Posts Tagged ‘Banks’

Bad Credit Cash Advance Services

February 5th, 2012



Emergencies never knock on the doors before coming. So, anybody can have a financial emergency without warning. The trouble could be great for you if you have a bad credit score, so obtaining a loan can become very difficult. For this purpose, there are facilities like bad credit cash advance services.

These services provide you with money almost instantly, within minutes or at times hours of applying for the loan. The best part of these cash advances is that no one is going to ask you what you need the money for. A bad credit cash advance without taking your credit score into account will furnish your required money to you in a short while.

The upper limit of bad credit cash advances is usually $1500. These loans need you to provide a confirmation of your employment, your previously salary stub, and the details of your checking account. These loans are provided by private lenders as well as banks and also are available online, so you can get money without too much of an effort right into your account with the help of a few clicks.

These bad credit cash advances should be kept as an emergency source of money only. This is because the fee that is charged is usually 15% to 30% for every $100, although competition in the market within the firms offering this cash advance has trimmed the rates to 12% in some cases.

Bad credit cash advances do sound very attractive, but they should not be abuse; otherwise, you are sure to land up in knee-deep debt very soon. It should not be made a habit to borrow against every future salary check. Also, the amount that is borrowed should be the bare minimum that is required and not any extra money.

You will obviously not like to pay interest on money that had been lying idly in your account. All bad credit cash advances should be sought for the least payable period possible, and you should ask the lender if you could repay the money earlier than the due date.

The payment for bad credit cash advances should be done in full on the day that the payment has been set for. The payment should not be rolled over to a further day with a payment of little more fees.

Credit Card Loan Consolidation Info

September 23rd, 2011



It’s nice to have a credit card and use it once in a while when you really need to, but the last thing you need is to spend without thought as your debts go up. This can get you in trouble later on when you start having trouble paying off your credit card bills. You also don’t want things to get so out of control that you end up filing for bankruptcy. There are different ways to get rid of these debts though.

You can look at debt consolidation offers that you can get from different banks or other lending companies. But this is not always the solution. What you might want to try is credit card loan consolidation instead.

If you have ever taken advantage of an unsecured debt consolidation offer, then you will know exactly what credit or bank card loan consolidation is like because they are more or less the same thing. These debt consolidation options can really help you get rid of your debts. Payments will also be less of a hassle on a monthly basis. Like any other debt consolidation option, this is one that is not for free because you still have to pay back that loan you made to pay off the debt.

But this is a great option to have when you are really in debt that you can’t control. You don’t want to owe the credit card companies too much so getting rid of the debt in one lump sum payment is the best way to go. Getting rid of the payment will also help improve your credit score which will increase your chances for future credit card applications that you may need.

5 Critical Steps to Negotiate a Lower Credit Card Interest Rate

May 17th, 2011



Let’s cut to the chase. Times are tough and everyone could use a break. Why not get a discount on the amount of credit card interest you are paying. After all, you deserve it and the banks who have received billions of dollars from Obama’s stimulus package need to pass some of the stimulus benefits on to you, the consumer. So let’s get started.

Step 1 – Call and Ask

Call and ask for a lower rate. Believe it or not, this is one step that will keep many people from ever getting a lower credit card interest rate. Yes, it can be intimidating because you don’t know what will happen, but if you don’t ask for a lower credit card rate, it’s a guarantee you won’t get one. Sometimes by simply calling and asking you can get a better interest rate. Just make sure you are prepared before you call.

Step 2 – Review Your History

Review your payment history with the credit ompany. It always helps to demonstrate your ability to pay your payments without late charges and over limit charges and that you use the card. Show them that you are one of their preferred customers and let them know you want to keep their card but need a better interest rate.

Step 3 – Know your FICO Score

Knowing your FICO score can be helpful too. If you have a high score mention it to the company. These companies can verify your score in minutes so don’t bluff. The credit card companies want to keep their good customers. Higher scores reflect a lower chance of you defaulting and in the long run means more profits for them. They want to keep your business. The higher your score the better your interest rate can be.

Step 4 – Shop credit card offers

Every week you probably get a few of them in the mail, new offers. Save a few of the best ones and use them to negotiate with your current credit card company. Sometimes you will even get an offer for a new card with a lower interest rate from your existing credit card company. These seem like a no brainer, just call and have them change your current rate right? It’s not always that easy. You may get the run around.

Step 5 – Request Account Retention

When all else fails and you seem to be getting nowhere with the current representative ask to be transferred to the Account Retention Department. Sometimes you need to talk to the people who have a job to try and keep you as a customer. Often the account retention department has the final say on what your credit card rate can be lowered to. Keep in mind, you may have to repeat the first 4 steps again, but in the end if you get a lower interest rate it will be worth it. Be nice, but be persistent.

Is this really worth the time? Who knows? If you can get your credit card interest rate reduced by 5% and you have a balance of $5,000, does it add up enough to make it worth it? Of course it does! Five percent on a $5,000 balance is $250 in a year. Let’s say it takes you an hour to go through all of this with your credit card company, that’s like making $250 in an hour. Where else could you do that? Give it a try.

Credit Card Balance Transfers Explained

September 8th, 2010

What is a balance transfer ? A balance transfer can be explained simply as a balance transfer! When a balance is transferred usually from a credit card, but possible from a bank account or loan to a credit card with a offer interest rate (usually 0%) for a set period. It does not have to be the entire amount. The card receiving the balance will an interest rate for a set term, normally 6 months, but can be 9 months or even a year. Take a look at the current balance transfer deals currently available. This will give you a flavour of the typical kind of deal available.

Should I apply for a balance transfer ?

It is important to remember that a balance transfer does not mean that the debt has gone away. It just means you are not paying interest on it. You will still have to maintain payments.

This may seem obvious but many people do not get this straight in their mind.

The basic criteria for getting a balance transfer is when you regularly have an outstanding balance after making your monthly payments. This is the amount you should look to transfer to another card. This will mean that for the period of the offer you will pay no interest on the balance (provided you make the minimum payments).

You should be very wary of taking up a balance transfer, if your overall debt is increasing. A balance transfer is not a green light to spend more money. The money you save should be used to decrease your debt.

What should I look for in a balance transfer ?

You need to be aware of the following when looking for a balance transfer card

Good things

Length of offer period. Offer Interest Rate. The zero or low interest rate charged on the balance. Possible transfers from loans and overdrafts. On some cards you can transfer from existing loans and overdrafts and still get the offer.
Bad things Cut-off period for the balance transfer offer. Hidden Charges on transfers. Some banks will charge a handling fee on the balance transfer.
How long the offer is valid for ?

There is usually a cut off point from the account opening when the offer is no longer valid. Be very aware of this otherwise you could end up transferring a balance to a higher rate !!

What about new purchases ?

Unless there is also a 0% interest rate on new purchases then you should avoid making new purchases on a balance transfer card. This is because the banks will look to reduce the balance transfer debt quicker than the new debt. Provided your credit history is reasonable, there is nothing stopping you having several cards for different purposes. A good way is to have a card, which specialises in 0% on new purchases and another card for balance transfers.

What happens when the balance transfer period finishes ?

When the balance transfer offer period finishes the debt will revert to the typical variable APR. The lenders hope at this point that the cardholder will retain the card and some of the debt, so they can then start charging interest and making some money! So take into consideration the low interest rate credit cards. However, there is nothing stopping the disciplined credit card holder from switching to another balance transfer deal and closing the account. The cycle then starts again. Always allow 6 weeks to 8 weeks before the end of the offer period to apply for a new card. This means you can get the balance transferred to the new card before the lender can start charging the higher rate. You have to be organised to do this, but if you are it does work. People who regularly switch balances are know as card tarts.

The Golden Rules

There are three things to look out for with a balance transfer card As mentioned previously, the unsuspecting can get caught out when spending on a balance transfer card. Maintaining regular payments. If you miss a payment you incur some penalty, so be aware. To be safe set up a direct debit. The interest rate applied when the offer period finishes. Good luck with your choice.

Great Benefits Of Custodial Savings Account

August 4th, 2010



A custodial savings account is a very specific type of savings account in the sense that it is opened for people at a minor age, or those who are 18 years of age or younger. A custodial savings account may also be opened for people who are over the age of 60. Custodial savings account require its account holders to maintain a minimum monthly balance. The balance ranges from around $25 to $50, depending on your provider.

One of the benefits to having custodial savings accounts is the ability to access 24-hour hotlines for any issues an account holder may have. This is a service that is given to many custodial savings accounts in many different banks. Custodial savings accounts are also quite ideal for families to teach their children the value of money and saving while letting them handle their own expenses.

Savings accounts are paid interest by such financial institutions, with the understanding that they cannot be used directly in the same manner as money or regular currency. Savings accounts allow customers of banks to set aside an amount of their liquid assets while at the same time earning a set amount of monetary return. A savings calculator is an tool that can really help with determining someone’s own finances. Savings calculators are mostly available online, and are an added service benefit from many online web sites, usually given for free. Using a savings calculator can have one see how a balanced approach to investing can make their money grow.

Savings interest rates vary from bank to bank. Some banks may offer a higher interest rate, but may have a higher minimum maintaining balance required for the account. Some others may offer mediocre interest rates, but with more account holder flexibility. High interest savings accounts may be the best choice for a type of savings account, especially for those who are managing their own businesses. High interest savings accounts are a great way to put in one’s profits, as the high interest rate guarantees that your money will be growing in the bank. For more information and tips on Great Benefits Of Custodial Savings Account visit, http://custodialsavingsaccount.com

Banks and Secured Credit Cards

July 21st, 2010



If you currently have bad credit, you’ve probably found that secured credit cards are probably the way to go when it comes to re-building credit. A popular question that comes to my attention when I discuss secured cards is “What bank should I go with?” Since there are so many banks on the market, it’s hard not to choose just one but we have to keep in mind that they are all completely different.

Some banks want to focus on bad credit and others don’t even want to deal with it. Why? Some lenders truly believe that people who have bad credit will always have bad credit and will never learn from their mistakes. Studies have shown that many people who do start to rebuild their credit learn from their past mistakes and never go into debt again. Then again, there are those few who never do learn though.

What kind of bank should I go through?

With so many banks out there, the first step would be to simply check out the bank you’re banking with. Ask a teller or representative to see what kind of secured card they have to offer. Many of the major banks like Bank or America, etc do offer secured credit cards. They will be able to tell you in person on how you can use this card in order to establish your credit once again.

Are all banks different?

Absolutely. Every bank that you bank with is going to be different especially when it comes to a secured card. These types of cards will require that you put down a down deposit. Whatever you put down as a down deposit will determine what your credit limit is going to be. The more you put down, the more you’re going to get as a credit limit. Some banks will also allow you to collect interest that you have on your money stored in ties with your credit card. These are usually the banks that you want to go with. The major differences that you’ll see though will be the fees. You’ll always find an annual fee with these cards and they range anywhere from $20 to as much as $150. A card with no annual fee is going to be extremely hard to find.

If you’re in the market to repair your credit, this is going to be the only way possible because if you went the prepaid card route, these cards don’t report to the major bureaus since they act like gift cards. On the other hand, always make sure that the secured card that you apply for does report to the bureaus. If it doesn’t, you’ll soon find out that you’re using a credit card for nothing. A bad credit card on the other hand is a little different but will have higher fees. Repairing credit takes some time and as long as you work hard to pay off your debts and use your cards responsibly, you’ll see your credit score rise significantly over the next couple of years.