The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is investigating Higher One, the leading issuer of campus debit cards, and one of its former bank partners for potentially engaging in unfair or deceptive practices. The debit cards allow students to access their financial aid refunds directly through the card, as opposed to waiting for a check from… Read More

It’s easy to procrastinate, especially when it comes to things that aren’t fun. For many people, finances fall into that category. But putting off your financial responsibilities won’t make them go away — so it’s best to just get them done. Here are three thrifty things to do today to stay on financial track. Put… Read More

There are many reasons to open a new credit card: Maybe you want to take advantage of its great rewards, transfer a balance from a different card with a higher interest rate, finance a large purchase, make ends meet in an emergency or increase your available credit limit. But in some states, credit card holders… Read More

Should high school seniors get a credit card to build credit? For these young adults and their parents, the question isn’t academic. They face this question as soon as they turn 18. The benefits of building good credit are numerous; lower interest rates when you borrow and lower insurance premiums are just two of them…. Read More

You want a great credit score?  First you need to know what you’re working with. Even if you know the number of your score, you won’t know if it’s good or bad until you know the range used by the scoring model. If you have poor credit, you may be dealing with a score in… Read More

One of the biggest obstacles homebuyers will face is being able to show enough income to offset their debts — in addition to a proposed housing payment. If you don’t show enough income to offset your debts according to the bank’s requirements, you may have trouble getting the loan. With that in mind, there is… Read More

You know that feeling when finish writing an email, press “send” and immediately realize you made a mistake (aka one of the worst feelings ever)? Once you’re done yelling, “Nooooo!” you likely start writing a corrected message. That’s essentially what you have to do if you make a mistake when filing your taxes. Go ahead,… Read More

Your next vacation is probably fun to think about, but the thought of paying for it may not be. Sometimes we have to think about the not-so-fun things so we can enjoy the fun ones. Spend a little time considering the following four “not fun” topics so your next vacation can be stress-free. 1. Life… Read More

In February, a scam surfaced that alerted Netflix users their accounts had been compromised and they needed to call customer support to resolve the issue. The 800-number connected users with hackers trying to get customers’ personal information — a practice known as phishing — as well as attempting to search victims’ computers using remote-access software…. Read More

Several years ago, I watched in amazement when the CEO of a major identity theft protection firm, appeared in a series of commercials waving his Social Security card in the air, parading his Social Security number on a billboard through heavily populated urban areas and screaming his SSN through a bullhorn as a challenge to… Read More