Finance Xpress

Posted by: John S Kiernan

EDITOR’S RATING 4.2 / 5 PROS

• 25,000 initial bonus points ($250 in travel)
• 1.5 points per $1 spent
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
• User-friendly travel rewards redemption

CONS

• Very high regular APR
• Requires excellent credit

The Verdict: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a very good option for people with excellent credit who want to reduce the cost of travel without paying an annual fee. But it’s only a truly great choice for fairly low-spending Bank of America banking customers with a lot of cash saved (Bank of America is a WalletHub partner).

The party starts with a 25,000-point initial rewards bonus, worth $250 in travel, when you spend $1,000 or more within 90 days of opening your account. That’s well above average for a card offering a points-based bonus. Still, if you’re someone who spends $1,000 per month, rather than every three months, you can get at least twice as much dollar value from competing offers.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card’s points keep on coming, at a rate of 1.5 per $1 spent on all purchases, all the time. That’s nearly 30% more than you’d get from the average credit card with points. And the gap is even bigger if you have a Bank of America checking or savings account.

This card has other virtues, too, but its rewards are the real story. You can learn more below.

The Highlights 

• 25,000-Point Initial Bonus: You only need to spend $1,000 during the first 90 days your account is open to qualify for this bounty. That’s 25% back when you redeem for travel. The average rewards card offers nearly 5,000 fewer points, according to WalletHub’s latest Credit Card Landscape Report.

• 1.5 Points per $1 Spent on Purchases: That equals 1.5% back in the form of free travel. In other words, you get $150 in travel for every $1,000 you spend. The average credit cards with points gives you just 1.16 per $1.
• Banking Bonuses: Having a Bank of America checking or savings account gets you more points on purchases. You can join Bank of America Preferred Rewards if you have at least $20,000 in such an account, or a Merrill investment account. Among other benefits, that increases your bonus to 25% - 75%, depending on your exact balance.

• Flexible Travel Rewards Redemption: You can use your Bank of America Travel Rewards points to pay for any travel-related purchases that you charge to the account. In other words, you don’t have to book your travel accommodations with points; you can use them to pay your credit card bill after the fact. In fact, you have 12 months from when you make a travel purchase to use your points to cover the cost.

  Whether a given purchase qualifies as travel-related depends on the merchant’s category code. However, all major travel providers count. That includes airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and even taxis/ride-sharing services and vacation-home-rental services. More and more travel rewards cards are adopting this approach, and consumers definitely benefit from the flexibility.

• $0 Annual Fee: This saves you $18.61 per year compared to the average credit card. Not having to worry about an annual fee is especially important for people who don’t plan to use their new credit card regularly or for all of their spending.

• $0 Foreign Transaction Fee: A travel rewards credit card that charges you extra for traveling abroad would be pretty disappointing. Thankfully, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card doesn’t let you down in that regard.

The Lowlights

• Requires Excellent Credit: The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card would be much more appealing if more people could get it. Instead, you need a credit score of 750 or higher to have a good chance of being approved. It might be more successful, too. People with excellent credit have their pick of the best rewards credit cards on the market, and the travel rewards space is very competitive, with lots of great offers available.

  You can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub to gauge your odds of qualifying for Bank of America Travel Rewards.

• Very High Regular APR: You are guaranteed to pay interest at an above-average rate if you carry a balance from month to month with this card when its regular APR is in effect. After all, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card requires excellent credit for approval and the average credit card for people with excellent credit has a 14.56% APR.

Other Things to Consider

• Non-Travel Redemption Options Give Less Value: In addition to redeeming for a travel statement credit, you can also cash in your points more literally. You can exchange them for gift cards or a cash reward (i.e. a bank account deposit or a non-travel statement credit). But instead of being worth a penny apiece, as is the case when you redeem for travel, Bank of America Travel Rewards points yield just over half as much ($0.006) when you redeem them for cash. And with gift cards, point values vary.

• Minimum Redemption Requirements: You need at least 2,500 points to redeem for a travel statement credit or cash reward. And you need at least 3,125 point for a gift card.

Compared to the Competition

Excellent credit puts you in a position of power when shopping for a credit card. Issuers clearly want your business, judging by the many great deals available to people with excellent scores, including big rewards bonuses and long 0% interest periods. Settling, in other words, can be costly.

To help you confirm you’ve found the best credit card for your needs, we’ve compared the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card to some of its top competitors in key categories.

	SponsoredBank of America® Travel Rewards credit card	SponsoredCapital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card	The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express	SponsoredChase Freedom Unlimited®	SponsoredCapital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Annual Fee	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0 for 1st yr, $95 after
Rewards Bonus	25,000 points	20,000 miles	10,000 points	Double Cash Back	50,000 miles
Rewards Rate	1.5 points / $1	1.25 miles / $1	1 - 2 points / $1	1.5% Cash Back	2 miles / $1
Purchase Intro APR	0% for 12 billing cycles	0% for 12 months	0% for 15 months	0% for 15 months	Not Offered
Transfer Intro APR	Not Offered	Not Offered	0% for 15 monthsTransfer Fee: $0	0% for 15 monthsTransfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.	Not Offered
Regular APR	16.99% - 24.99% Variable	14.24% - 24.24% (V)	14.99% - 25.99% (V)	16.99% - 25.74% (V)	17.99% - 25.24% (V)
Editors’ Rating	4.2 / 5	4.5 / 5	5.0 / 5	4.7 / 5	5.0 / 5
Details, Rates & Fees	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More
Winners	Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card		Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: John S Kiernan

EDITOR’S RATING 4.8 / 5 PROS

• 50,000 bonus points
• 2 points on travel and dining
• Extra points for Preferred Rewards clients
• $0 foreign fee
• Up to $200 in air travel credits

CONS

• $95 annual fee
• Very high regular APR
• Requires excellent credit

The Verdict: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is one of the best rewards cards for people with excellent credit who like to travel and dine out (Bank of America is one of our partners). In fact, it ranked 9th overall in WalletHub’s 2019 Credit Card Rewards Report for the net value that the average person can expect to earn in two years: $1,534.

The premium rewards start with an initial bonus of 50,000 points after you spend at least $3,000 within 90 days of opening your account. That’s worth $500. And the perks keep coming, with 2 points per $1 spent on travel and dining, plus 1.5 points per $1 on everything else. The average points card gives you just 1.16 per $1.

There’s more to this deal, too, including up to $200 in air travel credits, banking bonuses, flexible redemption and no foreign transaction fee. But this package of perks isn’t free. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card charges a $95 annual fee. Still, that’s worth paying if you’re a big-spender who plans to make this your everyday credit card.

Keep reading below to learn more about whether you should apply for the Bank of America Premium Rewards card.

The Highlights

• $500 initial bonus: If you’re going to spend $3,000 in 90 days anyway, why not get paid $500 to do it? That’s what the Bank of America Premium Rewards card gives you, in the form of 50,000 bonus points. The average rewards card with points or miles gives you just 20,153.

• 1.5+ Points per $1 Spent: You will earn at least 1.5 points for every $1 in purchases charged to the card. So already you’re ahead of the game, considering the 1.16 points per $1 you’d get from the average card. And that’s just the Premium Rewards card’s base earning rate. You’ll also get 2 points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases, which are defined pretty broadly.

  Dining purchases include: restaurants, fast food, and drinking establishments like bars and taverns. Travel purchases include: airlines, hotels (and other lodging), car rentals, boat rentals, cruises, trains, buses, tourist attractions and even more.

• 25%+ Preferred Rewards Bonus: Every purchase you make with the Bank of America Premium Rewards card will yield at least 25% more points if you enroll in the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program. It’s free to join, but there are some requirements. Most importantly, you need $20,000 or more in a Bank of America checking or savings account, or a Merrill investment account. And the more money you have on deposit, the bigger your bonus will be, up to 75%.
• Up to $100 per Year for Airline Incidentals: The Premium Rewards offers a credit of up to $100 per calendar year for certain air travel purchases. They include fees for checked bags, changing or cancelling a ticket, and airport lounge access. Seat upgrades qualify, too, as do in-flight entertainment, food and beverage. The charge just has to be separate from your plane ticket.

• $100 Credit for Expedited Airport Screening: If you choose to apply for Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check, Bank of America Premium Rewards will refund your application fee. And you’ll get this perk every four years.

• $0 Foreign Transaction Fee: This saves you 1.49% on every purchase processed internationally, compared to the average card. That’ll be a help if you travel abroad or buy something from an internationally based merchant while you’re in the U.S.

The Lowlights 

• Requires Excellent Credit: Bank of America Premium Rewards offers very generous terms, so it makes sense that you need top-tier credit to get it. But it does mean disappointment for most people. So it’s a good idea to check your latest credit score before you apply. You’ll likely need a score of at least 750 for good approval odds.

• Very High Regular APR: On average, credit cards that require excellent credit for approval charge interest at a 14.56% annual rate. Even a perfect credit score won’t get you a rate that low from the Premium Rewards card. For additional context, the card's highest APR is above the average among credit cards for fair credit (23.25%) and just below the store-card average (25.81%).

Other Things to Consider 

• Lots of Redemption Options: You can redeem your Bank of America Preferred Rewards points for a statement account, a deposit to a BofA checking or savings account, a deposit to a Merrill account, travel booked through Bank of America, or gift cards. And points are worth a penny apiece with each method.

• Minimum Redemption Requirements: You need at least 2,500 points to redeem. And you’ll lose any points that you’ve yet to redeem when you close your account.

Compared to the Competition

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is one of several stand-out travel rewards cards on the market right now. You can see how it compares to some of the most notable alternatives below.

	SponsoredBank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card	SponsoredCapital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card	SponsoredChase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Citi Premier℠ Card
Annual Fee	$95	$0 for 1st yr, $95 after	$95	$95
Rewards Bonus	50,000 points	50,000 miles	60,000 points	60,000 points
Rewards Rate	1.5 - 2 points / $1	2 miles / $1	1 - 2 points / $1	1 - 3 points / $1
Purchase Intro APR	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered
Transfer Intro APR	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered	Not Offered
Regular APR	17.99% - 24.99% Variable	17.99% - 25.24% (V)	17.99% - 24.99% (V)	17.99% - 25.99% (V)
Editors’ Rating	4.8 / 5	5.0 / 5	4.5 / 5	4.6 / 5
Details, Rates & Fees	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More	Learn More
Winners	Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

Some banks come with a lot of baggage. If you travel abroad, it’s best to leave those banks at home and choose one of these instead. We’ll tell you why these are the best banks for international travel.

Traveling internationally is a lot of fun. Heck, I got married in St. Lucia. And if you have the right bank, you’ll enjoy many perks while globetrotting.

In this article, we’ve put together a list of the five best banks for international travel, along with what we think makes them so unique. While you can travel and use your regular bank, we recommend looking into one of these banks as an alternative for the next time you hop on a plane.

Best Overall Bank for International Travel: Ally Bank

Ally Bank is a popular option for a lot of travelers and provides people abroad with many services that will meet their needs. But doesn’t truly excel in any one specific area–it’s solid all-around. This makes it our choice for the best overall international bank.

This great all-around bank doesn’t have any monthly fees or minimum balance requirements to open an account. Additionally, they don’t charge ATM fees and will reimburse up to $10 of ATM fees from their competitors.

By linking your savings account to your checking account, you can enjoy free overdraft protection. Overdraft protection is something everyone should have, even if you don’t think you’ll ever accidentally overspend. I’ve heard too many stories of people accidentally using their debit card instead of their credit card and getting charged when they overspend or not communicating with their spouse and someone making a mistake. With Ally Bank, you don’t need to worry about that ever happening.

When you bank with Ally Bank, you will be able to easily keep track of your spending thanks to their online banking, and you can enjoy 24/7 access to customer service. This is a great feature to take advantage of when you’re abroad, especially if you have concerns about your spending or have lost your debit card. Unlike banks that only operate during U.S. business hours, Ally Bank will pick up the phone and help you when you have an emergency, no matter the time of day or night.

Additionally, Ally Bank allows remote deposit so that you can deposit money into your account via their mobile app and links with Zelle. This is a neat app that will allow you to send and receive money securely from your friends and family without having to use wire or ACH transfers, which can be much more difficult and expensive. This can really get you out of a bind when you’re abroad and need extra money.

Overall, Ally Bank offers a lot of support to their customers who like to travel, which is why we think they’re one of the best banks for international travel. They’re always releasing helpful information to their customers to do the planning and preparing for international trips easier as they did here.

Best Bank for Foreign Transaction Fees: Capital One 360

Many banks charge fees on every purchase you make abroad, or even if you buy something from an international retailer that is based outside of the U.S. One of the reasons we love Capital One 360 is because they don’t charge a special fee on these transactions. This is great for international travel, as you can save a lot of money without having to worry about avoiding purchases.

While most people will bring money with them to exchange when traveling abroad, it’s almost impossible to bring with you all of the cash you need. You’ll inevitably end up purchasing something using a credit or debit card, and while most banks will charge you, Capital One 360 doesn’t. I find that these small fees can add up really quickly, but if you can avoid them, then you can keep a lot more money in your wallet.

Related: Best No-Fee Debit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees

Other banks don’t charge you for international purchases, but Capital One 360 is one of our favorites because it offers lower fees than a lot of other banks. In addition to giving you a free pass when making international purchases, Capital One 360 also doesn’t charge you for using non-Capital One 360 ATMs. Remember that the owner of the ATM may cost you, but you won’t have to pay a fee to Capital One 360, which is a great way to save money.

One thing to remember about this bank is that it’s an online bank, so you’ll have no access to physical branches. You can make deposits through the mobile app and through bank transfers so you won’t have any problem putting more money in your account. Even if you aren’t close to an ATM.

Another cool feature Capital One 360 offers is that they make it easy for you to set and meet your goals by providing you with a savings tool to help keep track of how much you’re spending. Additionally, since you can open up an astonishing 25 different savings accounts, you can easily earmark money for specific savings goals without getting your amounts mixed together.

Best Bank for Expats: HSBC Bank

HSBC Bank really shines because it caters to ex-patriots by providing exceptional banking services to them while they are abroad. Not only will you enjoy excellent traditional banking services, but you’ll also have access to wealth management services and foreign exchange services, so you always have someone on your side.

Dealing with foreign currency has never been easier than it is now, thanks to HSBC Bank services. Not only can you enjoy simple currency transfers, but they also offer tailored services and support from specialists if you need to set a target exchange rate for automatically converting your money. Also, they provide bespoke services such as pre-agreed tiered margins. While not all travelers will need these services, they also offer others that are geared towards travelers, not ex-pats.

This is a massive international bank that has just a few U.S. branches but has easy online access. Because they offer basic products that don’t charge fees, you won’t have to worry about keeping a set amount of money in your account to offset fees and can even enjoy a competitive rate from their Direct Savings account.

If you want to get the most out of your accounts while you are at home, as well as abroad, then you will enjoy that you can track your spending and the progress that you have made towards savings goals with the help of their website. This is great, as it makes planning for your next trip abroad more relaxed than ever.

International transfers are simple with HSBC Bank as well. And you can transfer money online, by phone, or via a smartphone app. This ensures that even if you are out of the country and need more money than you have, you can quickly make the necessary transfer so you won’t run out of cash while abroad. I think that having three ways to access your money is essential and makes it easy for everyone to have complete control over their finances, even when traveling.

Best Bank for Access of International Branches: Citibank

Frequent international travelers will love using Citibank for their banking needs, as it offers the best global coverage of all of the banks on this list. While they don’t provide a lot of branches throughout the U.S., this isn’t a problem for global travelers who will have access to more than 4,000 offices around the world. This means that when you’re traveling, you’ll have the best access to your money and won’t have to worry about paying ATM fees.

With more than 45,000 machines located in 30 different countries, you’ll get quick and free access to your money any time you visit a Citibank ATM and won’t ever pay convenience fees. I love that you can also call the international toll-free number if you ever experience problems with your account and need to talk to a bank representative. This will allow you to get the help you need without having to worry about phone fees or when you can call for guidance.

Not only will you enjoy the services that Citibank offers when you’re abroad, but you’ll enjoy their services before you even set foot on a plane. If you’re taking a last-minute trip to another country, you can call your Citibank branch and get foreign currency delivered to your home, Citibank branch, or office the next day.

Once you place your order for foreign currency, Citibank will determine the exchange rate, and your money will be debited from your account. So you don’t even have to step foot inside a branch to get the money you need for your trip. Additionally, Citibank offers free wire transfers if you’re moving money between Citi accounts, making it easy to pay people in other countries or accept the money you’re owed. Wire transfers were a big thing when I was in St. Lucia–I had to pay for some wedding services this way, so this feature may come in handy for you.

Check out some of the other benefits that you’ll enjoy when you bank with Citibank, including access to your accounts 24/7 online, as well as waived monthly service fees if you keep a minimum balance in your account here at Citi.

Best Bank for International ATM Use: Schwab Bank

Schwab Bank is an excellent choice for this list because it offers extensive access to ATMs and has very lenient policies, so you don’t have to worry about overspending on ATM charges. Many different banks reimburse you for fees that other ATMs charge, but most of these banks require you have individual accounts with high minimum balances.

Schwab Bank is well known for providing their customers who have a High Yield Investor Checking Account reimbursements on all ATM fees worldwide, as well as other benefits. Another significant advantage that you’ll enjoy if you love to travel internationally is that there aren’t any foreign transaction fees, which makes using your credit or debit card a lot less expensive.

Additionally, Schwab Bank offers interest on their High Yield Investor Checking Account, doesn’t charge a monthly fee, and doesn’t require a minimum balance. While these are great features, the best one is the ATM fee reimbursement. There are many times when traveling that you’ll want to have extra cash. And being able to visit an ATM without worrying about paying additional fees will allow you to grab some money as you go.

In addition to being lenient on ATM and foreign debit transaction fees, Schwab Bank has an online banking program that is intuitive, easy to use, and updates quickly so you can keep track of your finances when you’re traveling. Having a checking account with Schwab does require a brokerage account, but this account doesn’t have a minimum balance and doesn’t charge any monthly fees.

While you can’t make international wire transfers with Schwab Bank, this won’t matter if you regularly pay with debit, credit, or cash. Friends and family members in the U.S. can easily add more money to your account via an ACH transfer if you find that you are running low while abroad.

Bottom Line

With these five banks to choose from, you can quickly pick one that will offer you the best services while you are traveling internationally. Choose one that will best meet your needs and make it easy and inexpensive for you to access your money.

Do you like to travel internationally, and if so, what bank do you use? If you enjoy a different bank than one that I included on this list, then I would love to hear which one you use and what you like about it!

Topics: Banking • Travel

The post Best Banks for International Travel appeared first on The Dough Roller.

via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Adam McCann

Most Americans rely on cars to get around. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “87 percent of daily trips take place in personal vehicles.” And even with growing access to public transportation in U.S. cities, most people still choose to travel by car, mainly for reasons such as “comfort and reliability.”

In truth, however, driving is often a major hassle and expense. Drivers annually spend an average of more than 310 hours on the road. That’s nearly 13 days. Add the costs of wasted time and fuel due to traffic congestions, and our collective tab comes to about $124 billion annually, or $1,700 per household.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, America’s highways and bridges are underfunded, with an $836 billion backlog of repairs needed. The World Economic forum ranks U.S. roads at 11th in quality out of 140 economically developed nations. It’s clear there’s room for improvement.

But some cities are better for those behind the wheel. To determine those places, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 30 key indicators of driver-friendliness. Our data set ranges from average gas prices to annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter to auto-repair shops per capita. Read on for our findings, tips and insight from a panel of experts, and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/13964/geochart-cardrivers.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2KZmpNi>

Best & Worst Cities to Drive in

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Cost of Ownership & Maintenance’ Rank	‘Traffic & Infrastructure’ Rank	‘Safety’ Rank	‘Access to Vehicles & Maintenance’ Rank
1	Raleigh, NC	69.09	1	19	8	62
2	Orlando, FL	66.26	7	4	93	4
3	Lincoln, NE	66.21	8	35	4	85
4	Tampa, FL	65.38	11	24	70	6
5	Winston-Salem, NC	65.02	3	13	32	89
6	Birmingham, AL	64.93	2	1	96	22
7	Corpus Christi, TX	64.78	14	7	27	84
8	Boise, ID	63.78	35	9	13	81
9	Charlotte, NC	63.52	4	64	43	29
10	Greensboro, NC	63.44	6	37	62	66
11	El Paso, TX	63.35	15	44	5	70
12	Scottsdale, AZ	63.35	51	2	17	54
13	Plano, TX	63.06	18	26	18	51
14	Jacksonville, FL	62.97	9	15	81	30
15	Atlanta, GA	62.90	10	23	88	8
16	Austin, TX	62.08	37	36	35	13
17	St. Petersburg, FL	61.66	5	28	80	69
18	San Antonio, TX	61.46	22	45	67	11
19	Durham, NC	61.33	13	38	28	90
20	Laredo, TX	60.95	21	58	7	99
21	Virginia Beach, VA	60.73	23	71	15	71
21	Lexington-Fayette, KY	60.73	12	56	37	86
23	Wichita, KS	60.51	34	18	36	87
24	Las Vegas, NV	60.45	76	6	47	5
25	Arlington, TX	60.31	32	52	40	27
26	Gilbert, AZ	60.25	65	20	3	95
27	Houston, TX	60.15	31	73	66	2
28	Mesa, AZ	60.15	57	21	14	60
29	Dallas, TX	60.09	29	55	72	7
30	Irving, TX	60.04	26	53	29	65
31	Chandler, AZ	60.03	63	3	19	94
32	Fort Worth, TX	59.99	42	49	49	19
33	Irvine, CA	59.75	79	5	1	32
34	Colorado Springs, CO	59.66	24	70	24	64
35	Chesapeake, VA	59.62	36	68	11	96
36	Omaha, NE	59.46	19	61	45	48
37	Oklahoma City, OK	59.42	47	50	30	40
38	Lubbock, TX	59.36	33	8	65	83
39	Garland, TX	59.32	38	47	48	42
40	Nashville, TN	59.07	27	30	71	41
41	Fort Wayne, IN	58.53	19	51	56	80
42	Norfolk, VA	58.22	17	65	50	88
43	Tucson, AZ	58.11	44	16	79	39
44	Toledo, OH	57.93	16	34	73	82
45	Henderson, NV	56.67	87	10	6	75
46	Louisville, KY	56.57	40	60	68	46
47	Columbus, OH	56.51	25	69	76	31
48	Reno, NV	56.38	69	32	23	79
49	Phoenix, AZ	56.21	55	29	74	24
50	Kansas City, MO	56.06	28	22	91	72
51	Tulsa, OK	55.44	67	39	57	36
52	Buffalo, NY	55.11	49	76	33	76
53	Indianapolis, IN	54.92	48	63	78	28
54	Madison, WI	54.86	52	78	10	92
55	Cincinnati, OH	54.51	50	54	89	15
56	St. Louis, MO	54.37	30	66	98	10
57	St. Paul, MN	53.80	59	77	42	67
58	Bakersfield, CA	53.50	75	14	63	61
59	Aurora, CO	53.47	43	88	54	73
60	Chula Vista, CA	53.46	98	12	2	59
61	Pittsburgh, PA	52.92	58	85	46	20
62	Anaheim, CA	52.73	78	57	31	18
63	Miami, FL	52.68	64	74	95	1
64	Memphis, TN	52.68	41	42	97	58
65	Sacramento, CA	52.66	84	41	38	17
66	San Diego, CA	52.63	100	25	9	9
67	Anchorage, AK	52.59	45	93	34	100
68	Glendale, AZ	52.49	70	17	75	91
69	Riverside, CA	52.41	83	31	21	50
70	Denver, CO	52.39	53	86	59	33
71	Baton Rouge, LA	52.30	60	43	87	49
72	Santa Ana, CA	52.18	92	46	20	16
73	Minneapolis, MN	52.16	68	79	39	57
74	Hialeah, FL	52.03	39	81	92	38
75	Fremont, CA	51.77	86	59	12	47
76	Albuquerque, NM	51.59	46	40	99	44
77	Long Beach, CA	51.33	88	62	22	23
78	North Las Vegas, NV	51.25	89	11	44	93
79	Portland, OR	51.05	61	72	83	25
80	Boston, MA	49.95	54	92	51	78
81	Jersey City, NJ	49.94	56	98	53	37
82	Fresno, CA	49.60	82	27	60	74
83	New Orleans, LA	49.35	77	67	61	77
84	Stockton, CA	48.59	80	33	55	98
85	Cleveland, OH	47.68	66	87	90	21
86	San Jose, CA	47.54	90	75	25	68
87	Milwaukee, WI	47.37	72	84	77	52
88	Baltimore, MD	47.17	62	80	94	63
89	Chicago, IL	46.05	74	99	52	14
90	San Bernardino, CA	45.82	99	48	58	97
91	Honolulu, HI	45.38	96	82	26	35
92	New York, NY	45.35	93	100	16	3
93	Los Angeles, CA	45.22	94	89	41	12
94	Seattle, WA	44.04	85	91	64	43
95	Washington, DC	43.87	71	95	86	55
96	Newark, NJ	43.72	73	97	84	26
97	San Francisco, CA	40.24	97	90	69	56
98	Philadelphia, PA	40.00	91	96	82	34
99	Oakland, CA	39.73	95	83	85	53
100	Detroit, MI	37.40	81	94	100	45

Ask the Experts

With cost, safety and environmental impact ranking among the top concerns for the auto industry, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What money-saving tips do you have for drivers now that gas prices have increased over the last six months?
2. When do you think there will be more self-driving than human-driven cars?
3. Considering all potential consequences, do you think that automated vehicles will be a net benefit or net negative for society?
4. When evaluating the best cities for drivers, what are the top five indicators?
5. What can local authorities do to reduce traffic and improve safety?

< >

• Nicholas E. Lownes Ph.D., PE – Associate Professor, Associate Head for Undergraduate Education and Outreach, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut
• Robert Cervero Ph.D. – Professor, University of California, Berkeley
• Ken Small Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of California at Irvine
• Mary Angelica Painter Ph.D. Candidate, Transportation, Technology, & Research Methodology, University of Missouri-Saint Louis
• Lester A. Hoel L.A. Lacy Distinguished Professor of Engineering Emeritus, University of Virginia
• Sarah L. Catz Research Associate, Lecturer, University of California, Irvine

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best and worst cities for drivers, WalletHub compared a sample of the 100 most populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions: 1) Cost of Ownership & Maintenance, 2) Traffic & Infrastructure, 3) Safety and 4) Access to Vehicles & Maintenance. Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated those dimensions using 30 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for drivers. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at the state level only. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Cost of Ownership & Maintenance – Total Points: 30

• Cost of New Car: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Average Gas Prices: Double Weight (~8.57 Points)
• Average Annual Car Insurance Premium: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Auto Maintenance Costs: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)
• Total Extra Vehicle Operating Costs per Driver: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)Note: Additional vehicle operating costs (VOC) are the “result of driving on roads in need of repair, lost time and fuel due to congestion-related delays, and the costs of traffic crashes in which roadway features likely were a contributing factor,” according to transportation research firm TRIP.
• Average Parking Rate: Full Weight (~4.29 Points)

Traffic & Infrastructure – Total Points: 30

• Annual Hours Spent in Congestion per Auto Commuter: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Number of Days with Precipitation: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Number of Cold Days: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)Note: This metric specifically measures the average number of days with a minimum temperature of 32 degrees F or lower.
• Average Commute Time by Car (in Minutes): Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Number of Alternative-Fuel Stations per Capita: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Quality of Roads: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Quality of Bridges: Quarter* Weight (~0.91 Points)
• Roadway Miles per 1,000 Persons: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Waze Driver Satisfaction Rating: Full Weight (~3.64 Points)

Safety – Total Points: 30

• Accident Likelihood in City vs. National Average: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)
• Traffic Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Always or Nearly Always Wear a Seatbelt: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)
• Number of Hard-Braking Events per 1,000 Miles: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)Note: Hard-braking data is based on customers voluntarily enrolled in Allstate’s Drivewise® telematics program from 2015-2016.
• Share of Uninsured Drivers: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)
• Rate of Car Thefts: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)
• Rate of Larceny: Full Weight (~3.53 Points)
• Strictness of DUI Punishment: Half* Weight (~1.76 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Strictest & Most Lenient States on DUI” ranking.
• Punitiveness of High-Risk Driver’s Insurance: Half* Weight (~1.76 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States with the Highest & Lowest Insurance Premium Penalties for High-Risk Drivers” ranking.
• Driving Laws Rating: Half* Weight (~1.76 Points)

Access to Vehicles & Maintenance – Total Points: 10

• Car Dealerships per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Auto-Repair Shops per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Car Washes per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Gas Stations per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)
• Parking Lots and Garages per Capita: Full Weight (~2.00 Points)

 Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Council for Community and Economic Research, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, INRIX, National Centers for Environmental Information, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Automobile Association, The Road Information Program, Federal Highway Administration, Insurance Research Council, Waze Mobile, Allstate Insurance Company, U.S. Department of Energy, QuinStreet Insurance Agency, Yelp, TrueCar and WalletHub research.

Image: Den Rozhnovsky / Shutterstock.com

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Posted by: LK Lam

EDITOR’S RATING 2.5 / 5 PROS

• Coverage for high-risk drivers.
• Solid list of discounts.
• Online claims filing.

CONS

• Limited coverage options.
• Complaints about high premiums and long claims processing times.
• Must request a quote to get full coverage details.

Infinity Review Summary: Infinity auto insurance is an option for high-risk drivers who are looking for just enough coverage to drive legally. Despite its basic offerings, Infinity insurance doesn’t come cheap. Plenty of customers have complained about high premiums, and WalletHub’s research on car insurance prices backs up these complaints. Infinity ranks 27th among the 46 auto insurers studied. And that doesn’t even factor in potential costs associated with supplemental policy options such as roadside assistance or rental reimbursement.

Infinity prides itself on catering to the Spanish-speaking community by providing bilingual services and developing its presence in major cities with large Hispanic populations. The company was acquired by Kemper insurance in 2018, and Infinity auto policies are a part of the Kemper family of insurance products.

In the sections below, you can learn more about Infinity’s policy offerings and discounts. You can also see how Infinity’s auto insurance compares to policies from popular competitors.

Find the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area Age 16-20 21-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-65 65+ Currently Insured? Find Insurers Infinity Auto Insurance Reviews & Ratings

• WalletHub: 4.7/5 (10 user reviews)
• Better Business Bureau: A- (not accredited)
• J.D. Power: Not rated
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC): Infinity received significantly more complaints in 2018 than other similarly sized auto insurers.
• A.M. Best: A (Excellent) rating from this leading U.S. credit rating agency for the insurance industry.

The handful of positive reviews for Infinity auto insurance praise its responsive customer service. In fact, Infinity does attempt to respond to most consumer complaints posted online. However, these positive notes are greatly overshadowed by recurring complaints about long claims processing times, difficulties in cancelling auto policies, and increasing premiums.

Fun Fact: Infinity auto insurance proudly caters to Hispanic-American drivers by making every single one of its webpages available in Spanish. According to the company, no other insurer offers more resources in Spanish than them.

Infinity Auto Insurance Coverage Options

Infinity auto insurance has all the basic coverage options that keep you and your vehicle operating legally on the road. The basic options include bodily injury, property damage, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Every Infinity auto insurance policy comes with a free membership to the DriverClub, Infinity’s roadside assistance program. DriverClub gives you access to Infinity’s network of roadside assistance experts 24/7. But even though membership is free, policyholders are expected to pay for any services they use. Infinity has pre-negotiated lower service fees for DriverClub members.

Rental reimbursement is also available for purchase by drivers who want rental car expenses to be covered in the event that their primary vehicle is totaled or stuck in a repair shop after an accident. This coverage costs about an additional $7 to $10 per month.

Specialty Types of Auto Insurance from Infinity:

• Infinity Commercial Insurance protects your vehicle when it’s being used for business purposes.
• Infinity Classic Collectors Insurance offers a variety of coverage options for antique vehicles such as military vehicles, muscle cars, and more.
• Infinity Rideshare Insurance is a policy add-on for Miami-area residents who drive for a ridesharing company such as Uber or Lyft.

Sample Infinity Auto Insurance Quotes

Age	Clean Driving Record	Poor Driving Record
21	$504 / month	$710 / month
30	$199 / month	$290 / month
42	$170 / month	$249 / month

Details on how WalletHub collected these quotes are in the Methodology section of this review. Premiums will vary by state and by the coverage levels you select.

Infinity Auto Insurance Discounts

• Switch-and-Save Discount: Up to 15% discount for switching your auto insurance policy over to Infinity.
• Multi-car: Up to 38% discount when you insure more than one vehicle with Infinity auto insurance.
• Safe Driver: Up to 25% discount for maintaining a clean driving record (i.e. no accidents or violations).
• Paid in Full: Up to 15% discount when you pay for your entire auto policy premium upfront.
• Electronic Payment: Discount for choosing to pay your premiums electronically.

The availability, criteria, and amount of these discounts vary by state.

Infinity Auto Insurance vs. Popular Alternatives

Insurer	Infinity	Progressive	GEICO
Average Annual Premium	$3,947	$3,422	$3,546
WalletHub Ranking (total of 46 companies)/td>	27th	17st	21th
Complaints Score (lower is best)	2.60	0.70	0.84

Methodology

To determine the pros and cons of Infinity auto insurance, WalletHub’s editors compared the policy options from Infinity against those from other top insurance companies. More specifically, our rating for Infinity looks at several key factors that are important to consumers when shopping for car insurance.

• Coverage options & limits
• Claims process
• Cost
• Transparency
• Customer service
• Consumer opinions
• Watchdog ratings

To help us get a better sense of how satisfied customers are with Infinity and other auto insurers, WalletHub calculates a complaints score for each company. Because larger insurers tend to receive more complaints, this score takes into consideration a company’s market size based on its share of annual premiums for personal auto policies.

Assumptions for Infinity Auto Insurance Quotes:

Gender: MaleMarital Status: SingleState: CaliforniaCar: Honda AccordComprehensive Deductible $250Collision Deductible $500 (deductible waiver add-on included)

Coverage Type	Coverage Limit
Bodily Injury	$100,000/person $300,000/accident
Property Damage	$50,000
Medical Payments	$5,000
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (Bodily Injury)	$30,000/person $60,000/accident

For our sample quotes, WalletHub used car insurance data from the state of California, which was chosen given its population size and middle-of-the-road ranking in WalletHub’s car insurance pricing study. We reviewed the data from major auto insurance companies in at least 30 California cities, pulling quotes from the state insurance regulator’s database for drivers of different ages and driving records. In the sample quotes above, a poor driving record includes at least one at-fault accident or traffic violation.

For more car insurance research, check out WalletHub’s 2019 Cheap Car Insurance Study. And if you have experience with Infinity auto insurance that you think might help other drivers, you can also write an Infinity insurance review.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress

Posted by: Alina Comoreanu

The four major credit card networks – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover – dictate where credit cards and debit cards can be used. They are not created equal, however. Visa and Mastercard boast a significant advantage in terms of worldwide acceptance, while Amex and Discover supplement their payment facilitation business by issuing cards directly to consumers. Card network rental car insurance, extended warranty, and fraud liability policies vary widely as well.

The card network market share statistics listed below will give you a sense of the hierarchy that exists in the card network space. Networks are compared based on credit card market share, debit card market share, purchase volume, cards in circulation, and monthly spending.

Market share based on purchase volume (Source: SEC filings from Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover) (Source: SEC filings from Visa and Mastercard) (Sources: SEC filings from Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover)

Annual and monthly purchase/spending volume (End of 2018)

	Visa	Mastercard	American Express	Discover	Overall
Annual	$5,804	$3,511	$14,480	$2,439	$5,458
Monthly	$484	$293	$1,229	$1,207	$203

(Sources: SEC filings from Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover)

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