Friday, November 28, 2008

Jumbo Mumbo


A JUMBO CD's like any other, 'cept you have to sock away $100,000 or more at a clip. Sometimes banks offer above-normal interest rates, sometimes not.

Speaking of jumbo, Discover'll give ya a 5.05% APY over 5 years, minimum $2500 deposit.
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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Start a new Relationship.

NewAlliance. Branches throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Relationship CDs (gotta open a checking account with them first) come in at a 3.25% APY for 24 months, minimum $1000.
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There's a new program available to all homeowners that will actually lower mortgage payment(s) with a current lender, or possibly forgive some of its principle. This process is called Home Loan Modification/Renegotiation. It's actually pretty easy.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Tah Dah! I mean, TD!



Jeez, these days banks are folding into one another faster than sugar in a bowl of meringue.

Commerce Bank has been purchased by Canada's TD Bank. I belong to a credit union and Chase Bank, but Commerce is just down the block from my NY apartment, on 7th Avenue. And I make a pilgrimage there once every 3 months to empty my gi-mongous change bowl into their handy-dandy lobby sorting/converting machines (I usually walk away with a few hundred bucks). It's the first thing I do when I get home from work at night, empty my pockets. HATE coins...they retain weird frenetic energy from past owners.

Soooo, let's see what TD is now bringing to the table:

2 Years, 3.00% APY, minimum $500 to open.
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There's a new program available to all homeowners that will actually lower your mortgage payment(s) with your current lender, or possibly forgive some of its principle. This process is called Home Loan Modification/Renegotiation.

It's actually pretty easy. You simply send in a brief application outlining your payment, income, and any hardships. Our legal team and loan processors then review this information along with the respective lender. Within 48 hours, we let you know if you qualify.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Where Credit Is Due



Don't overlook your neighborhood credit union for competitive APYs.

I belong to the Sikorsky Federal Credit Union. Their 60-month? 4.5%. FDIC-insured to $250,000, only $100 to open.
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Friday, October 24, 2008

7 Years Good Luck



The CD offer du jour is courtesy of J.P. Morgan Chase, one of the only financial juggernauts left standing after all the M&As of late. This one's for those investors who are in it for the long haul.

Featured Fixed-Rate CD Account Information for Zip Code 10011 (New York, NY):
The yield below is available to customers with a qualified Chase checking account.

APY of 4.75%, 84 months, minimum deposit $10,000.

* Establish the CD as a single or joint CD with rights of survivorship.

* Choose how you'd like to receive your interest. Options include reinvesting into a current CD or depositing into a Chase checking or savings account.

* Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) are effective for 10/24/2008 only, and are subject to change without notice. Web site rates are generally updated by 10:00 AM Eastern time. Rates may vary by market. Penalties may apply to withdrawals made prior to maturity. These CDs automatically renew. Please see Chase.com for more information. Account fees could reduce earnings.
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It's easy to make up to $900 or more per day!
Just use your computer to fill out forms and you can earn cash!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

A-Wall Street

"Stocks may rise and fall...utilities may crumble...people are no damn good...but they'll pay through the nose for land, land, land," rhapsodized the prophetic Gene Hackman as Lex Luther in 1979's Superman.

Since not all of us have the wherewithal to become real estate moguls, Certificates Of Deposit (or CDs) seem to be the safest and most reliable investment option of late. They're like savings accounts on steroids; let the bank, financial institution or credit union of your choice play with your money for a fixed time period (3-6-12 months, 1-2-3-5 years), and your CD account will garner above-average interest...which you can draw off.

Make sure your funds are FDIC-insured (in whole or in part...Congress just increased the ceiling). The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the United States government that protects against the loss of insured deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC deposit insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Since the FDIC was established, no depositor has ever lost a single penny of FDIC-insured funds.

FDIC insurance covers funds in deposit accounts, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). FDIC insurance does not, however, cover other financial products and services that insured banks may offer, such as stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, life insurance policies, annuities or municipal securities.

There is no need for depositors to apply for FDIC insurance or even to request it. Coverage is automatic.

To ensure funds are fully protected, depositors should understand their deposit insurance coverage limits. The FDIC provides separate insurance coverage for deposits held in different ownership categories such as single accounts, joint accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and trust accounts. Deposits accounts owned by corporations, partnerships, unincorporated associations, employee benefit plans and government entities also are covered by FDIC insurance.

Basic FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage Limits*
Single Accounts (owned by one person)
$250,000 per owner**

Joint Accounts (two or more persons)
$250,000 per co-owner**

IRAs and certain other retirement accounts
$250,000 per owner

Trust Accounts
$250,000 per owner per beneficiary subject to specific limitations and requirements**

Corporation, Partnership and Unincorporated Association Accounts
$250,000 per corporation, partnership or unincorporated association

Employee Benefit Plan Accounts
$250,000 for the non-contingent, ascertainable interest of each participant

Government Accounts
$250,000 per official custodian

* These deposit insurance coverage limits refer to the total of all deposits that an accountholder (or accountholders) has at each FDIC-insured bank. The listing above shows only the most common ownership categories that apply to individual and family deposits, and assumes that all FDIC requirements are met.

** The legislation authorizing the increase in deposit insurance coverage limits makes the change effective October 3, 2008, through December 31, 2009.

Note: As of October 14, 2008, all non-interest bearing transaction deposit accounts at an FDIC-insured institution, including all personal and business checking deposit accounts that do not earn interest, are fully insured for the entire amount in the deposit account. This unlimited insurance coverage is temporary and will remain in effect for participating institutions until December 31, 2009.

If you have questions about FDIC coverage limits and requirements, please visit www.myFDICinsurance.gov, call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC, or ask a representative at your bank.

Here's my pick of the day: Wachovia

Featured Fixed-Rate CD Account Information

There are no fees associated with a Wachovia CD. APY Rate for ZIP code 10011 (New York City...rates are dependent upon address. San Francisco's rates are higher...4.3% APY)

12 Month CD, APY of 4.10%, minimum deposit = $1,000.
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