American’s credit card debt as of this Summer. Sound like a lot? It’s actually down 13% from last year! So to celebrate bringing our debt down, SmartyPig is going to make one contestant super happy.
Crank Up Your Money Saving Goals With SmartyPig
SmartyPig Review
One of the more interesting and innovative ways to save up for specific goals is to make use of SmartyPig. SmartyPig is a free online savings tool that allows you to save for for specific financial goals. Whether you want to save up $500 for back to school shopping, or $5,000 for a family vacation, it is possible to use SmartyPig to reach that goal. The concept is fairly straightforward, and works simply.
First of all, it is important to note that SmartyPig is not a bank. SmartyPig accounts are held through BBVA Compass (As of Aug 1st, 2010 SmartyPig account will move from West Bank to BBVA Compass, the 15th largest bank in the US). They are FDIC insured for up to $250,000 (drops to $100,000 on January 1, 2014 unless things change). You can set up as many goals as you want for yourself and your family. In order to start at SmartyPig, you need the same items that you would need to open a regular savings account:
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Different Kinds Of Bank Cards
There are a number of different kinds of bank cards a person may come across in the course of their financial life – ATM cards, debit cards, credit cards, and prepaid debit cards.
All of these, as one may gather, work differently – and how they differ is an important thing to know in order to wisely use each kind of card.
The Different Bank Cards You Might See [Read more…] about Different Kinds Of Bank Cards
What is a Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
In today’s difficult economy, it is more important than ever to pay attention to the little details of personal finances.
Money kept in a typical savings accounts will earn very little interest, with many banks today paying as little as one tenth of one percent.
A certificate of deposit (CD) is one alternative that pays a better interest rate than a passbook savings account.
