Money at 30: Aspiration Online-Only Bank Review

There was once a time when I thought perhaps I had too many bank accounts. Yet, since then, I've only found more attractive accounts to open. One of the latest additions to my roster is Aspiration, where I opened up an account at the end of last year. As luck would have it, before I had a chance to test all of the features of Aspiration, they made some sizeable changes. So were these changes for the better? And how do Aspiration's other features stack up against various Internet banking offerings? Let's take a closer look at what Aspiration has to offer customers and what makes them stand out in the increasingly crowded field of online-only banks.

What is Aspiration?

Aspiration is an online bank with some high, well, aspirations. With taglines such as "Do Well. Do Good." and "Save Money, Save the Planet," the company puts as much of an emphasis on charity and ecological impact as it does on personal finance health. In fact humanitarian and Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DeCaprio is among Aspiration's investors. There are many areas where Aspiration's Earth-saving endeavors shine through, such as their Redwood Fund and Redwood IRA products that promote sustainable investing. Additionally the bank donates to various causes and makes it easy for its customers to do the same. However, for the rest of this review, we'll be looking specifically at Aspiration's banking features and how they compare to other offerings. Recent changes Earlier this year, Aspiration announced it was changing a few things about their accounts. For one, instead of a single account they dubbed "Aspiration Summit," the bank created Aspiration Spend and Aspiration Save accounts. The biggest positive to this change was that the bank doubled its APY from 1% to 2%. However, to earn this interest, funds would first need to be placed into the Save account. Additionally customers must deposit at least $1 a month into any of their Aspiration accounts (or have a balance of at least $10,000 or higher for a minimum of one day per month) in order to earn to that 2% APY. Failing to do so will, sadly, result in a 0% interest rate for the month. To their credit, Aspiration has been very accommodating with this change. For example current users like myself were able to keep their current debit cards. Also, realizing that some users may not have been aware that they needed to move funds to their Save account to earn interest, Aspiration actually gave users 1% on their Spend balance in addition to the 2% on Save funds. Presumably this was a one-time thing but it was certainly a nice gesture. I also appreciate that Aspiration has sent reminder e-mails nudging me to make my monthly transfer and score that 2% APY.

What's Good About Aspiration

FDIC-insured Before we go any further, rest assured that deposits to Aspiration are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor just like any other bank. Enough said. "Pay What is Fair" Aspiration doesn't charge many of the fees that traditional banks do. There's no minimum balance fee, overdraft fees, maintenance fees, etc. Instead the bank asks its customers to sustain them by paying a monthly fee of their choosing — even if that amount is $0. Overall this is a good system that has the potential to save you money versus many brick-and-mortar banks. Cash back on debit card purchases Incidentally this is a feature of Aspiration I have yet to use but is definitely worth discussing. Along with the other recent changes to Aspiration accounts, debit card purchases now yield cardholders cash back. That's already exciting but the way they determine your level of cash back is pretty fascinating. The bank has developed its Aspiration Impact Measurement (AIM) that evaluates "how a business treats People (employees, customers and community) and the Planet (environment)." If you use your debit card to make a purchase at an establishment with a high AIM score, you'll earn 1% cash back. In the event the business has a lower AIM score or has yet to be evaluated by Aspiration, you'll earn 0.5% cash back on your purchase. From what I can find, it's unclear what constitutes a high or a low score and, like I said, I have yet to experience this myself. Nevertheless cash back is always a good thing. High APYs As mentioned earlier, Aspiration recently doubled the amount of interest it pays and is now offering 2% APY on savings. That may not be the highest you can find but it's still strong. Interest is paid on account balances monthly, allowing some of that sweet, sweet compounding to occur. Considering I joined Aspiration for the combination of 1% APY and the next feature we're going to discuss, having that interest rate double to 2% makes this banking option even better. ATM fee reimbursement — even international Last but not least, Aspiration boasts that it allows its customers to use any ATM in the world for free. No, this isn't the result of some massive partnerships that span the globe. Instead it just means that the company will reimburse any fees you may incur for using an ATM domestically or abroad. On my recent trip to Hong Kong I got to try out Aspiration's ATM fee refund first hand. I have to say I was a bit worried as I approached the Bank of China ATM at the Hong Kong Airport, Aspiration card in hand. Truth be told, I was depending on the card to work as I required cash to take a cab to my hotel. Thankfully, after entering my card, typing my pin, and opting into any fees I might incur (and that Aspiration would hopefully cover), I was able to walk away with $200HKD in hand. Fairly soon after this transaction, I could see it pending on my account — except it was converted to the sum of $25.53. That's actually what Google says the conversion should be, so it didn't seem as though any fee had been applied. Nevertheless, a few days later, a $4.00 credit for "Int'l ATM Fee Rebate" appeared in my account. At first I thought this $4 credit was just a note reversing a separate fee I hadn't seen but, running the math, it would seem that it actually added $4 to my account. I used ATMs twice more while in Hong Kong, netting similar results. Looking into this further, I found that Aspiration's help center notes "International ATM fees are reimbursed at a flat rate of $4.00 per transaction." They add that, if you're charged more than $4, you can submit a photo of your receipt to receive full reimbursement. However, in my case, evidence would suggest I was never actually charged an ATM fee and, instead, earned $4 just for taking out money. Now, I have to say that this was not my intention nor do I condone taking advantage of the apparent loophole... but there it is. In any case, my overseas ATM experience — one of the main reasons I was attracted to Aspiration — was quite a success.

The Downsides of Aspiration

About that monthly fee In the "What's Good About Aspiration" section, I explained the institution's Pay What is Fair fee policy. While it's true that you can elect to set this fee to $0, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Heck, I felt bad enough reducing their initial $5 a month fee recommendation to the $1 I landed on. But here's the thing: there are other online banks that offer near what Aspiration does that don't charge any fees and don't even ask for voluntary payment. I suspect I'm not the only one paying a higher fee to Aspiration than they otherwise would just because of guilt, making this a slight negative to the service. Then again, Aspiration does gives 10% of these fees to charity, so now I'm back to feeling bad that I even wrote this! P.S. — whether you're feeling more generous or decide it's time to lower your fee, you can always do so by going into Settings > Fee Settings and adjusting from there. Slow transfers I'm not sure if I'm just impatient but it seems that external transfers to Aspiration take a bit longer than normal. Perhaps that's because they don't even display as pending in your account (you'll have to hit the "transfers" tab to see it, assuming you initiated the transfer from Aspiration itself). This has led to a couple of times where I worried that something was wrong. Of course this fear was only compounded when I got an e-mail from the bank saying one of the transfers I launched had failed. It turns out that was just a glitch that affected a few customers around the time of the big Save and Spend split, but it only made this speed issue more evident. Few balance details  Earlier I noted that I wasn't sure if the $4 ATM fee credits I was receiving were extra money or just leveling me out from a charge I didn't see. Well part of the reason for the confusion is that Aspiration doesn't display all of the balance data that other banks would. As far as I can tell, there's no way to view a running total of how transactions affected your balance. Because of this, I simply had to go all the way back in my transactions, total them up one by one, and see if my math mirrored my current balance (it did, which is how I know those $4 credits were extra money). Eventually I did find where you can download a monthly account statement in Settings, although this wasn't terribly helpful either. Quite honestly, since I'm using Aspiration more as a place to stash extra cash and really only use the debit card for ATM access, these quirks aren't a huge deal. However I could easily see this being a problem for those who intend on using their accounts full time. No joint accounts When I opened my Aspiration account, my intent was to make it a joint account by adding my wife. Unforunately it seems no such options exists. Lest you think that adding a  "Trusted Contact" will do the trick, the bank advises it is not a beneficiary but, instead, a "person we will contact in the event you are unreachable when action must be taken on your account." What's really odd is that, in account info, there's a section that says "Account Owners" — yes, there's a plural! Poking around online, it seems that Aspiration is working to introduce joint accounts. That said it also appears that they've been declaring that for a while. Their latest timeline according to replies on Twitter in March 2019 is "Definitely not longer than a year!"

Final Thoughts on Aspiration

There's clearly a good reason why Aspiration has been getting so much publicity as of late. In addition to their unique business model and humanitarian efforts, they also offer a number of banking features that can help customers save money. Personally the 2% APY on savings coupled with free ATM access anywhere in the world is enough for me to sing its praises. At the same time I do wish a little more attentional to detail went into Aspiration's interface. Their stripped down balance and transaction dashboard could be frustrating for those looking for a blow by blow recap, while slow transfers can cause anxiety when you're chasing that 2% interest. I'm also still waiting for the day when I can finally add my wife to the account, making it easier for her to contribute as well. Overall what Aspiration offers is more than enough for me to maintain my account alongside my Discover Bank account and others. Furthermore I suspect that those looking to really make an impact with their money will flock to the online alternative to the "too big to fail" banks. For all of those reasons, I'd say it's definitely worth setting your sights on Aspiration.

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Telecom T-Mobile Launches Mobile-First Checking Account for All

Over the past few years, a lot has changed in the world of mobile service plans. From the dismantling of subsidized devices, the fall and subsequent return of unlimited data, and the bundling of streaming services into mobile plans, U.S. carriers have continually worked to find ways to one-up each other while also increasing profits. In a similar but decidedly different vein,  this past week brought some unexpected news as mobile "uncarrier" T-Mobile unveiled a new offering: T-Mobile Money, its mobile-first checking account T-Mobile Money is the result of a partnership between the telecom and BankMobile — which is a division of  Customers Bank. As a result, T-Mobile Money accounts are FDIC insured. In terms of other benefits, the company says accounts will bear no minimum balance fees, overdraft fees, or monthly fees. T-Mobile Money customers will also be able to access more than 55,000 ATMs that are part of the Allpoint network for free using the Mastercard debit card that comes with the account. Those interested in applying can download the T-Mobile Money app (for Android or iPhone) or visit their website. Although T-Mobile Money is open to all (or at least all who are residents of the 50 U.S. states, 18 and older, and have a social security number), there are additional perks for the telecom's customers. Currently those with postpaid T-Mobile accounts can earn a 4% APY on their funds up to $3,000, provided that they deposit at least $200 a month into their account. Every dollar over $3,000 will earn a 1% APY. As for non-T-Mobile customers and those who deposit less than $200 per month, they'll earn 1% APY regardless of their balance. In a press release announcing the new checking account, T-Mobile CEO John Legere said, "Traditional banks aren’t mobile-first, and they’re definitely not customer-first. As more and more people use their smartphones to manage money, we saw an opportunity to address another customer pain point." He went on to declare, "You work hard for your money … you should keep it … and with T-Mobile Money, you can!" Incidentally, T-Mobile's push into banking comes as the company is trying to prove itself as a positive force for consumers. That's because third-place carrier T-Mobile is attempting to merge with fourth-place carrier Sprint. Recent media reports indicate that the Justice Department still isn't quite sold on the deal as is, although Legere has more or less denied that trouble is afoot. Nevertheless T-Mobile has already made its pitch to consumers and regulators, arguing that the two companies combined would lead to more jobs and lower prices overall. Moreover the company has said it would freeze rates for at least three years if the merger were approved. If nothing else, T-Mobile's venture into banking is an interesting turn. With the potential for a 4% APY, the account certainly sounds attractive for current or potential customers. Whether or not the launch of T-Mobile Money has anything to do with their pending Sprint transaction remains to be seen but, either way, their fee-free T-Mobile Money could serve to earn the telecom some goodwill among consumers and bring a new option to America's unbanked.

Telecom T-Mobile Launches Mobile-First Checking Account for All was originally published on http://dyernews.com/

Venmo Reportedly Working on Credit Card Offering

Even in our digital age, it seems some physical fallbacks are still hard to shake. Case in point: the popularity of plastic in the face of many payment options. This continued reliance is probably why we've seen several FinTech startups known for their disruption and innovation taking things back to banking basics by offering their own twist on debit card products. Now a new report in the Wall Street Journal suggests one peer to peer payment company is also looking to launch its own credit card. According to WSJ, Venmo has been meeting with different banks to discuss the possibility of a Venmo-branded credit card since late last year. Furthermore it seems that the company is nearing a deal with Synchrony Financial for such a product and hopes to announce the card in the coming months. However details on what a Venmo credit card would sport in terms of rewards and features are apparently still being hammered out. The reason why Venmo would consider a credit card offering is fairly simple: revenue. While Venmo's free model likely helped it gain the popularity it enjoys today, the company has been looking for ways to actually turn a profit. Some of these efforts include introducing the ability for users to instantly transfer funds to their bank account for a 1% fee, as well as the aforementioned debit card, for which the company receives interchange revenue. Speaking of debit cards, while several FinTechs have rolled out such products in recent months, the list of startups with their own credit card is far shorter. That said, one competitor Venmo may face for their latest endeavor is Apple. You may recall that the tech giant announced it was entering the FinTech and credit card fields last month when it unveiled the Apple Card. In addition to unique perks like daily cash back payments, that card will also integrate with the iPhone's Wallet app to provide users with personal finance health tools. Also notable is that Apple Card users can send their cash back to friends and family using Apple's own peer to peer payments system Apple Pay Cash. Given the high bar, one can't help but wonder what Venmo would need to stand out in the crowded world of credit cards. Although smart money would suggest that the brand can leverage its young fanbase (WSJ notes that 20% of those aged 20 and 24 reported using the app) to help make a potential credit card a success, existing competition coupled with exciting new entrants like Apple could pose a problem. Nevertheless it will be interesting to see if this potential project comes to fruition and if it helps kick off yet another trend in the FinTech space.

Venmo Reportedly Working on Credit Card Offering was originally published on http://www.dyernews.com

Home Mortgage Applications Reached a Nine-Year High Last Week

Despite some parts of the country seeing snow this past week, make no mistake that it is officially spring. That means that, in addition to blooming trees and allergies, it's time for home sales to pick back up after the slower winter season. On that note it seems that the homebuying bug is already biting as mortgage applications to purchase recently rose to a nine-year high. As CNBC reports, mortgage applications to purchase homes rose 1% last week compared to the prior week. While that may be a small bump, it represents a 7% year over year increase and brought applications to a high not seen since April of 2010. At the same time, overall mortgage applications fell 3.5% from the previous week mostly due to demand for refinancing falling. Nevertheless the volume of total applications was up 14% from last year. Speaking of refinancing applications, despite an 8% dip last week, applications were still up 26% from a year prior. That's because the average mortgage interest rate was nearly a quarter point higher last year than it is now. However rates are creeping higher once again, hence the retreat in applications. According to CNBC the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate increased to 4.44% last week from 4.40% the week before, with Marketwatch noting that the annual average for 2019 now sits at 4.33% — down from 2018's 4.54% average. Commenting on the impact of these latest figures, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting Joel Kan told CNBC, "With mortgage rates up for the second week in a row, it’s no surprise that refinancings slid 8%, and average loan sizes dropped back closer to normal levels." Kan went on to note, "The spring buying season continues to be robust." As for why home purchase applications are up, National Association of Realtors chief economist Danielle Hale attributes the change to "a jump in buyer purchasing power," serviced by increasing wages. With spring in the air, the homebuying season is starting to pick up. Even if the mortgage refinancing market is a bit hit or miss these days, the increase in purchase applications (including reaching a multi-year high) is certainly encouraging. That said, with interest rates creeping back up, there is always the chance that some buyers may choose to hold off. Regardless, as Kan suggests, expect home purchases to bloom for the rest of this spring.

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Cutting the Cord? A Guide To Streaming Services and Saving Money

OOver the past few years, the term “cutting the cord” has become a well-worn figure of speech referring to those who cancel their cable or satellite subscriptions and opt to replace them with one or more of the various streaming services. Furthering this “cord cutting trend,” many of the streaming services now offer exclusive content, some of which has shaken up the world of pop culture and entertainment. As a result, there are now some TV buffs who may actually spend more money on TV after they cut the cord — but it doesn’t have to be this way. While you may not be able to see every new show that hits the proverbial (and increasingly inaccurate) airwaves, there are many ways that you can still save money by ditching cable and opting for streaming. Of course the first step is choosing the platform or platforms that are right for you. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some popular streaming options — including some of the pros and cons of each — as well as some other tips for saving money on streaming:

Comparing the Top Streaming Services

Streaming Service	Type	Price Range (per month)
	Top Dog	$8.99-$15.99
	Top Dog	$5.99-$44.99
	Top Dog	$9.92-$12.99*
	Top Dog	$11.99
	Linear Extension	$5.99-$9.99
	Linear Extension	$4.17-$4.99
	Linear Extension	$5.99
	Premium Channel	$14.99
	Premium Channel	$8.99-$10.99
	Premium Channel	$8.99
	Package Programming	$16-$20
	Package Programming	$54.99
	Package Programming	$0-$15**
	Package Programming	$50-$93
	Coming Soon	$5.83-$6.99
	Coming Soon	TBA***
	Free Service	FREE
	Free Service	FREE****

*Also included with Amazon Prime membership **Included with qualifying AT&T Unlimited &More plans ***Pricing not yet disclosed, service to launch in 2019 ****Requires membership to participating libraries These days, there’s certainly no shortage of streaming services available. This includes some of the “top dogs” like Netflix and Hulu, but extends to linear networks adding to their brands, premium channels getting in on the action, platforms with bundled streaming channel packages, and even a couple of free options. Below you’ll find details on services in all of these categories including some of what’s good and what’s not so good about each. Before we dive in, one more thing to note is that the content on each of these services is subject to change as are the pricing and features. Keep this in mind as you’re doing your own research and choosing which platforms may be right for you and your budget.

Top Dog Streaming Services

Netflix. Hulu. Amazon Prime. YouTube. These are probably some of the top names that come to mind when you think of streaming video. What’s more, several of these services have taken the entertainment industry by storm, winning awards for original programming and even reviving some of the shows discarded by the traditional networks. But while you’re surely familiar with these four players it’s still worth taking a closer look.

Netflix

• Pricing: $8.99 Basic, $12.99 Standard, $15.99 Premium.
• Biggest draw: Original series like Stranger Things and Queer Eye plus original films like Birdbox and Roma, as well as comedy specials, continuations of network shows, and more.
• Biggest drawback: Only standard definition streaming at the lowest tier.
• Best for: Comedy nerds, TV binge watchers, and those who want to keep up on the most talked-about shows.
• Bottom Line: Netflix has been a powerhouse in the streaming service space and is still seen by many as the gold standard (not to mention the first place fans petition to save shows when they get canceled). Despite some price increases over the years, the platform remains competitive on that front as well and has also made headlines for their astronomical investments in content. Whether all of that output is quality is up for debate, but Netflix will likely be a top pick for many cord cutters as they make their selections.

 

Hulu

• Pricing: Basic – $5.99, No Commercials – $11.99 a month, Hulu with Live TV – $44.99 a month.
• Biggest draw: Original series like The Handmaid’s Tale as well as current seasons of select shows on traditional TV.
• Biggest drawback: Commercial interruptions on Basic tier.
• Best for: Catching up on current television programs.
• Bottom Line: Started by many of top media conglomerates, Hulu has found some success in the premium content business thanks to hits like The Handmaid’s Tale. However, some may still recall that Hulu initially offered a freemium model, allowing viewers to catch up on current shows. With the annoying introductory rate and the presence of commercials unless you upgrade to the $11.99 a month tier, some cord cutters may be turned off by Hulu’s current model.
• Sidenote: Hulu is likely in for some major changes in the next few years as former 30% owner The Walt Disney Company has recently acquired another 30% as part of their purchase of 21st Century Fox assets, giving them a controlling stake in the platform. On top of that, AT&T just sold their share back to the streamer, so now Disney has 66%. As a result, Hulu is likely to become the “adult” counterpart to Disney+ (more on that later) and could be bundled with that service as well ESPN+.

 

Amazon Prime Video

• Pricing: Included with Amazon Prime subscription ($119 a year or $12.99 a month) or $8.99 for Prime Video.
• Biggest draw: Original series such as Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Sneaky Pete, Fleabag, and the 2018 Emmy award-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
• Biggest drawback: Pricey if you’re only using Prime for Prime Video.
• Best for: Frequent Amazon shoppers who also love to stay abreast of buzzy and bingeable television.
• Bottom Line: By bundling its popular two-day free shipping service Prime with a premium streaming platform, Prime Video definitely stands as a unique player in this space. Additionally, Prime has made a name for itself on the awards stage, most recently earning multiple big awards for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. While these top titles may not be enough to bring people to Prime on their own, the other benefits of Amazon Prime are certainly worth considering. Of course you can now subscribe to Prime Video by itself… but, considering you could get all of the benefits of Prime for just another $11 (if paid annually), that’s likely not the best course of action.

YouTube Premium (YouTube Red)

• Pricing: $11.99 a month.
• Biggest draw: Originals like Cobra Kai and series from some of the biggest YouTube stars as well as an ad-free experience across the platform.
• Biggest drawback: Not a ton of talked-about shows just yet, relatively high price.
• Best for: Those who spend a lot of time consuming YouTube content and want to take advantage of other perks like background play.
• Bottom Line: Formerly known as YouTube Red, YouTube Premium has seemingly struggled to market itself as effectively as the other streaming services (as evidenced by the name change). That said, their freemium release of the Karate Kid series Cobra Kai did earn the platform some much-needed buzz. Additionally, Premium does offer some other notable features, such as the aforementioned background play, access to YouTube Music Premium, and the ability to watch any YouTube video ad-free when you’re signed in. As a result, those who love all things YouTube and the stars the platform has produced will likely find more value in this service than others.

Linear Extensions

With those “top dogs” taking a bite out of traditional media’s market share, some networks have created their own streaming options meant to build upon the assets they have and then adding in exclusive content to bring more subscribers on board. Interestingly, there seems to be different methods of pursuing this route. With that, let’s take a look at three examples of what I’m calling “linear extensions”: CBS All Access, ESPN+, and FX+.

CBS All Access

• Pricing: $5.99 a month with Limited Commercials, $9.99 a month Commercial Free (15% off when you purchase an annual plan),
• Biggest draw: Star Trek: Discovery, Big Brother Live Feeds, full episodes of current and legacy shows, plus live streaming from your local CBS affiliate (including NFL on CBS).
• Biggest drawback: Commercials on basic tier, limited number of hit originals at this time.
• Best for: Trekkers and those who love CBS’s content library.
• Bottom Line: CBS surely had a lot of doubters when it launched its own streaming service but All Access has stayed afloat partially thanks to their series Star Trek: Discovery. On that front, the service has also announced the return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, once again played by Patrick Stewart. Aside from Star Trek, All Access also hosts a library of classics ranging from I Love Lucy to CSI: Miami. At $5.99, the service is one of the more affordable options, but that tier does include commercials, making it difficult to recommend one way or the other.

ESPN+

• Pricing: $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year
• Biggest draw: More live sports than you can shake a stick at, the 30 for 30 documentaries catalog, and other exclusive programming.
• Biggest drawback: While original series released so far have been enjoyable, nothing has truly hit just yet.
• Best for: Sports fans — especially those who follow leagues not typically broadcast on one of the main ESPN channels.
• Bottom Line: Lately ESPN+ has made headlines by not only adding UFC content but becoming the exclusive distributor of UFC pay-per-view events through 2025. Beyond those announcements, the platform has been gaining subscribers by continually adding sports content to the platform, including original series, exclusive 30 for 30 documentaries (in addition to hosting other entries on-demand), and of course live events ranging from soccer and tennis to boxing and auto racing. ESPN parent company Disney also promises that more live content will be added to the platform as it continues to make new deals and make even more content from its linear networks available on ESPN+. While it may not be a full replacement for ESPN itself, ESPN+ has seemingly found a market among die-hard sports fans.

FX+

• Pricing: $5.99 a month
• Biggest draw: Early access to FX Originals series, ad-free streaming, and an on-demand catalog of full season.
• Biggest drawback: Requires a TV provider account.
• Best for: FX fans who aren’t exactly cutting the cord.
• Bottom Line: Considering that FX+ requires that you hold a cable or satellite subscription, it hardly belongs on this list. That said, those only hearing about FX+ might not realize this key hitch, which is why it’s worth noting. Considering that the concept of FX+ may be appealing to fans of American Horror Story and other FX hits, hopefully the network can move to a true direct-to-consumer model in the future.
• Sidenote: New FX owners Disney haven’t mentioned FX+ in any of their investor calls or events so it’s unclear if this offering will stick around or eventually get absorbed into Hulu in some way.

Premium Channels

Similar to how some networks now offer streaming companions, there are also premium channels that have gone direct-to-consumer. Given their already premium status, one notable difference here is that most of these services stick to what they already known and don’t really offer much in the way of exclusives. Still, those who can’t live without HBO, Showtime, or Starz may be in luck thanks to these options.

HBO Now

• Pricing: $14.99 a month
• Biggest draw: Ability to watch hit HBO series like Game of Thrones, Veep, Last Week Tonight, and many more without a cable subscription. It can also be added as a premium to other streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime Video (although the $14.99 a month price stays the same).
• Biggest drawback: Aside from library content and on-demand access, HBO Now offers little more than the network itself.
• Best for: Game of Thrones junkies who want to cut the cord and similar folk who want HBO without having cable.
• Bottom Line: Not to be confused with HBO Go — the streaming counterpart that comes with your traditional HBO subscriptions — HBO Now gives cord cutters access to the channel’s plethora of critically acclaimed and award-winning content. In addition to hosting full seasons for current and previous HBO series, HBO Now also allows users to stream films currently playing on the channel. At $14.99 a month, Now isn’t exactly cheap but, with HBO continually proving to be a television powerhouse, that high price might be worth it many TV enthusiasts.

Showtime

• Pricing: $10.99 a month
• Biggest draw: Series like Shameless, The Affair, Ray Donovan, and the Jim Carrey-starrer Kidding. Showtime can also be added as a premium to other streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime Video (both $8.99 a month extra).
• Biggest drawback: Only includes Showtime content.
• Best for: Those who want to watch Showtime’s original series but don’t want a cable subscription.
• Bottom Line: Unlike HBO, Showtime offers a slight discount to those adding the premium network to their Hulu or Amazon Prime Video subscriptions. On top of that, even the base price for Showtimes comes in at $4 a month less than Home Box Office. Of course, despite having some major hits over the years, Showtime continues to play second fiddle to HBO in terms of awards glory and buzzed about programming. Thus, it’s likely fair to assume that the same would be true of cord cutters looking to get the most talked-about TV for the best price.

Starz

• Pricing: $8.99 a month
• Biggest draw: Originals like Power, American Gods, and series from Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud network as well as many recent and random movies.
• Biggest drawback: Lacking in originals.
• Best for: Fans of Kevin Hart and those who want on-demand access to past Starz series like Party Down.
• Bottom Line: Priced at $8.99, a look at the Starz line-up of series and current movies still doesn’t seem to justify that cost. At the same time, with many streaming services, there will always be some film or show that’s available on one service and nowhere else. Because of this, there may still be a market for Starz, especially among those who have come across shows like Power and American Gods or enjoy some of the other series that mega-star Kevin Hart brings to the platform.

Package Streaming Programming

Lest you assume the streaming ecosystem had completely abandoned the notion of a cable package, there are several platforms that essentially recreate the model for the streaming generation. That is to say they include access to some of the same channels you’d find on your TV along with DVR functionality and more. If that sounds up your alley, here’s a look at Philo TV, FuboTV, and AT&T WatchTV, and DirecTV Now.

Philo TV

• Pricing: 45 Channels for $16 a month, 58 channel for $20 a month
• Biggest draw: Live and on-demand access to many basic cable channels at the base level with the option to add specialty channels for a few dollars more. You can also record and save an unlimited number of shows for up to 30 days.
• Biggest drawback: No premium networks or sports options.
• Best for: Those who want access to a number of their favorite linear channels without dealing with the cable companies.
• Bottom Line: With Philo TV’s basic package including an array of channels like AMC, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and IFC, this option could fill a cable-sized hole for many cord cutters and comes at an attractive price. As for the upper tier, the additional 13 channels will likely only appeal to a small number of viewers. Finally, with live TV and DVR options included, Philo TV could be a great transitional product for those who will miss certain aspects of their “traditional” television experience.

FuboTV

• Pricing: $54.99 a month (85 channels). Latino Plus and Portugues Plus packages also available along with additional programming packages.
• Biggest draw: Offers a number of popular entertainment, news, and sports channels along with Cloud DVR features.
• Biggest drawback: Starts at a high price and only gets more expensive as you add programming options.
• Best for: Cord cutters who still want to view a multiple of sports options as well as top news networks.
• Bottom Line: While it doesn’t include ESPN, FuboTV does give users access to several sports stations, including NBCSN, the NFL Network, NBATV and many more — with the option to add 23 more sports channels and even international sports for additional monthly fees. Beyond that, Fubo also includes news ranging from Fox News to CNN to MSNBC while also offer entertainment from AMC, Hallmark, Syfy, and more. You can also add nine Showtime channels for the same price as that channel’s standalone option. Unfortunately, all of this comes a steep price — that recently went up — that may be a turn off to those we aren’t as concerned about watching linear sports and news networks.

AT&T WatchTV

• Pricing: Included with qualifying AT&T Unlimited &More plans or $15 a month.
• Biggest draw: Access to 35+ channels of live TV in addition to on-demand programming.
• Biggest drawback: Although there is some on-demand content, there are no DVR features at this time.
• Best for: AT&T Unlimited &More customers who won’t need to pay anything extra to access this service.
• Bottom Line: AT&T WatchTV includes a number of popular channels such as CNN, TBS, AMC, and more. Sadly, unlike some of its competitors, users are currently unable to record and save their favorite shows. Because of this, those without AT&T Unlimited &More plans may want to look elsewhere. But, for those who do have qualifying AT&T Unlimited &More or are considering switching, this one’s a no-brainer.

DirecTV Now

• Pricing: $50 a month (40+ channels including HBO), $70 a month (50+ channels including HBO and Cinemax), $93 a month (65+ channels).
• Biggest draw: Multitude of channels, cloud DVR, and the inclusion of HBO.
• Biggest drawback: Pricey overall and DVR function is still technically in beta.
• Best for: Those who want more traditional cable or satellite packages but in a streaming format. Also great for those who want ESPN in their streaming bundle.
• Bottom Line: Last month, DirecTV owners AT&T did a major overhaul on the packages and pricing of the DirecTV Now service. While the base level now includes the popular HBO, it also costs $50 a month and comes with relatively few entertainment channels (for AMC, you’ll need to go up to the $93 “Entrainment” package that actually excludes HBO). That said there are still some essentials in the “Plus” tier, including Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, all three major 24-hour news networks, and even a couple of ESPNs.

Coming Soon

Sure the streaming service space may already seem crowded but it’s only going to grow. This fall two big players will enter the arena, as Disney and Apple both debut streaming platforms of their own (that, incidentally, both have +s in their name). Although there are still big questions about each of these, it’s still worth taking a look at what we do know about Disney+ and Apple TV+.

Disney Streaming Service

• Pricing: $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year
• Biggest draw: A new live-action Star Wars series titled The Mandalorian, Marvel shows such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, exclusive films and shows, a library of past film and TV content (including 30 seasons of The Simpsons), and will replace Netflix as the streaming home for new Disney/Marvel/Star Wars titles released in 2019 or after.
• Biggest drawback: Mostly family-friendly content and the size of the content library and rollout are still unknown.
• Best for: Families who love Disney and fanboys who can’t get enough Star Wars and/or Marvel content.
• Bottom Line: With more details about Disney+ and its programming finally emerging, it seems the service could deal a blow to Netflix. The strength of the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Fox, and National Geographics brands cannot be denied and the company is making a major investment in content to please fans. Although only a partial line-up is available now, expect a lot more news to emerge as November draws closer.
• Launch Date: November 12th, 2019

 

Apple TV+

• Pricing: TBA
• Biggest draw: Huge names from Oprah Winfrey to Steven Spielberg have projects in the works along with the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, and more.
• Biggest drawback: Aside from teases about some of the content, not much is known about the service just yet.
• Best for: Those who want to consume high-quality TV and trust Apple to produce it.
• Bottom Line: Apple’s foray into streaming content is one that’s been expected for a while but was finally announced in March 2019. In a statement announcing the service, Apple’s Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue said, “Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.” We’ll have to wait until this fall to see if that proves true — and if the price of the platform will make it attractive to your average cord cutter.
• Launch Date: Fall 2019

Free Streaming Services

Lastly, if looking at these options has your wallet running scared, there is some good news. Below you’ll find two free options that may help make your life as a cord cutter a little easier. Take a quick look at Pluto TV and Hoopla.

Pluto TV

• Pricing: FREE
• Biggest draw: Access to live TV channels, both “real” and specially curated.
• Biggest drawback: You can only view programs live with no on-demand or DVR options.
• Best for: Those who just want something to watch without spending money.
• Bottom Line: Pluto TV gives you access to a variety of entertainment without paying a thing. With a diverse line-up of channels ranging from Rifftrax to CNBC, the service could be a great option when you just want to throw something on. While you may need to work a bit to watch your favorites with this service, it’s a nice and certainly affordable supplement to add to your cord cutting mix.  

Hoopla

• Pricing: FREE with membership to participating libraries.
• Biggest draw: The ability to borrow books, seasons of TV, films, and music.
• Biggest drawback: Monthly borrowing limits apply as do daily overall library borrowing limits.
• Best for: Revisiting some older series, watching older movie titles, and maybe even checking out new music without spending on audio streaming services.
• Bottom Line: If you have a library card, you may already have access to Hoopla without realizing it. Personally, I’ve been impressed with some of the content available on this free platform. The one big downside is that you may encounter borrowing limits that prevent you from watching what you want — especially on weekends and other popular times. Aside from that, this too can be a great option for staying entertained on a strict budget.

Top Tips for Saving on Streaming

Consider bundle deals Beyond some of the options you may have noticed, such as adding HBO or other premium networks to some services, there may also be other ways you can save by bundling. For example, music lovers and TV lovers can combine Spotify Premium with Hulu (the basic tier) for one price — in fact, that price was recently lowered to where you can get Hulu for free as a Spotify Premium subscriber. Students have it even better as the same bundle plus Showtime comes in at just $4.99 a month. Finally, once Disney+ launches, the Walt Disney Company has said it’s “likely” to bundle the service with ESPN+ and Hulu for a discounted rate. Pay upfront As you can see from some of the pricing above, often times you can earn a discount by paying for a full year of service upfront instead of selecting a monthly option. In most cases, this works out to the equivalent of getting two months free, saving you upwards of 15%. While such discounts are available for every service on this list, it may be worth taking advantage of if they are. Try coupons and promos Another way you may be able to save money when signing up for streaming services is to look for special promo codes and offers. Take, for example, Ebates, which offers up to $25 cash back for new Hulu subscribers ($15 on Hulu Basic and $25 for Hulu Live). You may also be able to find promo codes on sites like RetailMeNot or DontPayFull. Lastly, there’s always the chance that the services themselves will offer special deals from time to time so it may be worth it to hold out and see what kind of deals you can score. Look to your phone service Earlier we also discussed the AT&T WatchTV service, which is included with select AT&T plans. However this isn’t the only example of mobile phone carriers looking to lure customers with free TV. T-Mobile now offers to cover users’ Netflix subscriptions, while some of Sprint’s unlimited plans include a Hulu subscription. It’s worth noting that, with these two carriers are looking to merge, it’s unclear which perk will remain if and when they are united. Preview your options Finally, nearly all of the services discussed do offer free trials, ranging from a week to a month. This is the perfect opportunity to explore each platform before committing to buy. In addition to diving into what programs and other content is to be found on each option, you’ll also want to ensure that these services perform well on your preferred devices, maintain an enjoyable and stable interface, and include all of the other features you may be seeking. Pro-tip: before signing up for these free trials, make sure you look up how to cancel if necessary and write down the date you joined so that you don’t forget when you’ll be billed. [embed]https://youtu.be/6gzx49SWTrE[/embed]

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With a bevy of streaming services on the market and more to come, the decision to cut the cord now also means figuring out which of these many options is right for you. Ultimately the answer will likely depend on a number of factors, such as what types of programming you’re looking for, what consumption options and devices your prefer, and even what mobile phone service you have. In any case, hopefully this look at some of the most popular platforms as well as some tips for saving when signing up will come in handy as you join the ranks of the cord cutters.

This post Cutting the Cord? A Guide To Streaming Services and Saving Money was previously seen on www.dyernews.com

More Small Business Owners Turning to Online Lenders

When businesses are in need of a loan, where do they turn? Previously many may have said their local bank or another major institution. Although that's still often the case, the number of entrepreneurs looking to online lenders for funding continues to grow. A new study by Federal Reserve Banks found that the percentage of small business owners applying to online lenders is on the rise. Of those surveyed, 32% had applied for loans, lines of credit, or other funding from online lenders in 2018. By comparison, only 24% and 19% turned to online lenders in the 2017 and 2016 editions of the study respectively. Despite the gains, online lenders remained the third most popular option for small business owners in need of loans as big banks led the way with 49% followed by small banks with 44%. Noting this increase, the Fed then asked entrepreneurs why they choose to apply to the institutions that they did. Among those who applied to online lenders, 63% cited the speed of the decision and the funding as their top factor. In contrast, 58% of those who applied to big banks and 65% who applied to small banks said that their existing relationships with the lender had the biggest influence on their choice. The second place answer — "chance of being funded" —  was uniform across the board, although it played a bigger role for those who applied to online lenders than banks. Finally the third largest factor varied by the type of institution with 29% of big bank applicants saying the cost or interest rate was a factor, 30% of small bank applicants citing speed of decision, and 45% of online applicants noting that lack of collateral requirements influenced their choice. It's really no surprise that those who applied to online lenders were more likely to note that their chance of being funded was a reason why they shied away from banks as the study found that online lenders approved more applications than others. In fact this year's report found online lenders had an 82% approval rate for loans, lines of credit, and cash advances in 2018. That's up seven points from 2017 and 13 points from 2016. That said approvals were also up among all size banks — albeit it by more modest margins. Last year approvals at small banks rose from 68% to 71% while big banks improved approvals from 56% to 58%. Given the growing number of online small business lending options, it only makes sense that more entrepreneurs would be turning to these lenders. Moreover it's clear that the speed of funding that many of these platforms offer coupled with higher approval rates are making them more popular among entrepreneurs in need of working capital. While these online institutions may not be able to compete with banks in terms of long-term relationships just yet, their ubiquity means it won't be much longer before that becomes a factor as well. In all, it seems that this trend will only continue.

This article More Small Business Owners Turning to Online Lenders was first published on http://www.dyernews.com/

Coinbase Launches Crypto Visa Debit Card (In the UK)

Back before cryptocurrencies became the gold rush of 2017, the intent was always to spend and use such assets like you would fiat currency. The problem was that only a handful of sites and physical stores accepted Bitcoin, with even fewer allowing for payments in other digital currencies. One proposed short-term solution has been crypto debit cards. Now one popular cryptocurrency exchange is jumping into the debit card arena... at least in the United Kingdom. Last week, in a blog post, Coinbase announced their new Coinbase Card. This card will allow users to spend their Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other cryptocurrency balance(s) in stores or make ATM withdrawals. To make this possible, the card automatically converts crypto into fiat currency for acceptance. In addition to chip and pin transactions, the card will also support contactless payments. Cardholders can manage their Coinbase Card from an accompanying app, allowing them to view transactions, select which crypto wallet they want to utilize for purchases, etc. While this sounds like a great idea, Mashable notes that the card carries a number of fees. First of all, there's a £4.95 card issuance fee, which Coinbase says it's waiving for the first 1,000 people who join the waitlist as a way of celebrating the card's release. Beyond that there will apparently also be a 2.49%  fee for domestic purchases, a 3% international fee (which gets added to a 2.49% fee), and more. There are also spending and usage limits to the card, including a £10,000 daily purchase limit — along with a £20,000 monthly and £50,000 yearly limit — and a daily ATM withdrawal limit of £500. Currently the Coinbase Card is only being offered to customers in the United Kingdom. However the company says they plan to roll out the offering to other European countries "in the coming months." So far there's no mention as to when the card or some version of it might arrive stateside. On the one hand, the introduction of Coinbase Card seems like a no-brainer that helps bridge the gap between crypto and fiat. Unforunately, on the other hand, the fees associated with the card in its current form will likely be too much for many to bear — especially since one of the main selling points of crypto has been the low transaction cost. Therefore it's hard to imagine that most consumers would be willing to pay an extra 2.49% or more per transaction outside of wanting to experience the novelty of using such a card. Nevertheless hopefully Coinbase Card proves to be a step in the right direction and helps increase cryptocurrency acceptance around the world.

Coinbase Launches Crypto Visa Debit Card (In the UK) was originally seen on http://www.dyernews.com/