Banks, Credit Unions, Savings in Towns in Pennsylvania

Customers tired of the rough treatment and high fees of larger banks may find a better relationship from small rival community banking. Where people come first. These banks are often the partners of small local businesses and willing to support the local community in tough times. To locate a community bank near you, check out The Independent Community Bankers of America

Banks and Card Issuers Find Clever Ways Around CARD Act Rules

By TRACY COENEN Posted 9:00 AM 02/15/10
Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, which included lots of new rules designed to protect consumers from predatory practices by banks and credit card companies, such as hidden fees and sky-high interest rates. The new rules, which go into full effect on Feb. 22, threaten to take a big bite out of the $15 billion in penalties and fees that the industry collects each year.So what have banks and card issuers done? They've come up with new fees. (Read more)

Creative New Fees Escape CARD Act Rules, Surprise Consumers

by Tamara E. Holmes
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New report highlights ways issuers have gotten around new law
While the Credit CARD Act of 2009 puts an end to abusive tactics card issuers have long used to boost their profits, consumers need only to look at their card statements to know there's no reason to celebrate. In the past year, card issuers have rolled out or expanded their use of other ways to collect millions more in fees each year, many of which are hidden to consumers, according to the Durham, N.C.-based Center for Responsible Lending's Dec. 10 report, "Dodging Reform: As Some Credit Card Abuses Are Outlawed, New Ones Proliferate." (Read more)

Credit Card Issuers Face Angry Customers and Lost Revenue

Lita Epstein, 12/17/09
Credit card consumers are voting with their feet and letting credit card issuers know they're not going to take it any more. Two-thirds of credit card users have modified their spending habits or changed providers in response to harsh issuer changes this year, according to comScore's 2009 Online Credit Card Report. (Read more)

New credit card practices could cost consumers billions

Lita Epstein, Dec 15th 2009
Credit card companies continue to look for ways to skirt the new CARD Act. They've found a number of "hidden" price changes not banned by the new law that takes effect in February 2010 and these "hidden" charges could cost consumers billions of dollars, according to the Center for Responsible Lending. (Read more)

Bank Fees

Penny-pinching Citibank will put the squeeze on small-fry customers, charging them up to $90 a year by demanding a fee every time their average monthly checking account balance sinks below $1,500. (Read more)

Check banking fees at the following websites;
Compare mortgage loans, home equity loans, credit cards and CD rates at http://www.bankrate.com/ and http://www.interest.com/

Pre-Paid Debt Cards

Co-branded, pre-paid credit cards lend out small amounts to the working poor, which are sold in the U.S., and then collect millions in fees and penalty charges.

Payday Loans

Payday lenders charge interest rates as high as 140 percent for loans up to $1,000.

Credit Cards

Cut up your credit cards.One do not need more then one. Do not close your accounts, just cut the cards up and pay off the balances. It will be hard to adjust to having only one, but you will be glad you did!

Living on a Cash-Only Diet
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 provided by CNNMoney.com
Credit card reform kicks in Feb. 22, but it won't matter to these 5 readers. They cut up their cards and are going debt free. They share how they did it. Read the story

Opinion: Credit Card Users Need Relief Now
Posted: 11/24/09
As you reach for your credit card this holiday season, be aware that your bill may have some unpleasant surprises in store for you: interest rate hikes and decreased credit limits, even if you have good credit and pay your balances on time. Read the story

Credit and Loans

To find FTC information and consumer publications on a specific Credit & Loans topics, visit the Federal Trade Commission website.

A Warning About “Imposter” Websites from the FTC.

Reverse Mortgages

A Dangerous rip off to our seniors. Read more on Seniors' page

Eye on the Bailout

Bailout Recipients
This list shows a breakdown of where the Treasury Department, authorized by Congress, has directed taxpayer money in the ongoing bailout of the financial system. It accounts for both the broader $700 billion bill and the separate bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to which Treasury has set a limit of $400 billion. This is a list of companies that have been allocated funds. Go here to see a complete list of Treasury's programs – including those for which no recipient data is available.

Credit Reports

'Free' credit reports that'll cost you (Read more)

AnnualCreditReport.com is a centralized service for consumers to request free annual credit reports. It was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Under federal law, AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with the FTC's Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act). from FTC.gov

FTC News: Credit bureaus announce how consumers can access Free Credit Reports Is everyone eligible to get their free statutory annual credit file disclosure? Yes. As of Dec. 1, 2005 all consumers are eligible to request their statutory annual credit file disclosure once every twelve months.

Equifax:
1-800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian
1-888-397-3742
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, Texas 75013

TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

3-in-1 Credit Report with FICO Scores are available for a FEE.

FINRA BrokerCheck®
Check the Background of Your Investment Professional. Look Up a Brokerage Firm or Individual Broker in BrokerCheck

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