| |
| |
|
Personal Finance Information |
|
|
|
Banks Are More Than Just A Place To Park Your Money
If you've been to a shopping mall lately, you've probably discovered two different banks within a few feet of each other. Go inside the food store in that shopping plaza and you'll see yet another one, just waiting to offer their services to you. Now drive down the road a few blocks and you'll probably see yet another bank on the corner. With all the banks to choose from these days, it can be too much. How do you know who is reputable and what will serve your purposes? It's actually very simple. Make a list of what you want from a bank and choose only two or three of the ones you've heard good things about. Banks are often places that your friends and families will have strong opinions about- so listen to them. If they rave about one and rant about another, you will know where to stay away from. Make sure to take their advice with a grain of salt though, so you don't sign up right away. First, you need to find out all that they offer so you can make an informed decision. Enrolling with a bank may not seem like a big decision, but it is. Think about it, changing banks is not something people want to do often. And it's not something that is particularly easy or fun to do. You'll want to start with a good bank and stay with them for many years - if not for the rest of your life. You'll probably be using a debit card, credit card, loan and various other services with your bank, so choose wisely. Inquire from the banks you're choosing between if they offer free checking, what their policy on over-drafting is, how they handle lost/stolen cards, what happens if you have unauthorized charges appear and so on. Talk to them about saving/checking accounts and the fees they charge. Get lots of information to take home with you so you can read it throroghly. Many will have pamphlets to give you, so take all the ones that interest you. You will also want to find out how many locations they have and where all their ATM's are. Convenience is key with banks since you won't want to have to drive all over town to withdraw cash or deposit checks. If you're considering a start-up bank that doesn't have too many locations yet- make sure you won't be traveling around much just because you won't have access to a bank. The best thing you can do when choosing between banks is to get all the information you possibly can and then decide which one to go with. This way you'll get the best deals and you'll know what to expect and not expect from your banking institution. The author has been in the banking industry for 30 years. Her purpose is to help people to manage their money with ease and peace of mind. Carol Sue Blanchard is passionate about banks and is the webmaster of FEN Banks
MORE RESOURCES:
Personal-Finance - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
5 Ways to Absolutely Destroy Your Finances! Ben Stein has a book called How to Ruin Your Finances. To be honest, I'm not sure an entire book is needed on the subject-there are some fairly quick and easy ways to accomplish the task. College Expenses: Seven Ways to Save on an Education Many people graduate from college owing thousands of dollars in student loans. It isn't uncommon for students to graduate owing $30,000 to $40,000. 7 Simple Ways To Save Money Each of us knows how to spend money, but do we really know how to save our money? No, I am not necessarily talking about setting aside funds for an investments purposes - a good thing - but saving money on everyday items. Here are seven simple ways you can save money:1. First Checking Account - When is it Time? We all know that money doesn't grow on trees, but we all need it to survive. The use of cash will only go so far in life, as you can't send it through the mail. Know Thy Finances The first step to financial success lies in knowing your financial situation at any given time. There is an anecdote attributed to John D. 10 Tips To Save Money When Dining Out Here are some tips that can help you save money when dining out. Keep in mind that these tips are intended to help you save money when dining out at a restaurant type setting. Estate Planning Basics You have probably accomplished a great deal with your life. Over the years you have worked, planned and saved. How To Reap The Rewards With Rewards Programs Recently, many of these loyalty rewards programs have come to the realization that they must change how they put these programs together if they are going to increase their share of the market.One way that has changed over the years is how reward programs have started linking up with various partners to offer more types of rewards for it's members. How You Feel Affects How You Shop & How Much You Spend Have you ever stopped to think about how your "mood" affects the way you shop, not to mention the amount you spend? Think about it.If you want to save a lot of money, avoid shopping whenever you are in one of these moods:DEPRESSED, UPSET, or ANGRYIt's very dangerous for your pocketbook to shop when you're either depressed, upset or angry. A Fresh Start for Family Finances in 2005 While 40% to 50% of us make New Year's resolutions on January 1-a ritual that has existed since ancient times-approximately 60% to 80% of us have already broken them by the end of February, according to researchers.It's still not too late, however, to reset the trajectory on your family's finances, experts note. Financial Readiness: Preparing for BRAC (Base Realignment And Closing) The recommendations for military base closings have been released and the news is not good. If the recommendations are accepted, you will lose your job. Want Your Savings to Earn a Higher Rate of Return? Try Internet Banking Doesn't it seem like the only impressive numbers we've seen this summer are the digits on the thermostat and the unaffordable prices of homes? Real estate has been excruciatingly hot for the past few years, but getting in the market now puts you in the high-risk category for a heat stroke if the market decides to cool off this year.So if a real estate induced stroke doesn't appeal to you and the stock market's roller coaster ride gives you motion sickness, it's very likely that you as a health-conscious investor are sitting on a stash of cash collecting an anemic rate of interest. How To Free-Up 10% to 15% of Your Income Would you be interested in freeing up 10% to 15% of your current income? Just imagine what you could do with this money. You could pay down your debts, increase your savings, or work toward that next important purchase that you have in mind. Succession Planning Have you ever thought about what you are going to leave your children when you pass from this earth? Wouldn't it be a great feeling to be able to give them a really good head start in life - without actually spoiling them?It really doesn't matter how old you are, it's something that you need to be thinking about and planning for now. In the process of planning your inheritance and blessing your children, you are really making YOUR life better and more financially secure because you'll enjoy these benefits before you pass them on. The Good and the Bad of Money Management Good money management needn't be difficult. In fact, there a number of easy steps recommended by most financial professionals to help manage your finances better. Eight Ways To Sink Yourself Financially 1. Don't focus on your finances. Why We Are Never Satisfied with What We Have I have to admit, I do it too. I complain. Personal Finance - Have Consumers Had a Belly Full of Personal Debt? For months, we were trigger-swipe happy, putting our groceries, clothes, holidays and service charges on our credit cards. We wanted mortgages, we took out loans, we watched Property Ladder and What Not To Wear. Budgeting Before Buying With interest rates being at an all-time low, I can understand the urgency for people wanting to purchase a home. But I caution the first-time home buyer to learn how to budget their money before buying a new home. Healthy Eating On A Budget It is possible to eat a healthy, balanced diet without breaking the bank! Here are some suggestions:-Eliminate junk food. You may have to do your grocery shopping alone, since children (and sometimes spouses!) are often the ones who request the junk foods.
|
| home | site map | Privacy Policy |
| © 2006 |
