We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy! You’re ready to move on. But you may have signed up for direct deposits and scheduled automatic withdrawals. That makes switching banks more complicated. Take these steps to help make the transition smooth and painless. To start, open your new account. You’ll need the account number and the bank routing number to transfer Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! You wouldn’t normally think of credit unions as sexy or hip. They don’t have glossy ad campaigns and beautiful branches on every street corner. Even their basic definition—non-profit financial co-ops — sounds boring. But these days, more and more Americans are clamoring to join the club of credit unions because of their Read more

Although Bank of America and other banks have agreed to not charge customers monthly debit usage fees, you shouldn't get too comfortable. Apparently, these financial establishments are still trying to earn profit without customers catching on. Here are some of the examples reported by The New York Times: Lost BofA debit card requires $5 replacement fee and a $20 rush delivery fee. BofA MyAccess Read more

If you're not happy with your bank, you're not alone. About 63 percent of people are dissatisfied with their financial institution, according to a recent study by consulting company Ath Power. In the aftermath of the economic crisis, banks are taking a blow from the new consumer protection laws, which causes them to raise fees and penalties and do away with rewards and freebies. If you're looking Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy! Pesky bank fees aren’t just creeping up — they’re attacking from all sides. Banks impose 49 different fees, on average, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. Getting paper statements in the mail will cost you $1 to $2 a month; seeing a teller could result in a $9 fee; and maintaining a checking account without meeting Read more

With interest rates at an abysmally low rate, everyone's wondering if there are better options out there. Turns out, there are a number of accounts that still provide consumers with decent interest, according to the latest survey by Bankrate.com, which surveyed 115 banks to find the best high-yield checking accounts. In fact, the top yields include a 6.2 percent interest rate as well as many that Read more

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 Read more

A few months ago, a friend's perfect world came crashing down. Her parents faced the threat of foreclosure, and she lost her job. Stuck with a huge school debt to pay, she was at her wit's end. I'm glad to say things on the job front worked out for her, and now she's been given a slight reprieve with the freezing of foreclosures. Several banks, including the one my friend belongs to, have halted Read more

I'm sure everyone can do with a little more cash in their wallets. Here are some great suggestions by Wise Bread for you to make extra money. Even though I'm self-employed full-time, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to make more money. Earlier this year, I wrote a Wise Bread post on websites that can help you earn extra cash. More recently, I came across a blog post on Zaarly titled, Read more