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.

Study: More Than Half of Americans Do Not Put Spare Change to Good Use A survey finds that fewer Americans are putting their spare change to good use -- possibly due to other convenient payment methods and fewer coin counters. U.S. Bank Overdraft and Checking Fee Policies Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen U.S. Bank Overdraft and Checking Fee Policies U.S. Bank app When you have a bank account with one of the biggest banks in the... How to Earn More Interest With CD Ladder Strategies Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen How to Earn More Interest With CD Ladder Strategies A certificate of deposit (CD) is one of the safest saving tools available and... How to Measure Your Wealth & Net Worth Find out how you can calculate your estimated net worth and overall wealth. Survey: How Much Money Would You Pick Up? A MyBankTracker survey looked at how much it would take for someone to pick up free money off the ground. Using Only Cash: How to Survive the Cash-Only Lifestyle Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Using Only Cash: How to Survive the Cash-Only Lifestyle Free checking accounts can be found at online banks, credit unions, and smaller... Is the Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan Really A Smart Option? Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Is the Sallie Mae Smart Option Loan Really A Smart Option? Sallie Mae and Alpine Bank have teamed up to offer the Smart Option Student Loan. The... What to Do If Your HELOC Is Frozen or Reduced? HELOC offers borrowers convenient access to a sizable line of credit at relatively low interest rates, homeowners might find their HELOC is suddenly being frozen or reduced. Bank of America Charges a Check Image Fee on Paper Statements Learn how to avoid the check image fee charged by Bank of America when you have a cancelled check image on paper statements. Cashier’s Check, Money Order and Personal Check: Which One Clears the Fastest? Photo of Simon Zhen Simon Zhen Cashier’s Check, Money Order and Personal Check: Which One Clears the Fastest? Here are all three checks, totaling $300. How quickly deposits were...