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On December 4, 2003, President George W. Bush signed into law as an amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act; the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA). This law is specifically designed to prevent fraud and identity theft which is the fastest growing financial crime today. The law sets new guidelines on how merchants print receipts, on how lending institutions process and protect your personal and financial information. It provides means and remedies for fraud and identity theft victims to repair and regain their good credit standings.

Identity Theft Prevention and Credit History Restoration

This section of the act deals mainly with preventing identity theft. It allows a consumer to place “fraud alerts” or “active duty alerts” on their credit reports, making it so that potential creditors should be more thorough in verifying the applicant’s identity, such as calling the applicant to ask certain questions that only he or she should know about their credit file, ensuring that the applicant is really who they say they are.

This section of the act also limits what information can be printed on a receipt, such as only printing no more than the last 5 digits of the credit card number on the receipt.

Identification of Possible Instances of Identity Theft (Red Flags Rule)

This rule sets guidelines for business that issue credit to their customers so that the early signs of fraud and potential identity theft can be noticed and caught. This rule

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This One West Bank CD rates September Review 2011 was prompted by a decrease in the rates by this financial institution. This decreased the return of the money you would be investing since our last review.

The reduction in the APYs is from 0.10% in the short term to 0.55% in the longest term CDs.

To obtain the certificates of deposits rates you must place a minimum deposit of $1,000. The following rates are available online, at your local One West Bank branch office and foe your IRA.

The CD’s is being offered at the branch offices are only available to California residents. The IRA’s are available both online and at the local branch offices.

The current bank CD rates include the 3 month CD that is earning an APY of 0.60%. The 4 month CD is earning an APY of 0.60%. The 6 month CD is earning an APY of 0.85%.

The 9 month CD is earning an APY of 0.90%.The 1 year CD is earning an APY of 1.00%. The 13 month CD is earning an APY of 1.05%.

The 18 month CD is earning an APY of 1.10%. The 2 year CD is earning an APY of 1.10%. The 3 year CD is earning an APY of 1.25%.

The 4 year CD is earning an APY of 1.35%. The

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Everybody is looking for a good deal. When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first or your tenth home, you want to get it at a fair price. And if you get it at a bargain price, that’s even better! But how do you know if you are getting a fair deal on the home you are considering purchasing? Here are four ways you can ensure you are getting a good deal on your next home purchase.

1.     Find Information about Recently Sold Homes that are Comparable

When comparing comparable homes, it is important to look at several factors. The location is definitely one of the main factors in determining a home price. Square footage, features and condition are also important to consider. Start looking for the homes surrounding the one you want to buy and find out what they have been selling for (if any of them have sold recently). The homes you research should also be similar to the one you are considering if you want to get a fairly accurate estimate on how much you should expect to pay.

2.     Look at the Similar Homes that Didn’t Sell

It’s just as important to look at the similar homes in the area that haven’t sold as it is to look at the homes that did sell. If there are ho

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Product importers face an interesting financing challenge. On one side, they have foreign suppliers that demand prepayment by letter of credit before shipping (or even manufacturing the goods). On the other side, they have customers that demand 30 to 60 days to pay their invoices. Their cash flow is caught in the middle of these two challenging financial demands. Few have the necessary capital to operate their businesses this way for for many, the only solution that allows them to grow is to use business financing.

The challenge with using business financing is that it’s difficult to obtain especially for small businesses. Most financial institutions are still retrenching and are not providing financing for small companies. And those that are providing business funding for small companies have very strict lending requirements and will only provide financing to companies with substantial assets and a long track record of success. These requirements rule out most small businesses.

There are two alternatives that have been gaining popularity as a way to finance import transactions. They are invoice factoring and purchase order financing. When

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Ah, marriage. It’s always “happily ever after,” isn’t it?

Not always, at least when it comes to talking about finances. In a recent American Express poll, 61 percent of couples said that talks of household finances lead to arguments, as reported by CNN Money. That’s up from 45% just last year.

It’s no big surprise that the strain on the economy is straining the economic situation of couples as well. So what can nearly newlyweds do to avoid the money arguments?

Talk now about how you’ll be managing your finances after marriage. To give you some help, we’ve compiled this quick guide of three different approaches to marriage and money, and how each one affects your credit, your bank accounts and your debt.

Money can be a touchy subject in marriage, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Come to a decision about how you’ll manage your finances together before you say “I do,” and be open about your current financial situation. You’ll likely avoid a lot of conflict simply by being up front before the wedding.