Wednesday, December 26, 2012
5 Ways to Make Bank of America Credit Cards Work for You
Bank of America credit cards have become synonymous with travel rewards. When Bank of America merged with MBNA a few years ago it instantly became one of the dominant players in the credit card industry. By joining with MBNA, Bank of America has now become the defacto leader in travel rewards credit cards.
In addition to a wide variety of travel rewards programs, there are also several cash back rebate deals and student credit card offers. Let us take a look at the features offered through Bank of America cards to see how they may, or may not, suit your financial needs.
1. Balance Transfers - Most Bank of America cards offer 0% APR on balance transfers for a period of 6 - 12 months. If you happen to carry a monthly balance on your current cards, you may want to consider taking advantage of a balance transfer offer to save money on interest payments. They also allow you to pay off more of the principle with the money you would have otherwise of been spending on interest.
2. 0% APR on Purchases - As an incentive to attract new customers, most credit card companies offer 0% interest on all new purchases for periods of 6 - 12 months. Bank of America cards feature these introductory offers as well. These types of deals can be beneficial to the consumer who is planning on making a sizable purchase and would like some time to pay it off in fill.
3. Rewards Programs - If you travel often then you will definitely want to take a look at the various travel rewards programs offered through B of A. There are many cards that are partnered with specific airlines and offer bonus miles for that carrier. Other rewards programs include cash back, merchandise, dining, hotels and more. Take your to time read over the terms of each offer to find one that may benefit you.
4. Fraud and Theft Protection - It is a rather unfortunate fact that new technologies often breed new opportunities for criminals. Credit card fraud has become a billion dollar business worldwide. In order to protect yourself, always choose a credit card that covers you with 100% protection against theft, fraud and unauthorized use, regardless of the bank or credit card issuer.
5. Annual Fees - Annual fees have become a bit of an afterthought when people review and compare credit cards. There is virtually no escaping balance transfer fees. They usually run at around 3%, but are capped at $150. Annual fees, however, are a different story. You will find that most travel reward credit cards have annual fees. Be sure to compare them and decide if the rewards warrant you paying those fees.
As with all credit card offers, the terms and conditions of the Bank of America credit cards that you are interested in should be studied carefully to determine if that offer is a good financial fit for you and your consumer needs. The best way to find the appropriate card for you is to do a side by side comparison of the benefits and features of each card you are interested in. Then, upon gathering all the facts, you will be prepared to apply for the card of your choice.
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Bank Vault Report Review - What the Sales Page Doesnt Tell You!
In this "Bank vault report review" I intend to outline the ins and outs of the Bank vault report system. The system is based on what John Dee refers to as him lay ladder. What this means is that unlike the normal keep betting till you get a loser, the Bank vault report does the opposite. You keep betting until you get a winner. John says that he developed the system after his own personal experience of betting for years and like most people I know he also found it easier to pick losers than winners. After buying this report I must say i was really impressed firstly by the easy PDF format. The report is professionally written and makes it easy to read.
Unlike most betting systems that start with the usual stuff about how to place a bet, the bank vault report gets straight into it which means that you can get to winning money straight away. Like all lay betting systems the bank vault report uses Betfair although you can use any betting exchange. To be honest I think Betfair is the best exchange anyway. This system is really worth the money. Since starting 10 months ago I have made just over £7000 and i only started with a bank of £100. This system really works. The annoying thing is its not rocket science, its simple stuff and I just wish I had figured it out my self and saved my self some money!
However John Dee really is providing a great service here and I'm glad I invested the small amount as I made the money back within the first 4 days. The potential to win money is also now greater than ever since the introduction of the bank vault report version 4! This now includes foreign betting as well so you can earn even more. In conclusion I would rate this system 4/5 hence I've rated it number 2 in my top 5 lay betting systems. The Bank vault report is very good value for money and I would advise anyone to take advantage of the system.
Ok so now that you know that there is a lot of easy money to be made by using a lay betting system, save yourself time and money and have a look at my reviews of the top 5 most profitable lay betting systems and start making money today. I have outlined what ones are best for different reasons weather you are new to this type of betting or weather you have been betting for years. Go now Click here for my top 5 This is also how to get your FREE £10 BET. Just follow the link above.
Metro Bank Review and Up-Date
Metro Bank opened its doors for business in London in July, with its unusual mandate to "eliminate every stupid bank rule" found. Since the introduction of the first retail bank store, how have they been received by the public and how successful have they been? Find out with this Metro Bank review and up-date.
Until this year, the term 'retail banking' was relatively unknown in the UK. Many people had never even heard of retail banking, which in case you didn't know, is a one-stop bank shop. Taking care of your money is only the start: they also transfer money, provide loans, give financial advice and insurance, offer foreign exchange services as well as the usual savings advice.
The Metro Bank store, with its brand new concept of 24/7 telephone call centre and treats for both children and pets, is designed to give you a "better customer experience", with light and airy lobby space, no glass security panels, customer toilets and free coin-counting machines.
Added to this "experience" comes better availability, with opening hours of 8am-8pm five days a week and differing hours for Saturdays and Sundays. The only closures are Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday. Their top trump is the answer to much customer frustration - a human voice at the end of the telephone instead of a machine.
So far, so good, but how have they fared? Have they seen confidence expressed by the London public? Well, it is still very early days, but a recent news review says that the bank is ahead of internal targets it set for itself. There is planned expansion of another 100 jobs on top of the 150 previously created and a waiting list of 200 people to open business accounts. They could be seen to have done very well.
Also just out is the announcement of a new "mold-breaking" credit card to be launched in America - the Metro Bank Personal Visa Credit Card. It boasts a 9.9% annual percent rate with no late fees, annual fees or balance transfer fees. Considering that the average rate for other credit cards is 16.7%, it could prove very popular.
Metro Bank Chairman Gary L Nalbandian says that the rate starts low and stays low, and that "no fees means no fees", not in six months, twelve months, or ever. The credit card services will also have online account access, as well as the 24/7 call centre.
Whilst the first new bank in a 100 years opens it doors, other banks can only watch and wait. Captivating the curiosity and confidence of the public, Metro Bank have been quick to seize the moment and expand. As you watch and wait yourself, spare a thought as to how you can expand and create more wealth for yourself. Since creaky financial structures have given way over the last few years, we have learnt to not put all our eggs in one basket. Branching out into other wealth-creating activities seems a wise thing to do. Click here now http://www.earnyourwealth.co.uk to see how some internet home business owners are creating six figure incomes. I hope you have enjoyed the Metro Bank review and up-date.
Olive Bush is an online marketer teaching people from around the world to make money online and how to build their home based business. To learn more about Olive and her business please visit http://www.earnyourwealth.co.uk
Metro Bank UK Product Review - Changing the Face of British Banking
Blink and you'll miss it. The business pages of the broadsheets this week-end carried reminders about the opening of the first new bank for a 100 years. The Metro Bank is opening its first branch in London on July 29th. Since they exist to "eliminate every stupid bank rule we can find", here's my product review of the retailer bank out to change the face of British banking.
One of the more interesting aspect of the new banking philosophy is the idea that as retailers, their first priority is to put the customer firmly in the centre of the business. In this product review, here are some of the differences you can expect to see at Metro Bank:
* Being open when people need to bank - the banking industry may finally have entered the 21st Century with new opening hours of 8am-8pm five days a week and differing hours for Saturdays and Sundays. In fact, the only times the store will close will be Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday.
* A better customer 'experience' - Metro Bank provides toilets as well as treats for pets and children. They also promise to answer all telephone calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
* As a retailer bank, there are some very practical changes in their open-door approach. In the lobby you will be greeted with a light and airy space, no glass security panels and free coin-counting machines. Apart from this, there has been very little real information about the services and products on offer.
whilst all this is very nice, it can seem a bit gimmicky unless you understand the reasoning behind it. The Co-founders believe that if the customers are given a great banking experience, they will be prepared to do business for a longer period of time and be willing to hand over more of their deposits.
However, for all the 'experience', customers will want to know that their money is safe, that they get the best possible return on their deposit and that Metro is taken seriously as a bank and not just a shop.
Changing the face of British banking does not come free. One of the first things new customers will note is that the interest rates are around 1/2% lower than the other banks. Practically speaking, that means anyone with £5,000 deposited would be paying roughly £25 per year to be able to bank at more convenient hours.
Metro Bank plans to open 4 banks in 2010 with more to follow. As we look on whilst Londoners decide whether to entrust their hard-earned wealth into the new bank's hands, maybe now is the time to spare a thought as to how you yourself can create more wealth for your own bank account. Find out how some people have earned themselves a six figure income. Having reviewed the Metro Bank UK product and how it is changing the face of British banking, I hope you can also see a way to find new wealth creation for yourself.
Olive Bush is an online marketer teaching people from around the world to make money online and how to build their home based business. To learn more about Olive and her business please visit http://www.earnyourwealth.co.uk
Peoples United Bank Review
Peoples United Bank has its main Banking Station in New England and happens to be the biggest regional Bank Conglomerate. The company owns a total of seven banks that have a total of 21 Billion in total assets. Peoples United Bank owns Banks in several states strung out all over the East Coast. The company happens to own a total of seven bank chains with over 250 total locations. Not only that, 77 Supermarket locations which provide banking services to it's members while they are shopping.
Peoples United Bank was founded in 1842. We found out upon research that they do indeed offer services to small and large businesses as well as non-business people who just want to keep their money in their bank. They also offer financial planning and investor advice to people who need it, as well as sell Life Insurance. The Bank also reinvests some of its profits back into the communities where they operate their branches.
In fact, there is some unique history behind this company worth mentioning. The original mission of Peoples National Bank back in 1842 was to give people who commuted and work within the Bridgeport Area their own savings accounts. This bank was the only one to offer this service at this time. Historically, if you weren't rich you could never think of opening up a Savings Account. This Bank opened it's doors right at about six years after the City of Bridgeport received its Charter.
The philosophy behind this was that as a Bank wanting to conduct transparent business within a city hoping to be around long term, they knew that they would have to get the respect and trust of the workers, not just the wealthy business owners. Their long term goals are to keep that old school personal touch and to get what they want by helping other members in the community get what they want.
Find out more about Peoples United Bank [http://www.hottopicreviews.com/reviews/peoples-united-bank-review] Review by Brian Garvin and Jeff West at Hot Topic [http://www.hottopicreviews.com] Reviews today.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Three Things To Look At When Reinvesting Matured Bond Proceeds
Whether we like it or not, fixed income investments are a necessary evil when it comes to investing for any long term goal, namely retirement. At current rates, however, the prospect of investing in bonds or any other type of fixed income investment is made difficult. As well, the media has been extremely vocal about how this specific asset class is doomed to fail in the coming months and years.
As level headed investors, once we realize that this asset class is likely to be around for decades into the future, we see that while there are few opportunities for growth in this field at the moment, the long term prospects for bonds and fixed income instruments remain fairly strong. In addition to being the best performing asset classes of the past decade, bonds offer steady income at reduced levels of risks. But if you are looking into buying into this asset class in the near future, here are three things you need to consider:
1. Coupon Rate. This is the amount of income you can expect to earn on your bond or bonds, representing the cash flow. In periods of low interest rates, coupon is arguably the most important factor when deciding to buy a bond. With rates expected to increase, it is important for the purchaser to ensure that the coupon is sufficient to offset rising rates.
2. Price. Although it is difficult to purchase a bond at a premium, for many investors the benefits of a higher coupon rate will offset the capital loss at maturity. As well, if an investor knows that he or she will have gains from other assets (due to liquidation as an income or cash replacement technique), the buying at a premium could have positive tax implications. Likewise, for long-term investors who would prefer to see a capital gain rather than incurring interest income from coupon payments, purchasing a bond at a discount will make the most sense. Consider your tax and income needs before buying.
3. Maturity. Knowing your bond's maturity is essential to ensuring that you are not going to be caught off guard at maturity time. Since the income will need to be replaced, a decent understanding for the interest rate climate is vital before you can match your income needs to the right maturity options available.
These are three of the key things you will need to consider when buying bonds. Although there is no escaping the fixed income component of any investment portfolio, you can opt to make the best decisions not only for the current day, but for the years that the investment or investments are expected to last.
--> Interested in Dividend Funds as an alternative? See whether they are right for you at MutualFundSite.org.
Chris has more than 17 years of financial services experience. As a regular contributor to the Mutual Fund Site, he recently wrote about Gold Funds and the Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund in particular.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Wells Fargo Report Phishing Scam
First off I should explain what phishing is. Phishing is basically the act of tricking a victim into divulging information. It involves the receiving of an email message with a link to a website where the victim would enter personal information. In this particular scam, you get an email from "Personal Banking: personalbanking@wellsfargo.com" stating that there may have been some unauthorized access to your account and that you should click the link and enter your account and verify some information. When you click the link you are taken to a site which looks identical to the Wells Fargo site.
If you look at the HTML code of the site, you'll notice that they are almost identical. One thing about this scam which was somewhat surprising is that the message made it past my G-mail spam filter. This is slightly different to scams I have seen before in that they don't ask you to reply to this email with your account number like most others, and they don't ask for passwords or anything like that. They simply request that you log in, as you normally do, which would not raise the eyebrow of normal users. On a closer inspection of the site you will notice that the forms submit the data entered (user name and password) to some foreign script and not to Well Fargo. Most probably, the scammer is having all the usernames and passwords emailed to him. After submission of your information the site responds that your password is incorrect. Here an unsuspecting victim would assume that this was because of the supposed unauthorized access mentioned in the email.
If you try to submit information a few more times, it takes you to another Wells Fargo look-alike page called “Online Banking Verification”. Here they ask for SSN number, your ATM card number, the expiration date, the pin number and the CVV2# (4 digit verification). With the ATM information the scammer could max out your debit card. With all the rest of the information he has gathered it would not be at all difficult to call up Wells Fargo and basically take over your account. He could change billing addresses, get checks for you account, and simply wipe it out.
How to spot scams like this
Scams like these are usually easy to spot, but this one in particular was a bit tricky, however there are some basic methods you can use to spot these types of scams.
First of all, check the link. Although it looks like the link is going to Wells Fargo’s website, if you let the mouse hover over the link for a while and look in the status bar, you will get the real address of the link. In this case the scammer used just an IP address of his domain or machine. This, however, can be overridden on the internet (if the scammer changes the status bar) and sometimes even in your email, depending on what your security settings are.
Check the address bar. In this case, the address bar reported that the website was also from the scammer’s IP address. Simply put, it did not say http://www.wellsfargo.com. Very seldom would a scammer be able to fake this. They may, however, employ other tricks like buying a domain name with a slight spelling difference that the user might not notice or by simply loading the link in a new window and hiding the address bar altogether.
Lastly, the only full proof method to avoid becoming a victim to a scam like this is to simply call in and verify the information over the phone. Please note; do not use a phone number in the email if one is given. Open up your phone book and locate the number for your firm and ask them about it.
Just remember, if it looks funny and feels funny, it’s probably a scam. Do not ever reply to such email messages for personal information as sensitive as account information and SSN.
Below is a copy of the email message for your review and amusement. The link is active, however DO NOT ENTER ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION INTO THESE FORMS. THIS IS NOT WELLSFARO’S SITE.
Kevin. A. Lloyd.
From: Personal Banking personalbanking@wellsfargo.com >
To: me@me.com
Date: Jun 2, 2005 2:22 PM
Subject: Security Notice #291240 Wells Fargo Internet Banking account
Update Necesary!
Dear Member,
We recently reviewed your account, and suspect that your Wells Fargo Internet Banking account may have been accessed by an unauthorized third party. Protecting the security of your acount and of the Wells Fargo network is our primary concern. Therefore, as a preventative measure, we have temporarily limited access to sensitive account features. To restore your account access, please take the following steps to ensure that your account has not been compromised:
1. Login to your Wells Fargo Internet Banking account. In case you are not enrolled for Internet Banking, you will have to use your Social Security Number as both your Personal ID and Password and fill in all the required information, including your name and account number. 2. Review your recent account history for any unauthorized withdrawls or deposits, and check your account profile to make sure not changes have been made. If any unauthorized activity has taken p! la ce on your account, report this to Wells Fargo staff immediately.
To get started, please click on the link below:
[https://online.wellsfargo.com/signon?LOB=CONS]
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and appreciate your assistance in helping us maintain the integrity of the entire Wells Fargo system. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerly,
The Wells Fargo Team
Kevin A. Lloyd:
Just launched a website, [http://www.DeleteMySpam.com/], dedicated to helping to eliminate the spam crisis.
Wells Fargo Reports $2.5 Billion in Net Income or Old Lady Losing Her Sanity and Home to Wells Fargo
Between these two headlines from April 20, 2010 I could not decide which was more important, so I figured I would use them both.
The first headline is good news for Wells Fargo shareholders who, according to their press release, stand to make forty five cents per share of common stock on 21 billion in revenue. The numbers posted reflect a giant bank which is thriving. In fact, Wells Fargo is doing so well it bought another big troubled bank last year, Wachovia, a purchase helped out by a little bit of TARP money. Things are good at old Wells Fargo.
Unfortunately, this happy prosperity is not shared with many of Wells Fargo's customers.
The second headline, which will never make the news, is one I made up. It is about a little old lady who was in my office this week. She owns a home worth about $70,000. Five years ago, she took out a loan from Wells Fargo for over $140,000. Five years ago, appraisers for banks like Wells Fargo would say anything to make sure a loan was approved and loan brokers would do anything to get the loan to closing. She was dumb to take such a large loan, and Wells Fargo was dumber to make it.
Her household income, consisting of a small pension, social security and disability for her sick husband, is about $3,100 monthly. Her mortgage payment is $1,600.00.
She is having a hard time paying such a relatively large mortgage and called Wells Fargo to see if the loan could be modified. "Sure..." the nice lady from Wells Fargo said..."All you have to do is pay off all of your credit cards."
This poor old lady has credit card bills totaling $20,000. She and her husband used them for many years, more so after he got sick and could no longer work. They can't pay them anymore. Collectors are calling her all day every day. Wells Fargo's request that the cards be paid in full is nonsensical and hardly worthy of comment, aside from the fact that these large national lenders tell their worried customers things like this every single day.
How does a lawyer advise someone in her position?
Her true situation is this. She's old enough that if she stopped paying everybody, it would take a long time for her to lose her home. The local courts are presently flooded with foreclosures, each takes a long time to process. The credit card companies will call and write her, and maybe sue in a few years, but she is underwater in every direction, and she has no assets to satisfy any judgment. The biggest price she is paying is personal. She was very distraught, having never missed timely payment of bills her whole life. I could see that the stress of her situation will simply kill her.
That's not what I told her though.
I told her to take some time and calm down, to ignore the collection calls, to stay as current on the mortgage as she is able, and to refer any lawsuits she might get to me. Now, I could see as I spoke to her that she was dumb to take such a large loan, and Wells Fargo was dumber to make it, but who is paying a higher price, the bank making billions or the little old lady crying in my office?
A partner with KPWS Law, P.C., (website http://kpws-law.com/ ), Eugene C. Kelley has spent years helping and working with people with legal and financial problems. For further reading and free advice, please visit http://getbackgroup.com/contact-us/. Financial problems are legal problems. Begin to constructively work out your problems today.