Kasasa checking accounts offer monthly rewards that blow most other accounts away...as long as you meet a few qualifications. One of those is swiping your debit card a certain number of times each month. But if you’re like most people, you also have a credit card that offers rewards too. When faced with the question of how to get all your Kasasa debit card swipes, and still earn credit card rewards, we understand your dilemma. You aren't swiping either card just for the rewards....

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A question many potential home buyers ask when applying for a mortgage is: Should I pay off debt before applying for a home loan? Credit card debt, auto loans and other forms of debt can all have an impact on a person's credit score, which in turn affects the rate they are able to get on their mortgage (or their ability to qualify in the first place). The answer isn't always as simple as a yes or a no, but there are a few figures to keep in mind that can aid in making this decision. Potential...

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We get brand loyalty. You’ve been using the same kind of toothpaste for over a decade, there’s only one type of coffee that tastes right in the morning, a small handful of sources you trust to deliver you news. But when is the last time you second-guessed your bank? A lot of us sign up early in our financial lives with a national bank, maybe one offering painless on-campus signup to freshmen, or the one you went with because they have branches everywhere you go. That national bank...

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Your credit score plays an important role in many aspects of your life, from the rate you get on a car loan to passing a background check for your dream job. In lots of little ways, having bad credit can keep you from achieving your short- and long-term plans. Luckily, improving your credit score isn't a mystery; it is a simple process that you just need to follow consistently. Step 1: Check your credit score You cannot begin to make changes to your credit score if you...

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At its core, banking is all about bank accounts providing cash, which financial institutions use to make loans. But since there’s much more to it than that, here’s a look at what goes into the calculation so you can shop for the best rates for you. Interest rates on loans How do banks and credit unions determine the interest rate you pay on your loan (Annual Percentage Rate). There are several factors. Your credit score: You might see an advertisement for a great rate...

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1. Americans are anchored by credit-card debt. Credit card debt is held by homeowners and renters, college graduates or Americans who entered the work force with a high school diploma of GED, so it is understandable that credit card debt spans across all demographics of the country. Almost half of Americans carry credit card debt to the tune of $807 billion, with the average interest rate hovering near 16%. 2. Yes, there is such a thing as good debt. Of course, not all loan debt is...

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You can buy groceries online, shop for clothes online, and use the internet to answer just about any question you have. Yet for many people it's hard to imagine being able to do something as essential as opening a checking account online. The good news is... Opening an account online is easy Online banking in general just keeps getting easier. Most banks and credit unions allow people to do most of what they need to online, securely. If you're looking to open a checking account online,...

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As you drive around town running errands — picking up a few must-haves for dinner at the grocery store, shuttling the kids to soccer practice, or dropping off a prescription at the pharmacy — you likely drive past a community bank or credit union in your neighborhood. In fact, you might pass several without even noticing. Small banks and credit unions have been in your neighborhood for as long as you've lived in your home (and in many cases decades and decades longer), and you...

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It’s often said, “you should make your money work for you, not the other way around.” But how do you do that, exactly? Perhaps you have stocks that automatically reinvest dividends or a 401(k) that grows through automatic deductions from your paycheck. Your salary is probably directly deposited into your checking account. Automation already plays an important role in how you manage your money. But are you maximizing its potential for helping you manage the complete...

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Financial goals have become more of a discussion lately. Millennials get a bad rap – they aren’t saving for retirement, they don’t want to buy a house, they can’t survive a $400 emergency. The majority of discussions show us that these issues – retirement, purchasing a home, saving for an emergency – are top of mind for many. When we look at what people are doing to combat the shackles of student loan debt or the lack of retirement savings, the conversation...

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