Global Hacker Network Stole $45 Million from ATMs
Seven people were arrested in the U.S., accused of operating the New York cell of what prosecutors said was a network that carried out thefts at ATMs in 27 countries.
Debit cards
Living Without Credit Cards: She Made It Work, and You Can Too
Every time you make a plane reservation or rent a car or pay for concert tickets, you're asked to provide a credit card number. Liz Smiley provides a debit card number instead. Smiley has lived without a credit card for more than four years, and she doesn't miss it a bit.
How Colleges May Be Helping Banks Rob Their Students
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has reason to believe colleges are letting their students get snookered by the banks the schools partner with, and it has launched an inquiry.
Identity Thief Accidentally Sends Victims His Loot
A tip for identity thieves: When you buy a bunch of pricey merchandise with a stolen card number, make sure you don't ship the loot to your victims. That's evidently what happened to one Alaska couple. First their debit card was hacked to the tune of $5,000. Then, the packages began arriving.
The Most Costly Mistake You Can Make With Your Bank Account
There's nothing more expensive than spending money you don't have. That, of course, is a lesson you might learn the hard way if you carry a balance on a high-interest credit card. But spending beyond your means can be a pricey proposition even with a debit card.
What You Should Know About Store-Brand Debit Cards
Jamie had a large purchase to make at Target, so she signed up for the Target Debit Card, which gave her a 5 percent discount. What happened next came as an unpleasant surprise.
Online and Unbanked? Walmart.com Lets You Pay With Cash
Taking aim at the many Americans who don't have a credit card or checking account but are inclined to shop online, Walmart is now allowing customers to pay in cash for online orders.
Afraid Your Credit Card Data Was Hacked? Here's What to Do Now
No one likes to hear that their bank, credit card issuer, transaction processor, or any of the merchants they've used who issue plastic has been hit with a security breach. But it happens: These are the steps to take afterward.
Fee Backlash Cost Big Banks Over 2 Million Customers
Switching banks is a hassle, but outrage over the big financial institutions' efforts to pile on new steep fees pushed more than 2 million people to close their accounts over the past 3 months. Is Bank Transfer Day becoming Bank Transfer Year?
Credit Card Use Is on the Rise
Credit cards are making a comeback. At the end of 2008, more consumers were using debit cards than credit cards but now that trend has reversed. It's hard for some consumers to resist: Banks have been ramping up solicitations and boosting incentives for credit cards over the past year in an effort to get them to choose credit over debit. But have the big banks changed their ways?
Salvation Army's Kettles Get Mobile App Upgrade
For over a century, the Salvation Army's red kettles have reminded holiday shoppers not to forget charity during the season of giving. But this year, you don't need cash on hand to give, because there's something new in the kettle: a card reader and a mobile donation app.
BofA Settles Overdraft Fee Suit for $410 Million
More than 13 million Bank of America debit-card customers could see some repayment for excessive overdraft fees the bank charged them over the course of a decade. A federal judge has approved a $410 million settlement to compensate customers who were charged fees as a result of the bank posting transactions from highest to lowest dollar amount, rather than in the order they occurred.
How to Beat the Big Banks at the Fee Game
Columnist Laura Rowley cuts through the hype and explains how she found banks that would pay her for her checking account instead of the other way around.
As Customers Flee, Big Banks Don't Seem to Care
Credit unions, mid-size banks and online institutions are eagerly stepping up to capture banking customers who are fed up with increasing fees at the biggest banks. And so far, it seems, those big banks don't mind losing their business.
Bank Fees: What's the Breaking Point for Customers?
Bank of America learned pretty quickly last month that customers think $5 a month is too much to pay to use a debit card. But is there such a thing as a reasonable bank fee? One in three people say they're prepared to walk away from their financial institution to avoid a fee, a new survey reveals.
Online Banks Booming as People Flee Wall St. Giants
While thousands of Americans unleash their anger at big banks in protests around the country, many more are registering their dissatisfaction from their keyboards. In the wake of last week's news that Bank of America is adding a new $5 fee for debit card use, online-only banks saw waves of new customers coming through their virtual doors.
Wells Fargo's $3 Debit Card Charge: More Fees to Come?
A new report emerged Tuesday that Wells Fargo will begin charging some customers $3 every month to use their debit card -- further indication that banks are putting on the squeeze as new swipe-card regulations are set to take effect.
Prepaid Cards: Which Ones Are Worth the Fees
CardHub.com recently put five of the most well-known prepaid card issuers under the microscope to see how useful their products are based on fees and features. Which offers the best deal? The answer might surprise you. But the real question is should you use a prepaid card at all.
Ask the Expert: 'Do I Pay Extra For Swiping My Card?'
We got lots of reaction to our article about how changes in debit and credit card swipe fees may affect you. Swipe fees are the charges retailers pay when they allow you to use plastic. One question kept coming up: "Do I pay those fees when I use my debit card?" Regina Lewis explains.
How the Cut in Debit Card Swipe Fees Will Affect You
Banks received some long-awaited news last week: the Fed capped the fees they can charge to retailers on debit card transactions at roughly 24 cents per transaction, down from an average of 44 cents. It was better than they'd feared: The initial proposal was a 12 cent cap. But how will all those pennies add up for consumers?
Fed to Set Final Rule on Debit Card Swipe Fees
The Federal Reserve is preparing to issue its final rule on debit card "swipe fees" Wednesday. If the expected cut to those fees arrives, banks are likely to respond by cutting interest rates on high-yield checking accounts and squeezing profits from other banking products. DailyFinance explains what it all means to you.
Bank Overdraft Fees Still Plague American Consumers
Last year, the government changed the rules on debit card overdrafts, requiring banks to get customers' permission before allowing transactions that would lead to penalty fees. But despite the new rules, overdraft fees continue to be an expensive pain in the neck for millions of Americans.
Visa Will See a Big Boost From Mobile Transaction Growth
The volume of card purchases made on Visa branded products globally has risen from around $2.1 trillion in 2006 to $3.1 trillion in 2010, and with strong first-quarter earnings, further growth in payment volume, and a strong foothold in the mobile transaction business, Trefis expects healthy growth ahead.
Goodbye, Free Checking; Hello, New Bank Fees
The era of free checking accounts is coming to an end. Many consumers will face an extra $144 a year in account fees, plus higher dues for their debit cars, and increased ATM charges, too. It's all part of a banking industry backlash against last year's consumer friendly financial reforms.
ATM Fees Rise as Banks Feel Funding Squeeze
Think before you swipe. Fees at some ATMs are hitting $5 as banks seek to re-coup lost revenue over debit cards and overdraft charges due to federal regulatory changes.
Prepaid Cards for Teens:
Tool or Trap?
Prepaid credit cards are marketed as a great tool for training teens about credit. But critics point to a long list of steep fees and penalties. That leaves parents to figure out if the credit lessons are worth the money. Here's what to consider before buying that card.
