Contributor
Report from Tim Westrich on using electronic reminders to give consumers the right information at the right time.
Consolidation under the financial crisis could mean higher penalties and fees for consumers, write David Balto and Tim Westrich.
Banks tapping the government’s $700 billion financial rescue package are raising interest rates instead of helping the economy recover, observes Tim Westrich.
Tim Westrich details why conservatives are responsible for the subprime mortgage mess, not the Community Reinvestment Act.
Key indicators show that minorities continue to fare poorly in the current economy, write Amanda Logan and Tim Westrich.
Landmark credit card protections passed by the House in the midst of bailout negotiations are good news for consumers, writes Tim Westrich.
Both Congress and the Fed could pass much-needed protections to help consumers manage rising credit card debt, writes Tim Westrich.
Even checking accounts—probably the most basic account in banking—contain a plethora of hidden traps these days and practice a type of “gotcha capitalism” that will get you if you don’t take a few steps to avoid the most common pitfalls.
So, you’re finally on your own with a new job. If you’re like most Americans, a car is a necessary item—88 percent of Americans use their car to get to work. The path to getting an auto loan is full of pitfalls that can extract extra money over the course of the loan. And with the price of gas at record levels, getting a car that will serve your needs and fit into your budget may require some planning.
As consumers are less able to access home equity loans, they are turning to credit cards to continue their consumption—meaning it’s more important than ever to improve credit card terms.
High fees, high interest rates, and complex terms that come with credit cards are particularly damaging to increasing numbers of young people who use plastic.
A new House bill would give borrowers and servicers more time to renegotiate mortgages so that homeowners can keep their homes, writes Tim Westrich.