News
FICO's new Ultra FICO score launched May 20 monitors your bank account activity, not just debt, to set mortgage rates and insurance premiums
3+ hour, 32+ min ago (547+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
Fitch Ratings downgrades midyear US credit outlook to deteriorating amid inflation and interest rate pressures
1+ week, 3+ day ago (622+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
A federal judge has granted preliminary approval to Visa and Mastercard's revised $38 billion settlement with retailers over credit card processing fees.
1+ week, 6+ day ago (616+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
Fannie Mae and lenders now use Vantage Score 4. 0 to evaluate borrowers, factoring in rent and utility payments alongside traditional credit data
2+ week, 1+ day ago (690+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
The Federal Reserve will release its 2026 bank stress test results on June 24, evaluating how 32 large U. S. banks would withstand a severe recession.
2+ week, 2+ day ago (518+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
Credit delinquencies hit highest level since financial crisis
3+ week, 1+ day ago (650+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
Credit scores now track your checking account with FICO's Ultra FICO
3+ week, 2+ day ago (517+ words) Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to…...
Credit card interest rates hit 22. 17% average as APR climbs in June
3+ week, 4+ day ago (544+ words) Credit card interest rates surged to an average of 22. 17% in June 2026, marking a notable climb from recent months and reflecting the persistent pressure on American consumers managing revolving debt. The 0. 23% monthly increase continues a trend that had placed rates near…...
Credit card interest rates drop to 19. 57% average, lowest level in months
3+ week, 5+ day ago (546+ words) Credit card interest rates have fallen to 19. 57%, marking the lowest average APR level in several months and continuing a downward trend that began earlier this year. This decline, tracked by Bankrate as of May 27, 2026, represents a significant drop from the…...
Credit card debt falls but private credit defaults hit record high
4+ week, 2+ day ago (378+ words) The divergence between consumer credit card relief and private credit stress illustrates the fragmented nature of U. S. credit conditions in mid-2026. "The private credit market is entering a more mature phase of the credit cycle, with rising defaults among smaller, highly leveraged,…...