We have been reporting extensively on the financial disadvantage some people find themselves in when they opt-in to overdraft protection on debit card and ATM transactions. Now we’d like to discuss how to avoid those pitfalls. As we said last…
What to Expect From Janet Yellen
Janet Yellen was confirmed on Monday by a vote of 56 to 26 to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Her term as the first women to head the 100 year old institution will begin on February 1st.…
2013 According to Jumbo Rate News: The Year in Retrospect
January brought with it the expiration of the Transaction Account Guaranty Program (TAG). (JRN 30:01) February’s report to Congress shows Bank parts of TARP made a profit for taxpayers. (JRN 30:07) March: We learned that senior executives of Ally Financial…
2013: The Year in Retrospect
January brought with it the expiration of the Transaction Account Guaranty Program (TAG). TAG added unlimited insurance coverage to “noninterest-bearing transaction accounts” (like checking accounts) regardless of the balance of the account. As of January 1, 2013, deposits are subject to…
Two New Year’s Resolutions You Can Take to the Bank
Make sure that your bank and/or credit union is strong; and Ensure that your CDs are earning as much as possible. Keeping both these resolutions won’t cost you a penny and is as easy as visiting www.bauerfinancial.com. Based on BAUERFINANCIAL’s…
The Taper Heard Round the World
The stock market hit a new high and the dollar climbed against a number of foreign currencies, all because Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke signaled a change to its massive bond buying practice. Beginning in January, the FOMC will only…
We’re Not Santa but we Have a List
December 10, 2013: New bank and credit union ratings are now posted at bauerfinancial.com! BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating firm, can let you know if your financial institution has been “naughty” (problematic indicates a rating of 2-Stars…
Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner
Your wallet may indicate otherwise, but according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, for the first time since 2009 and only the second time in the past decade, the cost of feeding a family of ten a “traditional” Thanksgiving dinner…
Too Big to Fail a Global Problem
While the cry to end “Too Big to Fail” (TBTF) gets increasingly louder here at home in the USA, it’s easy to overlook the fact that it’s a global problem. Instead of trying to end TBTF, however, the International Financial…
The Federal Reserve, Unemployment & Politics (Fed-Up)
CNNMoney coined the phrase “QE-Indefinitely”. Sad but true. The Federal Reserve will continue buying bonds at a rate of $85 billion per month as it has been doing since September 2012. There is still no end in sight. In fact,…