In order for a bank to declare that it is FDIC insured, it must meet certain financial requirements imposed by the FDIC. Specifically, banks must maintain healthy, federally-mandated “capital ratios.” This refers to the amount of capital (or dollars) a bank must have set aside in reserves in order to guard against future, potential losses. […]
Why Banks Lend and Why The Don’t Read More »
Q: How did the mortgage meltdown and wall street’s woes lead to the credit crunch? A: The economic crisis that initially began when sub-prime mortgages started unraveling in 2006 and 2007, became a full-scale financial meltdown in 2008, and continues today to have a huge impact on the overall economy, as well as on you
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Out of the roughly 220 million Americans that have credit files maintained by the “Big Three” credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), about 1 out of 5 individuals have very poor credit, bad credit, or “deep subprime scores,” according to Experian. Research from the credit bureau found that between the third quarter of 2006 and
How Many People in America Have Bad Credit? Read More »
Many people know that they can go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com and get a free copy of their credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus once every 12 months. But most consumers are unaware that tens of millions of individuals are also legally entitled to get more than one free credit report each year.
How Can I Get a Free Credit Report, Again? Read More »
Q: Should I get all three credit reports at once, or view them at different times over the year? A: Once you are ready to request your free credit reports from the credit bureaus via http://www.annualcreditreport.com, you have the option of getting those reports in one of two ways: all at once, or over a
Should You Get All Three Credit Reports at One Time? Read More »
If you want to acquire top-notch credit, the first step in doing so is to: a) Pull each of your credit files from the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion; and b) Get your credit scores, which are marketed by various companies, and calculated based on the information contained in your
First Step To Improve Your Credit Score Read More »
The process of reading and deciphering your Equifax, Experian or TransUnion credit reports may seem daunting at first, especially when you have to pore over pages of listings about your credit accounts. But you can easily master the information in your credit files, once you know what to look for, in terms of how your
Understanding Your Credit Files Read More »
An inquiry in your credit file (credit inquiries) is a record of any application for credit that you made. For example, if you seek a mortgage, student loan or car loan, or even if you apply for a credit card or perhaps request an increase in your current credit card limit, any of these actions
How Do Inquiries In My Credit Report Impact My Credit Score? Read More »
Any “Public Records” listing in your Equifax, Experian or TransUnion credit report will seriously lower your credit scores. Although the “Account Summary” section of your credit reports may contain negative information such as late payments or collections, more serious delinquencies will be listed in the “Public Records” area of your credit files. Public Records In
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Federal laws dictate what personal information about you can – and can’t – be included in your credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Here’s a rundown of what to expect. Personal Information – Make Sure It’s Letter Perfect The top part of your credit report contains a condensed set of personal facts about you
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Regardless of whether you pull a credit report from Equifax, Experian or TransUnion, all credit files contain information that can be summarized into five categories: Personal Information The top part of your credit report contains a condensed set of personal facts about you – the totality of which is extremely important in establishing your unique
What Information Is Found In My Credit Reports? Read More »
Lots of people say they “can’t” save money. But I don’t believe that. Simple Strategies to Save More Money I want to challenge you to save more, by looking at various areas where you’re spending money – and thinking of creative ways to slash costs. Start with the following suggestions: Save on Your Current Housing
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The tough economy has forced many people to get back to the financial basics – including doing something that most individuals dread: budgeting. If you don’t yet have a budget, or if your current budget is constantly out of whack, take heart in knowing that you’re not alone. In fact, 70% of all Americans don’t
How Can I Create and Stick To a Budget? Read More »
When it comes to setting financial priorities, it’s all about planning and crossing some major “to do’s” off your list as early as possible …. this way you start off the New Year on the right foot and you score some big financial victories early on … to keep you motivated and on track all
Setting Your Financial Priorities This Year Read More »
Using proper credit and debt management strategies is essential to getting back on financial track, post holidays. Here’s what to do and how to do it …. a. Establish a Strict Debt Payoff Plan You don’t want the debt you racked up in 2009 to follow you into the holiday season of 2010. So set
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