Credit Center Archives

NEW YORK (sbup) — This month we looked at how banks, mortgage lenders, and credit card companies are digging in their heels on granting credit to low-credit score consumers. Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) — The employment picture is improving, consumer confidence is up, home prices have started to recover, and interest rates are at all-time lows. It sounds like a great time to borrow money. Quite the opposite: Consumer debt levels are falling. Is it possible Americans have become too conservative about debt? Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) — The stay-at-home spouse may not be as common as in the 1950s, but there are still millions and millions of them. And as the definition of the family evolves, the stay-at-home partner has to be added to the list. But in some respects credit services are still in the ‘50s, as it’s been devilishly hard for the nonworking member of the household to get a credit card. Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) — If you were wondering whether your low credit score qualified you for a home or car loan, the U.S. government has an answer for you: “Sorry, pal.” Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) — It’s a double-downer for student loan borrowers, who face steadily higher debt burdens and are more likely to file complaints against student loan lenders – conclusions drawn in a comprehensive report issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Board. In it, the CFPB says: Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) – You’d think the credit score you get is the same one a creditor gets. You know, the company that makes an up-or-down decision on whether you get that new home, car or loan to open a small business. Inconsequential stuff like that. But if you thought so, you’re probably wrong – or so says the nation’s consumer advocacy agency. Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) – Whether they’re hunkering down for bad economic times or optimistic about the U.S. economy, Americans are taking steps to reduce their credit card debt, according to the New York Federal Reserve. Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) – Payday loans are a sad fact of life for struggling consumers, who spend $7.4 billion annually on the high-interest loans, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. The group says that 5.5% of all U.S adults have taken a payday loan since 2007. That’s about 12 million Americans, Pew says. Read more»

NEW YORK (sbup) – Americans, stung by high credit card debt, are passing on plastic and increasingly turning to debit cards to make purchases and pay bills. The move to debit cards has been truly remarkable. According to Moebs Financial Services, debit card usage was at 43% of all U.S. annual transactions last year, up from 19.4% in 2003. Read more»