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Where Big Banks Are Better Than Credit Unions
My reward checking account with a credit union is fully up and running. I got my first monthly interest at the end of September. As expected, I got 3% APY on my $20k deposit for having used my debit card 18 times during the month. Those 18 debits came to a grand total of $91.34. […]
Using a Reward Checking Account For Emergency Fund
A reward checking account is a checking account that pays a high interest rate up to a balance cap but requires you to use its debit card X number of times a month among some other easy-to-meet requirements. For instance the account I recently opened with a credit union pays 3% interest on balance up […]
World MasterCard Price Protection Refunds the Difference If You See a Lower Price
When you get a new credit card, you usually also receive a small brochure describing the various benefits your new card offers. Most of the benefits are common: rental car coverage, protection against loss or damage of a new purchase within the first X days, extended warranty, travel accident insurance, etc. Don’t just throw away […]
How To Get Money Off Rebate Debit Cards
I bought tires from a tire shop when it offered a $100 mail-in rebate for a set of 4 tires of certain brands. The mail-in rebate came in the form of a prepaid debit card instead of just a plain old check. Companies do that because their rebate vendors convince them prepaid debit cards work […]
Using a Wire Transfer for Real Estate Settlement
One logistical challenge in refinancing a mortgage is getting a certified check for the amount you have to bring to the table at the time you sign the closing papers. Even if you are doing a no-cost refinance, you still have to pay pre-paid interest for the partial month and escrow deposit. If you are […]
Can You File An Extended Warranty Claim After A Credit Card Is Closed?
My Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS running watch broke. It keeps resetting at random times. I refreshed the firmware. It didn’t help. Raindrops got into it some time ago. That probably messed up something. I bought the watch in July 2011. The manufacturer has a 1-year warranty. I paid with my Starwood American Express card, which […]
What Happens After the ATM Ate Your Check Deposit
I was too trusting of the nifty ATMs that take checks without an envelope. I used the ATM outside our cafeteria at work to make deposits many times. I never had any problem, until last time. I usually deposit printed business checks. This time it was a handwritten personal check. The machine took it, tried […]
Keep a Local Bank Account As Backup When You Use an Online Bank
When you use an online bank without a physical branch near you such as Ally Bank or USAA for your main checking account, sometimes it’s helpful to keep a local bank account as a backup for what you need done in person at a branch. I use a Citi Checking account for this purpose. I […]
Is a Vantage Score Good Enough?
I don’t care much about my credit score as long as I still get the best rates when I borrow. In previous posts I showed you don’t need a top score to get the best rate. I don’t buy credit scores. My bank Alliant Credit Union shows me a VantageScore by Experian every quarter for […]
Debit Card Discounts vs Credit Card Rewards
I heard a legal settlement between retailers and Visa and MasterCard got rid of a credit card network rule that prohibited retailers from surcharging credit card purchases. Although it’s a theoretical possibility, I don’t think we will see surcharges any time soon. More likely we will see discounts for debit card purchases. Although the lack […]
How To Withdraw [A Large Amount of] Cash From Online Bank Account
Last time I wrote about How To Deposit Cash To Online Bank Account. This time I’m writing about the opposite: when you use an online bank for your main checking account, how do you withdraw cash, especially a large amount? If you answer ATM or cash back with debit card purchase at a store, that’s […]