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The New Year's resolution that should be on the top of nearly everyone's list: drop a bad banking relationship. Here's a checklist that will help you get switched over to your new bank account as seamlessly as possible.

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The costs for getting a mortgage include more than just the interest on the loan. There are several fees associated with the process. Some mortgage lenders charge unnecessary fees or overcharge third-party fees. How can you avoid overpaying?

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We're going to start the 2012 weekly rate deals with a rewards checking account from Consumers Credit Union that pays 4.09% APY. Unlike many credit unions, anyone can easily join Consumers Credit Union, and because the bank has online banking and an online application, the account is available nationally.

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Many home buyers have found great bargains by purchasing a short sale home. But how easy is it to purchase a short sale home? And is it worth the trouble?

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Aflac Federal Credit Union is offering a 2.41% APY savings account for its members, and that's no quack.

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GE Stepping Into Savings and CD Arena with Purchase of MetLife Bank Image Image courtesy of cooldesign at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

GE Stepping Into Savings and CD Arena with Purchase of MetLife Bank

GE today announced that it was purchasing MetLife's U.S. deposit business - or in plain language, MetLife's online banking business.

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Discussion - Can Community Banks Survive and Thrive and Would You Give Them Your Money? Image Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Discussion - Can Community Banks Survive and Thrive and Would You Give Them Your Money?

There are over 7,000 community banks (assets below $10 billion) in the country and over 7,000 credit unions, yet over 400 community banks have closed in the past three years. Can community banks survive and thrive in the future?

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Bank of America Overdraft Settlement Checks Begin to Arrive - $98.16

In January 2009, we wrote about a settlement reached with Bank of America called Closson et.al., v. Bank of America. Nearly three years later I received my check and it was a nice surprise- $98.16.

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Q3 2011 Financial Data Released on BestCashCow - Banks Awash in Cash, Not Lending, and Slowly Mending Image Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Q3 2011 Financial Data Released on BestCashCow - Banks Awash in Cash, Not Lending, and Slowly Mending

BestCashCow released updated bank and credit union financial information with the latest data available from the FDIC and the NCUA. In general, banks are awash in cash, not lending, and slowly mending. See how this impacts you.

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Best Ohio CD Rates Image Image courtesy of renjith krishnan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Best Ohio CD Rates

We looked across Ohio to find the best 12-month CD rates. Here's what we found.

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Weekly Rate Deal - CIT Bank and Its 1.15% APY 12-Month Achiever CD Image Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Weekly Rate Deal - CIT Bank and Its 1.15% APY 12-Month Achiever CD

CIT Bank offers a 12-month CD paying 1.15% APY that can have one rate and deposit boost over the course of the term, providing some protection against rising rates.

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Which Energy Company Pays a Dividend and Lets You Sleep at Night? Image Image courtesy of tiverylucky at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Which Energy Company Pays a Dividend and Lets You Sleep at Night?

With a five year CD paying on average 1.55% APY, and a 30-year Treasury at 2.85%, we set out to see if we could find any energy stocks that looked like they could provide a bit more of a return with a semblence of safety.

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TIPS - Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities - How to Know When to Invest Image Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

TIPS - Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities - How to Know When to Invest

Does it make sense to buy TIPS? What is the TIPS yield telling us about the economy and future inflation expectations? Why buy a TIPS versus a regular Treasury security?

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Fed Statement Provides a Few Rays of Light to Savers Image Image courtesy of sriharun at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Fed Statement Provides a Few Rays of Light to Savers

The Federal Reserve released their FOMC statement today and while slightly more optimistic than prior statements, made it clear rates will remain low for some time. Savers cannot rely on the Fed for more yield.

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The Intel Warning: Is the High Dividend in Jeopardy? Image Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Intel Warning: Is the High Dividend in Jeopardy?

What does today's warning mean for the future of the high dividend at this tech stalwart.

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