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Apache is functioning normally

June 3, 2023 by Brett Tams

With over 5,000 locations worldwide, you can find an Avis branch in most major cities. Its loyalty program, Avis Preferred, is free to join and can help you skip the line at the rental counter at some locations. Preferred members have their rental preferences and details on file, making picking up your vehicle quick and convenient.

Also, at some U.S. locations, Avis Preferred members can select their car on the mobile app. The mobile app lets you make reservations, view and modify bookings, access receipts and manage your Avis Preferred profile.

Ahead of what’s likely to be a record-busy summer of travel, now is the perfect time to sign up for Avis Preferred status to save time in line and be on your way faster.

What is Avis Preferred?

OSCAR WONG/GETTY IMAGES

Avis Preferred members can earn and redeem points for qualifying rentals. Preferred members also receive expedited service at some locations so you can go right to your car.

Avis Preferred elite status also entitles you to various benefits.

Avis Preferred elite status

Avis Preferred has two published elite status tiers. Here’s an overview of some of the benefits you receive as an Avis Preferred elite member:

Avis Preferred Avis Preferred Plus Avis President’s Club
Qualifications Free to join, open to the public. 10 rentals or spending $4,000 per calendar year. 20 rentals or spending $6,000 per calendar year.
Point accrual rate  1 point per dollar on rental cars.

2 points per dollar on accessories.

1.25 points per dollar on rental cars.

2.5 points per dollar on accessories.

1.5 points per dollar on rental cars.

3 points per dollar on accessories.

Expedited service ✓ ✓ ✓
Upgrades Up to one class. Up to two classes.
Guaranteed vehicle Up to full size with 24-hour notice.

You can also earn Avis Preferred Plus status after earning 60,000 American Airlines Loyalty Points or by holding United Premier Silver or Gold status. Primary cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve are also eligible for Avis Preferred Plus status.

Avis President’s Club is also available to those who earn 100,000 American Airlines Loyalty Points or United Premier Platinum, 1K or Global Services members. Primary card members of the United Club℠ Infinite Card, United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card, United Club℠ Business Card and United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card also are eligible for instant President’s Club status.

If you don’t have Avis status but hold another rental car status, you can submit a status match form here.

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The information for the United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card, United Club℠ Business Card and United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: United and Avis ink new partnership with free status matches, mileage redemptions

How to earn Avis Preferred points

SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY

You can earn Avis Preferred points or partner points and miles on qualifying Avis rentals. As a base Avis Preferred member, you earn 1 point per dollar spent on the base rate of your rental and 2 points per dollar spent on accessories like satellite radio and car seats.

You can also opt to earn partner points and miles instead of Avis Preferred points. Avis has over 50 airline partners and nine hotel partners. You can earn points with Avis’ other partners, like Eurostar. Just note that for rentals in the United States, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix and Canada, you may be subject to a frequent flyer surcharge or excise tax if you earn airline miles or hotel points instead of Avis Preferred points. This generally costs $1.50 per rental day. To change your rewards preferences from Avis Preferred points to the loyalty program of your choice, log into your Avis Preferred account, go to your profile homepage, click “rewards,” and then “edit.”

AVIS.COM

You can then opt to receive partner points and miles.

AVIS.COM

After you enter your partner loyalty number and save your preferences, Avis will automatically start crediting points and miles to your partner account and charging you the frequent flyer surcharge/excise tax on qualifying rentals. As noted, you can’t earn partner miles and Avis Preferred points on all rates.

Avis has negotiated rates for the members of many of its partners. For example, the United Airlines MileagePlus AWD (Avis Worldwide Discount) number drops the base price of this airport rental by over 50%.

1 of 2

AVIS.COM

You can use your partner program’s AWD rate regardless of whether or not you’re earning miles on your rental. Be prepared to present proof of your partner loyalty program membership if asked.

How to redeem Avis Preferred points

Avis advertises that you can redeem Avis Preferred points with no blackout dates. However, you can’t redeem Avis points at all locations.

Reward day level Standard base rate (does not include AWDs, special rates or any other offers) Cost
Level 1 Up to $50. 700 points.
Level 2 $50.01 to $85. 1,400 points.
Level 3 $85.01 to $125. 2,100 points.
Level 4 $125.01 to $225. 3,500 points.

To redeem points, log into your Avis account, enter your search criteria, select your car and apply your points at check out. You can refer to this page for more information on redeeming Avis points.

Related: How to redeem points and miles for car rentals

Best credit cards for Avis car rentals

THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES

Ideally, you should use a card that provides both Avis elite status and primary rental car insurance (on most rentals). The only major credit card that offers top-tier President’s Circle status and primary rental car insurance on most Avis rentals is the United Club Infinite Card.

Other cards that offer primary rental insurance include:

*Eligibility and Benefit level vary by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc

Related: 9 rental car rewards programs you need to know about

Bottom line

In my experience as a President’s Circle member, I haven’t received nearly as many Avis upgrades, free days and the same quality of service as National Executive Elite.

However, Avis Preferred status can certainly make your travel more enjoyable by allowing you to bypass lines, track your rentals through the app and earn points toward free days. If you haven’t signed up with Avis Preferred yet, we recommend joining for free.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

With a name like “NJ Lenders Corp.,” there’s no question who they’re focused on; folks in the Garden State!

What’s more interesting is the fact that something like 70% of their mortgage loans are derived from previous customer referrals.

In other words, they constantly get recommended by friends and neighbors, instead of having to rely solely upon advertising.

And when you focus so heavily on one geographical area, you definitely want to get it right.

So far, they seem to be accomplishing their goals, as evidenced by their thousands of 5-star reviews. Read on to learn more.

NJ Lenders Corp. Fast Facts

  • Retail, direct-to-consumer mortgage lender
  • Offers home purchase loans and refinances
  • Founded in 1991, headquartered in Little Falls, NJ
  • Funded roughly $5.5 billion in home loans last year
  • More than 80% of business done in home state of New Jersey
  • Also active in New York, Massachusetts, and Florida
  • Currently licensed in 14 states and the District of Columbia

NJ Lenders Corp. is a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender with branches in three states, mostly located in New Jersey.

They got their start way back in 1991, which if you’re not keeping track is more than 30 years ago.

Since that time, they’ve grown from a modest single office into a multi-billion-dollar mortgage originator.

They’ve closed more than 100,000 mortgage loans, with loan volume exceeding $40 billion.

Last year, they funded a solid $5.5 billion in home loans, which was probably their biggest annual production on record.

Business was split nearly equally between purchase loans and mortgage refinances.

At the moment, they’re licensed in 16 states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, along with Washington D.C.

As noted, they are laser-focused on New Jersey, with the state accounting for more than 80% of overall volume.

But they’re also active in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Florida, and originate home loans across much of the East Coast.

They were the fifth largest mortgage lender in the state of New Jersey, only topped by Rocket Mortgage, Wells Fargo, Chase, and loanDepot.

How to Apply for a Mortgage with NJ Lenders Corp.

While they have physical branches in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance you’ll work remotely with a loan officer.

The good news is they have a solid website and loan application process, which is mostly paperless.

In fact, you can download their free smartphone app and complete much of the process from the palm of your hand.

Their digital app is powered by SimpleNexus, one of the leaders in the fintech space.

It allows you to complete the application digitally from any device, eSign documents, upload paperwork, and snag same-day pre-approvals.

Once your loan is submitted, you’ll gain access to secure, real-time updates as your loan progresses forward.

NJ Lenders Corp. said they built a better operations platform by keeping 95% of their files in-house.

This allows them to control the entire underwriting and loan closing process, improving both efficiencies and speed.

If you’re a home buyer, you can take advantage of their “Home Buyer’s Edge” program, which goes beyond a basic mortgage pre-qualification.

It provides a full credit approval that involves a complete review of your income, assets, and credit by a loan underwriter.

This gives home sellers peace of mind your offer can actually close in the event of a bidding war.

All in all, they appear to offer the latest tech and a solid operations setup to keep loans moving quickly to the closing table.

To get started, simply head over to their website and click on “get a rate quote” or “find a loan officer.”

Home Loan Programs Offered by NJ Lenders Corp.

  • Home purchase loans
  • Refinance loans: rate and term, cash out, streamline
  • Home renovation loans
  • Conforming loans
  • Jumbo loans
  • FHA loans
  • VA loans
  • USDA loans
  • First-time home buyer loans
  • Non-warrantable condo financing
  • Reverse mortgages
  • Interest only home loans

NJ Lenders Corp. offers an excellent selection of loan programs, including harder-to-find options like interest-only home loans and non-warrantable condo financing.

You can get a home purchase loan, renovation loan, or refinance loan, including a cash out refinance.

They offer the full suite of government loans (FHA/USDA/VA), along with both conforming loans and jumbos.

And they’ve got first-time home buyer loans with low down payment requirements, as well as reverse mortgages for seniors.

You can get a home loan on all major property types, from single-family homes to condos/townhomes and investment properties.

NJ Lenders Corp. Rates

The only area where more information would be helpful is pricing.

They don’t publicize their mortgage rates online, nor is there a lender fee section on their site.

This means you’ll need to fill the mortgage rate quote request form on their website, or simply call in to get connected with a loan officer.

Generally, it’s best to get pricing and check eligibility before completing a loan application anyway.

NJ Lenders Corp. does say their goal has always been to offer competitive mortgage rates and fees, and they wrote “best mortgage rates” on their website homepage.

So as an independent mortgage banker there’s a good chance they offer low rates. But always take the time to shop around, and compare offers.

Also inquire about any fees charged, such as a loan origination fee or separate costs for underwriting and processing, if applicable.

NJ Lenders Corp. Reviews

On Experience.com, NJ Lenders Corp. has an excellent 4.88-star rating out of a possible 5 from more than 20,000 customer reviews.

You can filter by loan officer on that site if you want to fine-tune your search.

Over at Zillow, it’s a superior 4.98-star rating from 3,300+ reviews, pretty much as close to perfection as you can get.

Many of those reviews indicate that the interest rate and/or fees and closing costs were lower than expected.

They’ve also got a 4.8-star rating on Google from more than 600 reviews.

Lastly, while not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), they do hold an ‘A+’ rating based on complaint history.

To summarize, NJ Lenders Corp. has thousands of excellent customer reviews, uses the latest tech, and has tons of loan programs to choose from.

The only real question mark relates to loan pricing. If it’s also good, they could be an excellent choice for either a home purchase or a refinance.

NJ Lenders Corp. Pros and Cons

The Good

  • Can apply for a home loan online or via smartphone
  • Many physical branches in the state of New Jersey
  • Offer a digital loan process powered by SimpleNexus
  • Lots of loan programs including interest-only, reverse, etc.
  • Offer fully underwritten credit approvals to give home buyers an edge
  • Thousands of excellent customer reviews across ratings websites
  • A+ BBB rating
  • Free smartphone app
  • Free mortgage calculators, guides, and glossary online

The Maybe Not

  • Only licensed in 16 states (primarily East Coast)
  • Do not publicize mortgage rates or lender fees

(photo: Bobby Hidy)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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Apache is functioning normally

May 26, 2023 by Brett Tams

If you frequently fly United Airlines, want to upgrade your United flight or have elite status with United, you may benefit from the expert mode option on United’s website.

United Airlines’ expert mode lets you see available fare classes, including award and upgrade availability. This extra information can give you a whole new level of insight into your travel options and let you tailor your flights to your preferences — both of which can be helpful for a frequent traveler.

In this guide, we’ll discuss what you need to know about United’s expert mode, how to turn on expert mode and how to maximize this valuable tool.

Related: The best airline credit cards

Fare class basics

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

United offers at least 35 fare classes you can see through expert mode if you’re on a three-cabin aircraft. Each fare class, which often correlates to the price of your ticket, has its own rules.

Before you dive into expert mode, you’ll want to understand the different fare classes and what they can provide you. Otherwise, turning on United’s expert mode won’t be helpful. Here are a few key fare classes you’ll want to keep in mind:

Upgrades

  • PZ: Confirmed upgrades to business or first class using PlusPoints or miles.
  • PN: Premier members are eligible for instant first-class upgrades on most domestic full-fare economy Y-class and B-class fares. Premier 1K members are also eligible for instant upgrades on most domestic routes when booking the M-class fare. Global Services customers are eligible for upgrades in nearly any fare class when PN space is available.
  • RN: Confirmed upgrades to Premium Plus using PlusPoints or miles.

Saver award tickets

  • IN: Saver business or first-class awards for some elites and some cardholders.
  • I: Saver business or first-class awards for all other customers and partner redemptions.
  • XN: Saver economy awards for all elites and most credit cardholders.
  • X: Saver economy awards for all other customers and partner redemptions.

Everyday award tickets

  • JN: Everyday business or first-class awards for some elites and some credit cardholders.
  • ZN: Everyday business or first-class awards for all other customers.
  • YN: Everyday economy awards for all elites and most credit cardholders.
  • HN: Everyday economy awards for all other customers.

Revenue tickets

  • Economy class: N, G, K, L, T, S, W, V, Q, H, U, E, M, B and Y.
  • Premium Plus: R, N and O.
  • Business class: P, Z, D, C and J.

United’s expert mode is the best way to see these available fare classes. Now, let’s discuss how and why to use United’s expert mode.

Related: Why Premium Plus and higher fare classes are the secret to United upgrades

Turning on United expert mode

To enable United expert mode, go to United.com and log in to your MileagePlus account. Navigate to your account homepage, select “settings,” and then “special preferences & accommodations.”

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UNITED.COM

Scroll down to “date and time format preference.” Tick the box next to “enable expert mode.”

UNITED.COM

Then, select “Save.”

To access expert mode during a flight search, you must be logged in to your account. However, note that United has long had a pesky glitch that occasionally turns expert mode off. If this happens, you can usually turn it back on by repeating the above steps.

Related: TPG’s Premier 1K staffers share their tips for getting United upgrades

Using United expert mode

Typically, you’ll search for PZ upgrade availability if you want to use PlusPoints or miles to get upgraded on United Airlines. If you want a same-day change, you might also use expert mode to show available fare classes on an earlier or later flight.

However, United’s expert mode will only show available award classes if you search for paid tickets (as opposed to award tickets).

For example, here’s a flight search from Boston to London. When the results appear, click the “Details” tab for a particular flight. Doing so will display all the fare classes if you’ve turned on expert mode.

UNITED.COM

Let’s start from the top: J7 means seven seats are currently for sale in business class. Since the J-fare is full-fare business class, United will release the most availability into that fare bucket. Of those seven seats, all seven are available in the C and D fare classes, while six are available in the Z and P fare classes. PZ5 means five business-class seats are available for upgrades using PlusPoints or miles. IN4 (for some elites and some cardholders) and I4 (for all other customers and partner redemptions) indicate that four business class seats can be booked using miles at saver rates.

O9 suggests there are nine or more available seats in full-fare Premium Plus. Of those nine Premium Plus seats, you can book nine or more in the ON (dynamically priced award ticket), A and R fare classes. RN7 means United has released seven seats for confirmed upgrades to Premium Plus using PlusPoints or miles.

As you may have guessed, Y9 through K9 means nine or more economy seats are available in these fare classes. G0 means there aren’t any deeply discounted G-fare seats on this flight. XN9 (for all elites and most credit cardholders) and X9 (for all other customers and partner redemptions) denote that nine or more economy seats can be booked using miles at saver rates.

On this flight, you’ll notice that although the K, R and P fare classes are available, the flight is priced in the L, A and Z fare classes for economy, Premium Plus and business class, respectively. That’s because United has restrictions on some of its lower fare classes (i.e., you can’t book them as one-way tickets or within a certain number of days before departure).

Related: United’s best kept elite status secret: How to earn PQP faster with partner flights

Bottom line

As its name suggests, United expert mode is a powerful tool for advanced users to view specific fare classes and availability. It can help you find award and upgradable tickets and help you determine if enough seats are available for your entire party.

Remember, you can only use expert mode when logged in to your MileagePlus account and searching for paid tickets (not award tickets).

Additional reporting by Eric Rosen.

Source: thepointsguy.com

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Apache is functioning normally

May 25, 2023 by Brett Tams

A mortgage escrow account is an integral part of the financial picture for many homeowners. These accounts are typically used in two ways: to hold an earnest money deposit a buyer puts on a home after signing a contract with the seller (it’s released at the closing), and to pay a homeowner’s property taxes, mortgage insurance and homeowners insurance premiums.

When it comes to the latter, some homebuyers are required by their mortgage lender to have an escrow account; others may opt into one through their mortgage servicer. Here’s how mortgage escrow accounts work, and if you do have a choice, the pros and cons to consider.

How do mortgage escrow accounts work?

Once you become a homeowner, a mortgage escrow account is an account used to hold and ensure that some of the major, ongoing expenses associated with your home are paid on time. Typically these expenses include:

  • Mortgage insurance payments
  • Homeowners insurance premiums
  • Property taxes

Instead of paying insurance and taxes separately, from a personal account, the money to cover these bills — plus a little extra, known as a “cushion” — is included in your total monthly mortgage payment. The mortgage lender or servicer holds these funds in an escrow account and makes the payments on the homeowner’s behalf as they are due. Payments might be made monthly, quarterly or bi-annually.

The key difference between an escrow account and any other financial account you might have: You don’t manage an escrow account yourself. Escrow is facilitated by a third party — in this case, your lender or servicer.

Should you use an escrow account?

Depending on the type of loan and its specifics, you might not have the option to forgo an escrow account. If you’re obtaining a conventional mortgage — that is, one from a private bank or lender — an escrow account is often required with a down payment of less than the standard 20 percent, as is mortgage insurance. You often don’t have a choice if you’re getting a federally backed loan, either. FHA loans and USDA loans require escrow accounts, though VA loans do not.

Let’s assume you do have a choice. There are viable reasons to have an escrow account: It can be an easy, hassle-free way to make payments for your mortgage, homeowners and mortgage insurance and property taxes, and the cushion can help cover potential shortfalls. You don’t need to be diligent about setting aside the funds, including extra for any unforeseen increases in premiums or taxes, and then making sure you meet the due dates for payments. Of course, there are negatives as well — it increases your monthly mortgage payment, and you might prefer to handle your own finances yourself, without a third party involved.

Pros of a mortgage escrow account

It’s automatic

Having your mortgage lender or servicer hold your property tax and homeowners insurance payments in escrow ensures that those bills are paid on time, automatically. You don’t have to keep track of it, or even think about it, and you avoid penalties such as late fees or potential liens against your home.

You’re covered when there are shortfalls

Homeowners insurance premiums and property tax assessments can fluctuate over time. For example, if your escrow account happens to be short due to your property tax bill increasing, your servicer will typically cover the difference temporarily. To make up for it, they’ll eventually increase your monthly mortgage payment.

No surprises

The exact amount needed for escrow is added to your monthly mortgage payment for you, so you’ll know what to expect the majority of the time. If the escrow component of your monthly mortgage payment needs to increase, you’ll get a notice from your lender or servicer in writing. Plus, your lender or servicer is required to send you an annual escrow statement that shows the amounts you’ve paid (and the drawdowns) along with any overages or shortages.

“Escrow accounts make life a lot easier for the majority of homeowners that want to add predictability to their monthly expenses, rather than getting whacked twice a year with big insurance and property tax bills,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst.

Potentially lower mortgage costs

Depending on your mortgage lender, you may be able to get a discount on your interest rate or closing costs just by having an escrow account.

Cons of a mortgage escrow account

It’s automatic

While it’s convenient to not have to think about making various payments on time, this pro can actually be a con for organized homeowners who prefer to have full control over their payments. Many mortgage lenders allow homeowners to make property tax payments directly to the county assessor and homeowners insurance payments to their insurer.

You might miss out on investment opportunities

In particular, the money that might end up as an overage in an escrow account could be used for short-term investments. Earning interest on such investments may make more financial sense for you, instead of allowing a bank or lender to reap the gains.

Digital tools and attractive CD rates can help you invest your money outside of escrow and earn a better return for the long term, notes Henry Yoshida, founder and CEO of Rocket Dollar, a platform based in Austin, Texas, that enables users to invest funds from tax-advantaged retirement accounts.

“With interest rates where they are, there is limited opportunity cost from forgoing interest earnings on money that is instead being escrowed by the loan servicer throughout the year,” McBride says.

A large upfront deposit

Often, setting up an escrow account requires a homebuyer to deposit an amount equal to two to three months’ worth of property taxes and insurance premiums. These are sometimes called “prepaids,” and they can significantly add to your mortgage closing costs.

Because you’ll be paying for insurance and taxes with your regular mortgage payment, you’ll have a higher payment each month. Of course, you have to pay for insurance and taxes anyway, so they aren’t an additional cost. But having them in your monthly payment could leave less room in your budget month-to-month, and prepaids can exacerbate that.

Can be a target for scammers

Large sums parked in an escrow account make it an attractive target for fraudsters. Common mortgage escrow fraud schemes include cyber-thieves setting up fake websites that look similar to the servicer you’re working with, or spoof email addresses to try to get your personal information. Some sophisticated scammers even set up fake phone lines in an attempt to build trust. Under these false pretenses, fraudsters might try to persuade you to wire them money.

Possibility of incorrect estimates

The amount that needs to be tucked away in your escrow account hinges on your insurance premiums and property taxes, which can vary year-to-year. Generally, the previous year’s bills are used to figure out how much you’ll need, but incorrect estimates can happen if, for example, the assessed value of your home has increased — or you appeal and get a reduction in your property taxes.

FAQs

  • No. Mortgage escrow accounts are typically only required with certain types of loans — if you’re not financing your home purchase with a mortgage loan, it’s not a requirement. You can pay your insurance and property taxes on your own if you choose, as you would any other types of bills, or you can set up an escrow account at your bank if you’d like the convenience of them doing it for you.

  • An escrow account for a home purchase is managed by a third party, such as a mortgage servicing company, escrow agent or escrow company. Its purpose is to pay for taxes and insurance — the funds are included in your total monthly mortgage payment, and the servicer or agent makes the payments automatically on your behalf. Many people find this convenient, but some would rather manage their finances themselves.

  • No, you cannot take money out of your escrow account. The money held in a mortgage escrow account is held by the lender or loan servicing company on your behalf, to serve a specific purpose, and it is not typically accessible to the homeowner.

Bottom line

With a mortgage escrow account, your mortgage lender or servicer is allowed to collect the amount of your homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance and property tax payments, sometimes plus a cushion, month in and month out. It’s a very common financial tool and helps to ensure your obligations as a homeowner are met without much effort on your part (aside from making your mortgage payment). However, if escrow isn’t required, you might want to explore alternative uses for those funds.

Source: thesimpledollar.com

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Apache is functioning normally

May 25, 2023 by Brett Tams

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The savings offers that appear on this site are from companies from which MoneyCrashers.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). MoneyCrashers.com does not include all savings companies or all savings offers available in the marketplace.

Years ago, finding a bank meant heading downtown and choosing from whichever options were available there. The Internet dramatically lessened the importance of physical branches and made it possible to bank from anywhere at any time.

Virtually all banks with physical locations have online portals, but a growing number now do the bulk of their business online. Some have ties to community banks and may have physical branches in select regions. Others exist only in the digital realm and have no physical branches.

What follows is a list of the best online banks on the market today.


Best Online Banks of May 2023

These are the best online banks on the market right now.

Each does at least one thing really well, whether it’s offering a potent lineup of budgeting and money management tools or delivering savings and CD rates well above the national average. Our top pick offers the most value for the greatest number of potential customers, in our opinion.

Unless otherwise noted, all the accounts on this list come with FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per account.


Best Overall: American Express® National Bank, Member FDIC

Png Amex Savings Wordmark Fdic Light

The American Express® High Yield Savings Account has a solid yield on all balances with $0 maintenance fees, a $0 minimum opening deposit, and a $0 minimum balance. The current savings yield is 3.90% Annual percentage Yield (APY) as of May 16, 2023.

Want to tie up your money for a while at a higher interest rate? Choose from seven CD options ranging from six months to five years.

CD yields are very good across the board: 3.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on the longest-term product (60 months or 5 years) and 4.25% on the 12-month CD. Early withdrawal penalties are:

  • 90 days’ interest for terms under 12 months
  • 270 days’ interest for terms between 12 and 48 months (four years)
  • 365 days’ interest for terms between 48 and 60 months (five years)
  • 540 days’ interest for terms of 60 months or longer

Additional features:

  • Extensive lineup of personal credit products, including premium credit cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Move money between up to three external bank accounts in short order
  • 24/7 customer service

Apply Now


Best Credit Union: Alliant Credit Union

Alliant Credit Union

When is an online bank not an online bank? When it’s an online credit union.

There’s no better branchless option than Alliant Credit Union. As a credit union, Alliant exists for its members rather than stockholders so they will always put you first.

Alliant has a comprehensive lineup of checking and savings accounts, like:

  • High-Rate Savings, a high yield savings account for goal-oriented savers (currently 3.10% APY¹)
  • High-Rate Checking, a checking account with competitive interest rates
  • Certificates of Deposit, which help you earn more with set interest rates for a fixed period of time (currently yielding 5.00% APY)
  • Kids Savings, a custodial account that helps you teach sound money management concepts to kids 12 and younger 
  • Teen Checking, a joint account for kids aged 13 to 17 — there when you’re ready to loosen the reins

Additional features:

  • Get access to over 80,000 in-network ATMs with Alliant
  • No monthly service fee with eStatements
  • Low minimum deposit and balance requirements
  • Bank anywhere, anytime with the Alliant mobile app

Sign Up for Alliant Savings

Insured by NCUA

(¹For important additional disclosures, please refer to the corresponding footnote at the Sign Up link directly above.)


Best for High Yields: CIT Bank

Cit Bank Logo

CIT Bank offers several different accounts with category-leading yields:

  • Savings Connect has one of the best yields of any bank account, online or off: 4.50% APY.
  • Platinum Savings has an outstanding yield when you maintain a balance of $5,000 or more (4.75% APY) and a so-so yield when you don’t (0.25% APY).
  • Savings Builder yields up to 1.00% APY for accountholders who can meet minimum balance or deposit requirements.
  • The CIT Bank Money Market account has a very good yield on all balances (currently 1.55% APY) with no monthly maintenance or service fees.
  • Multiple CIT Bank CDs offer above-average yields, led by the 11-month CIT No Penalty CD at 4.80%

Additional features:

  • No monthly service fee
  • No early withdrawal penalty for No Penalty CDs
  • No ATM fees in-network
  • CIT may reimburse up to $30 in outside ATM fees
  • Earn interest on eligible eChecking funds

Sign up for CIT Bank


Best for Investors: Wealthfront

Wealthfront Logo

Wealthfront is a next-generation banking service that’s ideal for day-to-day money management. Its Cash Account features high-interest checking, no account fees, and a host of value-added features — and you can open an account with just $1.

But Wealthfront made its name in the investment business, and there’s where it continues to shine. Key features include:

  • Build semi-customized, automatically rebalanced, globally diversified portfolios of low-cost index funds optimized with daily tax-loss harvesting
  • Just $500 minimum to invest 
  • Pay an annualized management fee of 0.25% assets under management (AUM) on all balances
  • Choose from individual and joint taxable accounts, IRAs, and 529 college savings plan accounts
  • Portfolio line of credit that lets you tap up to 30% of your account value once you have $25,000 or more under management
  • Consolidated view of all your accounts through Wealthfront’s free DIY financial planning tool

Additional features of the Wealthfront Cash Account include:

  • 4.55% APY (variable) on all balances
  • $1 minimum opening deposit
  • No account fees
  • No overdraft fees
  • FDIC insurance on balances up to $5 million
  • Get paid up to two days early with direct deposit
  • Put your money to work in the market within minutes when you use your Cash Account to invest in a Wealthfront Investment Account
  • Mobile check deposit
  • Free bill pay and peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers
  • Complimentary debit card and free in-network ATM access
  • For a limited time, get $30 bonus cash when you open a Wealthfront Cash Account and fund your new account with at least $500 in new money. Terms apply.

Sign Up for Wealthfront

Money Crashers, LLC receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Advisers LLC (“Wealthfront Advisers”) for each new client that applies for a Wealthfront Automated Investing Account through our links. This creates an incentive that results in a material conflict of interest. Money Crashers, LLC is not a Wealthfront Advisers client, and this is a paid endorsement. More information is available via our links to Wealthfront Advisers.


Best for Customer Support: Albert

Albert Logo

Albert is a powerful financial app that makes spending, saving, and investing easy. It’s among the growing crop of financial solutions that offer early payday with eligible direct deposit, and its automated savings and investing features put it well ahead of the pack.

But where Albert really shines is on the customer service front. The platform has a dedicated team of in-house financial experts — called Geniuses — to help you make sense of your money. That puts it heads and shoulders above its crop of fellow digital money management apps.

Additional features:

  • Albert Cash. This is the place to manage your day-to-day spending money with Albert. Earn up to 20% back on eligible debit card purchases and get paid up to two days early with qualifying direct deposit. Use the Albert Instant cash advance feature to get up to $250 from your next paycheck with no hidden fees.
  • Albert Savings. Albert’s Smart savings engine sizes up your cash flow and sets aside funds automatically so that you’re always moving toward your financial goals. Set specific goals within the app, such as building an emergency fund or saving for your next vacation. And get cash bonuses on your Albert Savings every year.
  • Albert Investing. Start investing with as little as $1 using Albert’s guided investment platform. Choose your own stocks or themes, or have Albert do it for you.

Sign Up for Albert


Best for Debit Card Rewards: GO2bank

Go2bank Logo

GO2bank is a low-friction online bank with a mobile-friendly bank account (no monthly fee with eligible direct deposit) and impressive yields on savings (4.50% APY2 on savings up to $5,000).

Eligible electronic gift card purchases in the app earn up to 7% cash back; Amazon eGift Card purchases in the app earn 3% cash back. Terms and conditions apply.

Additional features:

  • No minimum opening deposit or ongoing balance requirement
  • Avoid the $5 monthly fee with an eligible direct deposit
  • Get paid up to two days early with ASAP Direct DepositTM 3
  • Deposit cash at participating retail stores, subject to fees and deposit limits
  • Enjoy up to $200 in overdraft protection with opt-in and eligible direct deposit.*
  • Earn 4.50% APY paid quarterly on savings up to $5,000 — over 10 times the national average savings rate2

* $15 fee may apply to each purchase transaction not repaid within 24 hours of authorization of the first transaction that overdrafts your account. Overdrafts paid at GO2bank’s discretion.

Sign Up for GO2Bank

1Active GO2bank account required to receive an eGift Card. eGift Card merchants subject to change.

2GO2bank, Member FDIC. Interest paid quarterly on the average daily balance of savings during the quarter up to a $5,000 balance and if the account is in good standing. 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) as of April 2023. APY may change before or after you open an account. The average national savings account interest rate of 0.39% is determined by the FDIC as of 4/18/23. Visit https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/rates/ to learn more. Fees on your primary deposit account may reduce earnings on your savings account.

3Direct deposit early availability depends on the timing of the payor’s payment instructions and fraud prevention restrictions may apply. As such, the availability or timing of early direct deposit may vary from pay period to pay period. The name and Social Security number on file with your employer or benefits provider must match your GO2bank account exactly or GO2bank will decline your deposit.


Best for No Account Fees Ever: Rewards Checking via Upgrade

New Upgradelogo Fullcolor V 1

Rewards Checking via Upgrade4 has a slew of user benefits, but its defining feature couldn’t be simpler: no account fees, ever.

That’s right. As a user, you pay no account fees — no annual fees, overdraft fees, transfer fees, or ATM fees charged by Rewards Checking by Upgrade1.

There’s more, of course. Additional features of Rewards Checking via Upgrade include:

  • 2% cash back on purchases at convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants, and bars, and on utility bills and certain monthly subscriptions2
  • Earn up to $500 cash back per year at the 2% rate
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
  • Get up to five third-party ATM fee rebates each month1
  • You may receive discounts on loans and cards through Upgrade3
  • FDIC Insured up to $250,000 through Cross River Bank, Member FDIC

Sign Up for Rewards Checking via Upgrade

1 There are no account fees, overdraft fees, annual fees, or transfer fees associated with Rewards Checking accounts. Rewards Checking charges no ATM fees, but third-party institutions may charge you a fee if you use their ATM/network or if you use your Upgrade VISA® Debit Card internationally. Upgrade will rebate any ATM fee charged by another institution for debit card withdrawals in the United States, up to five times per calendar month. To be eligible to receive third-party ATM fee rebates in any calendar month for eligible ATM withdrawals made during that month, customers must have (i) an open Rewards Checking account and (ii) either maintained an average daily balance in their account of at least $2,500 in the prior calendar month or made direct deposits into their account totaling at least $1,000 during the prior calendar month. As a courtesy to new customers, Upgrade will provide third-party ATM fee rebates for up to the first 2 calendar months after account opening regardless of account activity. Some limitations apply and terms and conditions may change. Please refer to the applicable Cross River Bank Deposit Account Agreement and Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.

2 Rewards Checking customers accrue 2% cash back on common everyday expenses at convenience stores, drugstores, restaurants, and bars – including deliveries – and gas stations, as well as recurring payments on utilities and monthly subscriptions including phone, cable, TV and other streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other debit card charges. 2% cash back is limited to $500 in rewards per calendar year; after $500, customers accrue 1% cash back on all eligible debit card charges for the remainder of the year. Some limitations apply. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information.

3 The interest rate on a new loan or credit line through Upgrade may be up to 20% lower than would otherwise be applicable without this discount, as long as you have an active Rewards Checking Account. Additional terms may apply. Please refer to the applicable Truth-in-Lending Disclosure and Loan Agreement.

4 Upgrade is a financial technology company, not a bank. Rewards Checking services provided by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC. Upgrade VISA® Debit Cards issued by Cross River Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Personal Loans made by Upgrade’s bank partners. Personal Credit Lines are issued by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. The Upgrade Card is issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.



Best for Automated Budgeting: Douugh

Douugh Logoo

Douugh is a money management app that makes it easy to stay on top of your day-to-day financial obligations while saving for a rainy day — and happier days too. 

A single mobile-friendly dashboard makes it all possible.

How? That’s down to Salary Sweeper, an AI-enabled feature that automatically allocates income to two protected “jars”:

  • Your Bill Jar, complete with a virtual card of its own
  • Your Savings Jar, which is actually a customizable array of single-purpose savings buckets

The rest is yours to spend as you please using a debit card accepted by millions of merchants worldwide. Best of all, you never have to give manual budgeting a second thought.

Additional features:

  • Enjoy a free checking account with a Mastercard debit card 
  • Use Apple Pay, PayPal, and other payment apps to make purchases online and IRL
  • Lock and unlock your card and change your PIN within the app — without calling customer service or visiting a branch.

Sign Up for Douugh


Best for Debt Refinancing: SoFi Checking and Savings

Sofi Logo

Need to refinance the student loans you’ve been carrying for years with no end in sight?

Open a SoFi Checking and Savings account, then head over to SoFi’s student loan refinancing portal to check out your options. SoFi is a category leader in the education loan refinancing business, with incredibly low rates, flexible terms, and an array of reasonable repayment options.

And since you’re also in the market for a new online bank, you’ll enjoy these great SoFi Checking and Savings perks and features:

  • No minimum opening deposit or balance requirement
  • Rate discounts on SoFi loans
  • Free peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers
  • Customized financial planning
  • Member-exclusive offers from SoFi partners
  • A referral program that pays up to $310 per successful referral
  • Up to 3.75% APY on eligible balances

Plus, for a limited time, sign up for SoFi Checking and Savings and earn a $250 opening bonus when you set up direct deposit of at least $1,000 into your account

Sign Up for SoFi Checking and Savings


Best for Teens and Young People: Copper Banking

Copper.purple

Copper is a banking solution for teens age 13 and older — and their parents too. 

It’s built around the Copper Card, a personalized debit card that leverages Apple Pay technology to facilitate seamless online and in-person transactions. 

The Copper App allows parents to monitor spending and instantly send money in seconds. For teens, its Automatic Saving feature encourages saving — a lifelong financial habit — by automatically setting aside a portion of each paycheck or inflow.

Additional features:

  • Copper has a wealth of financial literacy content for parents and kids alike — it’s one of the best financial education tools around
  • Withdraw cash for free at over 55,000 ATMs
  • All Copper Accounts are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through Evolve Bank & Trust

Sign Up for Copper


Best for Potential Returns on Savings & Spending: PrizePool

Pp Gold

PrizePool is a truly unique financial app — the only FDIC-insured deposit account provider that offers users the chance to earn serious money based on your saving and spending habits.

PrizePool offers two ways to win:

  • Savings Balances: Get 1 ticket for PrizePool’s prize drawings for every $1 on deposit in your savings account, every day. So if you have $1,000 in your account, you get 1,000 tickets every day.
  • Debit Card Purchases: Earn 30 tickets for every $1 spent, plus get the chance to have your purchases reimbursed.

PrizePool holds a weekly drawing every Friday. There are almost 6,000 cash prizes every week, including a $10,000 grand prize drawing at least once every six weeks.

Additional features:

  • Earn 0.30% APY on eligible savings balances
  • Deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000
  • Refer new users to PrizePool and get 10% of their prize winnings forever

Sign Up for PrizePool


Best for Freelancers and Self-Employed People: Lili

Lili Logo

Lili offers a totally free checking solution with a slew of value-added features designed to simplify your financial life. 

Its core product is built with freelancers in mind, but it’s appropriate for a range of use cases, from solopreneurs to folks who supplement 9-to-5 income with side hustle revenue.

With powerful, automated tax savings and expense categorization tools, Lili eliminates the need to juggle separate bank accounts for business and personal needs — it’s just one deposit account for your entire financial life.

Additional features:

  • No minimum opening deposits or ongoing balance requirements and no account fees
  • Pay virtually anywhere with a Visa debit card that’s accepted worldwide
  • Lili’s Tax Bucket tool automatically sets aside funds earmarked for income tax payments
  • Utilize expense management and categorization tools that simplify business budgeting, cash flow management, and year-end accounting
  • Get real-time alerts for every transaction (and other account activities too)
  • Make mobile check deposits through the Lili mobile app
  • Make cash deposits at more than 90,000 retail locations across the U.S., including CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid
  • Get paid up to two days early with early direct deposit
  • Enjoy fee-free withdrawals at about 38,000 ATMs nationwide

For $9 per month, Lili Pro adds even more valuable features:

  • A premium Visa Business Debit Card that delivers cash-back rewards
  • BalanceUp, a fee-free overdraft solution that covers up to $200 in would-be overdrafts
  • Advanced expense tracking that helps business owners maximize their tax deductions
  • A savings account that pays interest

Sign Up for Lili


Best for Savers: Quontic Bank

Quontic

Quontic Bank got its start as a New York City community bank that catered to thrifty types.

Today, Quontic’s branch-based banking options represent just a small fraction of its offerings. With a nationwide digital footprint, Quontic delivers category-leading checking and savings yields for consumers and small-business owners from all walks of life — all with no monthly service fees:

  • Cash Rewards Checking: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on qualifying debit card transactions after meeting the $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Bitcoin Rewards Checking: Earn 1.5% Bitcoin on qualifying debit card transactions. The minimum opening deposit is $500. This account may not be available in all states.
  • High Interest Checking: Make 10 or more qualifying debit card point-of-sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle to earn interest at competitive rates based on account balance. The minimum opening deposit is $100.
  • High Yield Savings: Earn interest at category-leading rates (currently 4.25%) after meeting the $100 minimum opening deposit.
  • Money Market: Earn solid yields (currently 4.75%) after meeting the $100 minimum.
  • CDs: Quontic CDs have terms ranging from six months to three years and competitive yields that generally increase in proportion to term. The minimum opening deposit is $500. Early withdrawal penalties may apply.

Additional features:

  • Tap to pay with the Quontic Pay Ring — the first wearable debit card
  • Choose from an array of home loans, including community development loans that go beyond your traditional credit profile
  • Take advantage of special loans for foreign nationals and recent immigrants

Sign Up for Quontic Bank


Best for Borrowers: Discover Bank

Discover Bank Logo

Discover Bank is a full-service online bank with a wide range of deposit accounts. It’s a great (almost) one-stop shop for your digital financial needs.

Discover Bank’s real differentiator is its comprehensive lineup of secured and unsecured credit products. That includes unsecured personal loans, which many online banks don’t bother with due to perceived risk. 

You’ll find home loans, home equity products, student loans, credit cards, and personal lines of credit here too.

Discover Bank’s deposit account options include:

  • Cashback Debit: This checking account has no yield, but you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in qualifying debit card spending each month. There’s no monthly maintenance fee.
  • Online Savings Account: This account has a very strong yield on all balances — currently 3.90% APY. There’s no maintenance fee or minimum to open.
  • Money Market Account: With a minimum opening deposit and balance requirement of $2,500, this account has competitive yields on all balances. Its two balance tiers cleave at $100,000, but yields on higher balances barely exceed those on lower balances. Enjoy a free, optional debit card, and no maintenance fee. There’s also no minimum balance fee, despite the minimum balance requirement.
  • Traditional CDs: CD terms range from three months to 10 years. Yields range widely, peaking on longer-term CDs. You need $2,500 to open any CD. 

Additional features:

  • Structure any money market or CD as a traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA
  • Or roll over your 401(k), 457 deferred compensation plan, annuity, or IRA from another institution
  • Enjoy a coast-to-coast network of 60,000 fee-free ATMs
  • Enjoy 24/7 support by phone, live chat, and email 
  • Make mobile check deposits from anywhere
  • Enjoy free, instant P2P money transfers

Sign Up for Discover Bank


Methodology: How We Select the Best Online Banks

We use several key factors to evaluate online banks and surface the very best ones for our readers. Each relates in some way to the overall user experience, and you’ll see many represented in our “Best For” categories above.

Available Account Types

The best online banks offer a range of different deposit account types: free checking, savings, CD, and money market accounts, among many others.

Truly comprehensive online banks go even further, with less-common account offerings like savings IRAs, jumbo CDs, and more. More accounts doesn’t necessarily mean a better banking experience, but it’s helpful if you’re looking for a one-stop financial shop.

Interest Rates

Online banks tend to have higher yields — interest rates paid to the account holder — as well as lower interest rates on certain types of loans, if offered.

You shouldn’t count on that though. It’s important to shop around and choose an online bank that consistently offers significantly better rates. Not all do.

Account Minimums

The best online banks have low or no minimum balances and low or no minimum opening deposit requirements on checking, savings, and money market accounts. 

CDs generally do have minimum deposit requirements, even at the best online banks, but there’s lots of variation. Look for deposits at or below the $1,000 mark, if possible.

Monthly Maintenance Fees

Free is always better than not free, right?

Not necessarily. Some of the best online banks around charge modest monthly fees. In exchange, they offer a wealth of value-added features and services that can earn or save you money (and sometimes both at the same time).

That said, we do give preference to banks that don’t charge monthly fees at all. Because everyone could use a break.

Other Account Fees

The trusty monthly maintenance fee is just the most visible bank fee. Others include:

  • ATM fees (in-network and out-of-network)
  • Wire transfer fees
  • Excess transaction fees
  • Early withdrawal penalties
  • Minimum balance fees

Traditional banks are notorious for nickel-and-diming their customers. By contrast, most online banks do charge at least some fees, but they’re predictable and clearly disclosed on their websites and applications. 

For example, many online bank CDs come with early withdrawal penalties. These can be equivalent to as little as one month’s interest on shorter-term CDs but may range up to 24 months of interest on very long-term CDs.

All else being equal, we prefer online banks that charge few if any fees — and hidden fees are a dealbreaker.

Investment and Tax-Advantaged Options

Many online banks stick to core banking services, like checking and savings. But a growing number of online banks offer a wider array of options for people who’d like to be able to do all their banking in the same place.

We’re particularly fond of online banks that offer tax-advantaged account options, such as savings IRAs and CD IRAs. We also like online banks that have in-house investment platforms — whether they’re self-directed brokerages like Ally Invest or low-cost robo-advisors like Wealthfront.

Credit Options

All online banks have at least one deposit account product. That’s what makes them online banks.

A smaller but growing number make loans or issue lines of credit — including credit cards — as well. Common online bank credit products include:

  • Mortgage loans, including purchase loans and refinance loans
  • Home equity products, including home equity loans and lines of credit
  • Auto loans
  • Student loans and student loan refinancing products
  • Personal loans
  • Credit cards and other types of credit lines

We don’t hold it against online banks that don’t make loans — it’s a big step for many a lean bank. But we do look out for banks that have taken the leap.

Budgeting and Money Management Features

Budgeting is hard to do right. That’s why we’re big fans of online banks with built-in budgeting and money management tools.

The more automated these tools are, the better. In fact, some make our list of the top budgeting apps on the market. Truly “set it and forget it” money management saves the typical consumer hundreds if not thousands of dollars per year.


Online Banking FAQs

Still have questions about online banks and managing money online? We have answers.

How Much Does Online Banking Cost?

Online bank rates, yields, and fees are subject to change at banks’ sole discretion. For up-to-date information about specific accounts and bank policies, check their websites or call customer service.

That said, online banks are generally more affordable than traditional banks. They’re less likely to charge monthly maintenance fees on checking and savings accounts, and many have fewer hidden fees too.

What’s the Interest Rate on an Online Bank Account?

That also depends on the individual bank. But many online accounts feature higher yields relative to those of traditional banks. 

That’s because online banks have less overhead than traditional banks. They don’t need to pay to keep big, centrally located branches open or pay people to work at them. Their operations are more efficient, which allows them to pass the savings on to customers via higher rates and lower fees.

How Do You Enroll in Online Banking?

It depends on the bank and how its website or app is structured, but it’s usually straightforward. In fact, with an online-only bank, enrollment is usually automatic. You don’t have to complete a separate application or even click a button to activate your account.

However, you will need to create a unique username and password to get started. You may be asked to do this as part of the initial application process or once your account is approved. You’ll also need to link at least one external funding source to transfer money into your account.

Can You Get a Mortgage From an Online Bank?

Some online banks offer home loans (mortgages) and other credit products. These banks tend to be larger online banks with high name recognition, like Ally Bank and Capital One Bank. Look for a “Mortgages” or “Home Loans” tab on the homepage or in your account dashboard.

Be aware that some online banks outsource mortgage origination to other companies. In other words, if you apply for a mortgage through your bank, your loan officer might actually work for someone else. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could mean a different level or style of service than you’re used to.

And don’t expect your online bank to offer better mortgage rates than other lenders. The mortgage loan business is highly competitive, and direct lenders with even lower overhead may be able to undercut online banks.


How to Choose the Best Online Bank — Or Several

The institutions on this list offer a great combination of FDIC-insured banking products, solid yields, open access, and helpful customer service.

Before choosing one, take a closer look at the features that set it apart from the competition: rewards checking, flexible withdrawal terms for CDs, particularly high account yields, a socially responsible corporate philosophy, and so on.

And remember that, unlike in the old days, your banking choices aren’t bound by geography or other restrictions. If you can’t settle on a single online bank, why not open accounts at multiple banks and compare your experiences?

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Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he’s not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.

Source: moneycrashers.com

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Apache is functioning normally

May 25, 2023 by Brett Tams

You don’t have to be a U.S. citizen to buy a home in the U.S. You don’t even have to be a U.S. resident. Anybody who wants to can purchase property here.

Between April 2021 and March 2022, the value of residential property in the United States that was sold to foreign buyers totaled $59 billion, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR)’s International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report. The vast majority of non-resident buyers are from Canada and Mexico, followed by China. They’re largely purchasing detached single-family homes in Florida and California.

While almost half (44 percent) of foreign buyers rely entirely on cash to make these purchases, it’s also possible for non-residents to obtain a mortgage in the United States to help finance the new homes. It’s not all smooth sailing, though. Non-citizen homebuyers will have to deal with slightly more complicated mortgage application requirements establishing their financial qualifications. They will also have more complex tax laws to comply with as homeowners.

What type of property can a non-resident buy?

Any non-U.S. citizen, including permanent residents, temporary residents, non-residents, refugees, asylum seekers and those who are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) relief, can buy property in this country. There are no legal restrictions prohibiting the purchase of real estate by individuals who fall into any of these categories.

“Purchasing a residential property in the U.S. is open to any individual regardless of their citizenship,” says Jen Horner, a Realtor with RE/MAX Masters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

There are also no limits surrounding the type of property that can be purchased. A non-U.S. citizen can buy a single-family home, condo, townhouse, duplex or apartment building — or even land with no structure on it at all.

“There are no restrictions in the United States on purchasing a property as a foreign national. This applies to resident foreign nationals who might want to buy property for primary residence based on where they currently live in the United States, or non-resident foreign investors looking to buy property for other reasons — such as investment use or a vacation home,” says Chase Michels, of the Michels Group at Compass in Hinsdale, Illinois.

According to the NAR, between the spring of 2021 and the spring of 2022, 74 percent of foreign buyers purchased a detached single-family home or townhome. In addition, 44 percent of foreign buyers purchased a property for use as a vacation home, rental or both.

What documents does a non-resident need to buy a home?

While they can buy freely, non-U.S.-citizen buyers are typically required to provide additional documentation to complete a home purchase in the United States, compared with U.S. citizens.

The exact requirements vary however, depending on whether the home is being purchased with cash or a mortgage, and based on the specific resident status of the buyer. Some of the basic requirements for non-U.S. citizen buyers, says Michels, often include:

  • A foreign passport, U.S. visa or driver’s license
  • Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  • Financial statements from applicant’s foreign bank, if applicable
  • Evidence of financial assets/income (bank statements, etc.)
  • Tax returns (preferably U.S., if applicable)

“Cash purchases will require proof of identity and reporting the purchase to the federal government,” says Horner. “If a mortgage lender will be used, they have the ability to request as much documentation as they feel necessary to advance [the] mortgage application.”

Which begs the question: Are non-U.S. citizens able to obtain mortgages to finance home purchases in the United States? The short answer is yes. But it’s complicated.

How can a non-resident finance a home?

In general, mortgage lenders prefer to work with applicants currently living in the United States, and who are classified as permanent or non-permanent residents. (Individuals who have a green card and a Social Security number are permanent residents, while those who have a Social Security number, but no green card, are non-permanent residents.) Their rationale is simple: Applicants residing in this country are viewed as less of a risk, particularly in cases of default on the loan.

Their residency status impacts the specific type of mortgage that can be used. There are two main categories of lending for non-citizen purchases, says Michael Cantwell, loan officer for Guild Mortgage. “One major classification is that of a foreign national and the other would be those individuals currently living in the United States who have not received U.S. citizenship yet,” says Cantwell.

Applicants who fall into either of these categories can usually qualify for a conventional mortgage backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as Federal Housing Administration (FHA) government-backed loans. However, non-permanent residents will need to be using the home as a primary residence in order to obtain mortgage approval.

“Many banks and mortgage companies offer conventional and FHA home loans to non-U.S. citizens provided they can verify their residency status, work history, and financial track record,” says Michels.

And for non-residents? Applicants living abroad can buy properties in this country using what’s known as a foreign national loan or foreign national mortgage loan, says Cantwell. These loans are typically offered by U.S.-based banks and lenders and are designed for borrowers living outside the country who are seeking to either purchase or refinance. Foreign national mortgages are not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Additional rules and restrictions for non-residents

Tax rules also apply to properties owned by non-U.S. citizens. For instance, if a non-U.S. citizen rents out the property purchased to generate income, then that income must be reported and taxes must be paid both in the United States and in the property owner’s home country, says Bruce Ailion, a real estate attorney and Realtor with Re/Max Town & Country in Atlanta. In addition, non-U.S. citizens are liable for paying local property taxes.

And when selling a property in the United States as a non-U.S. citizen, capital gains tax will typically apply as well.

“When selling a property in the U.S. there are special withholding provisions that must be complied with,” says Ailion. “A tax advisor with specific knowledge in international tax should be consulted.”

On the plus side, all Fair Housing Act, Title VII, and other anti-discrimination protections apply to real estate transactions involving non-U.S. citizens. These laws are in force no matter who the buyer is, says Michels.

Final word on non-resident home purchases

It is entirely possible to purchase a home as a non-U.S. citizen — whether you’re a foreign national or a permanent or a temporary resident. There are no limitations on the type of property that can be purchased or how the property is used. Furthermore, U.S. laws that protect the rights of all homebuyers cover non-U.S. citizens and non-residents as well.

What’s really more significant, in terms of complications, is not a person’s citizenship, but their place of residency. If you don’t live in the U.S., buying a home does get more difficult — especially if financing is going to be needed for the purchase.

Non-residents must be prepared to deal with additional complexities, including more extensive documentation requirements establishing their identity, income and assets. They are limited to certain types of loans or mortgages, ones not backed by the primary mortgage market-makers. But the path to U.S. homeownership is certainly not blocked — it just may have a few speed bumps on it.

Source: thesimpledollar.com

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Apache is functioning normally

May 23, 2023 by Brett Tams

While you may be aware that TAP Air Portugal is a Star Alliance member, the airline’s Miles&Go loyalty program might not yet be on your radar.

You can redeem TAP Air Portugal’s miles for flights on Air Portugal or take advantage of a favorable redemption on a partner airline.

Here’s a list of TAP Air Portugal’s airline partners and how to redeem Miles&Go miles with those partners — as well as a few sweet spots to look out for.

TAP Air Portugal partner airlines

TAP Air Portugal partners with other Star Alliance airlines and several non-alliance airlines.

TAP Air Portugal partners

Star Alliance partners

  • Aegean Airlines.

  • Air Canada.

  • Air China.

  • Air India.

  • Air New Zealand.

  • All Nippon Airways (ANA).

  • Asiana Airlines.

  • Austrian Airlines.

  • Brussels Airlines.

  • Copa Airlines.

  • Croatia Airlines.

  • Ethiopian Airlines.

  • LOT Polish Airlines.

  • Lufthansa.

  • Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

  • Shenzhen Airlines.

  • Singapore Airlines.

  • South African Airways.

  • Swiss International Air Lines.

  • Thai Airways.

  • Turkish Airlines.

  • United Airlines.

Non-alliance partners

  • Beijing Capital Airlines.

  • SATA Azores Airlines.

How to redeem TAP Miles&Go miles

To redeem TAP miles for any flight, you must be a TAP Miles&Go program member. Once logged in to the website, go to My Client Area and click on the “Reserve with miles” button. You also can start the booking process from the homepage.

You’ll then see a search area where you can enter your flight parameters, including cities, travel dates and whether you want a one-way, round-trip or multi-city ticket. Make sure the “Pay with miles” box is checked.

If you’d like to book a ticket on one of TAP Air Portugal’s partners, start on this page and click on the “Star Alliance” tab.

If a route is serviced by TAP and other Star Alliance carriers, you can switch to “TAP + Star Alliance” from the flight results page, and the website will perform a new search.

Unfortunately, TAP Air Portugal partners that are not part of Star Alliance can’t be booked online, so you have to call 1-800-903-7914 to redeem miles on non-alliance carriers.

Miles&Go sweet spots

There are some good ways to use Miles&Go miles. Here are a few sweet spots:

Book Emirates business class from Dubai to Asia

Using TAP airline partners, you can fly nonstop from Dubai to Tokyo or Bali for — wait for it — just 50,000 Miles&Go miles one-way. That’s not bad for spending up to 10 hours in some of the most coveted business-class seats.

Book ANA business class from Japan to India

Another sweet spot comes out of Asia, for flights between Tokyo and New Delhi, which clock in at about nine hours in length. A one-way flight in ANA’s business class cabin will set you back 50,000 Miles&Go miles and $310 in cash.

Book United economy class from U.S. mainland to the Caribbean

TAP Miles&Go charges 30,000 miles for one-way economy flights within the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, so use this to your advantage by booking award flights operated by United Airlines from the U.S. to Caribbean countries.

Earning Miles&Go miles with partners

TAP Miles&Go miles are not the easiest to earn, but you can earn them by flying TAP Air Portugal or its partner airlines. How many miles you earn depends on the fare type you book and the distance flown.

TAP Air Portugal earnings rates

Flights within Europe and North Africa earn miles at the following rates based on flight distance:

  • Discount: 0%.

  • Classic: 70%.

  • Plus: 100%.

  • Executive: 150%.

  • Top Executive: 200%.

Intercontinental flights earn miles at the following rates based on flight distance:

  • Discount: 0%.

  • Basic: 50%.

  • Classic: 100%.

  • Plus: 150%.

  • Executive: 150%.

  • Top Executive: 200%.

Airline partner earning rates

TAP Air Portugal partner flights earn miles similarly, but each airline has its own earning chart based on its fare classes and flight distances.

For example, here’s how many miles you can expect to earn by crediting a United flight to Miles&Go, based on flight distance:

  • Fare classes G, K, N: 25%.

  • Fare classes L, S, T: 50%.

  • Fare classes Q, V, W: 75%.

  • Fare classes A, B, E, H, M, O, R, U, Y: 100%.

  • Fare classes D, P, Z: 125%.

  • Fare classes C, J: 150%.

Other program partners

The TAP Miles&Go program partners with two additional programs: Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy. You can transfer points to TAP Air Portugal at the following ratios:

Elite benefits on partner flights

The Miles&Go program has just two status tiers for its elite members: Silver and Gold. If you’ve reached one of these status tiers, you’ll be extended some benefits when you fly other Star Alliance carriers.

TAP Miles&Go Silver status equates to Star Alliance Silver status, which comes with the following perks:

  • Priority reservation waitlist.

  • Priority airport standby.

  • Gold Track priority lane access.

  • Extra baggage allowance.

  • Priority boarding.

  • Airport lounge access.

  • Priority baggage handling.

  • Priority airport check-in.

The bottom line

As a TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go member, you can earn and redeem miles with the airline’s partners as well.

To be successful at redeeming miles for award flights, be aware of what airlines are partners with TAP Air Portugal and use your miles in a way that extracts the most value out of them.

It might take some time to learn the award charts for different regions, but it can be worth it.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

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Apache is functioning normally

May 16, 2023 by Brett Tams

Today we’ll check out “Filo Mortgage,” a newish mortgage company that says it specializes in amazingly low interest rates, world class service, and industry-leading technology.

Those are basically the three big things most borrowers are looking for in a mortgage lender, and if they can deliver on those promises, they could be a good option for both a new home buyer or an existing homeowner looking to refinance.

They also back up their pricing with a Low-Rate Guarantee and say they can close loans super-fast, often in just a few week’s time.

It all sounds pretty good so let’s take a moment to learn more about them.

Filo Mortgage Fast Facts

  • Direct-to-consumer mortgage lender that offers home purchase and refinance loans
  • Founded in 2019, headquartered in Fort Washington, PA
  • Currently licensed to do business in 22 states
  • Say they don’t charge lender fees ever
  • Aim to close most loans in as little as 3 weeks
  • Offers a $1,000 Low-Rate Guarantee

Filo Mortgage is a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender that offers home purchase loans and refinance loans.

The company only got its start back in 2019, so they’re relatively young but looking to grow quickly, with some 70+ loan originators already employed.

They essentially operate a call center and operations center, meaning borrowers will work remotely to get their loan closed, as opposed to visiting a physical branch location.

At the moment, they’re licensed in 22 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

The company is big on transparency, and to that end says its loans never have any points or lender fees, ever!

Their staff is also available 7 days a week, 365 days a year to ensure they offer a first-class experience and quick loan closings, often in just three weeks.

As for their name’s meaning, my guess is it’s a combination of the words finance and low, not the delicious dough used to make pastries.

How to Apply with Filo Mortgage

  • Fill out a rate quote request form on their website or call them directly
  • If you like what you hear, you can apply over the phone or online in just minutes via a digital application
  • Borrowers are able to eSign disclosures and upload necessary paperwork to generate a conditional approval
  • They offer one intuitive place to manage and upload all your mortgage information

To begin, you can either call them directly or fill out a short rate quote request on their website.

They also offer the ability to schedule a call at a time that is convenient for you.

At that point a representative, presumably a loan officer, will help you decide on a loan program, discuss interest rates, and determine eligibility.

If you like what you hear, you can proceed to fill out their digital loan application, which apparently only takes seven minutes to complete on average.

Most tasks can be performed electronically, whether it’s linking your bank account or employment information, eSigning disclosures, or uploading paperwork.

It then only takes one day to get a loan commitment from Filo Mortgage, and perhaps better yet, the average number of days to close a loan is just 22.

And you’ll be able to track the entire loan process via their online borrower portal to ensure you never miss a thing.

Filo says it leverages user-friendly technology to keep their expenses low and make the entire process easy.

Loan Programs Offered by Filo Mortgage

  • Home purchase loans
  • Refinance loans: rate and term and cash out
  • Conforming loans
  • FHA Loans
  • VA loans
  • Fixed-rate mortgages: loan terms from 10 to 30 years available
  • Adjustable-rate mortgages: 5, 7, and 10/1 ARMs available

Filo Mortgage offers home purchase financing to buyers and mortgage refinancing to existing homeowners, including cash out refinances.

You can get a conventional loan backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or a government-backed loan like a FHA loan or VA loan.

They don’t appear to offer USDA loans, and it’s unclear if jumbo loans are available.

But they lend on all residential properties from 1-4 units, including single-family homes, townhomes/condos, investment properties, and PUDs.

You can get either a fixed-rate mortgage from a 10-year fixed to a 30-year fixed, or an adjustable-rate mortgage, including a 5/1, 7/1, or 10/1 ARM.

At the moment, they do not offer second mortgages, such as HELOCs.

Filo Mortgage Rates

One nice thing about Filo Mortgage is you’ll find their mortgage rates right on their homepage.

No need to log in or provide your contact info first. Simply visit their website and click on today’s rates from the top menu to see their mortgage rates.

They list a 15-year, 20-year, and 30-year fixed mortgage rate, along with the points/fees required for said rate.

From what I saw, they offered very competitive interest rates and they were listed with $0 lender fees and no points, which seems to be their preferred setup.

In other words, the rate and APR should be the same, and they’re basically no cost loans that don’t require any lender fees or mortgage points, which is a big plus if you don’t want to pay attention out-of-pocket.

As noted, they don’t charge lender fees, though you can elect to pay discount points if you want an even lower rate.

The company also offers its so-called “Filo Mortgage Low-Rate Guarantee” that will put $1,000 in your pocket if another lender is offering a more competitive price.

Specifically, they’ll match the other lender’s pricing and credit you $1,000 at closing, which sounds like a pretty good deal and a testament to their low rates.

To qualify, simply find a lender with lower total lender costs (interest rate, points and fees) for the same conforming, conventional mortgage program on a primary home, whether it’s for a refinance or a home purchase loan.

Then send that Loan Estimate (LE) to Filo Mortgage so they can verify the pricing and terms – it must be received within one calendar day from the date Filo issues its initial locked LE.

All the more reason to put in the time to shop around with other lenders in case you do come across a better deal.

Filo Mortgage Reviews

At LendingTree, the company has a stellar 4.9 out of 5 rating from more than 600 reviews, with a 97% recommended score.

On Zillow, Filo Mortgage has a nearly perfect 4.96-star rating out of 5 from over 100 customer reviews, many of which say the interest rate and/or closing costs were lower than expected.

On Google, they have a 4.7-star rating from about 500 customer reviews, which shows how consistent they’ve been to date.

Lastly, they have a 4.7/5 rating on the Better Business Bureau website, a really strong score given it being a place customers typically go just to complain.

And they are an accredited business with the BBB (since early 2020), and currently hold an ‘A-‘ score based on complaint history.

In summary, Filo Mortgage appears to offer the latest technology, excellent customer service, and low mortgage rates with no lender fees, making them a suitable choice for both a home buyer or existing owner looking to refi.

They also have their Low-Rate Guarantee in place if you happen to find better pricing elsewhere while rate shopping.

The only real downsides are that they don’t lend in all states and may not offer every available loan program.

Filo Mortgage Pros and Cons

The Pros

  • They openly advertise their mortgage rates
  • Do not charge lender fees
  • Offer a low-rate guarantee if you find a better price
  • Can apply online via a digital mortgage application
  • Say the average loan closes in just 22 days
  • Excellent customer reviews
  • Lots of loan programs to choose from
  • A- BBB rating, accredited business

The Cons

  • Only licensed in a handful of states currently
  • No physical locations
  • Do not offer second mortgages or USDA loans

(photo: Warren LeMay)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Posted in: Renting Tagged: 15-year, 30-year, 30-year fixed mortgage, About, Alabama, All, apr, Arizona, ARM, ARMs, average, Bank, bank account, big, borrowers, business, buyer, buyers, california, choice, closing, closing costs, Closings, Colorado, company, condos, Connecticut, conventional loan, cost, Credit, customer service, Digital, Digital mortgage, discount points, Employment, esigning, existing, expenses, experience, Family, Fannie Mae, Fees, FHA, FHA loan, Finance, Financial Wize, FinancialWize, financing, fixed, Florida, Freddie Mac, friendly, Georgia, good, Google, government, Grow, HELOCs, history, hold, home, home buyer, home purchase, Homeowner, homeowners, Homepage, homes, How To, Illinois, industry, interest, interest rate, interest rates, investment, Investment Properties, Jumbo loans, Learn, lenders, LendingTree, list, loan, Loan officer, loan programs, Loans, louisiana, low, low mortgage rates, low rates, LOWER, Make, making, manage, Maryland, Michigan, missouri, More, Mortgage, mortgage lender, mortgage points, MORTGAGE RATE, Mortgage Rates, mortgage refinancing, Mortgage Reviews, Mortgages, new, new home, New Jersey, north carolina, offer, offers, one day, Operations, or, Oregon, Other, place, points, pretty, price, programs, pros, Purchase, Purchase loans, rate, Rates, Refinance, refinancing, Residential, Review, Reviews, right, second, second mortgages, shopping, short, single, single-family, single-family homes, states, Technology, Tennessee, texas, time, townhomes, USDA, usda loans, Utah, VA, VA loan, virginia, warren, washington, will, work, young, Zillow

Apache is functioning normally

May 13, 2023 by Brett Tams

Today we’ll review “Texas Trust Home Loans,” which refers to itself a leading, low-cost online mortgage company based in, you guessed it, Texas!

The company makes three big declarations: that they offer low rates, can close your loan in just 21 days, and are top rated based on customer reviews.

Let’s find out more to determine if they are living up to those lofty goals and ultimately making their clients happy.

Texas Trust Home Loans Fast Facts

  • Direct mortgage lender that offers home purchase and refinance loans
  • Founded in 2015, headquartered in Dallas, Texas
  • A dba of parent company American Heritage Capital, LP
  • Licensed to do business in five states nationwide
  • Low-cost online mortgage lender that aims to close loans in just 15 to 21 days

Texas Trust Home Loans is a Dallas-based direct-to-consumer mortgage lender that offers home purchase loans and mortgage refinance loans.

This means they serve both existing homeowners and those looking to purchase a home, remotely via their call center in Texas.

If you apply, you’ll be working with a loan team online and/or by phone to close your loan, with their aim to fund loans in just 15 to 21 days, which is super fast.

The company got its start back in 2015 and is actually a dba of parent company American Heritage Capital, LP, which also operates brands like Lendova.

At the moment, they are licensed in just five states nationally, including Colorado, Florida, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

How to Apply with Texas Trust Home Loans

  • Call or simply visit their website to begin your loan application
  • You can search real-time mortgage rates then apply if you like what you see
  • They offer a digital home loan experience from start to finish using the latest tech
  • Most tasks can be completed electronically including secure document upload and eSigning of disclosures

To get started with Texas Trust Home Loans, you can call them up directly on the phone or just head over to their website.

My preference is their website, where you can search daily mortgage rates, then compare the many loan options side-by-side to determine which is best for your situation.

Assuming you find something you like, there’s a “next” button located next to each option that leads you directly to a digital mortgage application.

At that point, simply sign up, fill out the online application, upload any required documents, review and electronically sign your loan disclosures online, and you’ll be off to the races.

They say their All Digital Mortgage could save you up to $4,250 due to lower overhead, with the savings passed onto their customers.

Once submitted, you can sign in 24/7 to check loan status, access your to-do list, or get in touch with your loan team if you have questions or concerns.

Texas Trust Home Loans appears to make it easy to apply for and close a loan quickly thanks to their use of the latest fintech.

Loan Programs Offered by Texas Trust Home Loans

  • Home purchase loans
  • Refinance loans: rate and term, cash out, streamline
  • Conforming loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
  • Jumbo loans
  • FHA loans
  • Fixed-rate loans: 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 year terms
  • Adjustable-rate loans: 5, 7, and 10-year ARMs

Texas Trust Home Loans Rates

One advantage to shopping with Texas Trust Home Loans is the fact that you can view mortgage rates directly on their website.

No need to call anyone or reveal any of your personal information first. Simply head to their website and click on “Rates.” They also have some sample mortgage rates right on their homepage.

From there, you’ll be able to tailor your search by providing borrower and property details to get accurate, up-to-date mortgage rates.

You’ll see multiple options that vary in closing costs, with the cheapest interest rates displayed requiring discount points be paid, and the more expensive rates requiring nothing out-of-pocket thanks to lender credits.

This allows you to decide on a perfect combination of rate and fee, whether you want the lowest payment possible or the least amount of fees.

They also advertise on Bankrate, and from what I saw were charging a $1,495 loan origination fee.

It’s unclear if they charge this fee on all their loans, or only via third-party sites where they advertise.

Regardless, it appears that all their loans can be structured so borrowers don’t pay any fees out-of-pocket thanks to those credits.

While Texas Trust Home Loans does not charge an application fee, they do require an upfront payment between $450.00 to $1200.00 (depending on the property type and location) for the cost of the home appraisal, which is non-refundable.

This is pretty standard practice, as all mortgage lenders tend to want some assurance that you won’t apply then go elsewhere for a better deal.

All in all, they seem to offer low rates as advertised, but do take the time to gather several mortgage quotes to ensure you snag a good deal.

Texas Trust Home Loans Reviews

On Bankrate, the company has a perfect 5-star rating from nearly 600 customer reviews, with literally only a couple not rated 5/5.

Additionally, 100% of those who reviewed the company would recommend them to others.

Over at Google, Texas Trust Home Loans has a similarly strong 4.7-star rating from about 300 reviews, so it’s clear they are earning top marks in customer satisfaction consistently.

Their parent company American Heritage Capital isn’t Better Business Bureau accredited, but does have an ‘A+’ rating based on complaint history.

Furthermore, they’ve only had one complaint closed in the past three years, and none in the past 12 months.

In summary, Texas Trust Home Loans seems to live up to their promise of offering low rates, fast closings, and stellar customer service.

I particularly like their transparency when it comes to mortgage rates and fees, and the fact that you can complete most tasks on a self-serve basis if you’re comfortable doing so.

Texas Trust Home Loans Pros and Cons

The Pros

  • Offer a digital home loan experience
  • Can apply for a mortgage online without any human assistance whatsoever
  • Openly display their mortgage rates on their website without need to login
  • Transparent about all fees including lender and third-party charges
  • Appear to offer low interest rates with limited or no lender fees
  • Plenty of loan programs to choose from
  • Their parent company has a A+ BBB rating
  • Online learning center where they educate on mortgages
  • Excellent reviews from past customers across different ratings websites

The Cons

  • Only licensed in a small handful of states
  • Limited physical locations
  • Don’t appear to offer VA or USDA loans

(photo: Ray Bodden)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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