banking - Understanding Large-Scale Commercial Mortgage Financing Part-03

This third and final installment of the mini series regarding large-scale commercial mortgage financing will generally discuss how to select a commercial mortgage broker or banker, issues you can expect to deal with and how to protect yourself in the process. If you have not read part 01 and 02 of this series, you should do so now. As mentioned, the commercial mortgage brokerage business is not well regulated and there are many unscrupulous and crooked operators in the market'shysters who will require up-front fees before you get a loan. And depending on the amount of financing you are seeking, these fees can be substantial, typically one percent (1%) of the loan amount. In reality, there is no value in paying a commercial mortgage "broker" any up-front fees to get a commercial mortgage for a grade-A income producing property. Why? Typically, commercial mortgage brokers do not provide financing directly to the borrower. Instead, they tend to represent mortgage "banking firms", a much more qualified and professional level of operation, who represent life insurance companies in the market. Now, paying fees to mortgage banking firms is a different story because you are dealing with a legal representative of the insurance company providing the financing and applications fees are normally paid to these banking firms at the appropriate time (generally discussed in part 1-2). Dishonesty, however, runs in both directions in this business and borrowers can be just as crooked as the brokers. For this reason, brokers often demand borrowers to sign non-disclosure/non-circumvention agreements (non-comps) to prevent the borrower from going around the broker directly to the lending organization. This is fair. The mortgage broker has taken time and money to develop conduit relationships with mortgage banking firms which you would not find own your own unless you are already a player with some deals under your belt. Before you sign any agreements with a broker, make sure you get legal review, even if you think that you understand the agreement. Many non-comp agreements tend to run in perpetuity and can bind you for a long, long, time from ever seeking financing own your own without the broker. There are a variety of non-comps floating around and some are better than others. Make sure you have an attorney review them before signing. If you do sign a non-comp, makes sure you get a registered list of the broker's lenders, in writing, so that you are limited only to their current source of lenders. This way you can deal with lenders not on the list directly. The only time it is reasonable to pay a broker a fee, and I was in the business for quite awhile, is if they are preparing loan request packages for submission to banks (typically business and/or construction loans). Another occasion to pay fees if the broker is consulting and advising you for the assembly of legal and financial documents needed to facilitate a loan. In this case, there may be some justification for fees and it is a matter of what you are willing to pay. What's the hourly rate worth? That's a gut call, around $50.00 hour for every actual billable hour with per-project limits pre-set to say $250.00. When they hit the $250.00 mark, you want to see an audit trail of the billable schedule before authorizing another $250.00 project. Always work in phases to maintain control. What does a bank package cost? For business and construction loans it is not uncommon to pay $1,500 to $5,000.00 or more depending on the size and complexity of the deal. There is a big difference between a $100,000.00 construction loan and a $1,000,000.00 loan. As with any business relationship in which you find yourself pressed to sign legal documentation it is always a good idea to get legal review first. I have repeated this many times throughout these articles because many people ignore this advice until they sign a document, and them it is to late. To your success! Do you like this tip? You haven't seen anything yet! Check out our Smart Books Business products by clicking the link below. We have business kits, books and ebooks to help you get smart-fast. Check us out.... We'll save you a TON of time and money. Copyright ? 2006 James W. Hart, IV All Rights reserved Top 10 Real Estate Tips Be Smart, Visit SBS. click this link http://smart67.com SBS, Where Smart People Get Smarter Faster... Don't forget to rate this article below! By rating this article you can help Jim Hart better serve your needs for quality article content. Thank you! Note: Promotional offers within articles are subject to change without notice. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hart banking - 15 Things You Should Know About Offshore Fund Managers Do you know the person managing your money? If you don't, you need to; knowing who is managing your fund is as important as knowing where your money is. It's absolutely essential, and you should not hesitate to ask as many questions as you wish so that you're sure you're comfortable with where your money is being invested. This article will give you some of the information you'll need before you make important decisions about your investment, and it should help you find your way through the sometimes confusing ins and outs of fund management. It is imperative that you know who the fund manager is and what his or her background and skill level is. You should keep in mind the following points. The fund manager should meet the following requirements or willingly disclose the following information so that you can make an informed decision(s) about the manager: - Can communicate fluently with you in your native language (for clear, effective communication) - Has the requisite degrees and certifications (must be qualified to manage your money effectively) - Be transparent about background and other positions held (to help reassure you that he or she has the necessary experience) - Be transparent about his or her degree of management experience (to ensure that he or she can handle your investments responsibly) - Be willing to disclose the amount of money he or she held in previous management positions (must be comfortable with the pressures of handling your money) - Has spent adequate time in his or her current position (so as to be thoroughly acquainted with the market(s) you wish to invest in or are interested in learning more about) - Willingly disclose any previous fund management positions held that may have been similar to the current one (so as to ensure his or her experience will enable him/her to make prudent decisions about your money) - Willingly disclose the returns his or her previously managed funds achieved while he or she was in control (so as to establish a track record and solid returns results). Even though this information is important to obtain on fund managers, it isn't always easy to get. With a team-managed fund, it is actually immaterial, since one manager is no longer in charge of the fund. Funds management software has made it possible for a fund manager to simply follow the lead of computer-generated information, thus making the actual manager's experience almost unnecessary. However, this is only the case when a computer is being used thusly: the fund manager is still essential in all other situations. Besides knowing who your fund manager is, it is also important to thoroughly investigate the fund management company that the fund manager works for. Much of the time, team management is used for a fund, rather than a single manager. In this case, the company is what's important. These are some things you should investigate to make sure it's the right one for you: - What are the company's assets under management in total? (If overly large, the company may not be able to spend adequate time and effort managing your account) - How long has the company has been in business? (Ensure they've been in business long enough to have adequate experience in the field, for best possible performance) - What is the company's history? (Past history should show solid and consistent performance) - How big is the staff? (Should ensure consistent day-to-day management of your investments and should ensure that you can contact someone easily who will have knowledge of your fund) - Does the staff speak your native language? (Should ensure that you can easily communicate with them) - The numbers of funds run by the company (how much similar experience does the company have?) - The performance of their funds when viewed compared to similar funds run by the competition (how do the company's assets translate into concrete financial results?). Your fund's prospectus should have roughly 75% of this information in it. Although the information may not be vital to your decision to invest, most funds' management companies will be happy to give it to you so as to make it inviting for you to invest with them. So don't hesitate to ask questions until you're satisfied. You are absolutely entitled to know who's managing your money.

banking - 15 Things You Should Know About Offshore Fund Managers

Do you know the person managing your money? If you don't, you need to; knowing who is managing your fund is as important as knowing where your money is. It's absolutely essential, and you should not hesitate to ask as many questions as you wish so that you're sure you're comfortable with where your money is being invested. This article will give you some of the information you'll need before you make important decisions about your investment, and it should help you find your way through the sometimes confusing ins and outs of fund management. It is imperative that you know who the fund manager is and what his or her background and skill level is. You should keep in mind the following points. The fund manager should meet the following requirements or willingly disclose the following information so that you can make an informed decision(s) about the manager: - Can communicate fluently with you in your native language (for clear, effective communication) - Has the requisite degrees and certifications (must be qualified to manage your money effectively) - Be transparent about background and other positions held (to help reassure you that he or she has the necessary experience) - Be transparent about his or her degree of management experience (to ensure that he or she can handle your investments responsibly) - Be willing to disclose the amount of money he or she held in previous management positions (must be comfortable with the pressures of handling your money) - Has spent adequate time in his or her current position (so as to be thoroughly acquainted with the market(s) you wish to invest in or are interested in learning more about) - Willingly disclose any previous fund management positions held that may have been similar to the current one (so as to ensure his or her experience will enable him/her to make prudent decisions about your money) - Willingly disclose the returns his or her previously managed funds achieved while he or she was in control (so as to establish a track record and solid returns results). Even though this information is important to obtain on fund managers, it isn't always easy to get. With a team-managed fund, it is actually immaterial, since one manager is no longer in charge of the fund. Funds management software has made it possible for a fund manager to simply follow the lead of computer-generated information, thus making the actual manager's experience almost unnecessary. However, this is only the case when a computer is being used thusly: the fund manager is still essential in all other situations. Besides knowing who your fund manager is, it is also important to thoroughly investigate the fund management company that the fund manager works for. Much of the time, team management is used for a fund, rather than a single manager. In this case, the company is what's important. These are some things you should investigate to make sure it's the right one for you: - What are the company's assets under management in total? (If overly large, the company may not be able to spend adequate time and effort managing your account) - How long has the company has been in business? (Ensure they've been in business long enough to have adequate experience in the field, for best possible performance) - What is the company's history? (Past history should show solid and consistent performance) - How big is the staff? (Should ensure consistent day-to-day management of your investments and should ensure that you can contact someone easily who will have knowledge of your fund) - Does the staff speak your native language? (Should ensure that you can easily communicate with them) - The numbers of funds run by the company (how much similar experience does the company have?) - The performance of their funds when viewed compared to similar funds run by the competition (how do the company's assets translate into concrete financial results?). Your fund's prospectus should have roughly 75% of this information in it. Although the information may not be vital to your decision to invest, most funds' management companies will be happy to give it to you so as to make it inviting for you to invest with them. So don't hesitate to ask questions until you're satisfied. You are absolutely entitled to know who's managing your money. -=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Who Else Wants To Learn The Truth About Offshore Investing? Download Your Free Offshore Investment Report And MP3. http://www.offshoreinvestingsecrets.com -=-=-==-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Jenyns banking - Monopoly and Mortgage: Playing the Game Remember monopoly? Remember mortgages? You know, the text that's written when you flip your title deed. Flipping the title deed means your property is on mortgage and you'll get money from the bank. Sounds simple right? Wrong. There's much more to it than that. Here are the things you need to know about the game and how to get most out of your mortgages. The idea of the game is to buy and rent and sell properties so profitably that one becomes the wealthiest player and eventual "monopolist". Starting from "go" move tokens around the board according to the throw of dice. When a player's token lands on a space not yet owned, he may buy it from the bank: otherwise it is auctioned off to the highest bidder. The purpose of owning property is to collect rents from opponents landing there. Rentals are greatly increased if you put houses (those little green ones) and hotels (those dreaded red infrastructures). So your best bet in winning the game is to put the most houses or hotels in your lots. (That's assuming you don't land in your opponents' lots with houses or hotels). To raise more money, lots may be mortgaged to the bank. Here comes the tricky part. That includes deciding which lots to mortgage and how you can get the most out of your mortgaged property. Mortgages in monopoly can be done only through the bank. The mortgage value is printed on each title deed. The rate of interest is 10 percent, payable when the mortgage is lifted. If any property is transferred which is mortgaged, the new owner may lift the mortgage at once if he wishes, but must pay 10 percent interest. If he fails to lift the mortgage he still pays 10 percent interest and if he lifts the mortgage later on he pays an additional 10 per cent interest as well as the main value. Houses or hotels cannot be mortgaged. All buildings on the lot must be sold back to the bank before any property can be mortgaged. The bank will pay one-half of what was paid for them. In order to rebuild a house on mortgaged property the owner must pay the bank the amount of the mortgage, plus the 10 percent interest charge and buy the house back from the bank at its full price. When you mortgage a property, you can use the money for anything you want to, so long as it's legal under the rules of monopoly. The only restriction in this regard is that a player cannot pre-mortgage a property to finance its own purchase. For example, say a player wants to purchase Boardwalk but can't do it with his or her current assets. That player cannot say, "I'm going to buy Boardwalk by mortgaging it, and then using the money I get for the mortgage to complete the purchase." You must own a property before you can mortgage it. Playing the game is fun and it will give you an idea of how it is in the real buy and sell world. There are also the Community Chest and Chance spaces which players land on. Instructions ranging from winning $25 dollars to $500 dollars are given. Sometimes players even land in jail! This game is definitely a clever and amusing entertainment.

banking - Monopoly and Mortgage: Playing the Game

Remember monopoly? Remember mortgages? You know, the text that's written when you flip your title deed. Flipping the title deed means your property is on mortgage and you'll get money from the bank. Sounds simple right? Wrong. There's much more to it than that. Here are the things you need to know about the game and how to get most out of your mortgages. The idea of the game is to buy and rent and sell properties so profitably that one becomes the wealthiest player and eventual "monopolist". Starting from "go" move tokens around the board according to the throw of dice. When a player's token lands on a space not yet owned, he may buy it from the bank: otherwise it is auctioned off to the highest bidder. The purpose of owning property is to collect rents from opponents landing there. Rentals are greatly increased if you put houses (those little green ones) and hotels (those dreaded red infrastructures). So your best bet in winning the game is to put the most houses or hotels in your lots. (That's assuming you don't land in your opponents' lots with houses or hotels). To raise more money, lots may be mortgaged to the bank. Here comes the tricky part. That includes deciding which lots to mortgage and how you can get the most out of your mortgaged property. Mortgages in monopoly can be done only through the bank. The mortgage value is printed on each title deed. The rate of interest is 10 percent, payable when the mortgage is lifted. If any property is transferred which is mortgaged, the new owner may lift the mortgage at once if he wishes, but must pay 10 percent interest. If he fails to lift the mortgage he still pays 10 percent interest and if he lifts the mortgage later on he pays an additional 10 per cent interest as well as the main value. Houses or hotels cannot be mortgaged. All buildings on the lot must be sold back to the bank before any property can be mortgaged. The bank will pay one-half of what was paid for them. In order to rebuild a house on mortgaged property the owner must pay the bank the amount of the mortgage, plus the 10 percent interest charge and buy the house back from the bank at its full price. When you mortgage a property, you can use the money for anything you want to, so long as it's legal under the rules of monopoly. The only restriction in this regard is that a player cannot pre-mortgage a property to finance its own purchase. For example, say a player wants to purchase Boardwalk but can't do it with his or her current assets. That player cannot say, "I'm going to buy Boardwalk by mortgaging it, and then using the money I get for the mortgage to complete the purchase." You must own a property before you can mortgage it. Playing the game is fun and it will give you an idea of how it is in the real buy and sell world. There are also the Community Chest and Chance spaces which players land on. Instructions ranging from winning $25 dollars to $500 dollars are given. Sometimes players even land in jail! This game is definitely a clever and amusing entertainment. James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of PresentMortgage.com and writes expert articles about mortgages. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Monahan banking - Fastest Growing Franchises I used to be obsessed with the idea of starting my own business. My grandfather, you see, was a successful small business man. He followed the classic American story. He came over here with nothing, worked hard, and started up his own shop. I had always dreamed of doing this. Unfortunately, starting an independent small business can be difficult. That is why I joined up with one of the fastest growing franchises. I was a little nervous about this idea at first. The fastest growing franchise this month, after all, can be old news by next month. If you start a franchise business, you are responsible for the cost of your shop, but you are not in charge of its success or failure. What the company as a whole does can affect your chance to succeed. Then I realized that every business involves risks. I figured that if I joined with one of the fastest growing franchises, I would have some advantages that I wouldn't have starting my own small business. I would have the name recognition, the reputation, and the support of the national office. That is why I started a fast food franchise instead of my own restaurant. One of the things that all of the fastest growing franchises have in common is a hands-off approach. The national office regulates quality control, advertises the product, and make sure that all of the franchises stay in line. The rest is up to you. If you run one of the fastest growing franchises, hiring decisions, pricing decisions, and even local advertising, are all up to you. You can determine your hours, determine your employees pay, and make many other business decisions. This is why the fastest growing franchises do so well. They allow personal ingenuity. Once I found this out about the fastest growing franchises, all of my doubts disappeared. One of the reasons that I didn't want to start a Jamba Juice franchise, or a Dunkin Donuts franchise, was because I felt that I would have no power as a businessman. I did not want all of my decisions dictated from the central office. I did not realize that franchises allow so much freedom. Now that I know that joining one of the fastest growing franchises allows me to be my own boss, I am much happier about the whole thing. It really is greats to own my own business.

banking - Fastest Growing Franchises

I used to be obsessed with the idea of starting my own business. My grandfather, you see, was a successful small business man. He followed the classic American story. He came over here with nothing, worked hard, and started up his own shop. I had always dreamed of doing this. Unfortunately, starting an independent small business can be difficult. That is why I joined up with one of the fastest growing franchises. I was a little nervous about this idea at first. The fastest growing franchise this month, after all, can be old news by next month. If you start a franchise business, you are responsible for the cost of your shop, but you are not in charge of its success or failure. What the company as a whole does can affect your chance to succeed. Then I realized that every business involves risks. I figured that if I joined with one of the fastest growing franchises, I would have some advantages that I wouldn't have starting my own small business. I would have the name recognition, the reputation, and the support of the national office. That is why I started a fast food franchise instead of my own restaurant. One of the things that all of the fastest growing franchises have in common is a hands-off approach. The national office regulates quality control, advertises the product, and make sure that all of the franchises stay in line. The rest is up to you. If you run one of the fastest growing franchises, hiring decisions, pricing decisions, and even local advertising, are all up to you. You can determine your hours, determine your employees pay, and make many other business decisions. This is why the fastest growing franchises do so well. They allow personal ingenuity. Once I found this out about the fastest growing franchises, all of my doubts disappeared. One of the reasons that I didn't want to start a Jamba Juice franchise, or a Dunkin Donuts franchise, was because I felt that I would have no power as a businessman. I did not want all of my decisions dictated from the central office. I did not realize that franchises allow so much freedom. Now that I know that joining one of the fastest growing franchises allows me to be my own boss, I am much happier about the whole thing. It really is greats to own my own business. For more information on how to find the Best Business Online try visiting Small Business Start located at http://Small-Business-Start.com where you will find valuable information on internet marketing, making money and other information. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dominic_Ferrara banking - Understanding Large-Scale Commercial Mortgage Financing Part-02 Continuing our discussion from (part 01) of this mini series covering large-scale commercial mortgage financing (If you have not read part one you should do so). It is helpful to have a general idea how mortgage lenders view commercial income producing properties for financing. When considering projects for financing in excess of one million dollars, lenders are not so concerned with the principles initially. Rather, they are more concerned about the operating economics of the property. Lenders (mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers) will want to see a detailed rent-roll (leases), with pro forma projections, income statements and copies of income taxes for the last two years and maybe some pictures of the project. This is enough preliminary information for a lender to pre-qualify the project for further consideration. Once the determination that operating economics work, the lender will look to the quality of the tenants and the length of the leases. Mortgage banking firms like to see rent rolls having long-term leases (equal to or greater than the term of the proposed financing). Ideally, the project will have at least one or more anchor tenants (Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, or multiple smaller strong tenants like McDonalds, Radio shack, and the like). The stronger the tenant, the longer the leases, the more likely they will be interested in the financing. The bottom line to permanent commercial mortgage financing is that grade-A projects with grade-A tenants and grade-A principals will get the most favorable rate and loan terms from life companies for properties requiring financing in excess of a million dollars. While it is possible to get life financing for projects around the million-dollar range, the truth of the matter is Life companies tend to like deals from about 2 million and up. Once the determination to pursue financing has been preliminarily made, mortgage brokers and bankers will request a host of information from the principal including resumes, financial statements, tax records, etc. If the principal's are a partnership or corporations the request for information becomes more detailed. In essence, you should be prepared to give a full accounting of your financial picture (audited by a CPA at some point along the spectrum). Formal loan applications are comprehensive legal documents covering a whole spectrum of concerns to both the borrower and lender and will require you to have legal review before acceptance and signature. The application fees you can expect to pay for the loan are typically around one percent (1%) of the amount of financing you are seeking. Example, if you want to borrow 2.5 million, you can expect to pay around $25,000.00 when you sign the application. From this application fee, an MAI appraisal will be ordered (unless it is a separate fee to the borrower). Because of the financial and legal details associated with commercial mortgage financing are complex, you are strongly urged to have both legal and financial counsel representing you. Most people who are in this league of financing are already well represented but I set forth this statement for those of you who are relatively new to the game. It's big league. This is why I cautioned people in part one of this mini series to avoid paying up-front fees to mortgage brokers. Often times these people are crooked and swindle people out of money and add another layer of fee-costs to an already expensive project. Stay tuned, I will be discussing ways to protect your self when dealing with mortgage brokers in my next article. To your success! Do you like this tip? You haven't seen anything yet! Check out our Smart Books Business products by clicking the link below. We have business kits, books and ebooks to help you get smart-fast. Check us out.... We'll save you a TON of time and money. Copyright ? 2006 James W. Hart, IV All Rights reserved

banking - Understanding Large-Scale Commercial Mortgage Financing Part-02

Continuing our discussion from (part 01) of this mini series covering large-scale commercial mortgage financing (If you have not read part one you should do so). It is helpful to have a general idea how mortgage lenders view commercial income producing properties for financing. When considering projects for financing in excess of one million dollars, lenders are not so concerned with the principles initially. Rather, they are more concerned about the operating economics of the property. Lenders (mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers) will want to see a detailed rent-roll (leases), with pro forma projections, income statements and copies of income taxes for the last two years and maybe some pictures of the project. This is enough preliminary information for a lender to pre-qualify the project for further consideration. Once the determination that operating economics work, the lender will look to the quality of the tenants and the length of the leases. Mortgage banking firms like to see rent rolls having long-term leases (equal to or greater than the term of the proposed financing). Ideally, the project will have at least one or more anchor tenants (Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, or multiple smaller strong tenants like McDonalds, Radio shack, and the like). The stronger the tenant, the longer the leases, the more likely they will be interested in the financing. The bottom line to permanent commercial mortgage financing is that grade-A projects with grade-A tenants and grade-A principals will get the most favorable rate and loan terms from life companies for properties requiring financing in excess of a million dollars. While it is possible to get life financing for projects around the million-dollar range, the truth of the matter is Life companies tend to like deals from about 2 million and up. Once the determination to pursue financing has been preliminarily made, mortgage brokers and bankers will request a host of information from the principal including resumes, financial statements, tax records, etc. If the principal's are a partnership or corporations the request for information becomes more detailed. In essence, you should be prepared to give a full accounting of your financial picture (audited by a CPA at some point along the spectrum). Formal loan applications are comprehensive legal documents covering a whole spectrum of concerns to both the borrower and lender and will require you to have legal review before acceptance and signature. The application fees you can expect to pay for the loan are typically around one percent (1%) of the amount of financing you are seeking. Example, if you want to borrow 2.5 million, you can expect to pay around $25,000.00 when you sign the application. From this application fee, an MAI appraisal will be ordered (unless it is a separate fee to the borrower). Because of the financial and legal details associated with commercial mortgage financing are complex, you are strongly urged to have both legal and financial counsel representing you. Most people who are in this league of financing are already well represented but I set forth this statement for those of you who are relatively new to the game. It's big league. This is why I cautioned people in part one of this mini series to avoid paying up-front fees to mortgage brokers. Often times these people are crooked and swindle people out of money and add another layer of fee-costs to an already expensive project. Stay tuned, I will be discussing ways to protect your self when dealing with mortgage brokers in my next article. To your success! Do you like this tip? You haven't seen anything yet! Check out our Smart Books Business products by clicking the link below. We have business kits, books and ebooks to help you get smart-fast. Check us out.... We'll save you a TON of time and money. Copyright ? 2006 James W. Hart, IV All Rights reserved Top 10 Real Estate Tips Be Smart, Visit SBS. click this link http://smart67.com SBS, Where Smart People Get Smarter Faster... Don't forget to rate this article below! By rating this article you can help Jim Hart better serve your needs for quality article content. Thank you! Note: Promotional offers within articles are subject to change without notice. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hart banking - Pros And Cons Of Cord Blood Storage Or Cord Blood Banking This new medical promise of treating diseases through stem cell cord blood banking has drawn the attention of a large mass. However, there are mixed opinions regarding umbilical stem cell cord blood. There are certain issues like ethics, racial groups, family history of genetic disorders, and others that dominate the decision for cord blood storage. Factors To Be Considered For Cord Blood Donation Recipient's compatibility - due to the immaturity of the stem cells present in cord blood, the recipient has a reduced risk of graft vs. host disease, which is a potentially serious immune response. Convenience - it is easier to regain cord blood than bone marrow. This is because it is stored cryogenically and is readily available for transplant. It is hard to find bone marrow donor and its retrieval process is intricate. Ethnic or racial groups - Race and ethics come in the way of bone marrow donation. Cord blood banking, in which cord blood is stored during childbirth, comes to the rescue at the time of need. Free services - for families who are unable to afford the cost of cord blood registry, there are certain private banking companies that have come forward to provide free services. PROS The major advantage of saving cord blood is that it is readily available at the time of saving the life of someone. The stem cells are already stored at the cord blood bank, hence, can be readily available in case the need arises for transplant. There is no pain or other harm involved in cord blood collection to either the mother or baby. It is a very simple process carried out immediately after delivery. Cord blood cells have the potential to help in the treatment of more than 50 diseases including leukemia, critical sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, and others. Stem cell cord blood has higher probability of becoming the perfect match for family members and relatives and has no risk of rejection by the recipient's body. CONS There are no exact estimates to confirm that an average child without any risk factor will utilize her own saved cord blood. The commercial cord-blood bank demands about $1,500 for cord blood registry, not mentioning the $100 maintenance fee every year. Besides this, you may have to shell out a few hundred dollars to obtain the cord blood collection kit, for courier charges, and for initial steps of cord blood banking. Most of the stem cell transplants are done only on kids or adolescents. Moreover, cord blood stem cells are not sufficient for an adult transplant. A large-sized person needs a larger amount of blood forming stem cells for a successful transplant. There is no concrete evidence that states that stem cells of a relative provide a greater success rate than those drawn from a stranger. Both the donors have equal success rate because the cord blood stem cells are immature, therefore, it doesn't matter if there is no perfect match for getting an unbeaten bone marrow transplant. Doctors have little experience in cord blood stem cell transplantation. Some medical experts are of the view that an ill child receiving her own cord blood stem cells may become prone to get the same disease again. However, there is no medical evidence proving it true. Cord blood storage might become a new trend very soon. However, the decision to go for cord blood banking is entirely yours. In addition, you have to decide well in advance of the due date because once you lose the precious blood, you cannot regain it. Anyways, it's good to have something to fall back upon at times of emergencies, isn't it?

banking - Pros And Cons Of Cord Blood Storage Or Cord Blood Banking

This new medical promise of treating diseases through stem cell cord blood banking has drawn the attention of a large mass. However, there are mixed opinions regarding umbilical stem cell cord blood. There are certain issues like ethics, racial groups, family history of genetic disorders, and others that dominate the decision for cord blood storage. Factors To Be Considered For Cord Blood Donation Recipient's compatibility - due to the immaturity of the stem cells present in cord blood, the recipient has a reduced risk of graft vs. host disease, which is a potentially serious immune response. Convenience - it is easier to regain cord blood than bone marrow. This is because it is stored cryogenically and is readily available for transplant. It is hard to find bone marrow donor and its retrieval process is intricate. Ethnic or racial groups - Race and ethics come in the way of bone marrow donation. Cord blood banking, in which cord blood is stored during childbirth, comes to the rescue at the time of need. Free services - for families who are unable to afford the cost of cord blood registry, there are certain private banking companies that have come forward to provide free services. PROS The major advantage of saving cord blood is that it is readily available at the time of saving the life of someone. The stem cells are already stored at the cord blood bank, hence, can be readily available in case the need arises for transplant. There is no pain or other harm involved in cord blood collection to either the mother or baby. It is a very simple process carried out immediately after delivery. Cord blood cells have the potential to help in the treatment of more than 50 diseases including leukemia, critical sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, and others. Stem cell cord blood has higher probability of becoming the perfect match for family members and relatives and has no risk of rejection by the recipient's body. CONS There are no exact estimates to confirm that an average child without any risk factor will utilize her own saved cord blood. The commercial cord-blood bank demands about $1,500 for cord blood registry, not mentioning the $100 maintenance fee every year. Besides this, you may have to shell out a few hundred dollars to obtain the cord blood collection kit, for courier charges, and for initial steps of cord blood banking. Most of the stem cell transplants are done only on kids or adolescents. Moreover, cord blood stem cells are not sufficient for an adult transplant. A large-sized person needs a larger amount of blood forming stem cells for a successful transplant. There is no concrete evidence that states that stem cells of a relative provide a greater success rate than those drawn from a stranger. Both the donors have equal success rate because the cord blood stem cells are immature, therefore, it doesn't matter if there is no perfect match for getting an unbeaten bone marrow transplant. Doctors have little experience in cord blood stem cell transplantation. Some medical experts are of the view that an ill child receiving her own cord blood stem cells may become prone to get the same disease again. However, there is no medical evidence proving it true. Cord blood storage might become a new trend very soon. However, the decision to go for cord blood banking is entirely yours. In addition, you have to decide well in advance of the due date because once you lose the precious blood, you cannot regain it. Anyways, it's good to have something to fall back upon at times of emergencies, isn't it? Cord blood banking is mushrooming these days. Know whether your baby's cord blood is really in a secure position. Can it be used after 20 years, if your little darling or any other member of your family needs it? Cord Blood Banking answers these and many more questions related to cord blood storage, cord blood banking, cord blood donation, and selecting the right cord blood registry. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saurabh_K_Jain banking - Open Up A Bank Account Online The Internet has made every day life a lot more convenient for everyone, and opening a bank account online is just one of those conveniences. It is simple, quick and easy. Best of all being that it only takes a few minutes to do. If you're like most of us, you really don't have the time to go to the bank, and wait in the customer service area until someone has time to help you. Most, if not all of the local banking institutions in your area offer online account management, so if you do not already have an account established, you could open a bank account online. Online banking is a convenient and secure way to keep track of transactions, and customers can view all accounts at a glance. The local bank is always available to make deposits and complete other financial transactions that need to be taken care of in person. If you choose to go with a bank that doesn't have a local office, deposits must be mailed or wired because most online banks do not offer transfers between outside bank accounts. Before you open a bank account online, check out all the different services offered by online banking institutions, and make your choice based on which ones fit your needs the best. Many banks offer free checking with no minimum balance, no monthly fees, free bill pay, ATM/debit card, overdraft protection, with or without direct deposit, as well as other banking services like stop payments and copies of checks written. Some banks also pay customers interest based on average daily balance for savings and checking accounts, or have other interest incentives to keep the balance above a specified minimum. As mentioned earlier it isn't necessary to open bank accounts online with financial institutions that have local branch offices in your area, but it is more convenient for making deposits that cannot be directly deposited, especially if you're in a hurry to get the money into your account. If you haven't already, it's time to join the 21st century and get on the ball and open a bank account online, or start using the online banking features offered by your present financial institution. Enjoy the convenience of banking online and make better use of your time by paying bills directly with e-pay, and take advantage of all the time saving features that are offered by your bank. You can easily direct deposit funds into your accounts and pay your bills online. This is a great money management tool that also allows transactions to be downloaded into your personal Quicken, or other accounting program. If you haven't already done so, open a bank account online today and make your day-to-day life just a little bit easier.

banking - Open Up A Bank Account Online

The Internet has made every day life a lot more convenient for everyone, and opening a bank account online is just one of those conveniences. It is simple, quick and easy. Best of all being that it only takes a few minutes to do. If you're like most of us, you really don't have the time to go to the bank, and wait in the customer service area until someone has time to help you. Most, if not all of the local banking institutions in your area offer online account management, so if you do not already have an account established, you could open a bank account online. Online banking is a convenient and secure way to keep track of transactions, and customers can view all accounts at a glance. The local bank is always available to make deposits and complete other financial transactions that need to be taken care of in person. If you choose to go with a bank that doesn't have a local office, deposits must be mailed or wired because most online banks do not offer transfers between outside bank accounts. Before you open a bank account online, check out all the different services offered by online banking institutions, and make your choice based on which ones fit your needs the best. Many banks offer free checking with no minimum balance, no monthly fees, free bill pay, ATM/debit card, overdraft protection, with or without direct deposit, as well as other banking services like stop payments and copies of checks written. Some banks also pay customers interest based on average daily balance for savings and checking accounts, or have other interest incentives to keep the balance above a specified minimum. As mentioned earlier it isn't necessary to open bank accounts online with financial institutions that have local branch offices in your area, but it is more convenient for making deposits that cannot be directly deposited, especially if you're in a hurry to get the money into your account. If you haven't already, it's time to join the 21st century and get on the ball and open a bank account online, or start using the online banking features offered by your present financial institution. Enjoy the convenience of banking online and make better use of your time by paying bills directly with e-pay, and take advantage of all the time saving features that are offered by your bank. You can easily direct deposit funds into your accounts and pay your bills online. This is a great money management tool that also allows transactions to be downloaded into your personal Quicken, or other accounting program. If you haven't already done so, open a bank account online today and make your day-to-day life just a little bit easier. Discover more information on how to Open A Bank Account Online as well as information on banking and investments at http://www.Banking.InfoFromA-Z.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Edwards banking - Learn How to Bank Like a Banker The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last decade. Because the cost of doing business the old-fashioned way is no longer effective, banks are interested in changing their customers' behavior by encouraging electronic banking alternatives whenever possible. They have done this by charging high fees for services that were once free. If you pay $200 or more in annual fees for banking, it's time to do some competitive shopping. Before becoming furious with your bank, it may be that the products you're using no longer meet your personal needs. If you have an established relationship with your bank, inquire about the other types of lower-cost checking and savings account products. By understanding the rationale of why a bank charges fees for different services will allow you to be a savvy banking customer. If human contact is required to serve you, such as a teller or personal banker, this is very expensive for the bank. The incentive is for banks to encourage more high-tech, "low-touch" methods of meeting your needs. This is accomplished by servicing as many customers as possible with automated telephone services, cash machines, and online self-service banking. Since the bank needs to train their employees, provide a paycheck and benefits, pay for the branch building, in some cases supply uniforms etc., it is conceivable that your one banking transaction per pay period could cost the bank $3 or more for your one banking transaction. If you conduct your banking via an automated telephone system, the cost of this type of transaction is much less expensive. However, if you then require assistance from a telephone banker, the price goes from $1 for the automated process to as much as $2 for human contact. For the same reasons stated above, the training, location, computer equipment, etc. become more expensive when human interaction is needed. Now it is clear why electronic banking methods are preferred by financial institutions. In fact, most banks are rewarding their customers with lower fees the more the customer does his/her banking electronically. For example, even though Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) costs the bank around $100,000 each plus the cost of the computer network and maintenance, the cost of these type of transactions drop to $0.50 - $1 each. Not only are these machines more cost effective, the 24-hour availability to customers is very convenient. With the ease and convenience of Automatic Clearing House (ACH) payments, this "checkless" process drops the price to around $0.25 each. And finally, the Internet drops the expense even further to less than $0.10 a transaction. I realize that there is still some fear of banking electronically, but the security that banks have instilled with computer technology far surpasses the current security of traditional banking methods. If you lose your checkbook and wallet, the cost and worry of canceling these checks is very tedious. It's very possible that a thief could forge your name and deplete your accounts in a matter of hours. The sophisticated computer technology, however, although not perfect, has a far more secure system to protect you and your money. Avoid being the bank's best customer. Attempt to cut your annual bank fees in half by educating yourself. Inquire about the options and products available to you with your banker. By asking about the alternative banking methods, you may find that your bank fees will drop considerably.

banking - Learn How to Bank Like a Banker

The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last decade. Because the cost of doing business the old-fashioned way is no longer effective, banks are interested in changing their customers' behavior by encouraging electronic banking alternatives whenever possible. They have done this by charging high fees for services that were once free. If you pay $200 or more in annual fees for banking, it's time to do some competitive shopping. Before becoming furious with your bank, it may be that the products you're using no longer meet your personal needs. If you have an established relationship with your bank, inquire about the other types of lower-cost checking and savings account products. By understanding the rationale of why a bank charges fees for different services will allow you to be a savvy banking customer. If human contact is required to serve you, such as a teller or personal banker, this is very expensive for the bank. The incentive is for banks to encourage more high-tech, "low-touch" methods of meeting your needs. This is accomplished by servicing as many customers as possible with automated telephone services, cash machines, and online self-service banking. Since the bank needs to train their employees, provide a paycheck and benefits, pay for the branch building, in some cases supply uniforms etc., it is conceivable that your one banking transaction per pay period could cost the bank $3 or more for your one banking transaction. If you conduct your banking via an automated telephone system, the cost of this type of transaction is much less expensive. However, if you then require assistance from a telephone banker, the price goes from $1 for the automated process to as much as $2 for human contact. For the same reasons stated above, the training, location, computer equipment, etc. become more expensive when human interaction is needed. Now it is clear why electronic banking methods are preferred by financial institutions. In fact, most banks are rewarding their customers with lower fees the more the customer does his/her banking electronically. For example, even though Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) costs the bank around $100,000 each plus the cost of the computer network and maintenance, the cost of these type of transactions drop to $0.50 - $1 each. Not only are these machines more cost effective, the 24-hour availability to customers is very convenient. With the ease and convenience of Automatic Clearing House (ACH) payments, this "checkless" process drops the price to around $0.25 each. And finally, the Internet drops the expense even further to less than $0.10 a transaction. I realize that there is still some fear of banking electronically, but the security that banks have instilled with computer technology far surpasses the current security of traditional banking methods. If you lose your checkbook and wallet, the cost and worry of canceling these checks is very tedious. It's very possible that a thief could forge your name and deplete your accounts in a matter of hours. The sophisticated computer technology, however, although not perfect, has a far more secure system to protect you and your money. Avoid being the bank's best customer. Attempt to cut your annual bank fees in half by educating yourself. Inquire about the options and products available to you with your banker. By asking about the alternative banking methods, you may find that your bank fees will drop considerably. About The Author Kimberly A. Griffiths This is an excerpt from ONE PAYCHECK AT A TIME, OnePaycheckataTime.com, by Kimberly A. Griffiths, ISBN: 1591133327. ONE PAYCHECK AT A TIME, a 200 page workbook, contains budget management exercises for an entire year of paychecks. The author, Kimberly A. Griffiths, has been through the vicious cycle of debt herself, and provides a no-nonsense system to managing your money paycheck to paycheck. You customize the journal based on your pay schedule and learn the necessary tools for making ends meet. kimberlygriffiths@onepaycheckatatime.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_A._Griffiths banking - History of Online Banking The concept of online banking as we know it today dates back to the early 1980s, when it was first envisioned and experimented with. However, it was only in 1995 (on October 6, to be exact) that Presidential Savings Bank first announced the facility for regular client use. The idea was quickly snapped up by other banks like Wells Fargo, Chase Manhattan and Security First Network Bank. Today, quite a few banks operate solely via the Internet and have no 'four-walls' entity at all. In the beginning, its inventors had predicted that it would be only a matter of time before online banking completely replaced the conventional kind. Facts now prove that this was an overoptimistic assessment - many customers still harbor an inherent distrust in the process. Others have opted not to use many of the offered facilities because of bitter experience with online frauds, and inability to use online banking services. Be that as it may, it is estimated that a total of 55 million families in America will be active users of online banking by the year 2010. Despite the fact that many American banks still do not offer this facility to customers, this may turn out to be an accurate prediction. The number of online banking customers has been increasing at an exponential rate. Initially, the main attraction is the elimination of tiresome bureaucratic red tape in registering for an account, and the endless paperwork involved in regular banking. The speed with which this process happens online, as well as the other services possible by these means, has translated into a literal boom in the banking industry over the last five years. Nor are there any signs of the boom letting up - in historical terms, online banking has just begun.

banking - History of Online Banking

The concept of online banking as we know it today dates back to the early 1980s, when it was first envisioned and experimented with. However, it was only in 1995 (on October 6, to be exact) that Presidential Savings Bank first announced the facility for regular client use. The idea was quickly snapped up by other banks like Wells Fargo, Chase Manhattan and Security First Network Bank. Today, quite a few banks operate solely via the Internet and have no 'four-walls' entity at all. In the beginning, its inventors had predicted that it would be only a matter of time before online banking completely replaced the conventional kind. Facts now prove that this was an overoptimistic assessment - many customers still harbor an inherent distrust in the process. Others have opted not to use many of the offered facilities because of bitter experience with online frauds, and inability to use online banking services. Be that as it may, it is estimated that a total of 55 million families in America will be active users of online banking by the year 2010. Despite the fact that many American banks still do not offer this facility to customers, this may turn out to be an accurate prediction. The number of online banking customers has been increasing at an exponential rate. Initially, the main attraction is the elimination of tiresome bureaucratic red tape in registering for an account, and the endless paperwork involved in regular banking. The speed with which this process happens online, as well as the other services possible by these means, has translated into a literal boom in the banking industry over the last five years. Nor are there any signs of the boom letting up - in historical terms, online banking has just begun. Online Banking provides detailed information on Online Banking, History of Online Banking, Online Banking Services, Future of Online Banking and more. Online Banking is affiliated with Offshore Banking Accounts. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge banking - Blind Banker Jefferson - A Short Biography Blind Banker Jefferson was born in Birmingham in 1960. He taught himself to play the guitar when he was only seven years old. A lot of people believe he sold his soul to the devil in return for his amazing talent. It is said he met the devil in the middle of a roundabout somewhere in Birmingham, and they did a deal. This story adds glamour to a somewhat boring life. The truth is, Jefferson's first love was banking. Before he could even speak he was sorting out all the coins and notes in his father's hardware shop. When he left school he got a job with a local bank as a lowly clerk. At the same time he was beginning to write blues songs - none of them any good. His career progressed slowly until the mid-nineties when he got his big break at a merchant bank in Canary Wharf. Then his songwriting flourished. In a few short years he wrote such classics as Canada Square Trouble Blues, Baby's Got A Brand New Credit Card, Take Me To Threadneedle Street, and I'm Gonna Sell That Stock. Unfortunately, he was only able to record one album before his untimely death. The album - Blind Banker Jefferson Gets Blue - sold poorly at first, but has now sold over five million copies worldwide. Mystery has always surrounded his death in 1998. No one really believes he had a heart attack. The main theory is that the devil claimed his soul. Some people say he was shot by the husband of an analyst he was having an affair with. It doesn't really matter. Blind Banker Jefferson is a legend, and his songs will remain popular as long as people are interested in music and banking.

banking - Blind Banker Jefferson - A Short Biography

Blind Banker Jefferson was born in Birmingham in 1960. He taught himself to play the guitar when he was only seven years old. A lot of people believe he sold his soul to the devil in return for his amazing talent. It is said he met the devil in the middle of a roundabout somewhere in Birmingham, and they did a deal. This story adds glamour to a somewhat boring life. The truth is, Jefferson's first love was banking. Before he could even speak he was sorting out all the coins and notes in his father's hardware shop. When he left school he got a job with a local bank as a lowly clerk. At the same time he was beginning to write blues songs - none of them any good. His career progressed slowly until the mid-nineties when he got his big break at a merchant bank in Canary Wharf. Then his songwriting flourished. In a few short years he wrote such classics as Canada Square Trouble Blues, Baby's Got A Brand New Credit Card, Take Me To Threadneedle Street, and I'm Gonna Sell That Stock. Unfortunately, he was only able to record one album before his untimely death. The album - Blind Banker Jefferson Gets Blue - sold poorly at first, but has now sold over five million copies worldwide. Mystery has always surrounded his death in 1998. No one really believes he had a heart attack. The main theory is that the devil claimed his soul. Some people say he was shot by the husband of an analyst he was having an affair with. It doesn't really matter. Blind Banker Jefferson is a legend, and his songs will remain popular as long as people are interested in music and banking. Michael Fowke writes at http://moneyistheway.blogspot.com/ Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Fowke banking - Grand Cayman Islands to Take a Hit from Tropical Storm Gamma The Grand Cayman Islands generally known for their offshore banking accounts is going to take yet another hit this record breaking 2005 Tropical Hurricane Season. This time from late season Greek Alphabet Tropical Storm Gamma, which is quite a large system and growing. It may even reach Hurricane Status. But whether that happens or not is immaterial as it is moving very slowing at about 5 miles per hour, with sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. The Grand Cayman Islands will be in Tropical Storm or Hurricane Gamma Wake for at least 5 days and she is expected to take on 18-22 inches of rain. One has to wonder if the Island itself will not wash away with all the rain they have gotten this season. Consider also what about all that offshore money? Is your money safe in the Grand Cayman offshore account or will it be soggy if you withdraw it? If the Island washes away, what about all your money, will it too be drown? The Grand Cayman bankers tell us that our money is safe there and not to worry, yet one has to wonder if they lose that little ledger with al those numbered accounts, if they will lose any record of your deposit? Meanwhile Mother Nature is planning on making a little deposit of her own in the form of torrential rains and massive flooding and potentially more Hurricane force winds? Something to think about, as your hard earned money becomes watered down and then blows away? Think on it.

banking - Grand Cayman Islands to Take a Hit from Tropical Storm Gamma

The Grand Cayman Islands generally known for their offshore banking accounts is going to take yet another hit this record breaking 2005 Tropical Hurricane Season. This time from late season Greek Alphabet Tropical Storm Gamma, which is quite a large system and growing. It may even reach Hurricane Status. But whether that happens or not is immaterial as it is moving very slowing at about 5 miles per hour, with sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. The Grand Cayman Islands will be in Tropical Storm or Hurricane Gamma Wake for at least 5 days and she is expected to take on 18-22 inches of rain. One has to wonder if the Island itself will not wash away with all the rain they have gotten this season. Consider also what about all that offshore money? Is your money safe in the Grand Cayman offshore account or will it be soggy if you withdraw it? If the Island washes away, what about all your money, will it too be drown? The Grand Cayman bankers tell us that our money is safe there and not to worry, yet one has to wonder if they lose that little ledger with al those numbered accounts, if they will lose any record of your deposit? Meanwhile Mother Nature is planning on making a little deposit of her own in the form of torrential rains and massive flooding and potentially more Hurricane force winds? Something to think about, as your hard earned money becomes watered down and then blows away? Think on it. "Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow banking - Is Banking Online As Safe As The Vault? With technology changing as fast as the weather, would it not be nice to know that your hard earned money is safe and secure. In order to properly insure your online banking accounts and protect it from any watching eye, you need to know how to protect yourself. None of these is difficult however; in time, you will know what to look for so you can sleep better at night. You do not need to do each one of these but the more the better. The first is perhaps the most popular way to steal your information. Its called phishing and people fall for it all the time. It comes in the style of a convincing email trying to mislead you. They try to convince you that they are the bank or a financial institution. They use fear in most cases to get you to reveal precious information or even a link to a site that looks like your bank. They may ask for passwords of account numbers, anything that could prove useful as the phishers try to gain access to you accounts. The first rule is, never give your password out to anyone. The bank will not even ask you for it. If someone does, run. Stay away from emails or anyone who tries to get your passwords from you. Speaking of passwords, they are one of the best tools to use to protect your account. Some people use popular passwords like God or password. If your password is PASSWORD, that is easy to guess. You are more protected if you use characters and numbers. Try not to have something easy, for example, the road you live on followed by the year you were born. Center1964 is predictable since anyone can search online to find that information. The most secure passwords are ones that contain numbers and characters as well as special characters. Is you use a @ symbol and a # sign these are almost impossible to break. You can further strengthen your password by capitalizing some characters. This could make it more difficult to remember but you will not have to worry about some person on the other side of the world trying to break in. If you are about to enter your password or other sensitive information, get in the habit of looking at the website address. Most sites have an http in front of them. That stands for hypertext transfer protocol. A more secure protocol is https that is the secure hypertext transfer protocol. Even if you do not understand the jargon, it is much safer. However, your Internet browser could limit that safeguard if it is out of date. Most browsers use 128-bit encryption. If you update your browser, do your banking on https sites you will be on your way to safe guarding your personal information. The last two points I want to commit on is where to do your banking and firewall/antivirus programs. If you install a firewall and an antivirus program, you be even safer from attacks. Buy a reputable program for each and make sure to look for updates on a monthly basis. Even if hackers get smarter and find a way around those safeguards, these programs will be updated to deter any future attack. Since your computer contains all of these updates, does it not make sense to do your banking with your own computer? Going to Internet cafes and using their computers is not nearly as safe. You could go for years completely disobeying any of these recommendations and be fine but you are taking a chance with no possibility of reward. If you use your own computer you KNOW the safeguards that are in place, why take a chance? Of course, there are more ideas if you want to go even further. Most of the above ideas take upfront time but most programs will install updates automatically so you do not ever have to think about it again.

banking - Is Banking Online As Safe As The Vault?

With technology changing as fast as the weather, would it not be nice to know that your hard earned money is safe and secure. In order to properly insure your online banking accounts and protect it from any watching eye, you need to know how to protect yourself. None of these is difficult however; in time, you will know what to look for so you can sleep better at night. You do not need to do each one of these but the more the better. The first is perhaps the most popular way to steal your information. Its called phishing and people fall for it all the time. It comes in the style of a convincing email trying to mislead you. They try to convince you that they are the bank or a financial institution. They use fear in most cases to get you to reveal precious information or even a link to a site that looks like your bank. They may ask for passwords of account numbers, anything that could prove useful as the phishers try to gain access to you accounts. The first rule is, never give your password out to anyone. The bank will not even ask you for it. If someone does, run. Stay away from emails or anyone who tries to get your passwords from you. Speaking of passwords, they are one of the best tools to use to protect your account. Some people use popular passwords like God or password. If your password is PASSWORD, that is easy to guess. You are more protected if you use characters and numbers. Try not to have something easy, for example, the road you live on followed by the year you were born. Center1964 is predictable since anyone can search online to find that information. The most secure passwords are ones that contain numbers and characters as well as special characters. Is you use a @ symbol and a # sign these are almost impossible to break. You can further strengthen your password by capitalizing some characters. This could make it more difficult to remember but you will not have to worry about some person on the other side of the world trying to break in. If you are about to enter your password or other sensitive information, get in the habit of looking at the website address. Most sites have an http in front of them. That stands for hypertext transfer protocol. A more secure protocol is https that is the secure hypertext transfer protocol. Even if you do not understand the jargon, it is much safer. However, your Internet browser could limit that safeguard if it is out of date. Most browsers use 128-bit encryption. If you update your browser, do your banking on https sites you will be on your way to safe guarding your personal information. The last two points I want to commit on is where to do your banking and firewall/antivirus programs. If you install a firewall and an antivirus program, you be even safer from attacks. Buy a reputable program for each and make sure to look for updates on a monthly basis. Even if hackers get smarter and find a way around those safeguards, these programs will be updated to deter any future attack. Since your computer contains all of these updates, does it not make sense to do your banking with your own computer? Going to Internet cafes and using their computers is not nearly as safe. You could go for years completely disobeying any of these recommendations and be fine but you are taking a chance with no possibility of reward. If you use your own computer you KNOW the safeguards that are in place, why take a chance? Of course, there are more ideas if you want to go even further. Most of the above ideas take upfront time but most programs will install updates automatically so you do not ever have to think about it again. Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Online Banking Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell banking - Do You Want to Know More about Certificates of Deposit? Certificates of Deposit are the simplest form of financial instruments in which to invest. You get a guaranteed rate for a fixed term, for the minimum amount of form filling. Normally from an offshore bank you would receive between 6% and 8.5% depending on the amount and the length of the term. Interest can be paid quarterly semi annually or annually, or it can simply be left in the account to gather compound interest. Do you want to know more about Certificates of Deposit? You need to call Swiss Trust Bank Now on 001-784-458-2400 for a more informal discussion. Normally a bank would require an application form, copy of passport, bank reference, and source of funds documentation. A Certificate of Deposit is issued to the client giving the amount, the interest rate and the term. As soon as the funds are sent to the offshore bank, they are inmmediately put into an investment programme, for the term of the deposit, hence funds paid into a Certificate of Deposit are irredeemable until due for payment, at these higher interest rates. Payments can be made by wire transfer, or check (checks take six weeks to clear) or bankers draft. whichever is most convenient for the depositor. It is important to choose an offshore bank of some quality, such as Swiss Trust Bank in the Caribbean that has an excellent investment record since the 60's via the Swiss Trust Group who are based in Zurich. Do you want to know more about Certificates of Deposit? You need to call Swiss Trust Bank http://www.swisstrustbank.com Now on 001-784-458-2400 for a more informal discussion.

banking - Do You Want to Know More about Certificates of Deposit?

Certificates of Deposit are the simplest form of financial instruments in which to invest. You get a guaranteed rate for a fixed term, for the minimum amount of form filling. Normally from an offshore bank you would receive between 6% and 8.5% depending on the amount and the length of the term. Interest can be paid quarterly semi annually or annually, or it can simply be left in the account to gather compound interest. Do you want to know more about Certificates of Deposit? You need to call Swiss Trust Bank Now on 001-784-458-2400 for a more informal discussion. Normally a bank would require an application form, copy of passport, bank reference, and source of funds documentation. A Certificate of Deposit is issued to the client giving the amount, the interest rate and the term. As soon as the funds are sent to the offshore bank, they are inmmediately put into an investment programme, for the term of the deposit, hence funds paid into a Certificate of Deposit are irredeemable until due for payment, at these higher interest rates. Payments can be made by wire transfer, or check (checks take six weeks to clear) or bankers draft. whichever is most convenient for the depositor. It is important to choose an offshore bank of some quality, such as Swiss Trust Bank in the Caribbean that has an excellent investment record since the 60's via the Swiss Trust Group who are based in Zurich. Do you want to know more about Certificates of Deposit? You need to call Swiss Trust Bank http://www.swisstrustbank.com Now on 001-784-458-2400 for a more informal discussion. The Author of this article David Morgan is manager of the Swiss Trust Bank Group and has over 20 yrs experience in the banking and financial world. You have permission to syndicate this article providing you the link it to http://www.swisstrustbank.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Morgan banking - Bad Credit Home Equity Loan - What Are Your Options? Are you in need of a bad credit home equity loan, or think your credit is so bad that no one will give you a home equity loan? This is what most people in your shoes believe, but the truth is, there are lenders who lend money to people just like you every day. Since a home equity loan is secured by your home, there are lots of lenders who are willing to take the risk of making a loan to people with a credit history that is less than perfect. Banks and mortgage lenders know that very few people will default on a home equity loan and let there house go to the bank. Qualifying for a bad credit home equity loan is not that difficult. Understand that you will have to pay a much higher rate of interest on the loan, and possibly some additional fees. That's the downside. The upside is that you you'll find getting the loan much easier than you first thought. You'll want to shop around and compare credit offers. Just be sure to take your time in finding your best deal. The Internet is a great place to start in looking for any type of loan, but especially sub-prime loans. There are literally hundreds of financial institutions that will work with you and your current circumstances. Find a lender that will work with you and that you feel comfortable with. They are out there, it's just having the patience to find the right one for your needs. Don't let bad credit prevent you from getting the money you need. Do some homework and prepare yourself ahead of time before applying. Get a copy of your credit history and know what's in it. You may even be able to repair the damage and get a much better APR on any loan. If not, you'll at least be prepared to talk with lenders about your situation. A bad credit home equity loan isn't that hard to qualify for when you really set your mind to it. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

banking - Bad Credit Home Equity Loan - What Are Your Options?

Are you in need of a bad credit home equity loan, or think your credit is so bad that no one will give you a home equity loan? This is what most people in your shoes believe, but the truth is, there are lenders who lend money to people just like you every day. Since a home equity loan is secured by your home, there are lots of lenders who are willing to take the risk of making a loan to people with a credit history that is less than perfect. Banks and mortgage lenders know that very few people will default on a home equity loan and let there house go to the bank. Qualifying for a bad credit home equity loan is not that difficult. Understand that you will have to pay a much higher rate of interest on the loan, and possibly some additional fees. That's the downside. The upside is that you you'll find getting the loan much easier than you first thought. You'll want to shop around and compare credit offers. Just be sure to take your time in finding your best deal. The Internet is a great place to start in looking for any type of loan, but especially sub-prime loans. There are literally hundreds of financial institutions that will work with you and your current circumstances. Find a lender that will work with you and that you feel comfortable with. They are out there, it's just having the patience to find the right one for your needs. Don't let bad credit prevent you from getting the money you need. Do some homework and prepare yourself ahead of time before applying. Get a copy of your credit history and know what's in it. You may even be able to repair the damage and get a much better APR on any loan. If not, you'll at least be prepared to talk with lenders about your situation. A bad credit home equity loan isn't that hard to qualify for when you really set your mind to it. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way. By the way, you can learn more about a Bad Credit Home Equity Loan as well as more information on everything to do with home equity loans by visiting us at http://www.HomeEquityLoansA-z.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Edwards banking - Bad Credit Home Equity Loan - What Are Your Options? Are you in need of a bad credit home equity loan, or think your credit is so bad that no one will give you a home equity loan? This is what most people in your shoes believe, but the truth is, there are lenders who lend money to people just like you every day. Since a home equity loan is secured by your home, there are lots of lenders who are willing to take the risk of making a loan to people with a credit history that is less than perfect. Banks and mortgage lenders know that very few people will default on a home equity loan and let there house go to the bank. Qualifying for a bad credit home equity loan is not that difficult. Understand that you will have to pay a much higher rate of interest on the loan, and possibly some additional fees. That's the downside. The upside is that you you'll find getting the loan much easier than you first thought. You'll want to shop around and compare credit offers. Just be sure to take your time in finding your best deal. The Internet is a great place to start in looking for any type of loan, but especially sub-prime loans. There are literally hundreds of financial institutions that will work with you and your current circumstances. Find a lender that will work with you and that you feel comfortable with. They are out there, it's just having the patience to find the right one for your needs. Don't let bad credit prevent you from getting the money you need. Do some homework and prepare yourself ahead of time before applying. Get a copy of your credit history and know what's in it. You may even be able to repair the damage and get a much better APR on any loan. If not, you'll at least be prepared to talk with lenders about your situation. A bad credit home equity loan isn't that hard to qualify for when you really set your mind to it. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.