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Financial
Varo Bank Review: The FinTech With a National Bank Charter
by Kyle Burbank
In 2020, Varo Money made history by becoming the first FinTech firm to be awarded a national bank charter — resulting in the new name Varo Bank. Although I hadn’t previously used Varo Money, they always struck me as an intriguing service that put its customers first. So, is that same spirit still present in Varo Bank? Let’s take a look at what Varo Bank has to offer, including the… 
Credit Cards
2023 Guide to Travel Credit Cards
by Kyle Burbank
In case you hadn’t heard, travel is back in a big way. With demand for flights, hotels, and more going strong, it may be time to grab a new credit card that will not only reward you on the purchases of these bookings but can also bring some perks to your travel experience. What’s more, several travel-centric credit cards are now offering some of their best welcome bonuses. On that… The Latest

Resuming My (Potential) Home Buying Quest – 7 Years Later
by Kyle Burbank
Seven years ago, I wrote an article highlighting the steps we were taking as we began looking at potentially buying a home. Well, since then, we have had a few more rounds of regularly sending each other Zillow listings but haven't taken any further steps. Incidentally, just a few weeks ago, I wrote another post where I lamented that, perhaps, we had waited too long and missed our chance to… 
Bilt Rent Day for October 2023 to Introduce Bilt Experiences
by Kyle Burbank
With October 2023's Rent Day coming up, Bilt has announced its promotions for next month — including the ability to book last-minute tickets for some top NFL games. About Bilt Experiences and Football Sunday: Bilt has revealed that its October 2023 Rent Day promotion will include the launch of Bilt Experiences. These offers will not only give members a new way to redeem their points but will give them access… 
BMO Expands Zero Barriers to Business Program to 22 States
by Kyle Burbank
BMO has expanded one of its programs for minority small business owners. About the program: This week, BMO announced that its Zero Barriers to Business program had expanded. The program seeks to provide inclusive banking products to historically underserved groups, including Black, Latino, Native, and Women-owned businesses. Moreover, Zero Barriers to Business is part of the larger MBO EMpower 2.0 initiative. Originally launched in December 2020 with pilot programs in… 
A Practical Renters Guide From a Lifelong Renter
by Kyle Burbank
For those of us who can’t afford to buy a home, just don’t want to buy a home, or who enjoy the freedom to move around as we please, renting can be a great option. According to Census Bureau data, 35% of U.S. households rent — including 61.5% of those living in apartments and 26.7% of those in houses. This means that, for a huge portion of Americans, renting is… Product Reviews

Product Reviews
"The Year of Less" by Cait Flanders Book Review
by Kyle Burbank
I'm sure I'm the first person ever to mention that Twitter (or X) is both a blessing and a curse. For as much as I despise the discourse that comes from the platform, I've also met amazing friends from it as well. Furthermore, even though I'm not spending nearly as much time on the site as I once may have, I do occasionally see some nuggets pop up in my… 
Financial
Aura Review: Personal Finance, Privacy, & Online Protection Tools
by Kyle Burbank
A few months back, I got an Amex Offer for a service called Aura — so, naturally, I decided to check it out. Funny enough, not long after joining, I went through a period where it seemed as though all my favorite YouTubers were doing sponsorships for the platform. This leads me to believe that more people are probably wondering exactly what Aura has to offer. With that in mind,… 
Product Reviews
"Easy Money" Audiobook Review
by Kyle Burbank
My experience with cryptocurrency has been a bit complicated. While I've been interested in the technology for a handful of years, I never bothered to dive too deep into the topic. Similarly, while I'd buy a few dollars worth of Bitcoin and some other coins when they'd become available in apps like Robinhood, I'm pretty sure I've never owned more than a couple hundred dollars worth of crypto. That's something… 
Credit Cards
American Express Green Card Credit Card Overview
by Kyle Burbank
In the past, I've talked a lot about American Express cards such as the Platinum and Gold cards. However, there's a third option in this line-up that isn't as discussed these days: The American Express Green Card. Ironically, once you see the card, you may realize that it's actually what you envision when you think about what an iconic Amex looks like. What's more, the Green card has plenty of… 
Financial
Varo Bank Review: The FinTech With a National Bank Charter
by Kyle Burbank
In 2020, Varo Money made history by becoming the first FinTech firm to be awarded a national bank charter — resulting in the new name Varo Bank. Although I hadn’t previously used Varo Money, they always struck me as an intriguing service that put its customers first. So, is that same spirit still present in Varo Bank? Let’s take a look at what Varo Bank has to offer, including the… 
Product Reviews
"Financial Feminist" by Tori Dunlap Audiobook Review
by Kyle Burbank
Over the past few months, my Audible credits have really been piling up. Luckily for me, I recently came across a perfect candidate for download: Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap — known as the founder of Her First $100K. Subtitled Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love, it's clear that the book isn't your average personal finance read. Then again, that's exactly what… Popular Posts

Small Business News
FedEx Announces Winners of 11th Annual 2023 Small Business Grant Contest
by Kyle Burbank
Nearly three months after the entry period ended, FedEx has announced the winners of its 11th annual Small Business Grant Content. This year’s event saw more than $300,000 in funds going to a variety of small businesses across the nation. Last month, the company revealed 100 finalists, with that list now being narrowed down to just 10 winners. This year’s grand prize winners included KindVR, The Cupcake Collection, Up In… 
FinTech News
Student Loan Benefit FinTech Summer Raises $6 Million
by Fioney Staff
For years, student debt has been one of the most talked about financial topics. What’s more, while the debt itself has become a major part of many Americans’ lives, discussion of student loans has become political due to efforts to forgive certain loan repayments. However, while we wait for resolution on that front, a FinTech that brings student debt benefit solutions to employers and consumers has raised a new round… 
Credit Cards
Health and Wellness Rewards Card Ness Partners with Whole30
by Fioney Staff
In recent years, several unique rewards cards have come to market. These include offerings from FinTech startups as well as brands looking to do something special for their loyal fans. On that note, a recently-announced rewards credit card offering is now working with a popular brand to introduce new benefits for customers. This week, the Ness Card (which is issued by The Bank of Missouri) unveiled a new partnership with… 
Credit Cards
Choice Hotels, Wells Fargo Debut Choice Privileges Select Card
by Fioney Staff
With spring well underway and the summer travel season now just around the corner, Choice Hotels and Wells Fargo have unveiled their latest co-branded credit card offering. Today, the two companies announced the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. Carrying an annual fee of $95, this card will serve as the premium option in the hotel brand’s new lineup. Looking at the Choice Privileges Select, it offers a mix of rewards categories…. 
Credit Cards
Imprint Launches Credit Cards from H-E-B and Central Market
by Fioney Staff
The FinTech Imprint is partnering with the popular Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B for a pair of new rewards credit cards. This week saw the launch of the H-E-B Visa Signature Credit Card as well as the Central Market Visa Signature Credit Card. With these two (nearly identical) options, customers will be able to earn rewards on groceries and beyond. First, both versions of the card earn up to 5% back on select… Latest News
Bilt Rent Day for October 2023 to Introduce Bilt Experiences
by Kyle Burbank
With October 2023’s Rent Day coming up, Bilt has announced its promotions for next month — including the ability to book last-minute tickets for some top NFL games. About Bilt Experiences and Football Sunday: Bilt has revealed that its October 2023 Rent Day promotion will include the launch of Bilt Experiences. These offers will not only give members a new way to redeem their points but will give them access… BMO Expands Zero Barriers to Business Program to 22 States
by Kyle Burbank
BMO has expanded one of its programs for minority small business owners. About the program: This week, BMO announced that its Zero Barriers to Business program had expanded. The program seeks to provide inclusive banking products to historically underserved groups, including Black, Latino, Native, and Women-owned businesses. Moreover, Zero Barriers to Business is part of the larger MBO EMpower 2.0 initiative. Originally launched in December 2020 with pilot programs in… Varo Bank Introduces “Varo to Anyone” Payment Feature
by Kyle Burbank
FinTech-turned-bank Varo has unveiled a new feature that gives customers another option for sending money to friends and family. About the feature: Varo Bank has announced the launch of its new Varo to Anyone feature. As the name implies, this addition will allow users to send money to anyone who has a debit card. This feature replaces Varo to Varo, which was limited to those who already had an account… Credit Bureaus Make Free Weekly Credit Reports Permanent
by Kyle Burbank
The three major credit bureaus in the United States have announced that consumers will be able to access their credit reports for free going forward. What’s happening: This week, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion confirmed that the pandemic-era feature that allows consumers to obtain their credit reports up to one time per week will now be permanent. Originally rolled out in 2020, this capability has since been extended multiple times and… Insurtech Platform Authentic Raises $5.5 Million Seed Round
by Kyle Burbank
A startup that’s bringing the practice of “captive insurance” to smaller businesses has raised a new round of funding. About the round: This week, Authentic announced that it had raised $5.5 million. The seed round was led by Slow Ventures along with participation from Altai Ventures, MGV, Upper90, Clocktower, Commerce Ventures, Mischief Ventures, Core Innovation Capital, and others. About Authentic: Authentic is a startup that provides vertical software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies with…