MoneyCafe.com

From now until February 28th, Discover Bank is offering a $50.00 bonus when you open a CD account with a minimum of $10,000.  You must use an offer code and open the account online.  We have found several offer codes, which are all re-usable and can be passed along.  D00741, D100739, D100816 and D100819 should all be valid offer codes.   See the details and open the account here.

Discover Bank has pretty good rates, currently offering 2.75% on a 1 year CD and 3.25% on a 3 year CD.

See also:
http://fb.discoverbank.com/campaigns/products/cd/1year/200902/index.aspx
http://www.moneycafe.com/personal/featured/cds.htm

From now until February 28th, open a PNC Bank checking account with direct deposit and PNC will give you $75.00.  See the details here.

See also:
https://www.pnc.com/webapp/unsec/Blank.do?siteArea=/PNC/Home/Personal/Checking/Checking%2bOffers/Bonus%2bDays&WT.mc_id=BONUS0209_PNCWeb_0001&WT.ac=BONUS_0209_P_FL
http://www.moneycafe.com/personal/featured/checking.htm

This is a look at some of the best interest rates for deposits and loans from national banks and lenders. (Surveyed Monday afternoon.) 

Rates are APY (Annual Percentage Yield)

Rates are APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
Assumptions:  $320,000 conforming loan, 20% down, excellent credit, documented income, priced with approximately 1 point loan cost
California property  (Rates Survey between Friday and Monday)

Sending money internationally used to involve local agents and include steep charges.   iKobo Money Transfer has a system that utilizes re-loadable prepaid VISA cards.  There are still some charges but no agents to pay.  Using electronic banking and the VISA network, iKobo claims their system is convenient, affordable, safe, private and secure.  If you need to send money overseas, it’s worth a look to see if it fits your needs.

iKobo Money Transfer offers our community 40% off of the first transaction by using coupon code “MCAF40″

See also:
http://www.moneycafe.com/personal/featured/moneytransfer.htm

With unemployment getting higher, there are now about twice as many people looking for jobs as usual.  Here are a couple of websites full of great information to help you pursue new employment and make informed decisions about current employment.

First, GlassDoor.com is a great resource for information about employers.  It provides reviews of employers, company ratings and salary data.  This is a very worthwhile site for anyone, whether you are looking for a job or not; whether you are happy with your employer or not.  They claim to have all the information available to manage your career.  The information on the site is free.  They just ask that you share information first – calling it the “give to get” model.

Career Builder is another great resource with a wealth of information and new job postings all the time.  Our Career Center is powered by Career Builder.  Check it out.  They offer job searches, a job seeker toolkit, career advice and much more. 

Times are very tough for those without employment as we live through this uniquely severe economic period.  But on the bright side, we live in a unique time with all the vast and growing resources of the Internet.  These resources with the instant availability of useful, timely and free information will certainly make our economy much more resilient than in the past.  Now, if we can only get our government out of the way, or at least paddling in the right direction…..

See:
http://www.glassdoor.com
http://www.moneycafe.com/careercenter/

Starting Friday, Experian will no longer allow consumers to view their own FICO score that is based upon Experian data.  Lenders will still be able to get access to this number.  So basically a lender has access to information about you and may make a decision based upon that information; but you do not have access to that same information.  There is a good article on this at SmartMoney.com. 

Equifax and TransUnion will continue to allow consumers access to FICO scores based upon their data.  You can still get your Experian based FICO score today if needed in our Credit Reports section.

See:
http://www.smartmoney.com/Spending/Deals/Key-Credit-Score-to-Be-Hidden-From-Consumers/
http://www.moneycafe.com/creditreports/