Honest Loans, Credit, Debt and Crypto Guides

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We take no money from the lenders, apps or exchanges we cover, so nothing here is for sale.

Laws linked to the source

Every law we name links to its official text on a government site.

Fact-checked and dated

Rates, fees and rules are checked against primary sources and show when they were last updated.

Cheaper options first

Before any high-cost loan, we show the safer alternatives and what each one really costs.

Benchmark rates

Rates watch

Updated Oct 21, 2026 4:58 pm EDT

Fed funds effective rate3.88%As of Oct 20, 2026Unchanged vs Oct 19, 2026Source: New York FedFRED series DFF (opens in a new tab)
Prime rate7.00%As of Oct 20, 2026Unchanged vs Oct 19, 2026Source: Federal Reserve H.15FRED series DPRIME (opens in a new tab)
30-year fixed mortgage average7.40%As of Oct 15, 2026Unchanged vs Oct 8, 2026Source: Freddie Mac PMMSFRED series MORTGAGE30US (opens in a new tab)
Credit card interest rateCommercial banks, accounts assessed interest22.15%As of Q2 2026▲ +0.63 pt vs Q1 2026Source: Federal Reserve G.19FRED series TERMCBCCALLNS (opens in a new tab)

Published benchmark rates, shown for reference. They are not offers or quotes. Sources: Federal Reserve, Freddie Mac; series pages on FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis).

Consumer alerts

Scams and rule changes to know about

NEW RULEOCC final rule keeps issuer yield ban, reviews stablecoin rewards case by caseOct 21
WARNINGCalifornia AG warns against crypto ATMs as crypto scams cost Americans $11.4 billionOct 21
UPDATEDTreasury expects stablecoin issuers to need a license from Jan. 18, 2027Oct 20
SCAM ALERTFBI warns of fake jury duty calls that demand payment to avoid arrestOct 19

All consumer alerts

Plain answers about money

US Financer is an independent guide to borrowing, credit, debt and crypto for people in the United States. We work out what things really cost, in dollars, before we say whether they make sense.

We are not a lender, broker or exchange. We do not take loan applications, sell data or run affiliate links. When we compare companies we only include ones we can verify as licensed or registered, and every option gets its real weaknesses.

Our editorial standards

Start where your question is

Three sections, written for the moment you actually need them.

Loans and borrowing

Payday, installment and personal loans, cash advance apps and emergency money, with the true cost of each.

Explore loans

Credit and debt

Credit scores, reports, collectors and the ways out of debt, with the federal rules that protect you.

Explore credit and debt

Crypto, explained

What coins are, how to buy and store them safely, how they are taxed and how to spot a scam. Education, never price calls.

Explore crypto

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Loans and borrowing

Credit and debt

Crypto

Need money fast? Read this first

The CFPB notes that a typical payday loan charges about $15 for every $100 borrowed, which works out to an APR of almost 400% over two weeks.

Our emergency money guides start with the options that cost less: credit union payday alternative loans, employer advances, hardship plans and local assistance programs.

See cheaper options

Know your rights as a borrower

Federal laws limit what lenders and debt collectors can do, including the Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Military Lending Act.

Our rights guides explain each law in plain words, link the official text and show where to file a complaint when a company crosses the line.

Your rights