Founded in 1932, Synchrony Financial, the parent company of Synchrony Bank, has been serving as a financial services institution in the retail world for several decades. While Synchrony Bank does offer a variety of bank products, including high-yield savings, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit, the company does not currently offer direct-to-consumer financing like […]
The holiday season is a prime time to earn a few extra bucks. Whether you plan to generate additional income to help cover the cost of the holidays, or you simply have extra time to put to use, there are several holiday side hustles, including playing Santa, that can give your bank account a boost.
Purchasing a home is a big financial decision, based not only on location and price, but the potential for its value to increase over time. As a property appreciates in value, homeowners have several options for accessing equity – the difference between the mortgage balance and the sell price.
In this guide to wage garnishment, it breaks down what it means to have your wages garnished, why it happens, and the amount that can be withheld for your pay. While these issues are the most pressing for those who experience wage garnishment, there is another, often longer-term concern that arises.
Early in 2018, Under Armour announced its subsidiary, MyFitnessPal, was involved in a widespread data breach which impacted 150 million customer accounts. The news came on the back on the recent Equifax data breach that put millions of individuals at risk of having their information used without their knowledge, including sensitive information like social security […]
Home equity can be a beneficial financial tool for homeowners, either in the form of a home equity loan or line of credit. Not only does home equity offer an affordable way to finance major purchases and consolidate debt, but it also comes with a helpful tax break for those who qualify.
A significant part of running a business is collecting on customer accounts after products or services have been delivered. In most cases, individual customers are quick to pay what they owe, but every now and again, there is a bad apple or two who refuses to pay up. Getting frustrated with a late- or non-paying […]
Bad credit can take hold of anyone’s financial life, whether due to financial missteps of the past or erroneous information reported by creditors. If you’ve had a late payment on a credit card, an account that found its way to a collection agency, or irresponsible use of credit accounts, your credit history shows a less-than-ideal […]
The growing trend of shopping and banking online or through mobile phones plays a significant role in the increasing number of identity theft victims each year. Combined with the advancing technology used by cyber criminals to steal consumer information, it is no surprise that nearly 17.6 million Americans suffered from identity theft in 2014, the […]
In 1970, the law governing the activities of the three major credit reporting agencies, known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA, was passed in an effort to provide a specific set of rights for consumers. The FCRA is focused on safeguarding the information gathered, maintained, and shared by the credit reporting agencies, namely […]
FICO, the most commonly used credit score by lenders and creditors, has been around since 1989. Since that time, the credit scoring company has developed and implemented several iterations of the FICO credit score, many of which are still used in evaluating credit applications today. As consumer behaviors change and lending requirements shift, so do […]
It wasn’t too long ago that all consumers had to worry about was having enough cash in their wallet to make a purchase. In today’s technology-infused marketplace, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone walking around with wads of cash in hand. Instead, the use of plastic or in some cases, metal, is far more prevalent […]
In the United States alone, an estimated 15 million consumers are the victim of identity theft each and every year. Given the ultra-connected environment in which we live, it is no surprise that cyber criminals are constantly on the hunt for gaps in security systems of companies operating online and in physical locations.
Buying a car is a necessity for most adults, multiple times throughout their lives. For some, getting the keys to a car of their dreams is an exhilarating feeling – for others, a vehicle that delivers them from point A to point B is enough. No matter which situation you are in, purchasing a vehicle […]
In 1974, The Fair Credit Billing Act was set in motion with the intent to protect consumers from errors made on credit card billing statements. Credit card holders have the right to dispute charges – and withhold payment for said charge – without experiencing a hit to their credit should the error be found to […]
These days, credit scores rule the universe of personal finance, especially when it comes to getting a new mortgage, an auto loan, a credit card, or even a new job. Credit scores are calculated based on an individual’s use of available credit in the past, and for better or worse, these scores dictate what creditors […]
Just with personal credit, business credit is an integral component of a company’s overall credibility. Having bad business credit has a negative effect on the financial ability of a company moving forward, as it creates a question in the mind of lenders, suppliers, and other vendors as to how reliable the business is.
Receiving your free annual credit report is most easily accomplished by going through AnnualCreditReport.com – the central website put together by the Federal Trade Commission and the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The process is simple, whether it is done online, by phone, or through the mail, and does not carry […]
At some point in the business life-cycle, nearly all businesses face a need for funding. In the small business arena, affordable financing can be secured for a myriad of reasons, including working capital, new equipment, expansion, or inventory. The advancement of technology in the lending marketplace has made the availability of small business loans much […]
Maintaining a strong credit history and score is the foundation of a healthy financial life, but for millions of Americans, keeping credit in check in easier said than done. A money misstep, like a missed payment or an account that made its way to collections, can happen to anyone, and it is necessary to work […]
Asking the courts to dissolve your past debt into nothingness through the bankruptcy process is not an easy choice or a quick solution. It takes time and effort to determine if bankruptcy is the right solution for your financial woes, and it has the potential to leave you high and dry once the process is […]
Filing for bankruptcy is sometimes the only viable option to get out from under the burdens of costly debt. While the process eliminates some of the pressure placed on monthly cash flow from too many debt obligations, bankruptcy has a significant impact on one’s overall financial life. It leaves a black mark on your credit […]