Money

What Is a Checking Account? | Banking Advice
Money

What Is a Checking Account? | Banking Advice

A checking account is the cornerstone of the financial lives of many Americans. People primarily use a checking account to pay household expenses such as mortgage payments and utility bills. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. reports that over 95% of U.S. households had a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union in 2021. Find out how a checking account works, the different types available, and how to choose the right one for you.What Is a Checking Account?A checking account helps people manage their finances and can be opened at a traditional bank, online bank or credit union. Checking accounts can be used for a variety of purposes, including: Paying for expenses by debit card or check. Making purchases online or in person. Depositing paychecks, Social Security benefits a...
FTC files lawsuit against Amazon, alleging company signed customers up for Prime
Money

FTC files lawsuit against Amazon, alleging company signed customers up for Prime

The Federal Trade Commission is suing Amazon for what it called a years-long effort to enroll consumers into Prime without their consent and making it difficult for them to cancel the subscription.In its complaint, filed in Washington state, the FTC accused Amazon of using deceptive designs to trick "millions" of consumers into enrolling in the program. The agency also said the option to purchase items on Amazon without subscribing to Prime was more difficult in many cases. Consumers were sometimes presented with a button to complete their transactions — but the button didn't clearly state it would also enroll them into Prime.Company leaders slowed or rejected changes that made canceling the subscription easier, the complaint said. The agency also argued those patterns were in vio...
Powell Tells Congress to Expect Interest Rates to Rise Again
Money

Powell Tells Congress to Expect Interest Rates to Rise Again

Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, told House lawmakers that the United States remains a “long way” away from low and stable inflation even 15 months into the central bank’s campaign to cool the economy and wrestle down rapid price increases.Mr. Powell testified before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday. He told lawmakers that the labor market remained very tight and that inflation — while it has come down notably from its peak last summer — was still too fast. In light of that, the Fed could raise interest rates even higher than their current level of just above 5 percent.“Inflation has moderated somewhat since the middle of last year,” Mr. Powell said. “Nonetheless, inflation pressures continue to run high, and the process of getting inflation back down...
Earnest Student Loans Review 2023
Money

Earnest Student Loans Review 2023

Borrower tip: Refinancing federal student loans into a private student loan can make you ineligible for certain types of protections, such as income-driven repayment plans, federal debt forgiveness programs and forbearance/deferment options through the Department of Education. Find the Best Student Loans for You Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan TermWhat Types of Student Loans Does Earnest Offer?Student loan options from Earnest include: Undergraduate loans. Graduate loans. MBA, medical or law school loans. Parent loans. Co-signer loans. Student loan refinancing. How Does Earnest Work?Earnest asks applicants to submit their education and employment hist...
Titan submersible maker OceanGate faced safety lawsuit in 2018: “Potential danger to passengers”
Money

Titan submersible maker OceanGate faced safety lawsuit in 2018: “Potential danger to passengers”

The maker of the missing Titanic submersible, OceanGate, was the target of complaints in 2018 made by a former employee over the safety of the vessel's hull. According to court documents reviewed by CBS MoneyWatch, OceanGate fired employee David Lochridge in 2018 after he expressed concern about the submersible's safety. The company sued him that same year, claiming Lochridge had breached his employment contract by disclosing confidential information with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration when he filed a whistleblower complaint with the agency. In a response to OceanGate's lawsuit, Lochridge alleged in a 2018 court filing that he had been wrongfully terminated and that his actions were aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers on the submersible, called the Titan....
China’s Economic Rebound Hits a Wall, With ‘No Quick Fix’ to Revive It
Money

China’s Economic Rebound Hits a Wall, With ‘No Quick Fix’ to Revive It

When China suddenly dismantled its lockdowns and other Covid precautions last December, officials in Beijing and many investors expected the economy to spring back to life.It has not worked out that way.Investment in China has stagnated this spring after a flurry of activity in late winter. Exports are shrinking. Fewer and fewer new housing projects are being started. Prices are falling. More than one in five young people is unemployed.China has tried many fixes over the last few years when its economy had flagged, like heavy borrowing to pay for roads and rail lines. And it spent huge sums on testing and quarantines during the pandemic. Extra stimulus spending now with borrowed money would spur a burst of activity but pose a difficult choice for policymakers already worried about the acc...
How to Lower Your Student Loan Payments | Student Loans and Advice
Money

How to Lower Your Student Loan Payments | Student Loans and Advice

Student loan payments can drain your monthly budget and make it more difficult to reach other financial goals, like saving money for retirement or buying a home. Thankfully, there are ways to lower your student loan payments, whether you have federal loans, private loans or a mix of both. Here are five strategies for reducing student loan payments:Find the Best Student Loan Refinance Lenders Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan TermChange Your Student Loan Repayment PlanFederal student loan borrowers typically start out under the standard 10-year repayment plan, but the Department of Education offers several alternative repayment plans that can result in lower monthly payments. Y...