Articles by Simon Zhen

Simon Zhen is the chief research analyst for MyBankTracker and an expert on consumer banking products, bank innovations, and financial technology. Simon has contributed and/or been quoted in major publications and outlets including Consumer Reports, American Banker, Yahoo Finance, U.S. News - World Report, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Lifehacker, and AOL.com. Education: Education: B.S. in Health Sciences from Stony Brook University.

The Best Savings Accounts to Save for Home Down Payments Find out which savings accounts are the best to save for a home down payment on your next house purchase. Compare interest rates and fees from online banks. A List of Savings Accounts Offered by Online Banks in the U.S. Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen A List of Savings Accounts Offered by Online Banks in the U.S. Online banks, which may also be called "direct banks" or "Internet banks," are... The Best Savings Accounts for Your New Year’s Money Resolutions Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen The Best Savings Accounts for Your New Year’s Money Resolutions Ally Bank App The best savings account to get you started on your savings goals for... How the Federal Rate Increase Affects Savings Accounts & Loans Find out how the first rate increase in 2018 by the Federal Reserve affects your finances. Learn about the exact changes to interest rates on savings accounts, CDs, credit cards, mortgages, and other loans. See what you should do in response to the rate changes to ensure that you save more money. Putting Your Money in a Callable CD: How Wise Is It? Learn what is a callable CD is and how it works. Callable CDs are typically higher in rate than the regular CDs, and that's the pitch most bankers use when selling this type of CD. How to Bank Without a Branch Using ATM, Online, Mobile Banking Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen How to Bank Without a Branch Using ATM, Online, Mobile Banking Branches are nice, but not necessary. You might already be banking in this... Guide to Maximizing Returns on Series I Savings Bonds Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Guide to Maximizing Returns on Series I Savings Bonds You're looking to boost your savings by investing in a low-risk vehicle such as... How is Credit Card APR Interest Calculated Understanding how to calculate credit card interest is important to becoming a more educated consumer and using your credit more effectively. APY vs. APR: What's the Difference? While the face-value difference between APY and APR simply may be the last letter of the acronyms, the difference on your finances can be major. How SunTrust and BB&T Merger Could Affect Customers Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen How SunTrust and BB&T Merger Could Affect Customers SunTrust Bank and BB&T have decided to merge into one of the biggest banks in...