Vanilla issues impractical advice about its declined Vanilla gift cards

Many Vanilla gift card users have complained about their cards being declined at various stores. A message on could reveal the reason. “If you need help due to a declined transaction and have sufficient funds to cover the purchase, your Gift Card was most likely declined due to security and safety measures in place to protect your funds. Use your Card in-person or at a different merchant online and make sure to include the card security code.” The message suggests that the issuer could have declined a transaction to protect the customer from a potentially …

CashPass & other AI-enhanced services being introduced to PayPal and its Venmo subsidiary

PayPal announced that it will introduce new AI-enhanced services to its flagship PayPal platform and its Venmo subsidiary. Within the next few months, PayPal users will have access to CashPass, which is a personalized version of the company’s current offer platform. PayPal will use the customer’s shopping history from different merchants to display personal offers. Users will have the ability to opt in and out of personalized ads. The company’s sister company, Venmo, will also release new features for merchants and consumers. One feature will allow customers to subscribe or follow a brand that they shopped …

Why Service Credit Union could lose members with its new $500 checking account promotion

Service Credit Union is offering two checking account promotions worth $200 and $500. While that may sound like great news, this new promotion is bound to ruffle a few feathers of at least some existing Service Credit Union members. Through December 31, 2023, Service Credit Union ran its “best move” promotion (servicecu.org/bestmove) and offered $100 to members who opened a new checking account and received $300 in direct deposits for 3 consecutive months. Less than 3 weeks after that promotion ended, Service Credit Union introduced its new and current promotion (servicecu.org/get-up-to-500). With this campaign, members have …

Why a Fidelity brokerage account should be your banking hub account

Using an investment brokerage account as your banking hub account may seem impractical and it’s possibly not something that you’d even consider to manage your everyday finances. One might favor a bank or credit union for their traditional banking services. But, modern brokerages offer the same services, if not more. Fidelity is one such brokerage, and their standard brokerage account comes with all of the tools that one would need to manage their finances, including bill pay, checks, and a debit card. While these services alone may not be the catalysts to start using a brokerage …

Fidelity offering $100 bonus to new and existing users

Now is the perfect time to make Fidelity your hub account if you haven’t already. Even if you currently use Fidelity, you can still take advantage of this offer. By completing Fidelity’s Goal Booster Cash Offer, you’ll earn $100 for having at least $50 in deposits in your new Fidelity® Cash Management Account on the day that the account has been opened for 45 days. This is a really easy deal and it only requires that you keep the initial $50 deposit in the account on the 45th day. The $100 bonus is deposited into your …

Offer subject to change: What this disclaimer does and does not mean for consumers

One common disclaimer found in terms of service is that an offer is subject to change. Contrary to the popular belief that companies likely want consumers to accept, this provision does not grant a company the right to revoke their offer entirely. Let’s consider a bank bonus offer where a bank has offered consumers a monetary incentive in exchange for opening a new account and depositing $100,000. Of course, that number is intentionally exaggerated to emphasize just how egregious it would be if the customer fulfilled the offer terms, only to have the bank cancel the promotion …

When to apply for PenFed’s $500 bonus offer

PenFed is offering up to $500 for members who sign up for a checking and/or savings account. Members will receive $250 for opening a Free Checking or Access America Checking account. They can also receive $150 if they open a Premium Online Savings account. If both the savings and checking bonuses are fulfilled, there’s an additional $100 bonus. The account/s must be opened by 02 The checking account must have at least 2 direct deposits that collectively total $1,500. From 02/15/2024 to 06/15/2024, the savings account must have a minimum balance of $10,000. Bonus payments will be …

Technical issues bound to await those who delay applying for PenFed’s $500 bundle offer

If you received a promotional code for PenFed’s $500 offer, it’s best to not wait until the last minute to apply. No, this isn’t a sales pitch for PenFed. It’s a warning that the opening of your account/s may be delayed due to technical issues on the credit union’s site. When clicking the links to open the required checking or savings accounts, you may be greeted with an “Access Denied” error that will prevent you from accessing the application. Access Denied You don’t have permission to access “http://home.penfed.org/s/checking” on this server. Reference # Access Denied …