Financial Articles

Housing Crisis Programs
The home-mortgage crisis in the United States has spawned problems in the mortgage, real-estate and banking industries, and many consumers now face mortgage-payment increases in the coming months that could cause the number of foreclosures to climb even higher. Here are two valuable resources for consumers in need of help with their mortgage situation...

Identity Theft
The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. This is often done to commit fraud, theft or other crimes. It can destroy a person’s credit and ruin their good name. It can also cost a lot of time and money to fix...

Payday Loans and Cash Advance Stores
As the cost of everything continues to rise, many people are finding themselves running out funds before their next payday. Some are turning to payday loans or cash advance stores just to make ends meet. However, many people are not aware of the total cost of payday loans...

Short Sales
As many people continue to struggle to make their mortgage payments, they are considering all options that may help them get out of their home. With the drop in home values, one of these options is a short sale or discounted payoff...

Checked Your Credit Report Lately
Most lenders today automatically contact one or more credit bureaus in the area where you live before approving your loan. Credit bureau reports show most (if not all) of your credit transactions for at least the last 7 years....

Choosing The Right Credit Card For You
All of us are bombarded with credit card offers today regardless of what debts we already owe. Sometimes the temptation is almost irresistible to sign up and add another piece of plastic to your purse or wallet. True, financial experts...

High-Cost Lending
Most of us have been offered or have used credit cards. We probably have also received installment loans from a bank or other lender to buy automobiles, furniture, and appliances, and perhaps have even managed to secure a home mortgage...

Financing A College Education
I. THE CHALLENGE. The challenge of getting ready for college today has become a growing problem for many students and their families due to: A. Growing enrollments and greater numbers of student applicants pressing against limited college...

Your Rights As A Consumer Of Financial Services
I. BORROWERS TOO HAVE RIGHTS. Many people who borrow money believe that all of the rights and advantages of a loan contract go to the lender of funds. Certainly lenders have significant rights as they must have to be able to secure...

Credit Cards: Advantages & Disadvantages For The Consumer
I. WHAT ARE CREDIT CARDS? A form of money (instant spending power) that provides both the capacity to buy goods and services (i.e., carry out transactions) and the capacity to borrow funds (i.e., gain access to credit). II. A BRIEF...

Deposit Insurance in the U.S. - Some of the Things You Need To Know
I. EXACTLY WHO INSURES WHAT FOR WHOM? A. Types of insurance plans in use today: 1. The U.S. Government accumulates a fund by making assessments against insured banks’ annual deposits. When a bank occasionally fails, and unless a healthy...

Buying A Home
I. INTRODUCTION. Buying a home is one of the great dreams that Americans have passed down to their children from generation to generation. For more than 50 years, American presidents from...

Buying Insurance in Today's World
Insurance: Financial protection against personal loss has become a must for nearly everyone in today’s world. States require automobile insurance protection for those licensed to drive on their highways in case the driver of a vehicle...

Your Insured Deposit
Most of us believe that a government-insured deposit in a bank, credit union, savings and loan association, or other depository institution is among the safest places to park our hard-earned savings. And that is generally true,...

Internet Banking: Is It A Good Deal?
Banks and other depository institutions by the busload are going on-line with their services. Not long ago the federal banking agencies estimated that more than 3500 depository institutions have active web sites. Most of these sites...

Job Uncertainty and Borrowing By Individuals and Families
There is an old relationship between borrowing and jobs that most economists would probably swear by. When the prospect of unemployment rears its alarming head, individuals and families typically will borrow less or perhaps not at...