Tag: banking
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Too Much Information = Too Little Action?
A little knowledge, so they say, is a dangerous thing. But in an age of 24/7 access to information about anything, too much knowledge may not be a good thing either. As psychologists, efficiency experts and financial advisors point out, it’s all too easy to become paralyzed by the constant need to learn more, stay…
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Social Media Missteps Can Hurt Credit
It’s an open secret that companies routinely Google job applicants and examine their social media profiles as part of the hiring process. But in a more regulated and cautious lending atmosphere, banks and other financial institutions are starting to look at the social media activity of loan applicants to determine creditworthiness for mortgages and other…
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Do It Yourself Digital Money: The Open Transaction Project
Bored with the Bitcoin? Frustrated with the limitations of the Ven, the LItecoin, the Feathercoin? Just make your own digital currency – it’s easy and free. While that may be a slight exaggeration, the very proliferation of those Bitcoin clones and other alternatives confirm the fact that available technology makes it possible for anyone to…
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The Federal Reserve’s 2014 Monetary Policy: What’s Next?
The Federal Open Market Committee gathers for its first meeting in 2014 this January – and although FOMC may not be a household word, its decisions on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies have the potential to impact most households in the country. As we head into a new year, financial experts are keeping a watchful…
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New 2014 Lending Standards May Chill Borrowing
symptoms of diabetes p>What a difference two percentage points can make. A new provision of the sweeping Dodd Frank act that’s scheduled to take effect this January drops the allowable debt to income ratio for mortgages and other kinds of consumer loans from 45 percent to 43 – a small change with the power to…
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Magnetic Strips Put US Cardholders At Risk
As the fallout continues from the massive data breach affecting millions of Target customers nationwide, consumer advocates and cybersecurity experts point out that the Black Friday incident is only part of a larger problem: outdated card security features that make US-issued credit cards especially attractive to hackers around the world. Details about Target’s data theft…
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Target’s Account Hack highlights Weak Card Security Systems
Even if you aren’t one of the 40 million debit and credit card holders burned by the recent hack into the databanks of giant retailer Target, you may still be at risk for having your account information hijacked, thanks to weaknesses in the way credit card data is captured at the point of sale. Target’s…
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The Ven: A New Challenge to Mainstream Money?
While the Bitcoin keeps on making headlines with its inroads into traditional money markets, other kinds of digital monies are quietly following in the Bitcoin’s cyberfootsteps, proving that virtually any culture in the world can create its own functional currency system. The Ven, an eco-friendly digital currency, demonstrates how easy it is to challenge traditional…
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“Modest” Tapering Starts in January – But Will Anyone Notice?
Does $10 billion a month make a difference? After months of mixed message, the Federal Reserve has announced in January 2014 it plans to start scaling back its massive stimulus program. For now it’s a “modest” tapering, that reduces monthly bond buying from $85 billion to $75 billion. But will the drawdown really benefit consumers?…
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The Bitcoinvention Opens Doors to Asia
Amid controversy and criticism, the Bitcoin marches on. Though the digital currency is gaining ground around the world as a legitimate means of exchange, it’s being given an especially warm reception in the emerging economies of Asia. And the upcoming Bitcoinvention in Manila demonstrates how far the Bitcoin has come as a viable currency in…