I often get asked whether rising interest rates or economic downturns negatively affect our lending. It’s a good question and one that, logically, you would think would negatively affect consumer lending. As the Federal Reserve pushes up the fed funds rate, thus increasing short term (and longer maturity) treasury yields, the cost of borrowing for [...]
The Buy-Now-Pay-Later trend is growing explosively, providing merchants with alternative financing options in an unsure economy - and its numbers are expected to continue to climb. According to a Motley Fool study, 56% of millennials are using a buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) method for both online and instore shopping. Over half of those surveyed who had not [...]
What’s Your Budget? A home improvement project can be tricky as far as figuring out the best way to pay. But a starting point is the cost of the project. You must first determine how much you can easily afford to pay out of pocket with cash, or monthly with financing. Some questions that [...]
Everyone does it. Advertising 0% interest is commonplace in the retail marketplace. Merchants have been conditioned that this is how you drive traffic to a store. The results back this up, which is why it’s been a phenomenon in retail for many years. The dirty little secret of the retail industry is that the winner [...]
Did you know that taking out a personal loan can actually improve your credit score? While there are many components which go into the secret sauce of credit and credit worthiness, your credit mixture can have an effect on overall credit health. An installment loan could be a great addition to your revolving lines [...]
Dreading the dentist? You are not alone. Since the pandemic, more Americans than ever have neglected their usual cleanings and checkups. But a fear of COVID-19 isn’t the only thing that’s kept them at bay- dental work can be costly, and most dental insurance is limited. Paying for the necessary care can be more [...]
According to bankrate.com, the national outstanding personal loan debt surpassed 323 billion this time last year. Personal loans have boomed over the past few years, with more and more consumers opting for an installment loan over credit card payments. The reasons are two part:1.) For consumers with good credit, 720 and above, personal loan rates can [...]
Lender rates and approvals are not always what we expect. We spend months, even years, focusing on improving our credit scores. But when the time comes to take out an additional line of credit for a personal loan, the offers (or lack thereof) staring back at us might raise a question: “Why didn’t I qualify [...]
Remember when airlines first began adding baggage fees? At first, it seemed incredulous that an airline would charge loyal customers for what had once been a free service. Then it became common practice. Consumers came to expect it, just as they came to expect their seat size to shrink and their in-flight snacks to disappear [...]
Why do merchants offer financing to consumers that scream 0% Interest in big bold letters? Well, there are two primary reasons that explain it:Prime credit consumers have come to expect “free” money and to pay-over-time for a large purchase, andMerchants feel that this type of offer catches a consumer’s attention and makes them a more [...]
