adminPlaid: What It Is, How It Works, Is It Safe?
You’ll probably run into Plaid when you connect your bank account to apps run by financial services like American Express, Venmo, or Upstart. Plaid authenticates your financial information, permitting companies…
How to Safely and Securely Use ATMs
Using an ATM safely and securely requires a little advance planning, situational awareness, and the ability to respond rapidly if your accounts are compromised. Here are tips for staying safe…
ACH Transfers vs. Wire Transfers: What’s the Difference?
ACH Transfers vs. Wire Transfers: An Overview Sending money from your bank account electronically is increasingly convenient, easy, and cheap. Two ways to do so are automated clearing house (ACH)…
Postal Banking: What it Means, How it Works
In postal banking, your local post office offers some basic financial services, much like a commercial bank. Postal banking is common in much of the world and was once available…
What Happens to Your Bank Account After Death?
Several things can happen to your bank account after you die. This depends on the type of account, how it was set up before you died, and whether you have…
What Is a Banking Desert?
What Is a Banking Desert? A banking desert is a census tract or neighborhood which has no bank branches in it or within 10 miles of its center. Economists at…
How Immigrants Can Access Financial Services
Access to banking can help people establish good financial habits and avoid the high fees often associated with alternative financial services. While opening a bank account may seem simple, people…
SWIFT and Sanctions: How Banking System Impacts International Relations
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, commonly known as SWIFT, is an organization that provides tools to facilitate secure, efficient communication among financial institutions around the world. Although SWIFT…
Overcoming Language Barriers in Banking
In the United States, language barriers can make it difficult for non-English speakers to access banking services, so paying bills and saving money can be more challenging. About one in…
What Is Zelle? How It Works and Example
Zelle is a peer-to-peer money transfer app that allows users to move funds from one bank account to another. It’s among a growing number of mobile payments apps that allow…
