SavvySugar

Bank Commercial Uses Clips of Mother Theresa, The Matrix to Score Customers

Emily Co — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:45:05 PST

Talk about a marketing strategy gone wrong. Business Insider posted a commercial that the now defunct Icelandic bank Kraupthing released before the worldwide economic meltdown. You'll see video snippets of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, Nelson Mandela being sworn in as president, the moon landing, some war footage, and yes, The Matrix. The ad might make for some kind of feel good inspirational message, but it definitely doesn't work well as a bank promo.

Savvy Ways to Get More Out of Your Bank

Guest Writer — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:15:59 PST

Editor’s note: We are thrilled to introduce a new guest blogger, Kimberly Palmer. The author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional’s Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back, and personal finance columnist at US News & World Report will be joining us for a monthly series with tips and advice on all things Savvy. Take it away, Kimberly . . .

In the wake of the recession, most of us are more suspicious of banks than ever. In fact, a recent survey by Aite Group found that more than one in five 20-somethings say they trust banks less than they used to. The good news is that just like a bad boyfriend committed to redeeming himself, banks are working hard to earn back our trust. As customers, we can take advantage of that.

Here are five steps banks are taking to win back customers:

They are teaching us about money. Some of the biggest financial institutions out there have launched financial literacy websites designed to make it more fun to learn better money habits. SunTrust’s LiveSolid.com offers a magazine-like approach to learning about money, with articles on how to be happier, meal planning, and how to improve your credit score. The site also offers free calculators that get into the nitty-gritty of saving for retirement and annuities, too. ING Direct offers wethesavers.ingdirect.com, which covers economic news as well as pop culture. The frequently updated blog features the voices of customers as well as chief executive Arkadi Kuhlmann. Many credit unions, such as the Texas Dow Employees Credit Union, are doing the same. TDECU’s www.youngfreetexas.com is full of videos, contests, saving tips, and blog posts, designed to appeal to its 20-something customers.

They are offering up free tools and resources to help us save. Many banks now offer free online spending analysis, which makes it easier to see where your money is going. Designed to compete with free software such as Mint.com, these free tools are accessible whenever you log in to your online account.

To see more ways on how you can get more out of your bank, read on.

WikiLeaks to Target Bank of America

Emily Co — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:10:08 PST

We've been wondering which bank the infamous WikiLeaks is targeting, and CNBC has just confirmed that it's going to be Bank of America, a SavvySugar favorite. We still don't have a clear idea of what will be released, and the date the information is going to be disseminated on, but I guess that's in line with the WikiLeaks culture of secrecy. It's interesting to see what readers thought of the controversial nonprofit, with 44 percent saying they would never give money to WikiLeaks, 25 percent stating they support the organization's cause, and the rest saying they don't have a strong opinion.

Founder Julian Assange, has made a lot of enemies, and many of them are calling to extradite him to Sweden, which his lawyers are fighting because they say it may lead to a Guantanamo Bay imprisonment or even the death penalty. Looks like he's about to add more enemies to his long list: BofA CEO Brian Moynihan and other executives from the bank.

The Best Commercial Bank of 2010

SavvySugar — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:00:23 PST

Last year it was Wells Fargo, and this time, Bank of America wins your favor as the best commercial bank of the year. It's clearly a cut above the rest with 38 percent of SavvySugar readers nominating it, while the next two favorites, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan, each received 19 percent of your votes.

Your favorite pick has been quite a hot topic as of late, because it's rumored to be the target of the next WikiLeaks attack. In efforts to protect itself, the firm has been registering anti-BofA domain names like BrianMoynihanSucks.com, which refers to the bank's CEO. I'm not sure how 2011 is going to pan out this year for the bank, but I guess we'll get to watch the drama unfold next year!

What's the Best Commercial Bank of 2010?

SavvySugar — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:00:31 PST

Most of us play favorites with banks because they have a proven track record and maybe even give us goodies like high interest rates and fee waivers. I want to know which commercial bank you think is the Best of 2010. We didn't see many merges and buyouts in America this year, and the recession is gradually winding down, but there are still many challenges ahead for the banking industry. What bank has been your solid rock and saw you through the economic storm - what's the best commercial bank of 2010?

Watch Out: Bank Fees at an All-Time High

Emily Co — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:30:27 PDT

Fees are going up, up, and away, according to a Bankrate study that was released today. Consumers need to be aware of these fees, especially during the holiday season, a time when there is an increased amount of spending. Managing your money is going to be even pricier, so users will have to be more aware of their budgeting practices and keep an eye on the sneaky bank fees. Here are some of the increases you should watch out for:

ATM fees: The ATM fees have risen to $2.33 from the previous year, an increase of five percent. If you're using an out-of-network ATM, you'll be charged an average of $1.41. That's seven percent higher than last year.
Minimum balance requirement: Note: This applies to accounts that require minimum balances. This year, the average minimum balance requirement to avoid monthly fees in a noninterest checking account has risen to $249.50 from $185.75 last year. For the case of interest-bearing checking accounts, it has increased to $3,883.40 from $511.22.
Bounced checks: If you bounce a check this year, you might be paying the average of $30.47. This compares with last year's average bounced-check fee of $29.58.

Last year, American banks made over $20 billion on debit and ATM overdraft fees alone. Remember a good way to avoiding some of these bank fees is to check out online accounts such as ING or SmartyPig. As for ATM fees, make sure you have enough cash on hand, and withdraw money only at your bank's ATM machines or get cash back at grocery stores. Stay alert, Savvy readers!

Elizabeth Banks Talks The Hunger Games and Says Harry Potter Is "Scary as Sh*t"

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST

I got the chance to visit the set of What to Expect When You're Expecting last year, where I chatted with Elizabeth Banks about fake baby bumps, motherhood, and the star-studded comedy. Naturally, the conversation also turned to Banks's other big upcoming movie, The Hunger Games. Banks discussed how she feels about the dark subject matter now that she's a parent herself, compared the film to the likes of Harry Potter, and talked about how she got into the role of Effie.

As a parent, did you have any reservations about The Hunger Games's dark subject matter?
EB: The movie is going to be PG-13, and I think that's about right. My nephew's 11, and he read it and loves it. The book has adult themes, for sure. Gary Ross, the director, and Suzanne Collins [who wrote the novels] did a great job patrolling what happens visually in the movie, what we can show and what we can't show. But I remember taking my 6-year-old niece to a Harry Potter movie with those dark shadow things that were scary as sh*t, and the guy doesn't even have a f*cking nose. That's like nightmare stuff, in my opinion. This is a lot of hand-to-hand combat, but it's nothing you wouldn't see on a video game or an episode of CSI. We don't have guns.

What was it like making the transition from The Hunger Games to What to Expect When You're Expecting?
EB: They're just so different, it's literally night and day. I don't have the same voice, I don't have the same hair, I don't have the same anything. Literally nothing, it's completely and utterly opposite. The good thing about this is that it's a role much closer to myself, so it's easier.

What helps you get into character?
EB: Well what's great about both of these characters, Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games, and Wendy, is that there's so much external stuff to build the character with. Effie has the great wigs and the crazy clothes, and the accent, and all that. That's all something that really helps feed you. And this character has the boobs and the bump and the back pain, and the shoes that don't fit, and all of those things that really feed you in the moment, which is great. It's a lot easier than having to come up with a bunch of emotional sh*t that you have to deal with from internally. They're nice characters that you build from the outside in, instead of from the inside out.

Get Great Benefits by Taking on One of These 11 Part-Time Jobs

LearnVest — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:15:46 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

“Underemployment” is a term that, compared to “unemployment,” more fully captures the lack of job opportunities.

The underemployed includes the unemployed as well as those employed part-time but wanting full-time work.

According to a recent poll, underemployment is currently at 18.1 percent. That’s down from 18.3 percent the month prior, and 19 percent a year ago. While these numbers are still high, there are opportunities to work part-time. You won’t make as much money as you would with a full-time job, but with many part-time positions, you’ll not only earn a salary but also score some great perks.

Related: the 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs

We’ve put together a list of 11 big-name companies that provide big benefits to its part-time workers. Whether they're offering free merchandise, health insurance benefits, or tuition aid, these employers certainly make it worth your while to work, even if you’re only putting in 20 hours a week.

Whole Foods

After part-timers have worked 400 hours, they get health, dental, and vision plans, as well as 401(k) retirement plans, paid time off, and a 20 percent employee discount. After working 6,000 hours, employees are offered stock options.

Target

Work at Target as few as two and a half days a week for six months, and you can become eligible for Target’s health care coverage. Employees also get access to other health benefits like free flu vaccinations, a 24-hour nurse hotline, and discounts for Weight Watchers.

Read on for more.

They Dated?! Fun Celebrity Couples From the Past!

Lauren Turner — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:59:50 PST

Happy Valentine's Day! We've already given you 100 hot celebrity PDA pictures and taken a look at sexy guys saying "I love you" in honor of the holiday, and now we've got fun star matchups from the past. Remember when Seal dated Tyra Banks and Matt Damon went out with Winona Ryder? Click through to see those duos and more celebrity pairs now!

Also, don't forget to check out all of our Valentine's Day coverage across the network.

Handy Everyday Gmail Tips and Tricks

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:01:03 PST

If you've moved to Gmail recently (congratulations!), it's possible that you could get overwhelmed with all of the options, settings, and possibilities at your fingertips. We've got a ton of tips to share, but let's start with a few basic and handy tips that you could use every day. Check them out below!

Make voice calls - You can easily make voice calls in Gmail on the cheap. In the "Chat" section, just click the "Call Phone" button and enter the digits. You'll then be able to make free calls to landlines the US and Canada, and for super cheap you can call cell phones and landlines worldwide.
Search with options - If you haven't discovered the "Show Search Options" link to the right of the Gmail search bar, you're in for a treat. Clicking it reveals a host of helpful options, including the ability to search by sender, date, attachment, subject, and more. It's extremely helpful if you are less than diligent about labeling and filing emails in your inbox.
Use rich text signatures - Tired of those boring text-only signatures or canned responses coming from your Gmail account? Take note: Gmail supports rich text signatures! Add links, colors, images, or formatting to your Gmail account signature, or any other account you've set up to send from Gmail. It's super easy to set up - just head to your settings page, scroll down to the Signature section, and design away!
Use keyboard shortcuts - First, enable keyboard shortcuts in your Settings menu. Then, use these fast and easy keyboard shortcuts to navigate!

See the rest of the list after the break.