Mark Evitt

5 days ago | usnews.com | Greg Garrison |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways Electronic Series EE and Series I savings bonds earn interest for 30 years, but are redeemable after 12 months. You can redeem paper savings bonds through the U.S. Treasury Department or at a financial institution. Most banks only cash paper savings bonds for existing customers, and some won't cash them at all. Savings bonds can be a great way to diversify your finances and protect your money from market risk, or you might have received one as a gift.

1 week ago | usnews.com | Jessica Merritt |Colin Hogan |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways Banks may waive common fees such as overdraft or maintenance fees upon request. You're more likely to get a fee waived if you have a long-standing relationship, higher balances or multiple accounts. Asking politely and providing context can help you get fees reversed. Banks charge fees for a variety of activities and services, but sometimes they are negotiable.

1 week ago | usnews.com | Casey Bond |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways Banks charge a variety of fees, which can eat into your savings if you aren't careful. When shopping around for a new bank account, it's important to know what fees the bank charges. Before opening a bank account, be sure you're aware of the requirements for avoiding or waiving fees. Bank fees can be pricey, and can catch you off guard when you can least afford them. Incurring a bank fee every now and then might seem insignificant, but over time these charges can add up.

1 week ago | usnews.com | Austin Cole |Sebastian Oliveira |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways An overdraft happens when you try to use more money than you have in your checking account. You may incur a fee for overdrafting. Overdraft protection allows you to avoid an overdraft fee by pulling funds from a savings account or line of credit to cover the negative balance. Setting up low balance alerts could help you avoid overdraft incidents and keep you from relying on overdraft protection.

2 weeks ago | usnews.com | Jessica Merritt |Colin Hogan |Mark Evitt

Key Takeaways You can have flexibility and still earn significant interest with a hybrid bank account. Hybrid options include money market accounts and high-yield checking accounts. Earning the highest APYs might come with requirements such as a minimum balance or setting up direct deposit. Hybrid bank accounts are flexible, offering the convenience of a checking account and the earning power of a savings account. You can use a hybrid account to help your money grow without locking it away.