No affiliate links
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.
Rates watch
Updated Nov 3, 2026 12:23 am EST
- Fed funds effective rate3.88%As of Oct 30, 2026Unchanged vs Oct 29, 2026Source: Federal Reserve H.15FRED series DFF (opens in a new tab)
- Prime rate7.00%As of Oct 27, 2026Unchanged vs Oct 26, 2026Source: Federal Reserve H.15FRED series DPRIME (opens in a new tab)
- 30-year fixed mortgage average7.24%As of Oct 29, 2026▼ −0.08 pt vs Oct 22, 2026Source: Freddie Mac PMMSFRED series MORTGAGE30US (opens in a new tab)
- Credit card interest rateCommercial banks, accounts assessed interest21.19%As of Q3 2026▲ +0.25 pt vs Q2 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).
Scams and rule changes to know about
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.
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.
Credit and debt
Credit scores, reports, collectors and the ways out of debt, with the federal rules that protect you.
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.
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.
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.
Popular topics
Quick ways into the questions readers ask most.
Payday loans
How they work, what they cost and where they are banned or capped.
Cash advance apps
Fees, tips, limits and what happens if you cannot repay on time.
Credit scores
What moves your score, how to read your report and how to dispute errors.
Debt help
Consolidation, counseling, settlement and your rights with collectors.
Crypto taxes
How the IRS treats crypto, Form 1099-DA and what you must report.
Scams and red flags
How to check a company is licensed and where to report fraud.
Who writes and checks
Seven bylines, one standard: every figure matched to its source and every law linked to its official text.
Want to check our work?
See how we research, rate and compare, and how to report an error. We fix confirmed mistakes and log every change on the page.
The laws behind our guides
When an article names a law, it links the official text on a government site. These come up most.
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What we are re-checking for 2026
Our fact-checking routine now runs on a fixed schedule: every rate, fee and rule we cite is re-checked against its primary source, and each page shows the date it was last updated. This year we are giving more space to how state rules differ, since many consumer protections on short-term loans, overdraft fees and debt collection are set at state level rather than nationally. Our approach to high-cost credit has not changed. Before covering any expensive loan, we list the safer alternatives first, including credit union options and payment plans, and show what each one really costs in plain numbers.