Image Source/Getty Images As the most populated state, California also has the highest number of drivers on the roads. With over 27 million licensed drivers, the state takes a hard line on violations like DUIs, at-fault accidents and speeding. Drivers with these infractions, along with inexperienced drivers, typically pay much…
Image by kolderal/GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Driving in New York isn’t for the faint of heart. Whether you’re dodging cabs in Midtown or gripping the wheel through Buffalo’s lake-effect snow, life behind the wheel in the Empire State keeps you on your toes. However, if you’ve had speeding tickets, an…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate The consequences of a speeding ticket in the Golden State extend far beyond the initial fine. In addition to penalties ranging from $35 to $200, California drivers see their average full coverage car insurance premiums jump by $1,215 per year after a…
Key takeaways You can responsibly use a credit card for large purchases if you pay off the balance before it starts accruing interest. Using a credit card to pay for large but predictable expenses — like groceries, travel and appliances — can help you earn rewards and access additional benefits.…
Personal Finance
The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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Image by PM Images/Getty Images; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Mortgage rates dipped this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.28%, down from 6.32% the previous week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago…
Dept Managmnt
Experience with the Program: How Debt Management Helped a First-Time Renter Katie’s journey shows clearly how debt management helped her regain control over…
Banking
These entrepreneurs, traders and investors are making an outsized impact in fintech, crypto and traditional financial services.By Jeff Kauflin, Hank Tucker and Nina…
Credit Cards
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Cassandra Gucwa was crying in frustration in her office closet shortly after her employer was acquired by a larger conglomerate in 2012. Hundreds of employees were now mixing into her workspace, and the vibe in the office shifted from collaborative to competitive. “It was just so difficult to work your…
Building wealth is hard. For women, it’s even harder. Women typically earn less than men. When trying to move up, many find that bias is still the norm in many corners of the American workplace. They’re more likely to take breaks from work or shift to lower-paying jobs to raise…
Key takeaways Discover’s rotating cash back categories offer cardholders the chance to earn 5 percent back (after activation) on up to $1,500 combined spending on qualifying purchases each quarter (then 1 percent). Categories tend to align with seasonal themes and common spending patterns. Each of the rotating categories cards also…
The median age of first-time homebuyers has risen to 40 — the highest it has ever been, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors.It’s not as though first-time homebuyers needed any more bad news, but that’s what they got with this dreary statistic, which tops last year’s…
Dear Abby, You probably won’t earn as much money as a man who does the same work for most of your career. I know this makes you mad. It makes me mad, too. This gender pay gap has been a problem in America for decades. Women earned 61 cents for…
Illustration by Bankrate / Getty Images While the gender wage gap has narrowed over time, Census Bureau data shows it remains pervasive across the country. In every state, and even in the nation’s capital, women still earn less than men on average. Some states fare worse than others, including Louisiana,…
Illustration by Bankrate / Photo by Getty The gender pay gap isn’t closing anytime soon, especially for women of color. Black and Hispanic women earn the least compared with men, and a Bankrate analysis of the latest income data from the Census shows it could take generations for their pay…
Practical Money Tricks That Lead to Real Treats Getting out of debt doesn’t happen overnight, but small, consistent actions can help you regain confidence and control. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies: Budget like a pro: Track every dollar for a month to see where your money really goes. Focus…
Key takeaways Credit unions typically offer better rates on savings and lower rates on loans compared to traditional banks. Membership is required and may have specific eligibility requirements based on location, employer or affiliation. Your deposits are federally insured up to $250,000, just like at banks, providing the same level…
Key takeaways A home equity line of credit (HELOC) on an investment property is a loan taken out against a piece of real estate that generates income or a financial return. Lenders will consider both the borrower’s creditworthiness and the property’s financials when evaluating an investment property HELOC application. These…








































