Bankrate

Bankrate, Inc. is a company that offers financial services to consumers and is located in New York City, New York, USA. One of its most recognized brands is Bankrate.com, which serves as a website focused on personal finance.

National, Consumer

English

Online/Digital

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Global

#4239

United States

#814

Finance/Finance

#13

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Articles

Credit Card Balances Fell In Q1 2025. Borrowers Aren’t Out Of The Woods Yet

1 day ago | bankrate.com | Ted Rossman |Brooklyn Lowery

You’ve likely heard that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Or that April showers bring May flowers. Here’s another truism to add to that list: Credit card balances don’t rise in the first quarter of the year. That was once again true in 2025, as balances fell to $1.18 trillion in Q1, down $29 billion (2.4 percent) from Q4 2024, according to the New York Fed. Over the past 22 years, credit card balances fell from Q4 to Q1 on 21 occasions, and they were flat once (in 2023).
The CD catch-22: Why locking up your money now could be risky

2 days ago | bankrate.com | Dion Rabouin |Hanna Horvath

If you’ve been searching for a safe place to lock up your money and have been contemplating a certificate of deposit (CD), you’re not alone. Stock market volatility, the recent U.S. economic contraction and wide-ranging uncertainty have even seasoned Wall Street professionals searching for safer places to park their cash. And after years of near-zero rates, CDs made a comeback in 2023 and 2024 with some banks offering headline-grabbing yields. But in 2025, the landscape for savers is shifting.
Estate Tax: What It Is And Who Pays

3 days ago | bankrate.com | Rebecca Rosenberg |Andrea Coombes

When someone dies, everything they own — such as homes, bank accounts, investments and personal belongings — becomes part of their estate for the purposes of the U.S. federal estate tax. But only if the estate’s value surpasses a certain threshold will it be subject to the estate tax, sometimes called the “death tax.” The tax rate for estates currently ranges from 18 to 40 percent, depending on how much of the estate exceeds the exemption amount.
High-Yield Savings Rates Today: May 12, 2025

5 days ago | bankrate.com | Karen Bennett |Marc A. Wojno

The Federal Reserve held its federal funds rate steady last week, marking the third straight meeting the rate has remained unchanged. The Fed’s rate pause could mean stability for high-yield savings account APYs. The top-yielding savings account rate holds steady this week at 4.40 percent APY, available from Openbank.
10 Richest People In The World Outside Of The U.S.

5 days ago | bankrate.com | Brian Baker |Lisa Dammeyer

The United States is home to nine of the top 10 richest people in the world, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t significant wealth outside the U.S. In fact, the top three richest people outside the U.S. are all worth more than $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Most of the wealthiest people achieve their status through their investments and holdings, often in just one or two key businesses.
Top CD Rates Today: May 9, 2025

6 days ago | bankrate.com | Karen Bennett |Kristen Kuchar

The current leading CD rate across terms is 4.41 percent APY, offered for a six-month CD. National averages are significantly lower than top rates, so it pays to shop around. The Federal Reserve has held its benchmark rate steady in 2025, and competitive APYs remain higher than they’ve been in decades, outside the current rate cycle. Like a savings account, a certificate of deposit (CD) is an account where you can stash some of your savings, usually risk free, and earn a nominal amount of interest.
North Carolina Expanding Inexperienced Driver Surcharge

6 days ago | bankrate.com | Shannon Martin |Jessa Claeys

As of July 1, 2025, the North Carolina inexperienced operator surcharge will extend from three to eight years. This law applies to driver’s licenses issued on or after July 1, 2025. New drivers with limited and full provisional licenses issued before July 1 are exempt. Young drivers in North Carolina are in for a big surprise this summer — and so are their parents. Starting July 1, a new state law is shaking up how long insurers can surcharge new drivers.
Fed Skips Another Interest Rate Cut Despite Growing Recession Worries

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Sarah Foster |Chris Kahn

The Federal Reserve voted on Wednesday to keep interest rates steady for the third consecutive meeting, a decision that signals officials are more concerned about inflation than the possibility of a recession. The decision means the key interest rate that influences how much you pay to borrow money — from credit cards and auto loans to home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and adjustable-rate mortgages — will continue to hold near a decade-plus high.
Why Upping College Completion Could Help Solve Student Debt Crisis

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Mark Kantrowitz |Pippin Wilbers

Involuntary collections resumed May 5, 2025 for borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans. College dropouts are nearly four times more likely to default than those who graduate. Among students who started Bachelor’s degree programs, college dropouts are 95 times more likely to default and represent nearly all of the defaults within this group. By comparison, borrowers whose student loan debt is in sync with their income are significantly less likely to face default.
This One Money Habit Will Get You Out of Living Paycheck to Paycheck

1 week ago | bankrate.com | Bernadette Joy |Katie Lowery

Living paycheck to paycheck isn’t just exhausting and stressful — it’s expensive. With inflation sticking around and new tariffs projected to cost American households up to $3,800 in 2025 (according to Yale’s Budget Lab), it’s more important than ever to build breathing room into your money plan to avoid late payment fees or borrowing to make it to payday. There’s one simple but powerful habit I use to break this cycle: I have built and maintained a cash-flow cushion.