Category: Banking

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a lower debt-to-income (DTI) ratio signifies a healthier financial profile to lenders. So, what does the abbreviation DTI stand for, and why is this metric a major factor in lending decisions, from mortgages to credit cards?

According to financial experts, a properly designated beneficiary on a bank account is one of the simplest and most effective ways to ensure your funds bypass the lengthy and costly probate process. If you are wondering, "Do bank accounts go to probate if there is a beneficiary?," the short answer is typically no, but understanding the specific rules and exceptions is crucial for effective estate planning.

Following the 2008 global financial crisis, regulators intensified efforts to strengthen the banking system by requiring stricter capital buffers. A key part of this reform was a renewed focus on the adequacy ratio, a critical metric that measures a bank's financial strength and its capacity to absorb unexpected losses.

As of October 2025, the national average money market account rate was approximately 0.59%, while top-tier high-yield savings accounts offered over 4% APY, illustrating that there is no single "average" EAR across all products. The Effective Annual Rate (EAR) is the true annual rate of return or cost after accounting for compounding interest.