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.

4 Best Prepaid Debit Cards With Low Fees What are the best prepaid debit cards worth looking at? We break down fees and features to help you decide. What to Do When a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Owner Dies Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen What to Do When a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Owner Dies Why is that we always get stuck with the short end of stick when banks mess things... 4 Reasons to Have a Travel Credit Card With an Annual Fee Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen 4 Reasons to Have a Travel Credit Card With an Annual Fee The idea of paying an annual fee on a credit card is blasphemous to some... Paying Too Much in Credit Card Fees? See Which Cards Help You Avoid Them Credit cards can charge late payments, balance transfer fees, cash advance fees, and foreign transactions fees. These top cards can help you avoid all them. Drop that Call: The Best Ways to Contact Your Bank Without a Phone Forget calling your bank. See which banks assist customers with live chat and social media. Tips How to Avoid the American Express Serve Monthly Fee Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Tips How to Avoid the American Express Serve Monthly Fee To consumers like you and me, monthly fees are the bane of financial accounts. If... When to Make the Switch From a Secured Credit Card to a Unsecured Card? Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen When to Make the Switch From a Secured Credit Card to a Unsecured Card? You were told that to build or repair your credit score, a secured credit card was... How to Get a Near-Perfect FICO 9 Bankcard Score: One Woman's Story One woman, Nancy, shows her credit report to reveal how she got a near-perfect FICO 9 Bankcard Score of 873. Should You Open a Checking Account With a Brokerage vs. a Bank? Free brokerage checking accounts exist, but they may differ from brokerage to brokerage. Compare them to see which brokerage checking account is better. How to Save on the Costs of a Road Trip Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen How to Save on the Costs of a Road Trip Coming out of the pandemic, it would be no surprise that some Americans may be...