B orrowers who do not qualify for credit union membership are unable to access the average 10.64% APR on a 36-month, unsecured personal loan. In the fourth quarter of 2025, this rate was 1.36 percentage points lower than the 12.00% average APR offered by banks for the same loan.
Related Brief 1d ago
savings accounts CDs let savers lock in 4%+ returns while inflation and rates stay high
Savers can lock in guaranteed returns of 4.15% or higher by opening a CD now, just as inflation’s latest surge makes those rates more valuable. Unlike savings or money market accounts, which carry variable rates that can drop when market conditions shift, a CD locks in the interest rate for the full term. That means savers know exactly how much they’ll earn — and are protected if rates fall later. Inflation rose in March, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep rates elevated, and possibly raise them again. That environment has allowed some banks to offer CD yields at or above 4%. While the Fed has paused rate hikes for now, any resumption of tightening would likely push CD rates even higher. But waiting carries risk: if the rate environment cools, new CD rates could decline. By acting now, savers secure today’s yields. Online banks, which typically offer more competitive rates than traditional brick-and-mortar institutions, are particularly attractive options. With geopolitical uncertainty, stubborn inflation, and no rate cuts in sight, the stability of a fixed return has added appeal. The trade-off is access: funds must stay in the account until maturity, or penalties apply. For those who can afford to lock up cash, a CD offers a rare combination of predictability and yield in a volatile climate.
This price gap exists because credit unions are member-owned, nonprofit financial institutions. They pass excess revenue back to members via fewer excess charges, resulting in lower interest rates and fewer fees.
Related Brief 5h ago
mortgage rates Treasury Yield Dip Pulls 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates to 6.15%
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fallen to 6.15%, according to Zillow. This decrease follows a dip in the 10-year Treasury yield, which reached 4.29%. The yield movement was driven by a reduction in concerns regarding overseas conflicts and oil prices.
Access to these rates requires membership. Eligibility for these products is often limited to a specific employer, geographical area, or community group.
Related Brief 19h ago
interest rates Wall Street’s ceasefire rally faded when inflation and rate cut delays became unavoidable
Traders have nearly abandoned expectations of a Fed rate cut this year. The Middle East conflict ignited a spike in oil prices, triggering the largest monthly inflation increase since 2022. National gasoline prices surged above $4 per gallon, and year-over-year inflation is now projected to hit 4% this summer—pushing back the Federal Reserve’s path to a neutral rate. JPMorgan Asset Management expects inflation to fall below 2% next year, permitting one or two cuts in 2025. But for now, the Fed’s options are constrained. Goldman Sachs Asset Management anticipates just one rate cut in 2024, pending clearer signals on growth and inflation. Allspring Global Investments went further, postponing one of its two expected cuts to 2027. Wells Fargo responded by slashing its S&P 500 target from 7,800 to 7,300 points. Blackrock downgraded risk assets from overweight to neutral and remains underweight on long-term U.S. Treasuries, favoring European bonds as long-end rates climb. The two-year U.S. Treasury yield jumped nearly 50 basis points to 3.8%, creating what Goldman Sachs sees as a repositioning opportunity in U.S. fixed income. But corporate credit is under pressure—the credit cycle, strategists say, appears to be turning. The S&P 500 rallied 3.6% this week, its best showing since last November, fueled by brief ceasefire hopes. By Friday, the gains eroded as peace talks stalled. The market, once anchored by rate cut bets, now grapples with a reality where inflation lingers, earnings growth is concentrated in a handful of tech giants, and direction remains elusive.
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