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 Time to Ask for a Credit Limit Increase Consumers wonder when is the best time to ask for a credit limit increase. The proper preparations makes it easy to raise your credit card's spending limit. Best 1-Year Certificate of Deposit (CD) Rates: 2024 Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Best 1-Year Certificate of Deposit (CD) Rates: 2024 Online savings accounts offer some very high interest rates on your savings but,... How to Check Your Federal and State Tax Refund Status Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen How to Check Your Federal and State Tax Refund Status So, you’ve been a good taxpayer and filed your tax returns by April 15, now comes... 4 Ways to Avoid Fees When Paying Taxes With Credit Cards You can use credit cards to pay for your income taxes, but be prepared for convenience fees for that privilege. See how to save the most money if you doing it. Which Credit Report Does U.S. Bank Pull? Find out which credit report is used more commonly by U.S. Bank when it reviews a prospective borrower's credit card application. Prepaid Vs. Secured Credit Cards: Which Works Best for You? Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Prepaid Vs. Secured Credit Cards: Which Works Best for You? Having bad credit is not a death sentence, financially speaking. And if you... How to Opt Out of Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen How to Opt Out of Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers The incessant pileup of pre-screened credit card offers in your mailbox is more... Mortgage Refinance Basics: How it Works Learn how to refinance your mortgage loans rates and lower your monthly payments. Find out what documents and financial data lenders are looking for. HELOC Borrowing Basics: What to Expect Learn how HELOC gives you the flexibility of a credit card with a much lower interest rate. Learn the basics of the HELOC application process and terms. Worried About a Recession? How to Prepare and Protect Your Finances Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Worried About a Recession? How to Prepare and Protect Your Finances Recessions don’t happen often, so the first instinct might be to panic when...