Here is everything you need to know about opening an online bank account Having a bank account is important for more than one reason. From carrying out transactions to maintaining a stable financial base, a bank account makes the process easier. However, the thought of opening a bank account can make you cringe. Making several trips to the bank with all the right documents can cause trouble. However, like with every other thing, opening a bank account has become effortless with time. Today, banks offer a service that allows one to open an online bank account. While this is a relatively new option, it is being adapted widely for the convenience it brings. Opening an online bank account eliminates long queues and the effort of going to the bank. You can complete the process within the confines of your home and at any time of the day. If you are looking open an online bank account, here are few things that you should understand. Which bank should you open an online bank account with? Consider several banks and clearly understand the terms and policies before opting for the most suitable one. Ask trusted friends and relatives who can give you good feedback about the institutions that they bank with. Inquire about the service charges and fees that you will have pay. Also, ways to avoid these payments. Ensure that your bank has ATMs around your area and offers good customer service when you need assistance. Preferably opt for nationalized or reputed banks that you can trust. Decide on what type of account you need? The type of bank account you choose, depends on the transactions you require to make in the future. Open a checking account if you want an account through which you can pay your utility bills, for daily expenditure, etc. These accounts bring with them ATM access and no monthly fees. If you want to save up for an emergency fund or a future goal, you should choose a savings account. The interest rates on these accounts are higher. What are requirements when opening an online bank account? It does not matter whether you open an online bank account or one in person, the information required to begin the process remains the same. You must be at least 18 years of age before you can open a bank account. You need to provide the bank with identification. This can be any government-issued identity such as a driver’s license or passport. It may be essential to provide your social security number to a few banks. In case you are wary of doing the same online, you may have allowed to provide other numbers such as a Taxpayer identification number. You will have to fill a personal details form. This will include basic information such as address, date of birth, email address and phone number. An initial deposit may be asked of you to open the account. This transaction can be done through a check, debit or credit card. When is a bank likely to turn down your request to open an online bank account? In case a bank is unable to verify the information provided by you, there is a high possibility of your application being denied. This is because there are several cases of identity thieves who steal who create accounts by using someone else’s data. Thus, ensure that you fill in the accurate information. In case you are defaulter at another bank or have mismanaged an account previously, you may be at the risk having your application denied. Many banks may consider your credit score. After you put an online application, a bank can pull out your credit score. If your credit score is too low, you may be denied.

4 FAQs when opening an online checking account Checking accounts are the kind of bank accounts through which you can easily access your cash. It can be done using a debit card to withdraw, write checks, or make payments. Online checking accounts work on the same premise, the only difference being that online checking accounts offer services and transactions 24/7 as customers can access their accounts conveniently through the Internet. You can also access your certificate of deposit (CD) account or individual retirement account (IRA) with just a few clicks. Let us get to know more about what checking accounts have to offer: What are the advantages of opening an online checking account? Online free checking accounts have a fewer fees than traditional accounts – Online free checking accounts are gaining popularity in the recent times. This is because they have fewer fees and some virtual banks reimburse you for ATM fees nationally. They offer no minimum deposit amounts. Nationwide comparison shopping – Online checking bank accounts widens your banking network. Most of these accounts have high rates and offer a high yield. Abundant personal finance tools – There are online bank accounts that offer functionality which helps in offering complex functionality that helps in connecting and spending budgets. Some online checking accounts also offer track savings and net worth. What are the drawbacks of opening an online checking account? Security concerns – Online banks claim that they offer high security on transactions. There are cyberthieves that target bank accounts with weak security credentials. They use malware that infects the web browsers and compromise a bank customer’s login details and passwords. Make sure that the banks use effective password protection systems and have an encrypted data to prevent any cyber thefts. It is harder to answer queries and resolve banking issues – Personal banking have a face-to-face communication which makes it easier to resolve problems and answer questions. In online banking, getting good banking service as late as 2 a.m. can be difficult; moreover, the website might dock you to their call center service that will try to resolve with traditional solutions. What are the things should I know before opening a checking account? Checking accounts typically come with personal checks. Just like any other bank accounts, they offer debit and ATM cards to help access your cash in the account. Online free checking accounts enable you to access your accounts as many times as you want. This makes them ideal for daily transactions and spending. However, the banks may have a limit on daily and monthly ATM withdrawals. So, when you are opening an online free checking account, make sure that your spending habits are aligned with the caps defined by the bank. Checking accounts, personal or online, are not known for their interest payments on the cash that you store in the bank. There are checking accounts that offer interest rates of 1 percent. Some of the popular national banks incur a maintenance fee as high as 15 dollars a month. This helps the banks to maintain thousands of their branch offices. It can be costly for the customers who cannot meet the bank’s fee-waiver requirements. It is better to open an online checking account if you are not willing to pay a monthly maintenance fee as they offer free checking accounts and do not charge any overdraft fees. How to find the right online free checking account? The first thing you should keep in mind is the sign-up bonuses that checking accounts offer when you sign up online for the first time. Look for online free checking accounts that offer rewards that include benefits such as above-market interest rates and fee refunds. Many banks offer free online checking accounts that could help you earn rewards. Teen checking accounts help the youth in managing their personal finances at an early age. These accounts require a parent or a guardian to be the co-signer.

A brief overview of life insurance companies Selecting the right life insurance company can be a struggle with so many life insurance companies claiming to serve you with the best. Most life insurance companies offer competitive products at strikingly similar prices. One of the most useful ways to choose a certain life insurance company over the other could be the price. It is, therefore, best to get a couple of life insurance quotes from a few companies to determine the life insurance company you could go for. Here’s what you need to know about life insurance companies. What are the aspects to consider before choosing the best life insurance company? Weigh the customer service. A company with an interactive customer service helps a great deal in the long run. Reviewing customer satisfaction scores can help you understand the company’s goodwill. Many portals let customers file a complaint against the company. The financial strength of the company is another crucial factor that you must consider before zeroing down on a company. Financial strength ratings are available on several financial review websites. It is best not to consider life insurance companies with ratings that go below B. Price is another important aspect that must be considered. Since the cost of coverage differs with every company, it is best to look for the company with the best quote. To determine the amount of life insurance you need, you must multiply your income by ten and buy about ten times the income. If you have children, a good idea would be to buy $1,00,000 per child for college expenses additionally. How can you decide whether you need a life insurance policy? The number of people dependent on your earnings can help you determine the type of insurance you may need. The amount of money the dependents would need as living expenses. The amount of time taken by your dependents to become self-sufficient can help you determine the type of policy you would need. Which are the popular life insurance companies that you can choose from? Northwestern Mutual company has a superior financial rating and holds about 8.46% of market share. The company gives life insurance option in the form of term life, whole life, universal life, variable life, comp life, and the like. The company ranks highly regarding customer satisfaction. New York Life Insurance Co. gives a corporate sponsored life insurance. The company holds a market share of about 5.74%. Met life or Metropolitan Life and Affiliated Cos. holds a 5.26% of market share and present term life, whole life, universal life, and guaranteed accepted whole life options. John Hancock Financial is one of the largest life insurance companies that give a special discount to gym goers for regular health screenings as a part of their vitality program. Which are some of the best insurance companies of 2017? People who wish to get a quick coverage without any compulsory medical examination may choose Haven life. One of the leading companies regarding product and services is Banner life that is usually best in terms of high-risk products. AIG is deemed the best based on the sheer size of the company. Prudential is one of the best life insurance companies for chewing tobacco users. Other top-rated companies include MetLife, Voya Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Genworth Financial, Transamerica, and the like. Which factors determine life insurance premiums? Usually, life insurance rates are based on life expectancy, health, age, gender, and whether you smoke. It is, therefore, best to get a life insurance as early in life as possible. What are the advantages of the term, whole, and universal life insurance? One of the biggest advantages of term life insurance is that it is simple to understand. Additionally, it is one of the cheapest ways to buy life insurance. Whole life insurance companies as the name suggests, covers you for the entire lifetime. What’s best, everything within the policy is guaranteed. Universal life insurance is cheaper than whole life and other forms of life insurance policies. The best part about universal insurance is that it lets you choose the age to which you wish the death benefit.

A brief overview of free credit score The credit score determines the financial status, such as whether you qualify for credit or a loan and most importantly, the interest rate that you pay on your loan. Any financial organization requires to know about your credit score. This helps them in determining if you are a safe customer to carry out transactions with. Your credit score has a major impact on the decisions that you make and the offers you avail because even a landlord can turn you down if your credit score does not measure up to the minimum requirements. The credit card score reflects how well you are able to manage your debt. If you are looking to improve your credit score, free credit score is the answer. One can apply for free credit through different services to monitor the progress of your credit. Here are factors that you should understand about credit scores and free credit score: Which are the key factors that influence credit score? Timely-payments can greatly impact your credit score.  It proves to lenders how reliable you are. Even a few payments that are made late can significantly affect your score. Thus, paying all your bills on time is essential for the good health of your credit. Your credit history determines your credit worthiness. The older your credit lines, the more information can be acquired. It proves how well you have been able to manage your credit score through the years. The total hard credit inquiries are those that occur when you apply for various loans such as student loan, personal, mortgage, etc. These are checks made by institutions to decide on whether your loan can be approved. Multiple hard credit inquiries can affect your credit score to a large extent. What are the factors that do not make impact your credit score? Surprisingly, our credit score is only determined by your payments and credit report information. Factors such your monthly income, alma mater, and family history are not considered. How can you get your credit score for free? Today, a large number of credit card companies offer free credit score. You can obtain your number from a bank or credit card issuer. Pay attention to your FICO. This score is considered to be the actual credit score. However, not all credit scores are calculated using FICO. There are many tools online that are great and allow you to see free credit score. These tools and services may money through advertisements from credit companies. How does free credit score aid in maintaining your score? If you know your credit score, it gives you a good idea of where the status of your credit is heading. You will have fair idea of how much you have to pay in interest before seeking a loan and whether you should actually go ahead with your application. Do free credit score services charge a fee? Most companies that offer free credit do not charge a fee. However, there are some companies that charge for this service. The fee may be a very nominal amount. What are the ways to improve your credit score? There are common cases where there may be mistakes or errors in your credit report. Fix these as soon as possible. If you notice any unpaid bills, make sure that you pay them off immediately. Keep tab on your future payments. Set reminders so that they do not slip off your mind and pay off the bill right away. Automating the process will effectively help. Even if you have a high credit score, refrain of using it as it will affect your credit score.

Everything you need to know about credit cards with no foreign transaction fee Are you planning to travel to a foreign country? Whether you are planning to travel abroad for a holiday or for your work, you need to take care of various things to make your journey and stay hassle-free. For instance, you should have your visa, travel permits, and passport in order. You should also consider the financial aspects, such as converted currency and traveler’s checks. However, traveler’s checks are slowly becoming redundant due to the prevalent use of plastic payment cards such as debit card and credit cards. Apart from convenience, these cards are also more secure compared to cash and checks that can be stolen or lost. With debit cards and credit cards, you can easily cancel the card with one call to the customer service center. Although using credit cards is simpler and safer, they can cost a lot if you use your national credit cards. This is because when you use your credit card or debit card in any foreign country, a foreign transaction fee will be charged whenever you swipe your card. To avoid additional charges, you can opt for credit cards with no transaction fees. Read on to know more about getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fee. What is a foreign transaction fee? Foreign transaction fees are added to charges added to any transaction that occurs in a foreign country. Even if you book a ticket through a website that is not based in your home country, you may be charged with foreign transaction fees if you use your credit card for the transaction. This foreign transaction fee can be as high as 3% on each transaction. So, if you are making any big purchases or even booking rooms through your credit card, you might end up with a huge credit debt at the end of your due date. When should you apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee? If you frequently travel to foreign countries. If you are going on a holiday abroad. If you frequently purchase goods from foreign-based retailers or merchants. If you often buy from online retailers not based in your home country. Are foreign transaction fees involved while using debit cards abroad? Yes, you will be levied foreign transaction fees when you use your debit cards in a foreign country. The foreign transaction fee is also called currency conversion fee. It is usually between $1 and $5. Also, if you use your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM, you will be charged an international ATM fee along with additional charges. Which are the popular credit cards with no foreign transaction fee? Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard TRIO Credit Card from Fifth Third Bank Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card Discover it Miles PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express Card How to apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee? First, you select a credit card with no foreign transaction fee that gives you the maximum benefits suitable for your requirements You can then apply online through the card company’s website by providing your personal information, mailing address, mention your credit score, mention your source of income, your annual income, credit history, and so on. You will go through certain verification checks similar to those required while applying for any regular credit card. Once all the processes are completed, you will receive your credit card.

4 frequently asked questions for choosing the best franchises to own in the US A franchise is a type of license that a party, known as the franchisee acquires in order to allow them to have access to the franchiser’s (a business’) proprietary knowledge, trademarks, and processes to allow the franchisee to sell a product or provide a service under the established business’ name. The franchisee pays the franchisor initial start-up and annual licensing fee. Choosing the best franchises to own in the US can be a tricky business. Here are some questions that you should ask before owning a franchise. What is the ideal budget when choosing the best franchises to own? The cost of a franchise depends on the industry and the business model. There are some business models that have an upfront fee of $10,000, while others can go up to $1 million. Before deciding to own a franchise, the prospective franchisees should consider the initial investment that would be required to own the franchise and how much returns should be expected from the business. The franchisee should consider their own lifestyle, wealth, income, and equity when choosing from the best franchises to own. What are the basic business skills required for own the best franchise? It is important for the franchisees to understand basic entrepreneurial skills. To succeed in a franchise, franchisees should be willing to take small and controlled risks to the least. This risk aversion comes with a fact that every business involves some level of risk and failure. To own some of the best franchises you need a specific set of operations which will tell you the best way of associating with the business. How to determine which franchisee is the best for you? When choosing the best franchises to own, you need to narrow down the reasons for choosing one primarily. Decide on the factor if you want own the franchise as a hobby, a part-time, or a full-time job. This will help you decide whether you want the franchise as a primary source of income or to build it as an equity. Evaluate your skill sets as you should possess prior professional experience that you were comfortable with before choosing from the best franchises to own across the country. This includes interacting with clients via cold calling or interacting with them from behind the counter. In the initial days of setting up a franchise, you might have to manage minimum wage employees and work on the field with clients and customers yourself. Which are some of the best franchises to own in the country? Based on the risk involved in the business, here are some of the best franchises that you can own: Ace Hardware currently owns and operates more than 10000 stores across seven countries. It has been franchising since the past 40 years and has a brand tradition of 93 years. They offer their customers a wide range of tools to maintain their gardens and houses and also provide advices regarding the same. Fast food chains and fancy restaurants is a very profitable business. Jack in the Box is one such franchise. Opened back in 1951, it started franchising around 35 years ago. Although the initial investment of setting up this franchise is around $1 million, it might turn out to be a profitable investment. Continuing to state the fact restaurant franchises are one of the most profitable businesses to own, Hardee’s is one of the franchises that need a initial investment capital of roughly $1.5 million. Fitness is very important nowadays, especially when many people have desk jobs that make them sit for most of their working hours. Being one of the youngest and one of the best franchises to own, Anytime Fitness has acquired great success by promoting a healthy lifestyle. The start up cost to own this franchise ranges between $80,000 to $100,000. Being in the cleaning and a restoration industry, Servpro has been franchising for the last 48 years. If you are looking to avoid food-based business and are considering to go for a more practical type of a business, Servpro might be the choice for you. The initial investment needed for this venture is around $150,000.