Credit: Nate Hovee/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate California home prices are some of the highest in the country, with the median home price in December 2025 hitting $850,680, according to the California Association of Realtors. That means most buyers will need a mortgage to afford a home. Just like…
With winter in full swing, many households are bracing not just for freezing temperatures but also for the “financial freeze” the season brings. Winter introduces a unique set of seasonal expenses that can significantly drain savings or catch you off guard. By understanding these hidden costs and effectively winterizing your…
A 16th birthday is a major milestone. There’s the driver’s license, the newfound freedom, the open road. Then, for most families, comes the insurance bill. “It was exhausting,” said S. Bowers, an Ilinois-based project manager mom who recently shopped for car insurance for her 17-year-old son. “I got several quotes,…
Pekic/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways A mortgage lets you purchase a property, while a home equity loan — which is a type of second mortgage — allows you to tap the value of your property to get cash. Compared to other forms of credit, both mortgages and home…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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Key takeaways Your homeowners insurance premium may increase after a successful claim. The severity of the claim can impact the amount of the increase. Looking for discounts and shopping around are two ways to keep your rate reasonable. You’ve probably heard that your insurance can…
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Delmaine Donson/Getty Images Debt relief companies work on your behalf to negotiate your debts, usually through a settlement for less than you owe.…
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OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANKBankers wants to discuss AI strategy. They’re excited about chatbots, machine learning models, generative AI tools, and AI…
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For workers who are used to receiving their paycheck every other week, the calendar is aligned in January to give some biweekly wage earners “bonus” third paychecks during the year. For 2026, the bonus months are either January and July (if the first paycheck was paid on Jan. 2), or…
Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage means replacing your home’s current mortgage loan with a new one. Homeowners typically refinance to lower their interest rate, but there are other reasons to consider it as well. Refinancing requires paying closing costs, which can be extensive, so it’s important to determine whether you’ll…
Oleksandra Yagello/Getty Images The average credit card interest rate is 19.62%, down from a record-high 20.79% set on Aug. 14, 2024. Current credit card interest rates Weekly national averages Variable 01/21/2026 19.62% 01/14/2026 19.64% 01/07/2026 19.65% 12/31/2025 19.72% 12/24/2025 19.73% 12/17/2025 19.75% 12/10/2025 19.80% 12/3/2025 19.83% 11/26/2025 19.86% 11/19/2025 19.87%…
sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images Growth stocks are routinely some of the market’s hottest stocks, and it’s not unusual to have the market’s top performers double or even triple inside of a year. But finding those outperformers takes a lot of time and analysis. What if you could find winners with much…
Getting behind the wheel without car insurance can quickly turn into an expensive mistake. If you are caught driving without coverage, you run the risk of facing penalties, including fines, loss of your driver’s license and potentially jail time. If you cause an accident while driving uninsured, you may have…
Sean Murphy, Getty Images If you get a speeding ticket, you’re probably most worried about the fine, but speeding tickets can make an even bigger dent in your budget when your auto policy renews. In Florida, speeding ticket fines cost an average of $125, but a single speeding ticket raises…
If you are looking for holiday debt relief after a season of overspending, the immediate answer is to pause credit card use, assess the total damage, and switch to a “bare-bones” budget. When it comes to holiday shopping a lot of consumers go into debt getting that perfect gift. According to a lending…
lillisphotography/Getty Images Key takeaways A deed of reconveyance, also known as a satisfaction of mortgage, is a document that proves you’ve paid off your mortgage. The deed of reconveyance releases the lien the mortgage lender placed on your property. You’ll need this document to prove a clear title when you…
State Department of Insurance contact information Alabama Department of Insurance201 Monroe St, Ste 502, P.O. Box 303351Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-269-3550Email: [email protected] https://www.aldoi.gov/ Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development, Division of Insurance Anchorage office: 550 W 7th Ave, Ste 1560, Anchorage, AK 99501Juneau office: 333 Willoughby Ave, 9th Fl,…
Key takeaways CDs and share certificates both earn guaranteed returns over a set period. CDs are offered by banks and pay interest; share certificates are offered by credit unions and pay dividends. Both are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor (FDIC for CDs, NCUA for share certificates). Credit unions…
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