Optimumbank

Bank credit: is it growing, and where’s it going?

Lenders have loosened purse strings, but some sectors are monopolising bank loans. Hence the clamour for more credit

Here's What You Need to Look For to Make Sure You're Not Being Scammed at the ATM

Mortgage Loans: Stick With A Bank Or Go With A Broker?

It matters where you go for a mortgage. Who offers a better deal — a banker or broker?

Is a personal loan for you?

Personal loans have surged in popularity, due in part to increasing consumer confidence and a growing array of online lenders to provide them.

Tips for a successful Youth Month Savings Challenge

There’s less than two months to go until National Credit Union Youth Month™, when credit unions from coast to coast will urge kids to “Give a Hoot About Savings” and discover the life-changing power of credit union membership. As your celebration planning gets underway, don’t forget about one of the most powerful business development opportunities …

15 Ways Supermarkets Trick You Into Spending More Money

How to Get the Best Auto Loan Rates

Do you know how to find the best auto loan rates? We've outlined some tips here to help guide you through the process.

Why Banks Ask for a Personal Guarantee Before a Loan

It’s a common scenario: You have a thriving business, and it’s doing so well that you believe it’s time to expand. That expansion requires more money, and, of course, increases your risk of failure. But you have studied your options, talked with advisors, and everyone agrees it’s a smart and potentially lucrative move. Your bank …

How to Deposit Cash: Local Banks, ATMs, and Online Banks

If you need to deposit cash into your bank account, you have several options, including your local bank branch or an ATM that accepts deposits. While it isn’t possible to make deposits directly to …

How To Get a Loan Without a Bank

In between Chase Manhattan and Vinny (who breaks your legs if you don't pay your loan) lie new online services connecting borrowers with lenders. They're not banks. They're websites that facilitate peer-to-peer connections. The two biggest--LendingClub and Prosper--offer borrowers interest rates...

Loans That Avoid Banks? Maybe Not

Peer-to-peer finance has a new swarm of lenders: some of the same kinds of big institutions it once shunned.

What Will the Bank Accept as Collateral for Your Small Business Loan?

What is collateral and what types of assets do banks and financial institutions accept as collateral for small business loans?

Many banks are easing loan standards, survey finds

It’s a good time for consumers to look for a loan. As competition in the finance sector increases, new survey findings suggest that many banks are swimming

what must banks do to extend services?

What role must banks play in ensuring that 'ATM deserts' where people struggle to access cash do not become more widespread?

Banks Frustrate Consumers Who Crave a Personal Experience

There's a disconnect between consumer expectations and the experience banks deliver. Banks think they are personal, but consumers disagree.

More loan growth for small banks, but can it last?

Elevated interest rates, economic uncertainty and financial sector fragility exposed by recent bank failures threaten to stunt lending activity.

Non-bank loans: quick, easy...and addictive?

Alternative lenders are gaining traction and handing out billions of dollars in loans to small business owners. But it could come at a cost.

Need a loan? Try the little bank down the street

For some small firms, a hyper-local approach to borrowing can pay off, a financier says.

Satisfaction Scores Doubling For Banks That Get Personal

When banks provide personal attention, key satisfaction indicators skyrocket. But many retail financial institutions are missing the mark.

Who Funds Mortgage Loans? Banks, Credit Unions, Mortgage Banks, and Brokers

Mortgage Banks channels can typically move much faster than commercial banks b/c they are less regulated, smaller and more nimble.