united states

The 7 Safest Banks in America

Moody's downgrade of 15 of the world's largest banks, along with JPMorgan Chase's multibillion-dollar trading loss, make it clear that big banks aren't always as safe as we'd hope. Still, we have to keep our money somewhere -- So 24/7 Wall St. has compiled a list of the nation's safest banks.

U.S. Trade Deficit Narrows to $50.1 Billion in April

The U.S. trade deficit shrunk in April, but only because a big drop in imports offset the first decline in U.S. exports in five months. Exports, which had hit a record the previous month, fell 0.8%, but imports, which also set a record in March, dropped an even faster 1.7%.

America's 10 Worst States for Fraud

When times are hard, fraud often gets worse. Americans are under great financial pressure, and there is no shortage of criminals waiting to take advantage of it. 24/7 Wall St. examined the 10 states that had the most per-capita fraud complaints.

Obama Plan Closes Some Loopholes, Opens Others

Cutting corporate tax rates and the deleting loopholes that let some companies pay little or nothing in taxes is just what most economists prescribe for the tangled U.S. tax code. So why isn't everyone cheering the plan President Obama unveiled Tuesday to do just that?

Billion Dollar Phobia? Friday the 13th Fears Take a Big Toll

Oh, no! It's Friday the 13th! A day that has tens of millions of Americans on edge and awaiting disaster. But all this worrying and fear leads to more than just gray hairs -- it also leads to hundreds of millions of dollars in lost business.

Banks Back Away from New Fees, Eye Cost Cuts

The financial world's fee fever may have abated -- for now. Several big and medium-sized banks say they're not implementing fees for debit card use anytime soon. But with bank revenues slipping, they do need to act, and more are considering cost cuts to repair their bottom lines.

More Southerners Are Off the Banking Grid

More people in Southeast don't have bank accounts than in any other part of the country. Mississippi leads the country with more than 16% of households using cash-and-carry for all their transactions. That's a situation that can keep families from climbing the ladder of success.

It's Europe's Fault: They're Holding Back the Recovery

Many European nations have deficits that make the U.S. look thrifty, and over a year after their problems came to light, they're still holding the worldwide recovery back. But because they share the euro, normal solutions aren't available, which means the EU must bite the bullet and accept an orderly default, or watch matters spiral downward.

The 7 Deadly Hobbies: Pastimes Your Insurer Hates

Some people take fun to the extreme, engaging in pastimes that put their health -- and even their lives -- at risk. Insurance companies refer to such activities as "hazardous vocations," and charge higher premiums to those who engage in them. One way or another, these hobbies will cost you.

Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese Recalled

Kraft Foods is recalling about 137,000 cases of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Microwaveable Cups because they might be tainted with wire-bristle pieces, the company announced Friday. The company said it has received no reports of injuries or complaints, and that it was voluntarily issuing the recall to be on the safe side.

Big Banks Boost Fees Again: What Will You Do About It?

Bank of America's announcement this week that it would start charging a monthly $5 fee for using a debit card to make purchases is the latest in banking industry upcharges. As fee-free options for banking dwindle, the bottom line is that consumers are paying more to use their own money.

Latest Mortage Mod Scam Is an Audit to Nowhere

A raft of con artists have cropped up over the last two years offering "forensic loan audits." They promise to review your mortgage documents, looking for errors and legal flaws that they say they'll use to expedite a loan modification deal. All they usually end up doing is taking more money from already stressed homeowners.

How to Cut Your Smartphone Data Bill ... Painlessly

Too many of us aren't being smart with our smartphone data consumption, and the results are clear: Clogged wireless broadband networks, dropped connections, rising prices, and worst of all, expensive data bills. But Onavo wants to help us cut, compress, and otherwise tame our wireless use -- and it won't hurt a bit.