Directbanc.com is pleased to include John Ulzheimer, the foremost expert on credit reporting, in our Personal Finance Blog Series. John Ulzheimer is a nationally recognized expert on credit reporting, credit scoring and identity theft. He is the President of Consumer Education at SmartCredit.com and the credit blogger for Mint.com. Formerly of FICO, Equifax and Credit.com, [...]
Continue Reading →For as long as American Express has been issuing plastic, they have always been about expanding upscale, going from green, to gold, to golder, to platimum and then to Zync. Now they are doing a complete 180 as they attempt to capture a piece of the burgeoning prepaid card pie with the issuance of their [...]
Continue Reading →In most settings, be it an Occupy rally, a Tea Party rally, or even a stock market rally, the mention of one of the big banks’ names is likely to draw looks that could kill. After nearly destroying the financial system a few years back, they haven’t done much to endear themselves to the American [...]
Continue Reading →The question of when to indoctrinate our teenagers in the use of credit seems to be coming up much more frequently these days, and I don’t know why. With more than 13 million adults defaulting on their credit card accounts, why on earth would we even consider our teens ready for plastic spending by outfitting [...]
Continue Reading →Credit card vs debit card which do you think is the smartest choice? Ever since the financial crisis, consumers have turned over a new leaf with regards to their use of credit, which is why debit card usage has skyrocketed in the last few years. For many people it was out of necessity, as their credit [...]
Continue Reading →In what appears to be the biggest financial news story of the week (it was a real slow week for financial news), we learn that the venerable, personal finance pop icon, Suze Orman, has come out with her own pre-paid MasterCard, called the “Approved Card.” This is not totally surprising. After all, the Kardashians left [...]
Continue Reading →Just as the clamor over recent debit fee announcements by the major banks hit a crescendo, the banks sounded the retreat and have reversed their course and are now canceling or rethinking their plans. Score! We are victorious – say the OWS protesters. Huh? Are we to believe that the largest banks in the country, [...]
Continue Reading →It probably came as no surprise to most people when the major banks announced that they are going to start charging new debit card fees on our debit cards. Banks are in business to make money, and when they can’t find it in one place, they’ll look for it in another. Recent regulations, which have [...]
Continue Reading →Debit Card Fees – Just a Test? Wells Fargo announced August 17, 2011 that they will “test” a $3.00 monthly debit card fee for some customers in the states of Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington beginning October 14, 2011. They join Chase, Regions, and Suntrust banks in the practice of charging the consumer [...]
Continue Reading →Consumers are likely to face an increase in debit card fees whenever they use prepaid cards. The fees are coming, many experts warn, as a way for companies to increase their bottom lines after many are facing steep cuts in their ability to charge higher interest rates or other fees. If you are facing these [...]
Continue Reading →In a recent change in legislation, the Federal Reserve determined that the current per transaction fee that merchants are paying to financial institutions each time a consumer swipes his or her debit card for a purchase, is too high. Rather than the 44 cent per transaction average cost right now, the Federal Reserve says it [...]
Continue Reading →With new legislation in Congress that could end up cutting the availability and the cost effectiveness of using debit cards for purchases, it may be time to look for another solution. For some people, the traditional credit card just is not available, or it may not offer the benefits that one is hoping for. Still, [...]
Continue Reading →What are Prepaid Cards? Everyday commerce has shifted from paper to plastic. Hardly anyone nowadays uses cash to purchase what they need and a retailer that doesn’t have a POS (point of sale) terminal that sits right beside the traditional cash register is a rare find. The latest addition to this modern cash-less payment [...]
Continue Reading →Things You Need to Consider about Use of a Travel Debit Card Traveling for business or leisure should go smoothly every time. However, monetary problems pertaining to use of a travel debit card may complicate trips. This is why it is crucial to know what to expect when using a travel debit card so that [...]
Continue Reading →Online Debit Card: What is it and how it Works? Some people who are not familiar on how debit card works often ask if debit cards can also be used like the usual credit card. If you are one of those who are not familiar with the purpose and use of debit cards, the [...]
Continue Reading →Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Money Card Are you travelling in the next coming weeks? If so, it is crucial that you prepare all necessary considerations pertaining to your trip. Aside from coordinating plane or ferry reservations and hotel accommodations, it would be smart to arrange in advance budgetary matters. This is especially true if [...]
Continue Reading →Debit Card vs. Credit Card The two most popular pieces of plastic for today’s consumer is the debit card and the credit card. There has been an ongoing debate on their merits and disadvantages. The following outlines and compares some of their more significant characteristics to provide a better understanding of these two methods of [...]
Continue Reading →Debit Card Fees Card Holders Must Know When shopping at crowded malls, many people are hesitant to bring cash since it may not be safe. If you are one of those people but do not like to own credit cards, the best option you can pick is applying for a debit card. Debit card [...]
Continue Reading →Best Debit Cards In considering the best possible debit card you must begin with this question: what do you need the debit card for? Groceries? Travel? Internet purchases? Each situation may use a different debit transaction system and not every retailer may support the features your card issuer offers; then comes the fine print. [...]
Continue Reading →All You Needed To Know About Prepaid Travel Cards Those who frequently leave town for business or leisure will find prepaid travel cards an effective solution to paying and managing all travel-related expenses. But while prepaid travel cards have been in circulation for quite some time now, few still know their distinction between regular [...]
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