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How to Get Free Weekly Credit Reports | Credit Cards

29Nov

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How to Get Free Weekly Credit Reports | Credit Cards

The three major U.S. credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – have made their offer of free weekly credit reports to consumers permanent. The reports, available on AnnualCreditReport.com, are being made available to all Americans to "empower consumers to more regularly review their credit history and better understand their financial data," the companies announced in a statement. The free weekly reports began in April 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. The service was initially in place for a year, but it had been extended several times since then. Most recently, in September 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion made the service permanent.Before the pandemic, you could get one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit bureau. Lenders a...

Can You Refinance a Mortgage With Bad Credit? | Mortgages and Advice

If your credit score is lackluster, you may worry that it could prevent you from refinancing your mortgage. Luckily, a refinance can be difficult but not impossible. Here's what you need to know about how to refinance your mortgage with bad credit.Options for Refinancing Your Mortgage With Bad CreditMortgage lenders typically look for a credit score of at least 620 to refinance conventional loans, but standards are more flexible with government-sponsored mortgages.Here are some options to explore for refinancing with bad credit. Eligibility usually depends on who owns your mortgage and whether you meet the requirements.FHA Rate-and-Term RefinanceYou may be able to do a rate-and-term FHA refinance with a credit score of 500 to 580, but those loans can be hard to access. That's because you ...

How Federal Interest Rates Work

With interest rates still high, borrowing will continue to be expensive, while attractive rates on many savings vehicles will remain.Here is a look at the complex system that dictates federal interest rates and how rates could impact your finances.How Do Interest Rates Work?Interest rates can be considered the price of borrowing money. "Quite simply, it's the amount charged to a borrower by a lender for use of an asset, expressed as a percentage of the principal value," says Peter C. Earle, economist and writer at the American Institute for Economic Research.Assets borrowed could include a car, home, business property or cash. Your interest rate will depend on whether you are borrowing money from a credit card issuer, taking out a loan or saving money in a bank account. The annual percent...