Tag Archives: consumers
FOMC pledges to keep loan interest rates at historic levels
Loan interest rates are at the top of mind for most every consumer and business owner in todays economy. The economic collapse that led to one of the worst recessions in the past fifty years has affected every borrower in the country. The government quickly approached the FOMC to work to create a plan to free up capital and help keep the economy moving forward by drastically lowering interest rates. The drop with Fed interest rates helped bring down rates on car loans, credit cards and mortgage loans, helping consumers and businesses improve their financial balance sheet with lower payments.
Consumers and business owners who have been able to obtain a loan over the last two years should have benefitted with historically low rate loan offerings. The drop with interest rates allowed banks to continue borrowing money from the Federal Reserve and benefit with improved margins, while offering consumers incentives to refinance their home mortgages and businesses to benefit from lower rates on their variable rate credit loans. The ability for borrowers to obtain low rate financing was a key component with the government pushing the Federal Reserve to aggressively assist to help contain the economic crisis.
The prospect of low interest rates being available for the balance of the year were all but guaranteed by Chairman of the Fed Ben Bernanke in testimony last week. The Fed has made clear that they will not look to raise rates without a strong signal that the economy is on solid footing. The Fed will closely monitor the labor markets with an expectation that the economy should start producing new jobs in the second half of 2010 as well as the real estate market to monitor home sales. Consumer confidence is certainly an area that has been hurt by the economic catastrophe and the Federal Reserve and government are both acutely aware of the lack of confidence main street has in the government as well as banking industry.
Lending will continue to draw the highest scrutiny from the public and government as groups monitoring the banking industry will try to push for additional funds to help spur growth. To date, the banks have been very hesitant to begin lending to small business owners and consumers who have sought out personal loans. The lack of financing by the lending market has been detrimental to helping create job growth as well as spur purchasing which could help the economy. Consumers who historically obtained signature or personal loans from their banks have found limited financing options for borrowing money without collateral in the new banking world. Limiting these options tends to push consumers into higher rate alternatives such as cash advance loans, payday loans and credit card cash advances. Savvy consumers are also exploring beginning relationships with credit unions, which have significantly grown in popularity over the past twenty four months with their ability to fulfill a critical portion of the lending market.
Interest rates should stay low and this is the best news for the market, as additional financing options become available to consumers and businesses look for a heightened pace to the economic recovery.
Credit Card Leaders: Visa and American Express
When it came to getting a credit card, millions of consumers all over the world chose Visa cards, which allows them to manage their finances in a better way, while enabling them to choose a system of payment for their purchases, either in increments over time or at the end of each month. Visa cardholders are offered the opportunity to pay for their purchases in the manner and at the time that work best for them.
Getting a Visa card can only be possible after you have contacted one of the banks that issue Visa cards. The good news is that the Visa cards are so widely spread all over the world that chances are youll find such an organization quite close to you.
The types of cards offered by Visa through its issuing members are credit cards, debit cards and prepaid cards.
With a Visa debit card, the customer can have access to his/her money regardless of their location as long as they see a Visa symbol. The money is deducted from their balance, with no interest. There are many advantages to using a card, such as saving the trip to the bank or the need to queue up for a cash dispenser, or being safer than carrying money. When you lose money, its gone forever. However, if you should happen to lose your Visa card, it can be stopped as soon as it has been declared lost or stolen, and be replaced afterwards.
The are several types of Visa debit cards, including Visa Electron, most popular in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East and ideal for a wide range of customers as it has in-built security features; Visa Classic, designed for those who use their cards everywhere, be it the real world, the Internet or by telephone; Visa Gold, whose most important benefit is that your card or cash, or both of them, can be replaced, should it be lost or stolen; and Visa Platinum, designed for high-spenders who can enjoy its top-level services.
Visa prepaid cards allow consumers to control spending, as well as to send money home, pay for their trips, teach their children money management, or even give it as a gift.
With Visa credit cards customers are offered a whole new world of possibilities, being exceptionally reliable and convenient.
Another company best known for its businesses with credit cards, charge cards and travelers cheques is American Express, or Amex.
American Express issues a great variety of credit cards, each with specific benefits, so as to please and meet the needs of all their customers. Consumers can choose from the American Express Card, America Express Gold Card, Rewards Plus Gold Card, Platinum Card, Blue form American Express, and so forth. The remarkable benefits of the American Express credit cards include personal service and attention at an exceptional level, use membership points for traveling, shopping and entertainment, access to entertainment events, special travel privileges, and many more.
The American Express Gift Cards have special offers from participating merchants and retailers all over the nation. The American Express Gift Cards can be purchased for any occasion, and in an easy manner, as they are available online.