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Apache is functioning normally

July 14, 2023 by Brett Tams

Where do you go to get breaking news headlines, personal finance news and opinion, and advice and commentary on what you should do with your money — all in one place? Twitter, obviously.

It’s easy to sign up for an account if you don’t already have one. However, it can be difficult to figure out which accounts are actually worth following. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite financial Twitter accounts to follow to get you started.

They are a mix of styles, backgrounds, and financial philosophies, so you get a balanced flow of information and tons of new ideas.

What’s Ahead:

1. Broke Millennial – @BrokeMillennial

Follow @BrokeMillennial for – Advice on getting ahead. Lowry provides lots of information in her feed that you can apply to your own situation while learning more for the future.

Erin Lowry is a speaker and writer helping you to #GYFLT — get your financial life together. A financial and opinion writer for sites such as Bloomberg, USA Today, and Time, Lowry writes about Millennial finance topics such as investing (not “saving”) for retirement and student loan debt payoff. She’s the author of the BrokeMillennial series and a book by the same name: Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together (TarcherPerigee, May 2017).

Lowry is focused on providing actionable advice to Millennials looking to improve their finances. Her Twitter feed is conversational, as most of her writing is, as well, and she takes polls and shares links to pieces aimed to help the average person get a handle on budgeting, retirement investing, saving, and more.

2. Forbes – @forbes

Follow @forbes for – Business and investing news and headlines. Knowing what’s going on in the larger world of finance is useful, especially when making decisions about work or your 401(k). If a wave of layoffs is hitting a certain industry, or particular stocks are skyrocketing, there could be real-life effects for you, and Forbes helps keep you informed.

Of course, Forbes is the media company/magazine known for its coverage of business news, investing, entrepreneurship, and other financial information. Forbes is well known for its definitive lists, such as the 400 Richest People in America, the World’s Billionaires List, and the Best Colleges in America.

The official Forbes Twitter account broadcasts news and headlines to 16 million followers, providing a steady stream of information about the intersection of money, politics, and Wall Street, among other things.

3. Julia Carpenter –@juliaccarpenter

Follow @juliaccarpenter for – Tweets that you know came from a real person. A lot of Finance Twitter is very singularly focused, beating the drum of “invest! Invest! Invest!” But there’s more to a full life, a life well examined, and Julia’s feed also seeks to bridge the gap between one human and another.

Julia Carpenter is a writer at the Wall Street Journal, covering topics involving money. One such column for the @WSJ is titled How Covid-19 Derailed My Financial Goals, which is a too-real subject for many of us.

She’s also the author of a daily newsletter called A Woman to Know and has written and done much work centered around the topics of women, work, and pay. Julia Carpenter and Bourree Lam (see below) also teamed up together to create a six-week Money Challenge to help you get your finances in order during the pandemic.

Calling herself a “writer, reporter, [and] lady about town,” Carpenter’s Twitter features not only insightful links about topical personal finance stories, but also some relatable memes, humorous retweets, and not a few mildly alarming news articles.

4. Bourree Lam – @bourreelam

Follow @bourreelam for – Good quality link curation of stories from across the Twitterverse. For example, if you’ve ever wondered The Real Cost Of Coronavirus Micro-Weddings or How to Think Long Term With Near-Zero Interest Rates, give her feed a follow.

Bourree Lam is the Personal Finance Bureau Chief at the Wall Street Journal. In August, she and Carpenter launched a six-week email course designed to challenge your knowledge, shape up your finances, and get you back on your financial game.

Lam also has written for Refinery29 (including their hugely popular Money Diaries series) as well as the Atlantic, and frequently touches on topics related to work and women.

5. Business Insider – @businessinsider

Follow @businessinsider for – Wide-ranging business and financial news, especially as it intersects with politics and the law. Whether you need to know how a new tax law might affect your bottom line or just want to keep up with business headlines, Business Insider is a good Twitter account to add to your “following” list.

Featuring original in-depth reporting on business and finance, Business Insider is a must-follow account. New stories run the gamut from The 64 Emojis Coming to Your iPhone in 2021 to articles about mass layoffs triggered by the novel coronavirus, and nearly everything in between.

Next to their focus on finance, Business Insider touches also on politics, technology, retail, and “executive lifestyle,” which puts particular focus on the life and times of C-suite movers and shakers, which may be aspirational for you (or not).

6. Ramit Sethi – @ramit

Follow @ramit for – Common-sense advice and real-talk truths about managing your money. Follow his feed to shake up some of your core ideas about money and learn to think about it in a new way, especially if you don’t have a lot of it. You’ll learn to ask the $50,000 questions instead of the $5 questions.

Known for his best-selling book I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Ramit Sethi has been offering solid personal finance for years. My favorite piece of advice from Sethi? Just buy the latte. No one is going broke from coffee. Stop focusing on something that will save you fifty bucks and focus on things that can save you fifteen hundred — like insurance, fees, and other big-picture things. Then you can also work on the other side of the coin, so to speak, which is increasing your income.

Sethi also answers questions from readers, shares their stories, and offers advice and personal takes on issues.

7. NPR’s Planet Money – @planetmoney

Follow @planetmoney for – Entertaining but educational looks at the forces that shape our financial world. Their Twitter feed contains links to their podcast stories, but they also share clips from their TikTok. (And if you ever thought, I really don’t need to see an NPR version of TikTok, just give it a chance. Planet Money’s TikTok boy, Jack Corbett, makes weird, surreal, fun, and somehow still informative TikToks).

If you enjoy podcasts, deep dives, and explainers, you’ll like NPR’s Planet Money. Planet Money is a podcast, and their goal is to make learning about the economy interesting.

Here’s how they describe it: “Imagine you could call up a friend and say, ‘Meet me at the bar and tell me what’s going on with the economy.’ Now imagine that’s actually a fun evening.”

Luckily for everyone, they deliver.

8. Tiffany Aliche, a.k.a. The Budgetnista – @TheBudgetnista

Follow @TheBudgetnista for – Inspiring words and links that will get you pumped up to live your best life and finally take control of your financial freedom. Don’t worry, the real-life advice is there, too, such as this interview with NPR where she talks about how exactly to curb your stress spending (easier said than done in a pandemic).

Tiffany Aliche is the best-selling author, speaker, and financial educator known as The Budgetnista. She’s taught hundreds of thousands of people how to manage their finances, structure their budgets, and save up for their dreams.

Aliche runs the Live Richer Academy, an online collection of financial education courses, and also co-hosts a podcast called Brown Ambition. Her goal is to help everyone unlock access to life-changing information about money.

9. Michelle Singletary – @SingletaryM

Follow @SingletaryM for – A refreshing perspective. Singletary’s Twitter feed touches on topical issues surrounding personal finance, including taxes, race, and politics, and includes links to important articles, including her 10-part series for the Post called Sincerely, Michelle. Singletary isn’t afraid to be frank about the forces that affect and influence how we all deal with money.

Michelle Singletary is a personal finance columnist for the Washington Post. Her Twitter Bio shares her take on money: “if debt were a person, I’d slap it!”

Singletary is also an author, having written The 21 Day Financial Fast, a book about resetting your financial habits. Her method works like a juice cleanse: strip everything down to the bare essentials, then slowly add back in only the things that work for you.

10. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – @CFPB

Follow @CFPB for – News you can use. The CFPB’s Twitter feed will tell you how to protect your finances during the coronavirus, what your rights are during debt collection, and how to avoid specific scams (among many, many other things).

Also known as consumerfinance.gov, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created to help make markets and financial products work for American consumers, not the other way around. They provide resources for people to learn about the laws that affect financial products and empower them to make decisions.

The CFPB publishes guides, Q and A’s, and videos about money, especially where federal rules come into play. It’s aimed at a consumer audience, making it a useful way to learn about the legalities that actually affect things like credit cards and bank accounts so you don’t get tripped up.

Summary

If you want to expand your knowledge of personal finance, catch the latest news, be inspired, and talk to like-minded people, you can do all that on Twitter, if you follow the right people. Join the conversation and learn more about money on your journey to building a richer life. (Don’t forget to follow @MoneyUnder30, too!)

Source: moneyunder30.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 14, 2023 by Brett Tams

Picturesque landscapes and unique wildlife draw throngs of tourists to North Dakota. But it’s also a great place to live and work, with agriculture and energy attracting top employers to the state.

If you’re among the millions who call North Dakota home, finding a bank that fits your needs is likely a top priority. Whether you’re in the market for a new bank or you’re thinking about a new credit card or CD, we have a list of some of the top banks in North Dakota to help you narrow your options.

12 Best Banks in North Dakota

From brick-and-mortar banks to online banking options, North Dakota has a little something for everyone. The state has a larger share of small, local banks than we typically see, but there are also plenty of large banks with nationwide branches. Here’s our list of the 12 best banks in North Dakota to help you narrow down the options.

1. U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank is another option for North Dakota residents who travel often. You’ll find more than 2,000 branches in 26 states, including throughout North Dakota. The Bank Smartly Checking account has a $6.95 fee which is easily waived by having at least $1,000 in direct deposits each month, keeping an average balance of $1,500, having a U.S. Bank credit card, or joining Smart Rewards.

Military members and those under age 25 or over age 64 automatically qualify for a fee waiver. U.S. Bank’s interest rates on deposits are also worth a look. Savings accounts earn up to 4.50% APY, while CD rates go all the way up to 4.75% APY.

Fees:

$6.95 monthly fee (waived with requirements)
$36 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$25 deposit to open
No daily balance minimum

ATMs:

Fee-free at U.S. Bank ATMs
Fee-free at MoneyPass ATMs nationwide
$2.50 out-of-network ATM fee

Interest on balance:

Up to 4.50% APY on savings account
Up to 4.75% APY on CDs
Up to 4.50% APY on money market accounts

Additional perks:

Smart Rewards offer perks like waived fees and discounts on mortgage loans
Personal finance tips and insights come with Bank Smartly checking account

2. Gate City Bank

If you’re looking for that local bank experience, Gate City Bank is worth considering. You’ll find 44 locations in 23 communities across North Dakota and Central Minnesota. But one of the best things about Gate City Bank is its unlimited ATM fee refunds. You can use any ATM, anywhere around the world, and Gate City Bank will refund all third-party fees. There are multiple checking account options, including a fee-free account that requires only $50 to open.

Fees:

No monthly maintenance fees
$32 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$50 minimum opening deposit
No minimum balance requirements

ATMs:

Fee-free at ATMs worldwide
Unlimited refunds of all out-of-network ATM fees

Interest on balance:

Up to 0.15% APY on savings accounts
Up to 4.84% APY on CDs
Up to 2.50% APY on money market accounts

Additional perks:

Wide variety of loan options
Free custom debit card options

3. Chime

Another online banking option is Chime, which offers a fee-free checking account and up to 2.00% APY on its savings account. While you won’t get a physical location, Chime does give you access to cash at ATMs, as well as cash deposits at partner retailers nationwide. You’ll need direct deposit to qualify for perks like a secured credit card that helps you build credit.

Fees:

No monthly fees
No fees for overdrafts

Balance requirements:

No deposit to open
No daily balance minimum

ATMs:

Fee-free at 60,000+ ATMs nationwide
$2.50 out-of-network ATM fee

Interest on balance:

2.00% APY on savings accounts

Additional perks:

Cash deposits at 90,000+ retailers nationwide
Secured credit card helps you build credit

4. American Express National Bank

As long as you don’t need local branches, an online bank like American Express National Bank could give you all the features you need. American Express Rewards Checking is fee-free, while also letting you earn 1.00% APY and rewards points on debit card purchases. Although there are no branch locations, you can get real-time customer support 24/7 via phone or chat.

Fees:

No monthly maintenance fees
No overdraft fees

Balance requirements:

No minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance requirements

ATMs:

Fee-free at 37,000+ MoneyPass ATMs nationwide

Interest on balance:

1.00% APY on checking account balances
4.00% APY on savings accounts
Up to 4.65% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

Rewards on debit card purchases
24/7 customer support

5. Bell Bank

Not only is Bell Bank headquartered in Fargo, but you’ll find branch locations throughout North Dakota, as well as in Arizona and Minnesota. There are limited Bell Bank ATMs, but as an account holder, you’ll be able to use your debit card fee-free at any ATM in the country.

Bell Bank will refund the first four third-party fees each month, but you’ll be responsible for the rest. One thing that makes this bank stand out, though, is its competitive interest rates on CDs. Currently, Bell Bank has a promotional rate of 5.10% APY on 7-month CDs and 5.05% APY on 14-month CDs.

Fees:

No monthly maintenance fees

Balance requirements:

No minimum opening deposit
No minimum balance requirement

ATMs:

Fee-free at Bell Bank ATMs
Fee-free at non-Bell Bank ATMs nationwide
First four third-party ATM fees refunded each month

Interest on balance:

Up to 3.04% APY on savings accounts
Up to 5.10% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

Wealth management services available
Competitive rates on auto and personal loans

6. Bremer Bank

For those who travel mostly within the upper Midwest region of the U.S., Bremer Bank could have everything you need. This regional bank has locations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The basic checking account comes with a $3 monthly fee, but you can avoid it by enrolling in free online statements, maintaining a $1,500 average balance, or being under age 21 or over age 64.

Fees:

$3 monthly maintenance fee (waived with requirements)
$35 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$100 minimum deposit to open
No minimum balance requirements

ATMs:

Fee-free at Bremer Bank ATMs
Fee-free at MoneyPass ATMs nationwide
$2.75 for each out-of-network ATM transaction

Interest on balance:

0.30% APY on savings accounts
Up to 3.00% APY on CDs
Up to 3.30% APY on money market accounts

Additional perks:

First order of checks is free
Checking account comes with a complimentary financial plan

7. GO2bank

Online banks are all about the mobile banking experience, and GO2bank delivers in this area. You’ll get everything you need in the app, including the ability to deposit checks, transfer money, and pay bills. You’ll also get cash deposits at retailers nationwide, including Walgreens and Walmart.

Fees:

$5 monthly service fee (waived with requirements)
$15 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum initial deposit
No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at Allpoint ATMs nationwide
$3 for each out-of-network ATM transaction

Interest on balance:

4.50% APY on savings accounts

Additional perks:

Deposit cash at 90,000+ retailers nationwide
Up to 7% cash back on gift cards

8. Bravera Bank

Bravera Bank is a small local bank with branches in Bismark and Dickinson, North Dakota, as well as Great Falls and Billings, Montana. If you’re in the market for a loan, Bravera has plenty of options, including auto, boat, RV, and even snowmobile loans. Bravera also has a variety of solutions for small business owners, including loans and multiple business checking account options.

Fees:

No monthly service fees
$30 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum daily balance requirements

ATMs:

Fee-free at Bravera Bank ATMs

Interest on balance:

Rates not publicly disclosed

Additional perks:

$1,000 bonus for new homeowners who refinance within two years
Business loans and lines of credit available

9. First Community Credit Union

Credit unions bring VIP-style perks to those who qualify for membership. First Community Credit Union is open to those who live in the North Dakota and Minnesota communities within the FCCU service area. FCCU has three fee-free checking accounts, each with its own benefits. Two of the accounts offer rewards for purchases while the other issues 2.50% APY on your balance.

Fees:

No maintenance fees
$30 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No minimum balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at First Community Credit Union ATMs
Fee-free at 32,000+ MoneyPass ATMs nationwide
Fee-free at 30,000+ CO-OP ATMs nationwide
Fee-free at 6,700+ NYCE Network ATMs nationwide

Interest on balance:

Up to 5.03% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

Competitive rates on loans
Competitive offerings for small business owners

10. Wells Fargo

Those who travel often might want to consider a national bank like Wells Fargo. You’ll find branches and ATMs in 37 states, including in locations across North Dakota. Currently, Wells Fargo is offering a $300 bonus if you open a new account with a $25 initial deposit and have at least $1,000 in direct deposit activity in the first 90 days.

One of the most popular choices is Everyday Checking, which has with no fees if you meet certain conditions. You must maintain a minimum daily balance of $500. Alternatively, you can receive $500 or more in qualifying electronic deposits. Another option is to be between the ages of 17 and 24. Lastly, you can also have a Wells Fargo Campus card linked to your checking account.

Fees:

$10 monthly service fee (waived with requirements)
$35 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$25 minimum deposit to open
No minimum daily balance required

ATMs:

Fee-free at Wells Fargo ATMs
$2.50 out-of-network ATM fee

Interest on balance:

Up to 2.51% APY on savings accounts
Up to 4.76% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

$300 bonus for new checking accounts
Generous rewards and bonuses on credit cards

11. VISIONBank

If you live in the Fargo area, VISIONBank is one of North Dakota’s best local banks. You’ll find three branches in South Fargo, West Fargo, and North Fargo, but you can access cash at any MoneyPass ATM across the country. If you run a small business, you might like VISIONBank’s business banking options, including great rates on loans.

Fees:

No monthly fees
$29.50 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

No daily balance minimum

ATMs:

Fee-free at VISIONBank ATMs
Fee-free at MoneyPass ATMs nationwide

Interest on balance:

Up to 0.75% APY on savings accounts
Up to 4.78% APY on CDs

Additional perks:

Multiple business checking account options
Robust mobile banking options

12. BNC National Bank

BNC National Bank is a smaller national bank with locations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Arizona. You’ll get multiple locations across North Dakota, including branches throughout the Bismarck area. You’ll need a $50 deposit to open a checking account with BNC, but the basic account comes with no fees or balance requirements.

Fees:

No monthly fees
$32.98 overdraft fee

Balance requirements:

$50 deposit to open
No daily balance minimum

ATMs:

Fee-free at BNC Bank ATMs
Fee-free at MoneyPass ATMs nationwide
Fee-free at Pulse ATMs nationwide

Interest on balance:

Rates not publicly disclosed

Additional perks:

Free checking for those aged 50 and over
Multiple business loans for small business owners

How We Picked: Methodology

When it comes to banking services, there is no one size fits all solution. We looked at a variety of factors, while also trying to bring a combination of national, local, and regional banks. Here are some criteria considered while compiling this list.

Online Banks vs. Big Banks

Mobile banking is an important feature for most consumers. You’ll want to be able to pay bills, deposit checks, and manage your debit card through the mobile app. These days, though, even traditional banks offer robust mobile banking features, so the choice to go with an online-only bank is a personal one.

We chose plenty of traditional banks that offer in-person service for those who like that option. But we also considered that some local and regional banks don’t have the mobile features offered by online banks and national banks.

We included a credit union because even though membership is limited, the lower interest rates and increased community commitment can make it a great choice for a small business owner or a consumer who wants that personal touch.

Opening Deposit

Not all banks in North Dakota let you walk in the door and open an account. For many, you’ll need some cash in hand to get the account started. When making our list of financial institutions, we paid close attention to this opening deposit to make sure you know what’s required.

Many of the best checking accounts require a minimum deposit to open. This might be $25 or $50, but occasionally, you’ll see a $100 requirement. If you’re looking for a checking account that pays an interest rate, though, you may find that the requirement to open an account is $1,000 or more.

Cash Deposits

As convenient as the internet and mobile banking have made cash management, there is one thing an internet connection can’t get you. When you need to deposit or withdraw cash, your phone won’t be of much help.

That’s why we prioritized ATM access in our look at the best banks in North Dakota. You might assume that a traditional bank is necessary, but online banking is getting better at cash access. Many online banks now have partnerships with ATM networks like MoneyPass and Allpoint. With those, you can access cash at ATMs inside retailers like CVS and Walmart, whether you’re at home or traveling.

Interest Rates

Interest rates factor into our search in two ways. First, there’s the interest rate you’ll pay if you take a mortgage or auto loan. Typically, local banks and credit unions tend to be the most competitive, but you’ll also find some online banks advertise better-than-average rates to win your business.

But what we really focused on for this list was interest deposit account interest. Whether you’re opening a personal checking account or setting up banking for your small business, the more interest you can earn on your checking, savings, CD, and money market balances, the better.

Minimum Balance

Your checking account might come with a requirement that you maintain a certain balance. There’s a reason for that. Banks don’t want consumers to open accounts and abandon them with little to no money in them. If you see a free checking account in North Dakota, you’ll often find that you have to keep a certain amount in the bank for it to remain in place.

We focused on North Dakota banks that keep this requirement fairly low. The best checking accounts have little to no balance requirement, and there’s a reason for that as well. If you have thousands of dollars, it should be in an interest-earning account. We focused on lower-tier accounts that minimize fees, but if you keep a high balance, look into the higher tiers with monthly fees and stricter requirements that offer interest and other perks.

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s no shortage of bank accounts in North Dakota, so it’s important to narrow the options to those that work best for you. Here are some FAQs about finding banking services.

What bank has the most branches in North Dakota?

Coverage is an important factor, especially if the in-person banking experience is important to you. If you travel outside your immediate area often, you’ll want to make sure there are branches and ATMs wherever you go. Some also prefer bank accounts with banks that have numerous branches since that can be a sign of stability.

Gate City Bank is the bank with the most branches in North Dakota. You’ll get 44 branches across North Dakota and Central Minnesota. As far as national banks go, though, U.S. Bank has the most branches in the state, at 11.

How much do I need to deposit into a savings account in North Dakota?

Each savings account will come with different requirements, but many do require you to maintain a certain balance. In some cases, banks will set a minimum to earn interest. So, that $25 you have in the account might not be earning a dime of interest.

Taking two of the state’s top banks into consideration, Gate City requires $100 to earn interest, while Wells Fargo requires you to keep $300 in the account to avoid a $5 monthly service fee. In all cases, if you can keep a higher balance, look into the best interest for your money, whether that’s a high-yield savings account, a CD, or a retirement savings account.

If you’re in the market for a new bank account, there are plenty of financial institutions in North Dakota that can fill your needs. Whether you’re looking for an in-person banking experience or you want the convenience online banks offer, it’s important to shop around. The good news is, once you’ve found a good bank account in North Dakota, you can stick with that bank for a long time.

Source: crediful.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 13, 2023 by Brett Tams

There are certain things in life we’d all just rather not think about. A prime example, as an adult, is considering getting a trust or will that determines what happens to your assets after you pass away.

Most people avoid this topic because…well, it’s not pleasant to think about. But the sheer cost of hiring an attorney to prepare those documents is another reason folks opt to ignore trusts and wills.

If cost is the reason, there’s no need to delay any longer. You can take advantage of online trusts and wills to prepare either or both, do-it-yourself style.

What’s Ahead:

What are trusts and wills?

This is a question that needs to be addressed before we go any further. That’s because many people use the two interchangeably, as though they’re basically the same document; or perhaps two versions of the same document. They’re not.

A will is the simpler of the two. Its most important functions are to appoint a guardian for any minor children you have, as well as to manage the distribution of assets upon your death.

A trust is the more comprehensive of the two documents. Rather than appoint a guardian for your minor children or manage the distribution of your assets, a trust instead becomes a legal entity that takes custody of your assets. (Guardianship of your minor children must still be provided for in your will). Unlike a will, a trust is not subject to probate or legal challenge. That makes it the stronger of the two.

You’ll need to appoint a trustee to oversee the management of the assets in the trust, as well as spell out exactly what those assets will be. And while a will takes effect only upon your death, a trust can either go into effect while you are still alive or be created upon your death (as a result of trust documents prepared in advance and online).

**What are online trusts and wills?**

Online trusts and wills are the same documents that will be prepared for you by an attorney. The only difference is that no attorney is typically involved. Much like many other transactions and processes, the preparation of trusts and wills becomes standardized and automated when they’re made available online.

The standardization is actually an advantage. The structure of both trusts and wills is determined by laws and legal disputes in each state. For that reason, the documents are easily standardized, even to accommodate situations and provisions that may be unlikely but not unknown.

You’ll be able to access trust and will document online for your state of residence. Once you select the right forms, it will simply be a matter of inputting the information that applies to your own preferences for your estate or trust. This will allow you to customize each form to meet your specific needs.

You can think of it as something like the FAFSA you likely filled out when you applied for financing for college. Another example is if you’ve ever done your income tax return, using tax-preparation software. The software asks for all the necessary information to complete your return.

All you need to do is provide that information, and the online service will generate fully completed wills and trust documents – ready to print.

More than anything else, online trusts and will automate the preparation process and do it at only a fraction of the cost of attorney-prepared documents.

What information do you need to fill out a trust or will?

Information you should expect to provide for the completion of your will or trust document will likely include the following:

Personal identifying information. This includes info such as your full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.
If you’re married, the name of your spouse. Plus, his or her personal identifying information.
Beneficiaries. This will include the names and personal identifying information for each beneficiary named in your will or trust.
A trustee. The name and contact information for the trustee for either your estate or trust. This can be an individual or an institution, like a bank.
A list of all assets. That will be included in the will or trust. This will include bank accounts, taxable brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, real estate owned, and personal property.
Life insurance policies. You may also need to provide information on life insurance policies. This will be especially important if the proceeds from the policy will fund your trust.

This is just a partial list of the information you’ll need to provide for the preparation of your will or trust. How much will be needed will depend on what you want your will or trust to accomplish.

How to create online trusts and wills

Even though it’s possible to create do-it-yourself online trusts and wills, it’s not something you want to be cobbled together from various sources on the web. Instead, there are online services dedicated to providing assistance in the preparation of trusts and wills.

One of the best examples is Trust & Will. Unlike a lot of online legal document sources, they don’t offer assistance with many different kinds of documents. Instead, they focus entirely on trusts and wills. If you’re going to prepare documents as complex and specific as trusts and wills, you’ll need the assistance of a company that specializes in that niche.

They’ll provide you with all the necessary legal forms which are designed specifically for the laws within your state of residence. Armed with those documents, you’ll simply enter your personal information in a series of input screens, and the documents will be prepared for you. What’s more, those documents have been provided by experienced estate planning attorneys. In fact, certain documents will be reviewed by experts from Trust & Will before they’re finalized.

One of the benefits that makes Trust & Will stand out from the competition is that you can make unlimited changes to your documents as your personal circumstances and finances change.

You can use the service to provide a Guardian document, which is designed specifically to nominate guardians for your children. Otherwise, you can create a will to make provisions for the care of your children and the distribution of your assets, or a trust, which while similar to a will, enables both your estate and beneficiaries to avoid probate court. Wills and trusts will be reviewed by estate planning experts, but not guardianship arrangements.

You can choose which of the three plans will work best for you:

As you can see, Trust & Will will cost just a fraction of the thousands of dollars you’ll pay to an estate attorney to prepare similar documents.

Are online trusts and wills legal?

The answer is yes, as long as it meets certain legal requirements. And those will be spelled out to you by the online trust and will provider.

All you need to do to make trusts and wills legal is to complete the proper forms, then sign them along with any other required parties. Then presto, the documents are legal.

Between the two, trusts are the more complicated plan. It will need to contain the following information to be legal:

It must include the name of the maker of the trust, also known as the grantor. That would be you if you’re the one creating the trust for the benefit of others.
It must appoint an individual who will be responsible for managing the trust, which can even be you in the case of a living trust.
The plan must also name the individual who will take over the administration and management of the trust after you die.
It must list the beneficiaries who will receive property pursuant to the trust.
It must provide the name of the person who will manage the trust after your death if it’s for the benefit of minors.

You should also check with laws in your state as to who and how many signatures you will need. Typically, you will need to sign the document in the presence of a notary public, but your state may also require signatures by one or more witnesses.

As long as you have all those bases covered, either your trust or you will is completely legal.

The benefits of online trusts and wills

Online trusts and wills are becoming increasingly popular. That’s because of the many benefits they offer when compared to having them prepared by a law firm.

Those benefits include:

Prepare documents from home

If you have a busy schedule, it can be difficult to carve out time to meet with an attorney, let alone follow-up visits. But perhaps like a lot of people, going to an attorney’s office is something like going to your dentist or doctor – it’s something you’d rather avoid if you possibly can.

Online trusts and wills give you the benefit of being able to prepare documents from the comfort of your own home.

You only need to supply information – not prepare the documents

Typical online trust and will programs are set up based on a question-and-answer format. You’ll enter the necessary information (see list of that information above) into input screens, and the documents will be automatically populated and prepared for you. You don’t even need to know anything about trust and will documents.

They’re low cost

A lawyer will charge a minimum of $300 for a very simple will, but $1,000 to $1,200 is much more common. By contrast, an online will can be prepared for less than $100.

The savings on a trust preparation are even more significant. An attorney will typically charge several thousand dollars to prepare a trust, while an online plan will be no more than a few hundred dollars.

They’re simple

Sit down and speak with an attorney for an hour or so and you may leave more confused than when you went in. Legal-speak doesn’t translate into English very well, and not all attorneys are sensitive to that fact. It’s even possible you may be too confused – or even too intimidated – to ask any intelligent questions.

With online trusts and wills, there’s no face-to-face meeting, no complicated legal terms, and no coming away wondering what really happened.

The process is standardized

Let’s face it, in virtually every field there are good apples and bad apples on the other side of the desk. While it may seem comforting to have an attorney prepare your trust or will, you’ll be completely at the mercy of his or her competence or sensitivity to your specific needs. If so, you may get a poorly prepared set of documents with overlooked or omitted provisions that are important to you.

With online trust and will preparation, the process is standardized. There are no egos involved, no intimidation, and no personality clashes. You’ll go online, indicate the documents you want, and enter your relevant personal information. The documents are then prepared for you – and often reviewed by experts – then provided to you.

What to watch out for with online trusts and wills

There are three factors that can present complications with online trusts and wills:

The degree of complication in your financial situation

If you have a fairly simple financial situation, online trusts and wills can get the job done for you. That may include a situation where you own your own home, have a retirement plan, and money in the bank. That’s a standard financial profile and one that includes few potential legal curveballs.

But the do-it-yourself route may not be appropriate if your finances are either more extensive or more complicated.

Examples of these situations include the following:

Any of these circumstances and more may require special handling by an estate attorney. There may be specific state laws or provisions that will affect the distribution of your estate in unexpected ways.

Special circumstances

If your estate will require provisions to accommodate complex situations, it may be best to have your will and trust prepared by an attorney.

Examples of special circumstances include:

You intend to disinherit a child or even a spouse.
There’s a reasonable chance your will may face a legal challenge upon your death.
You have a complicated tax situation with more than a slight chance of bringing in IRS auditors upon your death.
One or more heirs need special care, perhaps even lifelong.
You’re married but either you or your spouse have children from a previous marriage.
One or more of your heirs is financially irresponsible, and you’d like to set up a long-term distribution plan rather than a single lump-sum payment.
You want to make a provision for someone who is not a natural heir, such as a close friend or even a charity.
You have a significant amount of debt that may be in existence at the time of your death.

Changes after the fact

Wills and trusts might not be nearly so complicated if life were more stable. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to experience major changes in life that, while not specifically financial in nature, will ultimately have a financial impact involving your estate.

Examples include:

Marriage or remarriage.
Birth or death of heirs.
Divorce, either by you or by one or more of your heirs.
Significant changes in state or federal tax laws that will require adjustments to either your will or trust.
Receipt of an inheritance that will become part of your estate.
Incapacitation, due to illness or injury, either by you, your spouse, or one of your heirs.
A falling out with an heir.
Major changes in either your assets, liabilities, or both.

When creating a will or trust it’s important to understand that the changes above (and more) may necessitate a redrawing of your documents, or at least significant modification.

Should you create an online trust or will?

Unless you have a complex family or financial situation, you can use an online trust or will service to prepare either document. It will make certain your children are provided for, your assets are protected, and your final wishes are carried out. The process is simple and inexpensive, you can do it all from the comfort of your home, and either plan will be completely legal.

Going without at least a will is playing with fire. If you die without a will, the disposition of your estate – and even the care of your minor children – will be determined by a court of law. A will gives you an opportunity to make those decisions in advance. And if you have significant assets, a trust will enable you to protect those assets, distribute them to who you want, and avoid the probate court potential that often comes with wills.

Given how simple and inexpensive online trusts and wills are, you should take advantage of this technological breakthrough to prepare the documents you and your loved ones will need.

When an online trust or will won’t make sense

If you have a complicated family or financial situation, you may need to use an attorney to prepare your will or trust.

A complicated family situation could be one in which there are children born outside your current marriage. Another example is where you want to exclude one or more children from your estate or trust.

An example of a complicated financial situation is a business. If you have partners or multiple owners in the same corporation, special consideration will need to be given to those individuals after your death. The same may be true if you have substantial business debts.

Summary

Unless you have a very complex financial situation, you should seriously consider taking advantage of online trusts and wills. Not only will it cost only a fraction of what you will pay to an attorney for the same service, but you may find it easier to create the will or trust of your choice online and in the comfort of your home or office, rather than sitting across the table from an attorney – with the fee meter running.

Don’t be without a will, and if you want to create a trust, do it now. With all the advantages offered by online wills and trusts, there’s no reason to put it off any longer. The peace of mind you’ll get will more than justify the time, effort, and money spent making it happen.

Source: moneyunder30.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 13, 2023 by Brett Tams

Washington, DC
CNN
—

Renters and homeowners are experiencing inflation differently, according to new data from Bank of America — and, unsurprisingly, renters are taking the hit.

Using Bank of America internal data to identify homeowners and renters by housing-related payments in bank accounts — mortgage payments, homeowner association fees or rent payments — analysts found that a wedge has opened between spending by renters and homeowners. Renters are seeing weaker spending growth outside of housing.

Two things are causing the split in spending.

First, while the majority of homeowners’ monthly payments have not risen, the cost of renting has surged. Rent inflation jumped from around a 2% year-over-year increase in 2021 to 8.8% year over year in March 2023, according to the Consumer Price Index, although it has moderated marginally in recent months.

Meanwhile, the majority of US homeowners with outstanding mortgage balances have fixed interest rates that were locked in at ultra-low levels prior to the slew of recent interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve.

Higher inflation and interest rate hikes have caused mortgage rates to climb from an average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage of 2.65% in January 2021 — the lowest average weekly rate since the beginning of Freddie Mac’s records going back to 1971 — to last week’s 6.81%, according to Freddie Mac.

The analysts say those homeowner households are not yet feeling the direct impact from rising rates. Only the handful of total homeowners who got a mortgage after early 2022 or those with floating mortgage rates (a very small number) are feeling pinched.

Secondly, even if a typical mortgage payment is higher than a typical monthly rent payment, because renters’ income tends to be less than homeowners, more renters put a larger share of their income toward rent than homeowners put toward mortgage payments. That is leading renters to pull back on their discretionary spending more than homeowners, according to Bank of America.

More renters are becoming “cost burdened,” which means households are paying more than 30% of their income toward housing, generally considered to be a financially sound share.

High housing costs hit renters hardest. Nearly half of renters — an estimated 49% — are cost burdened, according to a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Between 2019 and 2021 (the most recent data available) the number of cost-burdened renters increased by 1.2 million to a record 21.6 million households. Among these, 11.6 million were severely cost burdened, meaning they spent more than 50% of their income on housing. Although the share of renter households experiencing cost burdens had been steadily declining over the past decade, the trend reversed during the pandemic.

While the share of homeowners who were cost burdened also rose during the same time — increasing by 2.3 million to 19 million homeowners, including 8.7 million households that were severely cost burdened in 2021 — only 23% of all homeowners are cost burdened, the Joint Center for Housing Studies report found.

That means they are likely to have more money for discretionary spending.

The year-over-year rate of total spending from the accounts, not including rent, has been weaker for renters since the start of 2022, the Bank of America report said, which coincides with the rise of rent inflation. Year-over-year spending by renters dropped in June by 1.4%, according to the report. But for homeowners, it was up 0.8% over the same period.

This trend is visible by spending sector, too, the report showed. Homeowners showed relative spending strength in all major sectors except furniture. (The weakness in furniture spending is likely related to weak home sales, analysts noted, which would impact homeowners more since they are less likely to be switching homes and have less need for new furniture.)

Restaurants are the only sector where homeowners and renters are both still showing an increase in spending from last year, and homeowners significantly outpace renters.

Even controlling for income — which is necessary because renters tend to have lower incomes than homeowners — renters are showing less spending strength than homeowners in their same income group in most spending categories. The disparity tends to be greater at lower income brackets with the difference between owners and renters less notable for the highest-income group, those earning over $125,000.

Looking ahead, however, this wedge between the spending of renters and homeowners may narrow, the report points out.

As the share of homeowners who have bought a home with higher mortgage costs increases and rent inflation moderates as the Fed winds down its rate hikes, the analysts say some convergence between the spending growth rates for the two groups is likely.

Source: cnn.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 13, 2023 by Brett Tams

As your company grows and your financial needs evolve, it’s often necessary to switch business bank accounts. If any of the following are happening, it may be time to find a new business checking account:

You’re getting hit with fees or bumping up against account limits.
You need better integrations or additional business features like invoicing or tax-planning tools.
You can’t get a business loan from your current bank.
Your business is changing ownership.

Here are the steps for moving business banks, plus details on knowing if it’s time to make a change.

How to change business bank accounts

1. Research your options

Write down what you need from a business banking account — now and in the future — to find a new account that your business can grow into. Then compare business accounts that meet your needs, paying attention to fees, services and accessibility.

If a business loan is on the horizon, ask your potential choices about funding options and whether they have an SBA loan program. Also ask about how the bank’s accounts integrate with accounting or other business software, in addition to whether it offers dedicated account managers for small business accounts.

2. Apply for and open your new business bank account

After you choose a business account, the next step is to apply online, in person or over the phone, depending on the bank. You’ll need to provide personal information, like your Social Security number, and business details and documents. Find a full list of what you need to open a business account.

Once approved, confirm everything is operating correctly before making any changes to your old account. Set up your business account, including online and mobile banking, and test transferring funds.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Avoid transferring large chunks of money at once. Most business accounts place a longer hold on deposits for new accounts (up to 10 business days). And large deposits and transactions can be flagged as fraud.

3. Transfer business to your new account

Several banks offer “switch kits” to help you migrate your business to your new account. These checklists include helpful reminders, like switching recurring payments and notifying your accountant. Pay attention to timing, particularly if you’re switching over payroll, to avoid any delayed payments.

The transactions you’ll need to update typically include the following:

Payroll and direct deposit for employees.
Payments to suppliers, software providers, etc.
Payments to business advisors or consultants; also, these individuals might need to know about the change for their participation in your business operations.
Automatic invoices or transfers for customers.

Your new bank may be able to provide you with an account transfer letter to inform business partners that you’ve changed accounts and provide them with your new bank account information.

4. Cancel your old business bank account

Once your new business bank account is set up and operating correctly, follow your old bank’s procedure to close your account. Allow time for any outstanding payments to clear before fully shutting things down.

Transfer out any remaining funds and get a clear answer from your bank on how it handles any payments sent to your account after it is closed (in case vendors send payment to your old account by mistake).

How to switch business checking accounts within your current bank

Upgrading to a new account within your existing bank is more straightforward than switching to a new bank. Simply contact your business banker to make the switch. You’ll keep the same account number, so you won’t need to notify all of your business partners of the change.

When to switch business bank accounts

Sticking with a business account that doesn’t suit your company can hurt your bottom line. Excessive fees, restrictive limits and insufficient business products can cut into profits and stall business growth. And all are cues that it’s time to shop around for a business bank account.

You’re exceeding your limits

Exceeding transaction and cash deposit limits is a good sign that your business has outgrown its business checking account. While it’s tempting to simply upgrade to the next account tier your bank offers, this is a good time to explore your options and compare limits, fees and services at other banks.

You’re hit with excessive or surprise fees

While some fees are expected, charges for overdrafts, wire transfers and ATM usage vary from one bank to the next.

Some business accounts charge $35 or more for overdrafts, for example, while others charge $25 or less — and some don’t charge for overdrafts at all. Compare fees at local banks, credit unions and online banks to find a better fit for your business.

You can’t get a business loan

If your primary bank turns you down for a small-business loan, explore other options. Smaller banks, credit unions and community development financial institutions often have more flexible lending standards than large banks.

For example, 82% of applicants at small banks were approved for at least some funding in 2022, compared with 68% of those who sought funding with a large bank, according to the Federal Reserve’s most recent Small Business Credit Survey.

Applicants at small banks were also less likely to report challenges with the application process, funding time, interest rates and repayment terms.

You need additional business products

At some point, your business may need merchant services, payroll support or a business credit card. While your current bank may offer these products, it’s smart to research rates, fees and features at other banks and service providers as well.

You experience bad customer service

No bank is 100% free of issues and errors; the key is how your bank handles them.

Does it take multiple calls, emails or visits to resolve an issue? Do you get conflicting answers to the same question? Do you struggle to even find someone to talk to? These are all red flags.

Another red flag is service that doesn’t match your business hours or style. A bank that handles all customer questions through email might work for an e-commerce business, but it’s less than ideal for a truck driver.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 12, 2023 by Brett Tams

What is a family trust?

A family trust is a trust that benefits the children, grandchildren, siblings, spouse or other family members of the person establishing the trust (grantor). Family trusts are common in estate planning to ensure certain beneficiaries receive assets when the grantor dies. They can be revocable or irrevocable.

What is the main purpose of a family trust?

The main purpose of a family trust is to ensure that certain assets pass from one family member to another

American Bar Association. Family trust. Accessed Jul 10, 2023.

. Family trusts (and trusts in general) also typically avoid the probate court process, which can be expensive, public and time-consuming. Using a family trust to avoid probate can thus help ensure that beneficiaries receive their inheritances faster and with more privacy.

Family trusts can be revocable or irrevocable.

A revocable trust allows the grantor (also known as the settlor) to make changes to the trust during his or her lifetime, such as adding funds, changing which assets are in the trust or changing beneficiaries.

Family trusts, like most trusts, have three major players:

The grantor or settlor, who creates the trust and transfers assets into it.
The trustee (or trustees), who manage(s) the trust for the beneficiary. If the trust is revocable, the grantor can also be the trustee and appoint a successor trustee in case he or she becomes unable to handle trustee responsibilities in the future.
The beneficiary (or beneficiaries), who will inherit assets or gain financially from the trust.

Best for: Ease of use. Cost: One-time fee of $159 per individual or $259 for couples. $19 annual membership fee thereafter.

Best for: Users who want an all-inclusive experience. Cost: $99 per year for Starter plan. $139 per year for Plus plan. $209 per year for All Access plan.

Best for: State-specific legal advice. Cost: $89 for Basic will plan. $99 for Comprehensive will plan. $249 for Estate Plan Bundle.

Family trust vs. living trust

The main difference between a family trust and a regular living trust is that in a family trust, all the beneficiaries are family members of the person who created the trust.

How to set up a family trust

Although some particulars vary depending on your state’s laws, setting up a family trust typically involves three steps:

Draft the family trust document. Your trust document will need to contain the names of your family beneficiaries and what each will inherit, as well as a list of the assets in the trust and the name(s) of your trustee(s).
Incorporate state rules. You can hire an estate planning attorney or use an online will maker to set up a trust. Whichever method you choose, be absolutely sure you’ve met all your state’s requirements and have the required signatures to create a valid family trust; even small errors or omissions could cause big headaches.
Fund the family trust. The grantor transfers assets — such as bank accounts, investment accounts and real estate — to the trust by retitling the assets in the name of the trust. Once transferred, these assets become the trust’s assets. Assets transferred to an irrevocable trust remove the assets from the grantor’s control in the eyes of the IRS, which could reduce estate taxes — although most estates aren’t large enough to be subject to estate tax. The federal estate tax ranges from rates of 18% to 40% and generally only applies to assets over $12.06 million in 2022 or $12.92 million in 2023.

If you’re planning to create a family trust, you have a number of different trust types to choose from, such as:

Spendthrift trust: A spendthrift trust limits a beneficiary’s access to the trust assets according to specific terms the grantor sets. Spendthrift trusts help ensure that beneficiaries can’t squander their inheritance; they also protect trust assets from creditors

Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Spendthrift trust. Accessed Jul 11, 2023.

.
Testamentary trust: A testamentary trust is a trust created by the terms of your will and only funded upon your death. Beneficiaries can only access the assets at a predetermined time. Testamentary trusts can be used to give a surviving spouse an income or provide children funds once they’ve reached a certain age.
Bypass trust: A bypass trust transfers a spouse’s share of the estate to a trust at death. The surviving spouse may get income from and use the trust assets; however, the trust’s beneficiaries inherit the assets when the surviving spouse dies.

Pros and cons of family trusts

Advantages of a family trust

Including a family trust in your estate plan offers many advantages.

Avoid probate: Unlike wills, trusts typically don’t have to go through probate, and your assets transfer to beneficiaries quickly and smoothly, without the time and expense that probate involves.

Avoid a conservatorship: If you choose a successor trustee or co-trustee to manage your trust, you might be able to avoid conservatorship if you become incapacitated.

Privacy: Because you avoid probate, which is public record, what your family inherits from you via a family trust remains private.

Less vulnerability to a court challenge: Because they avoid probate, trusts tend to be more difficult to contest than wills, and because trusts are private, fewer people will know about your estate.

Flexibility: A family trust lets you decide who gets what and when. You can also help ensure that family members with functional needs don’t lose access to government benefits because of their inheritance. Additionally, if your trust is revocable, you can add or remove assets or change your beneficiaries as you see fit.

Tax planning vehicle: Certain types of family trusts can help reduce estate taxes, though most estates fall below the threshold for estate taxes. However, income over $600 generated by trust assets may be taxable

Disadvantages of a family trust

Family trusts also have a few disadvantages to be aware of.

Cost: Hiring an estate planning attorney to set up a family trust can be expensive. Additionally, you may have to pay court fees and compensation to your trustee.
Paperwork and complexity: Creating a trust and transferring assets can require complex paperwork and recordkeeping.
Higher tax rate: Trusts have their own tax brackets, and the threshold for the highest bracket is lower than for individuals. This means trusts might pay higher taxes on the income their assets generate.

Source: nerdwallet.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 11, 2023 by Brett Tams

Our rating

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking

Monthly Fee: $6.95, but multiple ways to waive
Minimum Deposit: $25
Minimum Ongoing Balance: $0
Account Yield: None
Deposit Insurance: Yes, up to $250,000

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As one of the biggest banks in the United States, you’d expect U.S. Bank to have a whole slew of checking accounts, each tailored to a specific group of potential customers. You might shrink at the idea of evaluating all these options and eventually choosing the one that best fits your needs.

Rest assured, there’s no need to worry. U.S. Bank has only two checking account options, and the best choice for most users is U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking. With a modest maintenance fee that’s relatively easy to waive and a potentially generous account opening opportunity, it’s better than most big-bank checking accounts and an excellent fit for a range of users.

That said, U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking isn’t perfect. Before you open an account, understand its limitations and downsides and decide whether it’s truly the best choice for you.

What Is U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking?

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking is a personal checking account from U.S. Bank. It has a $6.95 monthly maintenance fee that can be waived with a qualifying direct deposit, minimum balance, or U.S. Bank credit card.

Smartly® Checking has many features you’d expect from a full-service checking account, including optional overdraft protection, fast person-to-person funds transfers, a robust ATM network, and a banking rewards program. As a member FDIC bank, U.S. Bank offers deposit insurance on eligible balances up to $250,000.

You can open a U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking online or in-branch and fund it with a check deposit or electronic funds transfer. However, you must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, or WY to be eligible.

What Sets U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking Apart?

Smartly® Checking has several features that set it apart from similar checking accounts elsewhere:

Highly rated mobile app. Smartly® Checking has a top-rated mobile app that can do basically everything the web-based online banking portal can. It’s easy to bank on the go with this account.
Strong overdraft protection options. Smartly® Checking has two overlapping layers of overdraft protection and doesn’t charge an overdraft fee for negative balances less than $50.
Built-in banking rewards program. U.S. Bank’s complimentary Smart Rewards program features clutch benefits like out-of-network ATM fee reimbursements, boosts to your linked savings account’s interest rate, and a complimentary virtual consultation with a member of U.S. Bank’s wealth management team.
Excellent account opening opportunity. This account comes with a new account opening opportunity worth $300 when you open your account by July 11, 2023 and complete qualifying activities. Terms apply.

Key Features of U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking has all the features you’d expect from a full-service checking account at one of the country’s biggest banks. It has some less-common (and very welcome) features as well.

Account Opening Opportunity

You can earn $300 when you open a new U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account online and complete qualifying activities. Offer valid through July 11, 2023.

Complete these steps within 90 days of opening your new Bank Smartly® Checking account online:

Complete two or more direct deposits of $6,000 or more
Enroll in online banking or the U.S. Bank Mobile App

This offer is subject to certain terms and limitations.

Account Minimums & Geographical Requirements

The minimum opening deposit is $25, but there’s no ongoing minimum balance once your account is opened.

Account holders must reside in AZ, AR, CA, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, SD, TN, UT, WA, WI, or WY to be eligible for a new Bank Smartly® Checking account.

Maintenance Fee & Waiver Options

The monthly maintenance fee is $6.95. It’s waived in any statement cycle where one of the following applies:

You receive direct deposits with a combined value of $1,000 or more
You have an average account balance of $1,500 or more
You have an active, eligible U.S. Bank credit card

ATM Access

As a Smartly® Checking customer, you pay no ATM withdrawal fees at MoneyPass® Network ATMs. Transactions outside these networks may incur surcharges.

Overdraft Protection Options

You have the option to link an eligible U.S. Bank account to your Smartly® Checking account for overdraft protection. If you attempt a transaction that would result in a negative checking account balance, U.S. Bank automatically transfers funds to cover the overdraft.

The amount advanced is $5 for overdrafts of $5 or less and an amount rounded up to the nearest $50 for larger overdrafts. There’s no overdraft fee for overdrafts smaller than $50. If you’re eligible for U.S. Bank’s Overdraft Fee Forgiven program, you may get the overdraft fee reimbursed on larger overdrafts if you deposit funds to cover the negative balance by 11pm ET the day it occurs.

Budgeting & Planning Tools

This account comes with useful financial tools like:

Goal Planner, which can help you estimate how much you’ll need (and how fast you’ll need to save) for a forthcoming expense, like a down payment on a house
Automatic spending categories to easily track and manage your expenses and see where you can cut back
Personalized market insights tailored to your financial behaviors and preferences

Banking Rewards

As a U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking account holder, you can sign up for the complimentary Smart Rewards® to earn progressively more valuable benefits as your balance grows.

Your benefits depend on your total balance in all linked U.S. Bank accounts. For example, above $20,000, you get your checking account maintenance fee waived with no deposit, credit card, or further balance requirements. Above $250,000, the highest tier, you enjoy unlimited ATM fee surcharge reimbursements and a 15% boost to interest earned on interest-bearing U.S. Bank accounts.

Mobile Features

U.S. Bank has a top-rated mobile app that can do just about anything the web interface can, including:

Fast person-to-person money transfers with Zelle®
Mobile check deposit
One-time and recurring bill payments
Automated budgeting and expense categorization
Custom account alerts and account management tasks

Deposit Insurance

This account comes with federal deposit insurance on balances up to $250,000.

Pros & Cons

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking has a lot of advantages and a smaller but still notable number of downsides.

Strong account opening opportunity
Highly rated mobile app
Above-average overdraft protection program

Not available in all states
Has a monthly maintenance fee that may be difficult for some to waive
No yield

Pros

Smartly® Checking is a well-rounded checking account that rewards everyday users and provides valuable peace of mind.

Strong account opening opportunity. This account has one of the best new account opening opportunities of any checking account in its class. Terms apply.
Broad ATM network. U.S. Bank has a network of tens of thousands of ATMs that don’t charge withdrawal fees. They’re distributed across the United States, so finding one near you shouldn’t be too difficult.
Excellent mobile app. U.S. Bank has a top-rated mobile app that effortlessly replicates the web-based online banking experience. It’s easy to bank from anywhere with a Wi-Fi or LTE connection.
Comes with budgeting and planning tools. This account comes with some useful and entirely complimentary budgeting and financial planning tools to help you prepare for big upcoming expenses and shore up your budget in the meantime.
Potentially valuable banking rewards program. U.S. Bank’s Smart Rewards® program gets more generous as your combined eligible balance increases. It’s definitely worth signing up for, even if you don’t have tons of cash right now.
Strong overdraft protection options. U.S. Bank’s overdraft protection program is comprehensive and reasonably priced. You’re not charged for overdrafts smaller than $50, nor for larger overdrafts if you can make a deposit to restore a positive balance by 11pm ET the day they occur.

Cons

Smartly® Checking has a monthly maintenance fee that may be difficult for some users to avoid, and it’s not available everywhere.

Not available everywhere. Smartly® Checking is available in most states, but not all. Before you apply, confirm that your location is eligible.
Has a monthly maintenance fee. This account comes with a $6.95 monthly maintenance fee. While the waiver requirements are attainable for many would-be users, they could prove difficult for some.
No yield. Most checking accounts don’t pay interest, but a growing number do. This account falls short next to them.

Final Word

If you’re dissatisfied with your current checking account or simply curious about what else is out there, take a look at U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking. While not perfect, it has a nice package of features and benefits that make it far better than the typical big-bank spending account. Its monthly maintenance fee is easier to waive than many peer accounts’ too.
While you’re at it, take a look at U.S. Bank’s other banking products. Its CDs are particularly interesting if you’re seeking an above-average return on savings at a major member-FDIC bank.

The Verdict

Our rating

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking

U.S. Bank Smartly® Checking is a full-service checking account with a reasonable monthly maintenance fee that’s relatively easy to waive. It has other notable perks as well, including a highly rated mobile app, an attractive account opening opportunity, and strong overdraft protection. However, it’s not available in all states and the monthly maintenance fee could be problematic for users without much financial wiggle room.

Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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

Apache is functioning normally

July 10, 2023 by Brett Tams

Living off of minimum wage in this country is extremely burdensome: mentally, physically, and financially. As one Redditor puts it:

A nice dinner out with your significant other might seem like nothing to people who make more money than I do, but that is something I have to plan for. I have to pick up shifts at work and skip a meal or two in order to take someone out and feel “normal” for a few hours. But I get up and I do it every day because I have to.

However, with a little strategy applied, there are ways to alleviate your stress in the short term, multiply your earnings, and save for the long term.

Here are seven ways to improve your life and lifestyle while living on minimum wage.

What’s Ahead:

Create a budget

While I researched this piece, my friend Steph described a moment in the life of a minimum wage earner:

I used to love Campbell’s brand soup as a kid. Aldi stocks it right next to the generic brand soup, which is $0.40 cheaper. So I stood there for a good five minutes debating whether I could truly afford the name brand soup that I wanted. But eventually, I left the Campbell’s on the shelf.

Steph’s problem, as she put it, is that she doesn’t have a budget so she never knows how much she can really spend without feeling guilty.

It’s almost ironic that creating a budget can feel both scary and tedious at the same time. But having a budget on any wage is so critical because it provides two primary benefits:

First, budgeting ensures that you don’t overspend and end up with net zero or negative earnings at the end of the month, which can jeopardize your long-term goals of financial independence.
Second, when you create a budget, you’ll learn down to the dollar how much you can spend on nonessentials each month.

As someone who’s briefly lived on minimum wage (and no wage), I can assert that it’s really hard to live life when every non-essential purchase, like Campbell’s soup or a movie rental, is laced with guilt and fear of the unknown.

Part of designing a budget is determining how much you’ll allow yourself to spend on fun and happy things without feeling guilty. Even if it’s only $40 per month on nonessentials, that’s $40 you can spend guilt-free, which is so critical to supporting your mental health.

As for which budget to follow, consider the 50-30-20 budget:

50% of your income goes to essentials (bills, food, rent, utilities, etc.).
30% of your income goes to discretionary spending (entertainment, social life, etc.).
20% of your income goes to savings (investments, 401k, etc.).

Now, you might be thinking that well over 50% of your income is already going to your essentials. To be sure, you can use MU30’s 50-30-20 Budget Calculator to confirm your suspicions. If things are tight, consider shaving 10% off of the latter two categories so your budget plan becomes 70-20-10.

Once you’ve established a budget, it’s time to start storing your money in the right places.

Open some checking, savings, and retirement accounts

There are many American households that are either unbanked or underbanked, meaning they either have no bank accounts or they have an account, but rely upon outside/unscrupulous financial institutions like payday lenders to make ends meet.

Payday lenders are extremely dangerous places to do business and should be avoided, but more on that later.

The research found that the #1 reason why these households avoid banks is that they feel that they don’t have enough money. The #2 reason is that they simply don’t trust banks.

If you hold these beliefs, I get it. Banks do sketchy things, and overdraft fees are a pain. But the benefits of opening accounts with the right bank far outweigh the potential cons.

A checking account is critical for safely storing and accessing your money on a daily basis. It also enables you to make purchases with a credit card, which can help build positive credit. Lastly, having at least a checking account will enable you to set up direct deposit with work, which we’ll talk about below.

A savings account is a rainy day fund that accumulates a little interest (around 1.0% these days, compounded annually). If you have money that you won’t need immediately but may need before retirement, a savings account is a good place to keep it.

For a great starter mobile financial app, consider Chime®. They offer checking and savings accounts, and I don’t hesitate to recommend them to someone making minimum wage because they help you build credit and charge zero fees (their whole mission is to make money off of banks, not customers)². Plus, they make it super easy to get started.

Finally, I strongly recommend setting up a retirement account. Even if you can only contribute a few bucks a month (or a year), that money will still multiply by a factor of 10-15 by the time you retire, so it’s much better than not having any retirement savings at all. Plus, in my experience, just knowing that I was saving something for retirement was a stress-reliever.

To open a retirement account and put a few bucks in, I recommend Betterment. It’s a “robo-advisor,” meaning it’s an AI that never sleeps, optimizing your investments 24/7. You can open an account with a $10 required minimum deposit to start investing, and Betterment charges an annual fee of just 0.25% of your account balance (so no “minimum balance” nonsense here).

² There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.

Set up direct deposit and automated bill pay

I mentioned direct deposit earlier as a benefit of a checking account. Why is that important?

Direct deposit is where you give your employer your account info so instead of writing a check, they can just directly deposit your pay into your bank account. Direct deposit is awesome because it means no more lost checks and you can get your money two-five days faster, and anyone living paycheck-to-paycheck knows that getting cash faster can make a huge difference at the end of the month.

Next, a checking account will also enable you to set up automatic bill pay. Most banks will have online dashboards where you can input recipients like AT&T and your landlord and set up automatic payments to them each month.

Now, AT&T and your leasing company might offer to automatically withdraw from your account when your bills are due, but I wouldn’t recommend this for two reasons. Let’s say you give your account and routing numbers to AT&T so they can automatically withdraw $50 each month. Regardless of how much money is in your account, AT&T will always try to withdraw $50, which could leave you without food/rent money or worse, overdrafted. Next, AT&T might simply make a clerical mistake and withdraw $500, and it can take a lot of red tape to get it back.

So instead, keep control of your automatic payments yourself so you can always quickly turn off the taps if you need to save money.

Avoid bad debt and build good credit

Never try payday loans

If you’ve ever considered taking out a loan from a payday lender, just don’t. Beg, borrow (but don’t steal) from friends and family before you walk into one of those places, because statistically, most people who take payday loans end up owing magnitudes more than they borrowed.

If you’re short on cash and friends and family couldn’t come through, you can also try Earnin. Earnin is a community-sourced app that lets you withdraw up to $100 per day from your next paycheck amount in advance. Most crucially, they don’t charge fees or interest.

Build good credit simply by getting your credit report

Next, you’ll want to start building some good credit. Your credit score is an indicator not of your wealth, but how likely you are to pay back a loan in time. Building good credit is essential because having good credit lowers your interest rates on future loans. Improving your credit score by just 100 in your 20s can help you save thousands on your car payment, or even a mortgage.

To start, you can check your credit score for free, with no strings attached, at Credit Karma. Also, you’ve probably read in the news about unscrupulous tax filing companies that dupe Americans into paying to file their taxes when it should be free. Well, Credit Karma Tax doesn’t mess around and lets you file your taxes easily, 100% free. Put a note on your calendar to head to Credit Karma Tax next April.

Build your credit by using a credit card responsibly

Aside from paying bills and loans on time, a great way to build good credit is to put your bills and expenses on a credit card. Yes, having a credit card with a big line of credit is a slippery slope for anyone regardless of income, but as long as you stick to your 50-30-20 budget and set up autopay, you’ll be fine.

Having a credit card while you’re living on minimum wage is a good idea because it can generate cash back on your existing daily expenses. I’m a massive fan of my Chase Freedom Unlimited® for this reason; it offers cash back in every category imaginable. You’ll start by earning 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and finally, 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. So there’s a little something for every category I spend in.

Plus, you can earn an additional 1.5% on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

Get some government benefits

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, you may qualify for some government support. The federal and state governments offer programs that provide food, utilities, healthcare, child care, insurance, phones, and more.

To see which benefits you might qualify for, visit benefits.gov.

You may also qualify to receive some help from a local non-profit group. For example, I recently did some work with Helping Mamas in Atlanta, Georgia, who supplies food, diapers, and other critical supplies to low-income mothers in need.

Do a little research and see what non-governmental resources might be available to you locally. You can also use Reddit and Facebook to connect with other minimum wage earners in your area to learn more about where others are seeking support.

Take classes, freelance, and increase your earnings

Did you know that some states offer community college for free, and most will offer scholarships to students with financial needs?

It may seem like an exhausting prospect to take classes on top of a 60-hour workweek, but learning an in-demand skill or trade at community college is the fastest way to transform your earnings into a liveable wage. According to CNN Money, graduates of a vocational program that took less than six months to complete earned an average salary of around $38,000 after graduation. If you get a two-year associate degree in STEM, you can earn twice that.

If you’re looking for a trickle of extra cash in the short term, ask yourself: is there one skill or favor that my friends keep asking me to do? Maybe it’s video editing, photography, public speaking, writing, moving, handiwork, etc. If so, start charging! Use sites like Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and Upwork to list your services and start your fees above the minimums you see so people place value on your work.

Finally, if you’re already spending a lot of time gaming on your smartphone or surfing the web, you might consider earning a little extra cash on Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a safe, secure place where you can watch videos, take surveys, even play games in exchange for gift cards. It all equates to around $2 per hour so it’s less of an income stream than a trickle, but a little time on Swagbucks per day could cover a grocery bill or two.

Set some financial goals

Once you’ve taken the above steps to regain your financial footing and recoup some mental health, let’s set some financial goals.

There are plenty of “ducks in a row” apps out there that will help you organize your finances, stick to a budget, and set a reasonable goal (i.e. save for a down payment on a house) that you can track over time. However, my personal favorite and the one I recommend for minimum wage earners is PocketSmith.

PocketSmith is like a virtual financial assistant. In addition to helping you organize a crystal clear picture of your earnings and financial outlook, its most notable feature is financial forecasting. You can tell PocketSmith that you’re considering a big purchase like a new bike or a down payment on a car and it’ll actually show you how such a decision will impact your finances and savings goals.

Best of all, it offers these services, including forecasting, for free in its Basic Plan.

Summary

Living off of minimum wage is mentally and physically draining, but with some strategy, you can alleviate the stress in the short term and achieve financial independence sooner than you think.

For more on how to cut expenses and increase your earnings while on minimum wage, check out MU30’s article: How To Save And Invest When You Make Minimum Wage.

Source: moneyunder30.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 9, 2023 by Brett Tams

If you’re thinking about buying a home or refinancing an existing mortgage, you may have come across Eagle Home Mortgage on your journey.

They’re more likely to come up if purchasing a home since they are a direct mortgage lender owned by Lennar, which is now the nation’s largest homebuilder thanks to its acquisition of CalAtlantic in April 2018.

In short, Eagle Home Mortgage acts as the home builder’s financing department, though if you buy a home from Lennar you don’t have to use them.

It’s just that borrowers often use the builder’s finance department as opposed to an outside mortgage lender seeing that it’s the easiest and most obvious choice, and usually the path of least resistance.

There may also be some synergies to using affiliated companies, whether it’s a special incentive or just a faster loan process, knowing a home purchase with their builder is on the line.

In 2019, they provided home loan financing to more than 34,000 families looking to purchase a home. Let’s discover more about Eagle Home Mortgage.

Eagle Home Mortgage Fast Facts

Retail consumer-direct mortgage lender founded in 1981
Subsidiary of Lennar Corp., nation’s largest homebuilder
Company headquarters located in Miami, Florida
Closed more than 34,000 home purchase loans in 2019
More than 1,500 employees nationwide
A top-30 mortgage lender overall that specializes in new home purchase financing
Does most of their business in Florida and Texas

Where Is Eagle Home Mortgage Licensed?

First things first, you should make sure the company is actually licensed to do business in the state where you reside, or are purchasing a home.

Unfortunately, they are only licensed in less than two dozen states and not nationwide. This clearly has to do with Lennar and its communities, which are located in just 21 states.

As suspected, Eagle Home Mortgage is licensed in 21 states, including: AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MN, NJ, NV, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA.

Now if Lennar decides to build new homes in additional states, there’s a good chance Eagle Home Mortgage will move into those states as well.

So if and when you’re interested in buying a Lennar home, expect Eagle Home to be a potential mortgage provider.

Eagle Home Digital Mortgage and Eagle Express Close

You can apply online or by phone with their digital mortgage app powered by Blend
Or visit a local branch office if you prefer a face-to-face meeting
Use their loan officer directory if you’ve been referred to someone specific
And take advantage of their Eagle Express Close with e-signing capabilities to fund your loan quickly

The company has the tagline, “Paperless. Effortless. Awesomeness.” It’s in reference to their digital mortgage experience, which I assume is both fast and easy on the environment.

They say you can get pre-qualified in as little as 10 minutes via their digital mortgage process that is powered by fintech company Blend.

You simply fill out a loan application on their website as opposed to having a loan officer walk you through it. Of course, you can do that too if you need a helping hand.

Their digital process also allows you to link bank accounts and other financial information so it can be securely added to your application for more accurate figures and faster processing.

Those who are more old school have the option of using the company’s branch directory to find a local office for a phone call or face-to-face meeting.

And if you’re already working with someone or have been referred, you can use the loan officer directory on their website to find that individual.

When it comes to closing your home loan, Eagle Home also offers a digital process known as “Eagle Express Close” that includes online closings and remote signatures for documents.

You can review and e-sign many of your closing documents before attending your closing appointment, and download them instead of printing them all out.

The process can be faster while also giving you time to review everything with your loan officer, instead of feeling overwhelmed at the closing table.

Eagle Home Mortgage Loan Options

Mainly focused on home purchase financing but also offer refinance loans
Loan types include conventional and government (FHA, VA, USDA)
Offer fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages in varying terms
Jumbo loans and reverse mortgages are also available
Their loan officers are well-educated on available down payment assistance (DPA) programs

Eagle Home Mortgage has tons of available loan options, including both conventional loans and government loans.

You can get a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or an FHA loan, USDA loan, or VA loan.

With regard to home purchase financing, their loan officers are well-versed in the many down payment assistance (DPA) programs that may be available via your local or state government.

Eagle Home Mortgage says it has many DPA options available to help customers become homeowners, seeing that down payment is often the biggest hurdle toward homeownership.

These may be in the form of a second mortgage (or even a third mortgage), or a grant that might not need to be repaid and can typically be used toward both the down payment and closing costs.

Those purchasing or refinancing a more expensive property can also get approved for a jumbo loan via Eagle Home Mortgage.

In the refinance department, they offer both rate and term refinances and cash out refinances, the latter of which can be used to tap into home equity if you need money for other purposes.

They also offer the “Student Loan Debt Mortgage Program,” where they will contribute up to 3% of the purchase price to pay off a borrower’s student loans when they buy a new home from Lennar.

Lastly, they offer reverse mortgages to borrowers aged 62 or older who wish to tap equity without taking on monthly mortgage payments.

The only loan options they seem to be lacking are renovation loans and home equity loan/line programs.

With regard to loan type, you can get a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage with various loan terms, and they offer financing on primary residences, second homes, and investment properties.

They mostly seem to originate 30-year fixed mortgages, with some 15-year fixed mortgages and a smaller proportion of ARMs.

Eagle Home Mortgage Rates

In terms of how competitive they are, they don’t make many mentions of their mortgage rates or lender fees on their website.

However, they recently posted a limited-time promotion pitching “our lowest historic rate,” which was a 2.5% mortgage rate.

It’s unclear what type of mortgage it is, but I assume it’s a 30-year fixed since that seems to be their go-to loan program for their customers.

Now that promotion aside, I can’t say with any certainty how they stack up against other mortgage lenders out there.

Ultimately, you’d have to take the time to shop around. But as mentioned, many Eagle Home Mortgage customers are likely buying Lennar-built homes, so they may want to keep everything in-house, no pun intended.

Remember, you can always use an outside lender if buying a new home from a developer, so it’s wise to set aside some time for comparison shopping.

Eagle Home Mortgage Reviews

The company seems to be very well regarded, with a 4.94 rating out of 5 on Zillow based on roughly 1,600 reviews.

Many of the customer reviews indicate the interest rate was lower than expected, and lots say the fees/closing costs were also lower than anticipated.

So they seem to be well-liked and competitive pricing-wise, assuming these customers shopped around with other lenders.

While they aren’t an accredited business, they do have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which appears to be based on the lack of customer complaints currently filed against the company.

As always, customer experiences will vary, especially at a very large company. But as noted, their loan officers will likely be highly incentivized to close your loan if it’s also a Lennar-built home.

That means there’s a good chance they’ll do all they can to get your home loan to the finish line.

Eagle Home Mortgage Pros and Cons

The Good Stuff

Can apply directly online via a digital mortgage application
Lots of loan options and down payment assistance (DPA) programs to choose from
If also buying a home from Lennar they might be quick and dedicated to closing on time
Eagle Express Close allows you to e-sign many loan documents
Great customer reviews on Zillow
Free mortgage calculators on site

The Possible Bad Stuff

No mention of mortgage rates or lender fees
Not licensed in all states
No home equity loan products available
Might be better suited for purchases rather than refinances

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

July 9, 2023 by Brett Tams

If you’re thinking about buying a home or refinancing an existing mortgage, you may have come across Eagle Home Mortgage on your journey.

In short, Eagle Home Mortgage acts as the home builder’s financing department, though if you buy a home from Lennar you don’t have to use them.

There may also be some synergies to using affiliated companies, whether it’s a special incentive or just a faster loan process, knowing a home purchase with their builder is on the line.

In 2019, they provided home loan financing to more than 34,000 families looking to purchase a home. Let’s discover more about Eagle Home Mortgage.

Eagle Home Mortgage Fast Facts

Retail consumer-direct mortgage lender founded in 1981
Subsidiary of Lennar Corp., nation’s largest homebuilder
Company headquarters located in Miami, Florida
Closed more than 34,000 home purchase loans in 2019
More than 1,500 employees nationwide
A top-30 mortgage lender overall that specializes in new home purchase financing
Does most of their business in Florida and Texas

Where Is Eagle Home Mortgage Licensed?

First things first, you should make sure the company is actually licensed to do business in the state where you reside, or are purchasing a home.

Unfortunately, they are only licensed in less than two dozen states and not nationwide. This clearly has to do with Lennar and its communities, which are located in just 21 states.

As suspected, Eagle Home Mortgage is licensed in 21 states, including: AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MN, NJ, NV, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA.

Now if Lennar decides to build new homes in additional states, there’s a good chance Eagle Home Mortgage will move into those states as well.

So if and when you’re interested in buying a Lennar home, expect Eagle Home to be a potential mortgage provider.

Eagle Home Digital Mortgage and Eagle Express Close

You can apply online or by phone with their digital mortgage app powered by Blend
Or visit a local branch office if you prefer a face-to-face meeting
Use their loan officer directory if you’ve been referred to someone specific
And take advantage of their Eagle Express Close with e-signing capabilities to fund your loan quickly