Putting Credit Card Debt on Notice ReportFebruary 4, 2009 Putting Credit Card Debt on Notice Report from Tim Westrich on using electronic reminders to give consumers the right information at the right time. Feb 4, 2009 Tim Westrich
What Bank Mergers Mean for Credit Cards ArticleDecember 16, 2008 What Bank Mergers Mean for Credit Cards Consolidation under the financial crisis could mean higher penalties and fees for consumers, write David Balto and Tim Westrich. Dec 16, 2008 David Balto, Tim Westrich
Card Sharks ArticleNovember 17, 2008 Card Sharks Banks tapping the government’s $700 billion financial rescue package are raising interest rates instead of helping the economy recover, observes Tim Westrich. Nov 17, 2008 Tim Westrich
Setting the Record Straight: Blame Conservatives, not CRA, for subprime mortgage mess ArticleSeptember 30, 2008 Setting the Record Straight: Blame Conservatives, not CRA, for subprime mortgage mess Tim Westrich details why conservatives are responsible for the subprime mortgage mess, not the Community Reinvestment Act. Sep 30, 2008 Tim Westrich
An Update on the State of Minorities ArticleSeptember 25, 2008 An Update on the State of Minorities Key indicators show that minorities continue to fare poorly in the current economy, write Amanda Logan and Tim Westrich. Sep 25, 2008 Amanda Logan, Tim Westrich
Help for Main Street ArticleSeptember 24, 2008 Help for Main Street Landmark credit card protections passed by the House in the midst of bailout negotiations are good news for consumers, writes Tim Westrich. Sep 24, 2008 Tim Westrich
Credit Card Showdown ArticleSeptember 16, 2008 Credit Card Showdown Both Congress and the Fed could pass much-needed protections to help consumers manage rising credit card debt, writes Tim Westrich. Sep 16, 2008 Tim Westrich
Avoiding Costly Overdrafts: Think Twice Before You Swipe Your Debit Card ArticleSeptember 2, 2008 Avoiding Costly Overdrafts: Think Twice Before You Swipe Your Debit Card 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. Sep 2, 2008 Tim Westrich
Your First Car Loan: Know Before You Go ArticleJuly 22, 2008 Your First Car Loan: Know Before You Go 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. Jul 22, 2008 Tim Westrich
Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other ArticleJuly 22, 2008 Six of One, Half Dozen of the Other 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. Jul 22, 2008 Tim Westrich
The Young and the Indebted ArticleJuly 2, 2008 The Young and the Indebted 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. Jul 2, 2008 Erica Williams, Tim Westrich
Troubled Homeowners Need Breathing Room ArticleMay 28, 2008 Troubled Homeowners Need Breathing Room A new House bill would give borrowers and servicers more time to renegotiate mortgages so that homeowners can keep their homes, writes Tim Westrich. May 28, 2008 Tim Westrich
Plastic Reforms ArticleMay 2, 2008 Plastic Reforms Regulators and lawmakers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to help Americans avoid “credit card hell.” May 2, 2008 Tim Westrich
The State of Minorities ArticleApril 29, 2008 The State of Minorities Hispanic and African-American households are likely to suffer first and to suffer more in the current economic downturn, write Tim Westrich and Amanda Logan. Apr 29, 2008 Amanda Logan, Tim Westrich
Problems with Plastic: Credit Card Debt Hits Record High ArticleApril 18, 2008 Problems with Plastic: Credit Card Debt Hits Record High Credit card debt hits record high as U.S. consumers try to cope with economic downturn, writes Tim Westrich. Apr 18, 2008 Tim Westrich
Credit Card Crash-Test ArticleMarch 13, 2008 Credit Card Crash-Test Every day, average American families' financial health is challenged on all fronts: fewer job opportunities, declining home values, and rising prices for necessities like health care, education and child care. With the prospect that gas could approach $4 per gallon this summer, many Americans' budgets will reach a breaking point. Too many families are only a layoff or medical emergency away from financial ruin. Mar 13, 2008 Tim Westrich
What’s in Your Wallet? Congress Investigates Credit Card Terms ArticleMarch 13, 2008 What’s in Your Wallet? Congress Investigates Credit Card Terms A hearing in Congress this week calls for a reality check on convoluted cardholder agreements, writes Tim Westrich. Mar 13, 2008 Tim Westrich
House of Cards ReportFebruary 21, 2008 House of Cards Report details the relationship between slowly growing U.S. mortgage markets and the suddenly aggressive growth of credit card debt. Feb 21, 2008 Tim Westrich, Christian E. Weller
The Conservative Agenda: Serving African Americans? ArticleJanuary 17, 2008 The Conservative Agenda: Serving African Americans? The conservative agenda has not served African Americans well, according to key economic indicators. Jan 17, 2008 Tim Westrich, Amanda Logan
Zero Hour on Mortgage Reform: Forthcoming Congressional Vote Is Key ArticleNovember 13, 2007 Zero Hour on Mortgage Reform: Forthcoming Congressional Vote Is Key The mortgage bill up for vote cannot be weakened if policymakers are to truly stabilize the home lending market, writes Tim Westrich. Nov 13, 2007 Tim Westrich
Stop Abusive Lending: New Rules for Subprime Mortgages ArticleNovember 6, 2007 Stop Abusive Lending: New Rules for Subprime Mortgages A bill scheduled for vote today would ban the worst abuses in home mortgages for future borrowers. The bill cannot be weakened, says Tim Westrich. Nov 6, 2007 Tim Westrich
Only the First Step: FHA Reform by Congress is Not Enough ArticleOctober 2, 2007 Only the First Step: FHA Reform by Congress is Not Enough Home foreclosure crisis requires more than reforms at the Federal Housing Administration, writes Tim Westrich, even though that’s a positive first step. Oct 2, 2007 Tim Westrich
Never Pay Another Overdraft Fee ArticleSeptember 24, 2007 Never Pay Another Overdraft Fee New overdraft protection legislation will give Americans a clear choice about whether they want to pay fees to have their transactions covered. Sep 24, 2007 Tim Westrich