In order to answer the question, we need to start by looking at some of the similarities and differences between the two. Both are financial institutions where individuals and businesses can deposit their savings and borrow money for various purposes – and that pretty much sums up the common features. To examine the differences, let’s [...]
Federal PLUS Loans for Students
If you’re an undergraduate student who’s financially dependent on your parents, you can ask them to take out a PLUS loan in addition to your Stafford loan, to cover the cost of your college education. Graduate students and professionals in further education can obtain their own PLUS loans under the Graduate PLUS Loan Program. The [...]
Should You Get Your Credit Card From a Credit Union?
When you get a credit card from your credit union you enjoy reasonable interest rates, low fees and personalized service. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Yes, but there can sometimes also be disadvantages to obtaining your credit card from a credit union. Before you apply for one, stop to consider some of the cons, as well [...]
How Can I Get a Payday Loan?
If you need a payday loan to see you through until your next paycheck arrives, you should know that there are three different ways to obtain one. You can find a large number of payday lenders online, each one serving a different list of states. Some of these companies require that you fax them various [...]
You Won’t Need a Tax Refund Loan if You Plan Ahead
Calculating and filing your taxes every year can be quite a tedious and complex task, so millions of us enlist the services of a tax preparation firm to do the work for us. Anyone who has paid too much tax during the year has to wait for their money to be refunded by the IRS [...]
Tips on Refinancing Your Car Loan
If you’re not happy with your current auto loan, you should try to refinance it and get a better interest rate and lower monthly payments. This is quite a fast and simple exercise that just requires a bit of legwork on your part. Once you’ve found a refinancing deal that suits you, the new lender [...]
5 Important Car Loan Terms to Understand
As a consumer, you need to make sure you understand certain key terms auto dealers use when they’re talking about pricing and financing. If all this jargon sounds like gibberish to you, get a head start here with the five most important auto finance terms and what they mean to you when you’re negotiating a [...]
Getting the Best Deal on Your Auto Loan
While it might be tempting to take your auto dealer’s zero percent financing offer when you’re buying a new set of wheels, there are better ways to save money on your car loan. Check out these tips to help you steer clear of the pitfalls and get the best possible deal: 1. Tap in to [...]
Get an Affordable Loan From Your Credit Union
If you’re looking for a loan to buy a house or car, go back to school or start a small business, you’re likely to get a more affordable rate if you borrow from a credit union than a bank. You may well find it easier to qualify for a loan from a credit union too. [...]
Is a Payday Loan Suitable For You?
A payday loan is not difficult to get if you are 18 or over, a U.S. citizen and have a bank account and a job or other source of income. It is a legal, tightly-regulated way to raise a bit of cash to help you manage a short-term financial crisis. But how do you know [...]
What is a Car Title Loan?
It can be difficult to get a loan if you don’t have decent credit. However, there are still a few ways you can borrow money if your credit score is too low for a traditional lender. One of these is to get a car title loan (sometimes known simply as a title loan). If you [...]
What is a Tax Refund Anticipation Loan?
If you’re expecting a refund on your federal or state taxes but need the money urgently, a refund anticipation loan (RAL) can put the cash in your hands within just a day or two. You can apply for an RAL from the tax preparation company that completes and files your tax return for you. Be [...]