AOL News

Banks Boost Checking Fees to Raise Cash

Thu, 28 May 2009 18:03:57 GMT

Thu, 28 May 2009 18:03:57 GMT 502567 2009-05-28T18:03:57Z

Banks Boost Checking Fees to Raise Cash

posted: 179 DAYS 16 HOURS AGO

San Jose Mercury News/MCT

Banks are increasing fees on checking accounts to compensate for lost revenue as customers shift from using credit cards to debit cards. DailyFinance shows how this could cost consumers hundreds of dollars per year.

Full Coverage

'Times Magazine' on Credit, Foreclosure

Fri, 15 May 2009 19:26:38 GMT

'Times Magazine' on Credit, Foreclosure

posted: 192 DAYS 15 HOURS AGO

filed under: Banking, Checking Account, Credit, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Credit Score, Debt, Fraud, Mortgages, Recession, Refinancing

Skip over this content

On Sunday, The New York Times Magazine will publish its Money Issue, featuring at least two stories virtually guaranteed to spoil your brunch: reporter Edmund L. Andrews's personal tale of his own harrowing misadventures in the subprime-mortgage crisis, and Charles Duhigg's study of what the credit-card companies are doing to track your every move (and figure out whether you've been naughty or nice). Read on.

Full Coverage

Secured Credit Cards Harder to Get

Mon, 04 May 2009 11:50:15 GMT

Secured Credit Cards Harder to Get

posted: 203 DAYS 23 HOURS AGOcomments: 0

filed under: Banking, Checking Account, Credit, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Credit Score, Debt, Loans, Recession, Savings Account

Skip over this content

If you're someone who needs to establish or rebuild your credit, you're probably in the market for a secured credit card, backed by your own funds rather than a bank's. But offers for such cards are plummeting as banks shy away from taking on more risky debt. So how can you get a secured card if you really need one? Read on to learn some helpful strategies.

Full Coverage

Must Read: 0% 0%

Email Comments (0)

Cash Vanishes from Small-Biz Accounts

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:36:25 GMT

Cash Vanishes from Small-Biz Accounts

posted: 210 DAYS 14 HOURS AGOcomments: 0

filed under: Banking, Checking Account, Credit, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Credit Score, Debt, Loans, Recession, Savings Account

Skip over this content

Small-business owners and entrepreneurs are fuming as credit-card processors, desperate to turn the tide of red ink and avoid their own bankruptcies, have begun demanding cash reservers from their customers -- and, in some cases, seizing cash from their cardholders' bank accounts. For a small business, the effects of such actions could be dire, even fatal. Read on to learn about a new threat to small business.

Full Coverage

Must Read: 0% 0%

Email Comments (0)

Microfinancing Heats Up in Credit Freeze

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:44:27 GMT

Microfinancing Heats Up in Credit Freeze

posted: 279 DAYS 14 HOURS AGO

The stimulus bill President Obama signed today includes $30 million for microlending programs. Find out how microfinance can help you grow or start a business and why it's heating up in the face of the credit freeze.

Skip over this content

Coping With the Economy

Salvage groceries are items that get returned to warehouses for some reason -- dented cans, over-ordering, use-by dates are getting close or items that don't sell well. This "remainders" business is getting hot in our bad economy.

www.wiswebpro.com

Many libraries across the country are experiencing an increase in patrons, especially job seekers who use the Internet to look for work and borrow DVDs for cheap entertainment. Even with budget cutbacks, some are thinking of buying more computer terminals and expanding wi-fi options.

Pat Wellenbach, AP

To try to spur tourism and help out local businesses, the state of Massachusetts is sponsoring a new program called MassValuePass which has coupons, special offers and huge discounts.

www.massvacation.com

You don't have to just let unwanted gifts sit around in your house, gathering dust. With belts tightening, you need to make use of all your assets, so a new site, barterquest.com has found a way to match up people and their stuff to barter.

barterquest.com

To deal with the rising cost of food, Royal Caribbean is adding a surcharge for steaks served in its dining rooms.

Hybrids are one option for fuel-conscious drivers, of course, but many are now opting for even smaller vehicles: scooters. Sales are up 66 percent so far in 2008. Honda is releasing its 2009 model early to capture as many customers as possible.

M. Spencer Green, AP

Blaming inflation and rising food and energy prices, the 99 Cents Only discount store announced it was bumping its top price to 99.99 cents -- or one-hundredth of a cent less than a dollar -- the first price increase in the chain's 26-year history.

Nick Ut, AP

As economic troubles keep diners at home, restaurants are starting to cut back on portion sizes and are using cheaper ingredients -- even high-end hot spots. In New York, restaurant owners admit to shrinking lobsters, subbing shiitake mushrooms for morels and offering discount appetizers.

Larry Crowe, AP

To combat high food prices, many shoppers are turning to bulk purchases, which is driving up sales of stand-alone freezers. A new study shows that sales were up 7 percent in the first six months of the year.

M. Spencer Green, AP

Soaring prices for scrap metal may make demolition derbies a thing of the past. Owners who used to sell their worn-out wheels for $50 to $100 are turning to scrap dealers instead, getting nearly triple the price.

Al Fenn, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images

Full Coverage

Keep Those Checks Afloat Longer

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:22:14 GMT

Keep Those Checks Afloat Longer

posted: 481 DAYS 12 HOURS AGO

filed under: Banking, Specials, Checking Account

Remember the good old days when you could "float" checks, banking on the fact that the money would be in your account by the time the check processed? Recent regulations have nearly eliminated the grace period, but here are six moves to make that can still buy you some "float" time.

Skip over this content

Full Coverage

Bankrate Checking Study

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:48:49 GMT

Bankrate Checking Study

posted: 147 DAYS 1 HOUR AGO

filed under: Checking Account

Bounced-check fees and ATM surcharges for all checking account types have reached new highs -- again.

Full Coverage

What Fannie and Freddie Mean to You

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:44:16 GMT

What Fannie and Freddie Mean to You

posted: 465 DAYS 16 HOURS AGO

filed under: Banking, Checking Account, Debt, Loans, Mortgages, Recession

Mortgage expert David Reed tells you what you need to know about the crisis at the lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, your first step in understanding today's banking mess. Also see: How safe is your money? | Lessons from IndyMac

Skip over this content

TOP: Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP | BOTTOM: Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Full Coverage

Personal Cash Flow Basics

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:41:44 GMT

Personal Cash Flow Basics

posted: 489 DAYS 12 HOURS AGOcomments: 0

filed under: Savings Account, Checking Account, Debt

Skip over this content

The advent of check cards and online banking has created a culture of people who don't take the time to balance their checking account at the end of each month. If you find yourself resorting to using your credit card at the end of every month to get by then itÂs probably time you took a look at creating a budget.

Full Coverage

Must Read: 0% 0%

Email Comments (0)

Electronic Funds Transfer

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:13:07 GMT

Electronic Funds Transfer

posted: 489 DAYS 19 HOURS AGOcomments: 0

filed under: Banking, Savings Account, Checking Account

Skip over this content

Let's look at the role of the major parties involved in an electronic payment: payor, payee, the respective financial institutions and the payments system.

Full Coverage

Must Read: 0% 0%

Email Comments (0)