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Canada reopened its border to fully vaccinated US travelers — here are the 14 best hotels in every major city

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Fairmont Le Château Frontenac building with a purple sunset in the background

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The border between Canada and the United States is finally open to US travelers for the first time since March of 2020.

There are rules and restrictions; US tourists must provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the country using Canada's ArriveCAN app at least 72 hours before arriving.

But once inside, Canada offers everything from bustling urban centers in places like Montreal or Toronto where I grew up, to remote sanctuaries with soaring mountain peaks, glistening emerald waters, and abundant wildlife.

If you've been waiting 17 long months to plan a trip to Canada, the following list represents the best hotels in each major area that promises to make up for lost time. 

Browse all the best hotels in Canada below, or jump directly to a specific area here:

These are the best hotels in Canada, sorted by price from low to high.

Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls

Book Sheraton Fallsview Hotel

The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel is a 22-story, newly renovated hotel with stunning views of Niagara Falls from both the American and Canadian sides. It also has a highly-rated spa, casino access, and an outdoor pool with a bar, cabanas, and views of the falls.

The 125,000-square-foot water park is easily the biggest draw, however, with a full-sized wave pool, a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket, six story-high water slides, adult-only Jacuzzis, private cabanas, and the Beach Club for snacks and drinks.

Each of the 669 rooms at the Sheraton Fallsview features floor-to-ceiling windows, Le Grand Bain bath amenities, complimentary coffee and tea, a mini-fridge, marble bathrooms, 37" LED televisions, and spa-like walk-in showers.

We highly recommend upgrading to a Falls-view room for an extra $90 for more space and a Juliet balcony, or to a club-level room to enjoy free continental breakfast, snacks and refreshments, hors d'oeuvres, and access to a lounge overlooking Niagara Falls from the American side.

The Sheraton Fallsview is connected to Casino Niagara, and there are two full-service restaurants, a breakfast buffet, and casual options for grab-and-go snacks and coffee.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Alt Hotel in St John's

Book Alt Hotel St. Johns

The Alt Hotel is modern and youthful with beautiful views of St. John's Harbor, and a central location in close proximity to downtown shops and restaurants.

We especially recommend this hotel during COVID, given its contactless check-in and checkout, free cancellations, and high hygiene standards that offer added confidence in booking.

Rooms come with bright pops of color in unexpected places such as abstract shapes that dot bathroom mirrors alongside images depicting Canada's rich natural scenery, and unconventionally shaped furniture. Standard rooms also include a workstation with an ergonomic chair, Bella Bella bath products, a rainfall shower, and a Nespresso coffee machine. Upgrade to a harbor-view room and gaze out at St. John's Harbor through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows for an extra $28 per night.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Delta Hotels by Marriott in Fredericton

Book Delta Hotels by Marriott Fredericton

This waterfront hotel is our top pick in Fredericton for simultaneously being a peaceful, riverside retreat, as well as an urban hub near all of the best activities.

Located on the banks of the St. John River, the Delta Fredericton is the only hotel in Fredericton that offers unparalleled views of the river while also remaining within walking distance to Fredericton's downtown shops, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

Guest rooms are comfortable at 350 square feet and come with a mini-fridge, workstation, and 55-inch LED TV. Rooms can comfortably fit three guests, though a roll away bed can be added for an additional $15 per stay for extra guests.

While most of the draw lies outside the hotel, inside you'll find a barbecue restaurant, coffee shop, spa, pool, and bike rentals that make it easy to see the sights on the Fredericton Trail system, or other spots in New Brunswick's capital city.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Delta Hotels by Marriott in Winnipeg

Book Delta Hotels by Marriott Winnipeg

This Marriott hotel offers an idyllic Canadian experience in the heart of Manitoba's largest city from a trusted brand.

Generously-sized rooms come with heated bathroom floors, a large waterfall shower, a balcony, and conveniences such as a mini-fridge, coffee maker, and complimentary bottled water.

Amenities at this modern hotel include an indoor and outdoor pool with beach chairs for relaxing, an indoor whirlpool, a fitness center, a coffee shop, and a restaurant specializing in locally-sourced Canadian cuisine.

Grab a free bicycle rental to catch a hockey game at the nearby Canada Life Centre, stroll through the attached RBC Convention Center, or watch a show at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Hôtel Nelligan in Montreal

Book Hôtel Nelligan

The Hôtel Nelligan, located in the heart of Old Montreal, is a pinnacle of history combining contemporary luxury with old-school glamour.

This charming hotel, which consists of four different grey stone buildings, dates back to the early 1800s.

Rooms stand out with French-style balconies, exposed brick, and ladder-style bathroom shelving stocked with Le Labo bath amenities and cotton robes. Rooms also come with multi-jet rainfall showers, a 47" flat-screen TV with full cable access, a well-stocked mini-bar, individual climate control, and a JBL Bluetooth speaker.

The hotel is conveniently located five minutes from Place d'Armes, a central metro station in Montreal, as well as within walking distance from the Notre-Dame Basilica, Old Port, and other attractions.

Enjoy a drink on the Terrasse Nelligan, a rooftop restaurant, for panoramic views of Montreal, or grab a glass of wine in the hotel's picturesque atrium.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Prince George Hotel in Halifax

Book Prince George Hotel

For an upscale experience amid Halifax's laid-back, oceanside location, the Prince George Hotel features an "anything for you" concierge, 6,800 square feet of meeting space, and over 200 sophisticated guest rooms. 

Basic rooms start at $143 per night, but for an extra $60, we recommend upgrading to the Crown Floor to receive premium services and amenities including complimentary breakfast, AVEDA toiletries, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more. Plus, Crown Floor guests may use the Crown Lounge for complimentary coffee and non-alcoholic beverages or to use the private business center.

This is also a good pick for travelers with pets as furry companions are welcome for a one-time fee of $25 that includes a fleece blanket, biodegradable waste bags, and food and water bowls.

If you visit on a Sunday, indulge in an award-winning brunch at the hotel's terrace restaurant, which is considered the best in town.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



The James Hotel in Saskatoon

Book The James Hotel

In operation since 1935, this family-owned hotel is a true embodiment of Canadian hospitality and thoughtfulness from the cheerful greeting staff to the complimentary breakfast, and the soft bathrobes included in every room. The James is located in downtown Saskatoon within walking distance from the South Saskatchewan River, the Remai Modern, and plenty of downtown shops and restaurants.

In all rooms, expect bath amenities from L'Occitane, a deep soaking tub, and a 4K UHD TV with cable and Google Chrome Cast. Opt for room packages like the "Choc-outerie & Wine," which includes one night at the hotel, a bottle of La Vendimia wine, and an eight-piece chocolate and charcuterie board that sets a romantic scene.

In the morning, wake up to an impressive hot breakfast ranging from eggs benedict to fresh fruit and pastries. In the evening, the Lobby Bar serves a selection of fine wines, vintage cocktails, and European-inspired fare.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside in Whistler

Book Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside

An eight-time winner of Canada's Best Ski Hotel in the World Ski Awards and recipient of TripAdvisor's 2021 Travelers' Choice Award, the Pan Pacific affords guests the most convenient ski-in/ski-out access to the mountains over any other local hotel thanks to its location at the base of the Blackcomb and Whistler gondolas.

Staying here also provides direct access to Whistler Village for last-minute ski rentals, gourmet dining, and plenty of shops and winter ambiance.

The Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside is an all-suite hotel with rooms that start at a spacious 411 square feet and come with kitchenettes, a gas fireplace, a living area with a dining table, bathrobes, and complimentary tea and coffee.

Après-ski, soothe tired muscles in two outdoor hot tubs or, in season, the heated, outdoor saltwater pool surrounded by stunning mountain views. There is also a eucalyptus steam room for decompressing after a day on the slopes.

Families can spend the evening playing board games or watching movies offered by the hotel, or enjoy a meal, craft beers, and Celtic music on the heated outdoor patio at the hotel's Irish pub.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



JW Marriott Parq in Vancouver

Book JW Marriott Parq

This 5-star hotel sits within the heart of Vancouver's entertainment district and is conveniently close to Vancouver's varied attractions. Though, perhaps the best offerings are the unbeatable views anchored by the Rocky Mountains and False Creek.

The hotel is housed within an expansive complex that offers direct access to 12 highly-rated restaurants and bars and a two-story casino with 600 slot machines and 75 gaming tables. For a quieter activity, enjoy a soak in the rooftop whirlpool.

Standard King or Queen rooms are bright and spacious and come with a workstation, coffee maker, and room service. Connecting rooms are available for groups or larger families and this hotel is a particularly good pick for Marriot Loyalists, as those with Gold Elite status or higher may enjoy perks including upgrades to higher floors, water views, and enhanced Wi-Fi.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



The Sydney Boutique Inn & Suites in Charlottetown

Book The Sydney Boutique Inn & Suites

This 18-room, classically styled boutique hotel is an elegant, private getaway with exquisite, timeless design, as well as modern conveniences.

The building, constructed in 1857, was first built as a school before becoming a retreat for nuns. When the hotel opened in 2014, the owners kept original details like crown molding, offering a nicely preserved slice of history.

An outdoor courtyard with a central fountain and plenty of private seating sets a soothing tone, and the low room count means attentive service from staff.

Standard rooms sparkle with crystal chandeliers and include high-end additions such as silky velvet sofas, intricately blown glass decorations, and smart TVs. Luxury apartments are also available and include a full kitchen with an oven and dishwasher.

Amenities are light, but guests receive complimentary access to the Atlantic Fitness Centre should they want to work out, and breakfast is included each morning.

COVID-19 procedures are available by contacting the hotel at info@sydneyinn.com.



Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City

Book Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a romantic, Châteauesque-styled building that's become an iconic fixture presiding over Old Québec. The historic landmark is majestic and easily recognizable for its castle-like appearance and location on a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The hotel draws many tourists for its architecture and history, including those who are not even staying at the hotel and come to admire it. 

The hotel, originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981. Both the interior and exterior stay true to their roots, from the elegant ballrooms with sparkling chandeliers and draped curtains to the medieval, fortress-like tower atop the roof.

With such a dazzling backstory, guests shouldn't miss the chance to join a guided tour of the hotel or join a scavenger hunt designed for kids. 

Standard hotel rooms are generally smaller than others in Quebec City, and really only suited to solo travelers or couples. However, you're booking here for the experience and location over the size or style of the rooms. Families should opt for Fairmont Gold rooms or suites. All guest rooms feature traditional decor, a complimentary coffee maker, an iron and ironing board, and alarm clock radio. Despite the hotel's lavish appeal, know that these rooms may seem dated to some luxury travelers. 

This hotel also has pet-friendly floors for an extra $40 USD/night housekeeping fee.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



The Fairmont Empress in Victoria

Book Fairmont Empress

Dating back to 1908, the Fairmont Empress is one of the oldest hotels in Victoria, which is the island capital of British Columbia. As such, the hotel is filled with rich historic charm that creates an ambiance of regal elegance.

The Empress overlooks Victoria's Inner Harbor with 464 rooms, some of which come with harbor views, terraces, and separate living areas. Standard guest rooms can comfortably accommodate three people and feature posh armchairs, plush carpeting, gold-trimmed decor, Keurig coffee makers, terrycloth bathrobes, and an in-room safe.

On property, book a massage at the spa, stroll through flower-filled gardens and lawns, or borrow a complimentary BMW bike rental to explore the city. 

A must-try at the Fairmont Empress is Afternoon Tea, available Thursday through Sunday. It's been a hotel staple for the last 113 years and boasts an impressive menu of loose-leaf tea, seafood bites, scones with house-made clotted cream, and more.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



Fairmont Château Lake Louise in Banff

Book Fairmont Château Lake Louise

The Fairmont Château Lake Louise is the only hotel with exclusive access to one of the most incredible natural wonders in Canada. The glistening emerald waters of Lake Louise are the only thing standing between the hotel and the towering peaks of Mt. Aberdeen, and the hotel provides guests a private and stunning view of both.

Travelers often make their way over to Lake Louise for the sole purpose of seeing this famed that's appeared on TV shows such as "The Bachelorette" and has received awards from prestigious publications and organizations.

In addition to its breathtaking appearance, the hotel offers nine restaurants and bars, a relaxing spa, health club facilities including a pool, steam room, and whirlpool; and a range of guest activities from guided mountain hiking to horseback riding, wellness retreats, gondola rides, and fitness classes.

Standard rooms come with elegant glass-blown lamps, decorative throw pillows, and views of the grounds or lake.

For the best views of the lake and mountains, rent a hotel canoe for $75 USD per hour. Just be careful not to tip over — the waters of Lake Louise never rise above 20 degrees Celsius, even during the hottest summer months.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



The Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto

Book Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

The Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto is the only hotel in all of Canada that has received both the AAA Five Diamond and the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition. It oozes luxury appeal from every corner, with a five-star rated spa, French fine dining, and sophisticated interiors that feel richly regal. 

Rooms are sufficiently spacious at around 500 square feet and are light, airy, and serene. Indulge in granite-topped bathrooms, Bose stereo systems, plush beds, and in-room iPad for on-demand Four Seasons services.

Treat yourself to an aromatherapy massage at the Four Seasons Spa, one of the most luxurious in the city, or dip into the indoor pool or whirlpool framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. There is also a 3,500 square-foot fitness room.

Located in Toronto's downtown Yorkville district, the hotel is steps away from some of the best shops and attractions in Toronto, including the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Toronto campus.

COVID-19 procedures are available here.



FAQ: Canada hotels

Do I need a COVID-19 test to travel to Canada?

As of August 9, fully vaccinated Americans are able to travel to Canada for non-essential purposes. However, these travelers must show proof of vaccination at least 72 hours before entering the country through the ArriveCAN app. They must fill out a declaration form with information about themselves, their time in Canada, and their COVID-19 history.

Unvaccinated travelers are not currently allowed to enter Canada and all other foreign nationals are not allowed in until September 7, when the borders will open back up to fully vaccinated travelers from other countries.


What is the best time of year to visit Canada?

Canada has something to offer visitors year-round, but because of the northern location, there are limited months where visitors can ditch sweaters and parkas. From the months of May to September, guests can enjoy longer hikes outdoors and more welcoming weather.

However, those looking to take advantage of Canada's top-tier skiing and snowboarding should aim for colder, snowier months from December through February. These colder months also offer a different, but equally beautiful view of Canada with its snow-capped mountains and winter cheer.


How much does it cost to book a hotel in Canada?

Hotel prices in Canada vary depending on the location and season. Winter months in Whistler, for example, will generally be expensive because of the high demand from skiers and snowboarders. Smaller areas, such as Fredericton and Saskatoon, stay cheaper year-round because of the lower demand.

Do keep in mind though that hotels in Canada use Canadian currency, with the current exchange rate being ~$1 CAD to ~$0.80 USD. This means that while hotel prices in Canada are similar to those in the US, your money will be worth more in Canada.


Is it safe to travel to Canada?

Canada is widely considered to be one of the safest destinations in the world. In fact, the Institute for Economics and Peace ranked Canada as the 6th safest country in the world in their 2020 report. However, travelers should still exercise caution and always be aware of their property and surroundings.

Canada is also a highly vaccinated country against COVID-19, and the CDC ranks them as level 2: moderate regarding COVID-19 risk. Masking is expected (and often required) in any indoor setting, and other COVID-19 restrictions still apply, depending on the city.


Do I need a car when visiting Canada?

You will need a car to get around most cities in Canada. Some of the bigger cities, such as Toronto and Montreal, have decent public transportation options. However, outside of major cities, there is generally no good way to see the city without a car.

Additionally, most Canadian cities are spread out, making them harder to explore on foot.



How we selected the best hotels in Canada

  1. All hotels are located in central locations close to tourist attractions, historical landmarks, hiking, and more.
  2. The properties are all four to five stars and offer the ultimate in comfort, from rooms to amenities.
  3. Each hotel has taken extra precautions in light of COVID-19 to offer guests a clean, safe experience.
  4. Hotels are highly rated on trusted traveler sites like TripAdvisor or Booking.com to ensure the experiences of others match our own.
  5. All hotels offer excellent on-site amenities, from steam rooms to heated pools, business centers, and more.
  6. Each hotel can be booked for less than $300 per night during off-peak seasons and does not exceed $650 during holidays and peak travel seasons.


More of the best hotels in North America




Private equity firm KKR made $7 billion off AppLovin. Blackstone is following a similar playbook by combining two adtech firms.

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Liftoff + Vungle CEO Mark Ellis

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Private equity firm Blackstone has combined its mobile ad tech firms Liftoff and Vungle, following the lead of other private equity firms that made billions by acquiring and uniting different mobile adtech startups.

Blackstone invested $750 million into Vungle in 2019, and $400 million into Liftoff in 2020. Liftoff caters to marketers and uses machine learning to improve ad buying and tracking across 500,000 mobile apps over 140 countries, according to the company. Vungle, on the other hand, sells video ad inventory on behalf of 100,000 mobile app publishers and 15,000 individual content creators.

In rolling those two investments into the same company, called Liftoff+Vungle, Blackstone seems to be taking a page out of PE firm KKR's playbook with mobile games marketing platform AppLovin, said Matt Barash, SVP of global publishing and platform partnerships at customer intelligence platform Zeotap. 

KKR bought a $400 million stake in AppLovin in 2018, bolstered it with a string of other acquisitions including marketing platform Adjust and mobile gaming studio Machine Zone, and netted $6.8 billion when AppLovin went public this April.

To be fair, Liftoff+Vungle combines different features than the AppLovin rollup. 

Liftoff CEO and co-founder Mark Ellis said the combined company, which he will lead, is in a better position to compete with tech giants like Facebook and Google as well as AppLovin. Vungle CEO Jeremy Bondy will serve as president, and Ellis said he doesn't anticipate layoffs.

Sachin Bavishi, managing director of Blackstone's Private Equity Group declined to comment on its future strategy with Liftoff+Vungle, but said that he had faith in the combined company's ability to drive value in the future.

But the PE firm does own other mobile companies it could bolt on in the future, like game developer Murka, which it acquired in 2019. Consider how AppLovin inherited a huge trove of user data when it acquired MachineZone, raising the value of its offering. So bundling Murka with the new company could create a mobile ad network comparable to AppLovin, said Barash.

"Scale and user data are the two key metrics that determine success in a world where Apple has scrambled the mobile app market," he said. "So a roll up strategy with more acquisitions to come down the line makes sense for Blackstone."

Blackstone could also add a measurement company to Liftoff+Vungle, Barash added, similar to AppLovin's acquisition of Adjust.

Blackstone isn't the only investor hoping to mint money by combining mobile companies. Mobile game developer Zynga, for instance, is following a similar playbook, with its acquisitions of Rollic and Chartboost, said Barash.

Mobile M&A has been heating up overall amid uncertainty around Apple's restrictions around ad targeting. The enormous amounts of time consumers' spend on mobile and gaming apps is driving growth, such that worldwide mobile ad spending is projected to reach nearly $500 billion by 2024, up from $341.18 billion in 2021, according to Insider Intelligence's eMarketer. 

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Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf has revamped the bank's leadership with nearly 90 senior hires from JPM, BNY, and other firms. Here's our exclusive look at the stunning overhaul.

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Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf with anonymous silhouettes behind him on pattern of Wells Fargo logos on a red background.

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Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf has quietly transformed the upper ranks of the fourth-biggest US bank since joining in 2019. 

Since the bank's wide-ranging sales practices scandal first erupted in 2016, Wells has seen two CEOs resign and rounds of top leadership leave the bank. But Scharf, a one-time protege of JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon and Wells' first outsider CEO since the scandal broke, has been taking that to the next level. 

"Our management team is fundamentally different today than what it was a year and a half ago," he told analysts during a conference in May. 

Four months into Scharf's tenure in early 2020, Wells Fargo overhauled its internal reporting structure to more tightly control risk and promote accountability. On Scharf's watch it has also sold parts of itself, like its asset management and corporate trust businesses, in an effort to cut costs and focus on core businesses like consumer banking. 

Wells has now brought in nearly 90 executives from outside the bank since the beginning of 2019, replacing leaders in existing roles or creating new positions like those focused on risk management, an Insider analysis showed. More than half of the firm's 18-person operating committee is new, with Scharf and 10 other members who are new to the company since fall 2019.

 

"We're appropriately recognizing the great talent that exists here, but bringing people from the outside that have a different set of experiences which are additive, and I feel great about the team that we have in place today," Scharf said in May.

 

 

Scharf has hired heavily from his past employers: JPMorgan, the largest US bank by assets, and Bank of New York Mellon, the largest custody bank. 

"Typically if you've been in the industry a long time, you go with people you know, for obvious reasons," Charles Elson, a finance professor at the University of Delaware, told Insider. "You have confidence in them, you know they can get the job done." 

He served as CFO of Bank One under longtime mentor Dimon until JPMorgan bought it in 2004. He was with JPMorgan for nine years, rising to run the bank's retail operations. He then ran Visa for four years, and left to run BNY Mellon in 2017 until 2019.

Insider reviewed executive remarks, press releases, and earnings call transcripts, and spoke with experts about the bank and corporate governance to visualize how the bank's management has changed since Scharf took over.

 

Wholesale changes

Wells has sought to rebuild its brand and convince regulators it has improved risk management since a phony-accounts scandal erupted in 2016. 

Federal and local authorities found that Wells Fargo employees, under pressure to reach unrealistic sales goals set by supervisors, opened millions of fraudulent accounts without customers' knowledge.  

The Federal Reserve in February 2018 imposed an unprecedented asset cap limiting the bank's growth, in addition to other consent orders from regulators. The bank created a marketing slogan three years ago: "Established 1852, re-established 2018." 

In February, Bloomberg reported that Fed officials had quietly signaled approval for Wells Fargo's overhaul plan, but the bank remains under the asset cap.

Scharf has generally been "methodical" about hiring key leaders at Wells Fargo, said Ken Leon, director of equity research at CFRA Research. 

"The challenge becomes, in terms of being a change agent for culture or best practices, for the senior leadership team to have the right people in place as you go down to the second and third tiers of senior leadership," he said. 

The board's changing face

Wells's board has also transformed. When the bank's growth cap was imposed in 2018, the Fed said that Wells would replace four of its board members that year.

Half of the board, including Scharf, have joined since 2019. In early August, Steven Black, a board member since 2020 and co-CEO of private-equity firm Bregal Investments, was tapped to replace Charles Noski as chairman. 

Black and Scharf have known each other for years: Black served on BNY Mellon's board while Scharf was CEO, and they overlapped while at JPMorgan. 

 

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Hulu Basic is one of the most affordable streaming services on the market — here's what you get for $6 a month

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Hulu Basic vs Hulu Premium 4x3

Summary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead StickyStreaming Service (small)

Streaming services continue to surge in popularity, offering viewers plenty of subscription options to choose from with tons of on-demand movies and shows. In fact, a survey of American households suggests the average home now has four streaming subscriptions.

Many people are looking for the best value to help build their repertoire of digital services, and Hulu Basic is one of the cheapest options you can sign up for. For just $6 a month ($60 a year), the ad-supported plan gets you access to a huge library of shows, movies, and Hulu Originals you won't find anywhere else.

What is Hulu Basic?

Hulu Basic is the company's simplest and most affordable streaming option. For $6 a month you get access to Hulu's entire on-demand catalog, but you will have to sit through some ads while you stream. New subscribers can receive a free 30-day trial when they sign up. 

Hulu's catalog hosts a wide variety of content, including a mix of original shows, current network series, and classic titles. Highlights include entire seasons of sitcoms like "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "American Dad," dramas like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Law & Order: SVU," and Hulu Originals like "The Handmaid's Tale."

You can also use Hulu to keep up with select network shows as they air — or the day after they air — like "Saturday Night Live,""The Bachelor,"all FX series, and many more. This is a huge advantage over Netflix where you have to wait up to a year or more for an entire season to show up.

Hulu regularly adds new and classic movies to its catalog as well, including popular films like "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,""Space Jam" (1996), and "Bohemian Rhapsody." Several Hulu Original movies are also available to subscribers, including "Palm Springs."

What's the difference between Hulu Basic and Hulu Premium?

Hulu Basic costs just $6 a month, while Hulu Premium is $12 a month. Both offer access to Hulu's entire on-demand catalog, but Basic has ads while Premium is ad-free.

Students can get Hulu Basic for $2 a month with a verified college enrollment — a savings of $48 a year compared to the regular price.

In exchange for a cheaper monthly rate, Hulu Basic serves you unskippable ads before and during your stream. Hulu typically airs five minutes of ads for 30-minute programs and 10 minutes of ads for hour-long programs. It's a small price to pay for halving the cost of your subscription, and it's still less overall ad time than you'd find on cable.

You can also sign up for Hulu Basic as part of a bundle with Disney Plus and ESPN+. This bundle costs $14 a month, which is about $7 cheaper than the price of paying for all three services separately. You also have the option to upgrade your bundle to Hulu Premium for a total monthly cost of $20.

Streaming Service (small)Bundle Monthly Subscription (small)

How can I stream Hulu?

Most smart TVs have Hulu already built in, so all you'll have to do is launch the app and sign in to start watching. You can explore our guide for the best cheap smart TVs if you want a new display on a budget.

Aside from streaming on your laptop, phone, or tablet, you can also use a streaming stick or box. These devices connect to your TV, offering access to apps like Hulu. We recommend the Roku Ultra as our top streaming option, but there are tons of other devices across price ranges.

Visit the Hulu website for a full list of supported devices.

Does Hulu support 4K and HDR?

Select entertainment options on Hulu are available to stream in up to 4K Ultra HD resolution and high dynamic range (HDR).

The selection isn't as large as competing services like Netflix, but several Hulu original titles, like "Nine Perfect Strangers" and "The Handmaid's Tale," are now available to watch in 4K with HDR on compatible devices. A "4K" and "HDR" badge will appear on the title page for supported programs. 

Hulu recommends a 16 Mbps connection for 4K streaming. Hulu HDR titles are presented in HDR10, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision formats depending on the capabilities of your playback device. 

You can see a full list of devices that support Hulu streaming in 4K HDR on Hulu's website.

SEE ALSO: The best streaming sticks and boxes you can buy

DON'T MISS: The best streaming services you can sign up for online

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California accuses Activision's HR department of shredding documents related to its ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit (ATVI)

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Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick

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The blockbuster video game company behind some of the world's biggest video game franchises is being sued by California.

The suit — filed on July 20 to the Los Angeles Supreme Court — comes after a two-year investigation by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing. It accuses "Call of Duty" maker Activision of fostering a "pervasive frat boy" culture where women are paid less for the same jobs that men perform, regularly face sexual harassment, and are targeted for reporting issues.

In a new filing Wednesday, the state expanded its complaint to include more charges against Activision — including an allegation that "documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel,"Axios first reported

Beyond full-time female employees at the company, the suit now reportedly includes temporary workers as well. 

Read more: Work from home is getting more miserable as companies use new tech to force the worst parts of an office onto remote employees

The suit focuses on two primary violations — sexual harassment and discriminatory practices — and offers several examples of each.

"A newly promoted male supervisor delegated his responsibilities to his female subordinates in favor playing 'Call of Duty,'" the state claims. One female employee who had taken on management responsibilities on the games team was told she couldn't be promoted by her male supervisor because "she might get pregnant and like being a mom too much."

In the case of sexual harassment, female employees reported being hit on, having comments made about their breasts, and jokes about rape being made at work. In one example cited in the lawsuit, "a female employee committed suicide while on a company trip due to a sexual relationship she had been having with her male supervisor."

In the wake of California's DFEH making the litigation public, several Activision executives have stepped down — including the head of beloved "Diablo" studio Blizzard Entertainment, J. Allen Brack, and the company's head of human resources. 

Activision representatives didn't respond to a request for comment, but the company gave the following statement to Axios: "With regards to claims that we have destroyed information by shredding documents, those claims are not true. We took appropriate steps to preserve information relevant to the DFEH investigation."

Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

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Payoff personal loans review: Low interest rates for borrowers looking to consolidate credit card debt

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Payoff personal loans 2x1

Should you use Payoff?

You may like Payoff if you ... You may not like Payoff if you ... 
  • Have at least a 640 credit score
  • Qualify for the lender's lowest APR
  • Want to borrow as much as $40,000
  • Want to avoid late payment fees
  • Want to use a personal loan for a purpose other than consolidating credit card debt
  • Want your money in under two days
  • Live in a state not in the company's coverage area

Payoff loan amounts and interest rates

At Payoff loan, personal loan amounts range from $5,000 to $40,000 and can be repaid over two to five years, depending on the payment plan you agree to with the lender.

Payoff's minimum APR of 5.99% is in the middle of similar lenders. For instance, SoFi's lowest rate is 4.78%, and Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a minimum APR of 6.99%. Keep in mind, you'll need good credit to qualify for these low rates.

If you take out a loan of $15,000 or more, you'll pay a minimum APR of 6.99% with Payoff.

However, Payoff is less competitive when it comes to the higher end of its APR range. Payoff's maximum APR is 24.99%, while SoFi's is 19.38% and Marcus by Goldman Sachs' top rate is 19.99%. 

How Payoff works

Payoff loan offers unsecured personal loans through one of its seven lending partners. You don't need to put up any collateral, like a house or a car, to get an unsecured personal loan. Most lenders allow you to take out a personal loan for a number of purposes, but Payoff personal loans are specifically designed to help you eliminate high-interest credit card debt.

Currently, Payoff doesn't serve borrowers in Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, or Nevada, so you can't get a personal loan in these states.

You won't receive your money as quickly with Payoff as you would with other lenders, as it takes at least two business days to have money deposited in your account. The lender will charge an origination fee ranging from 0% to 5%, which will depend on your loan's terms. You won't pay any prepayment or late fees with Payoff, though.

The company has a variety of options for customer support. You can email the company's customer support account, or call Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, or on weekends from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT. If none of those options work for you, you can also mail inquiries to Payoff's California address. 

You'll need to meet the following requirements to apply:

  • Be at least 18 years old (19 years old in Alabama)
  • Have a valid checking account
  • Have a valid social security number
  • Have three years of established credit

Pros and cons

How to get a Payoff personal loan

The application is available online or over the phone and can be completed in several minutes. You can't file a joint application with Payoff. You'll need basic information for the initial application, including:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Contact information including your address, phone number, and email
  • Personal annual income
  • Monthly housing payment
  • Social Security number 

Payoff loan may require several documents to verify your information, including:

  • A bank statement or bank credentials
  • A driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID
  • Your two most recent pay stubs or most recent tax return if self-employed

After you apply and have your loan approved, you will likely get your cash within two to five business days.

What credit score do you need?

With Payoff loan, you need a minimum credit score of 640 to qualify for a loan. This minimum is lower than other personal loan lenders that have similar interest rates and loan term ranges. For example, the lowest credit score SoFi will accept is 680, and Lightstream's minimum is 660. 

To get your credit report from one of the three of the major credit bureaus, use annualcreditreport.com. You can get your report for free once per week through April 20, 2022. While you won't receive your credit score on this report, you'll get information about your credit and payment history. While reviewing your credit report, you can spot errors and figure out where you can improve. 

You can obtain your score at no cost on your credit card statement or online account. You can also purchase it from a credit reporting agency.

When you check your rates with Payoff, the lender will generate a soft credit inquiry, which will not impact your credit score. However, right before you finalize your loan, Payoff will perform a hard credit inquiry, which will probably affect your credit score. A hard inquiry gives a lender a comprehensive view of your credit history, but it may negatively impact your credit score as a result.

If you are interested in getting a personal loan from Payoff but need to boost your credit score to do so, here are some tips that may help you improve your score: 

  • Ask for and look over a copy of your credit report. Search for any mistakes on your report that could be tanking your score. If so, reach out to the credit bureau to discuss fixing the errors.
  • Maintain low credit card balancesKeeping a credit utilization rate — the percentage of your total credit you're using — of 30% or less will show lenders that you can handle your credit well.
  • Design a system for paying bills on time. Your payment history makes up a significant percentage of your credit score, and lenders prefer to see steady and reliable past payments. Set up calendar reminders or automatic payments to make sure you don't miss out on any of your obligations.

Is Payoff trustworthy?

Payoff loan is a Better Business Bureau-accredited company, and the BBB gives Payoff an A+ in trustworthiness. The BBB evaluates trustworthiness by looking over business' replies to customer complaints, truthfulness in advertising, and transparency about business practices. 

Keep in mind that a stellar BBB rating doesn't guarantee an excellent relationship with Payoff, so make sure you read customer reviews and ask friends and family about their experiences with the company.

Payoff does not have any recent scandals. Due to its clean history and top-notch BBB rating, you might feel comfortable choosing Payoff as your personal loan lender.  

How Payoff compares 

Although rates will depend on your unique situation, Payoff loan interest rates are comparable to those offered by similar lenders. Here's how Payoff compares to the competition:

Payoff by Happy Money LogoSoFi LogoMarcus Invest (Goldman Sachs) Logo

Min. credit score

640

Min. credit score

680

Min. credit score

Unspecified

APR

Payoff loan

APR

SoFi personal loan

APR

Marcus Personal Loan

Origination fee?

Yes

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

No

Payoff loan

SoFi Personal LoanMarcus Personal Loan

Payoff review vs. SoFi review

Payoff loan has a lower credit score requirement than SoFi, but if your credit isn't in the best of shape, Payoff may charge you a higher maximum APR. If you have excellent credit, you may be able to get a slightly lower APR with Payoff than SoFi, but the difference is marginal. 

You'll pay an origination fee between 0% and 5% of your total loan amount with Payoff, while you won't pay any origination fee with SoFi. The Payoff origination fee will be deducted from your overall loan proceeds.

Both companies will give you your money in roughly the same amount of time, about a few business days after approval.

Payoff has a maximum loan term of five years, while SoFi has a maximum loan term of seven years. If you're looking to divide out your payments over more time, SoFi might be the better choice for you. 

Payoff review vs. Marcus by Goldman Sachs review

Payoff and Marcus have relatively similar APR ranges, though Marcus' maximum APR is 5% lower than Payoff's highest rate. 

You won't pay any fees with Marcus, including late fees. Instead, you'll rack up more interest if you pay late, and your final payment will be bigger as a result. You'll pay an origination fee with Payoff, but no prepayment or late fees.

Marcus offers an "on-time payment reward." If you pay your loan on time and in full every month for 12 months, you can forgo a month of payments, and interest will not accrue during that period. Your loan will then be extended by one month. 

Payoff personal loans are aimed to help borrowers pay down high-interest credit card debt. This means you are limited in your loan's purpose — you may want to go with Marcus if you aren't aiming to consolidate credit card debt. 

 

Related Content Module: More on Loans

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How much money Facebook pays for 1 million, 50 million, and 100 million views, according to a viral comedy duo

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Dan Shaba and John Nonny pose together outside of a building.

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When John Nonny and Dan Shaba — the two creators behind The Pun Guys and John Nonny pages on Facebook that together have 6 million followers — are recognized in public, fans typically refer to them as "YouTubers" or "TikTokers." 

"They never say, 'Those are those Facebookers,'" Shaba told Insider.

But while the Ontario-based duo do have significant followings on TikTok (860,000 followers) and YouTube (501,000 subscribers), Facebook is their primary platform. And it's where they make the most money.

After crossing paths as musicians, Shaba and Nonny found themselves collaborating on something new: comedy. Known for punny memes and quick DIY or prank videos, the two have figured out what works on the Facebook newsfeed and how to navigate what is trending on the platform.

And that's how they keep their earnings pouring in. Similar to YouTube and its Partner Program, Facebook pays eligible creators a percentage of ad revenue on videos.

The money wasn't always there. When Shaba and Nonny first started posting to Facebook in 2016, there wasn't an ad revenue-share model.

"It was very difficult to make money," Shaba said. "The only way was to do brand deals and those sorts of things, which wasn't really sustainable for the long term."

In 2017, however, Facebook started rolling out its own in-stream ad program. To qualify, a page must have 10,000 followers, 600,000 minutes of total watch-time in the past 60 days, and at least five active videos. That's a higher bar than YouTube, where creators need 1,000 subscribers and 240,000 minutes of watch time.

Facebook is what works best for Nonny and Shaba's content.

Today, their videos, which they upload several times a week to their two accounts, regularly garner at least one million views. On average, a million views pays about $1,000, Shaba said. Sometimes, a video with about one million views can earn upwards of $1,500 depending on the CPM rate, Nonny added. (Insider verified these earnings with screenshots of their Facebook creator studio.)

YouTubers often earn more money than that for a video with a million views, but those videos are typically longer and can have multiple mid-roll ads. YouTuber Jade Darmawangsa, for example, told Insider in 2020 that she earned $3,600 for a video with 1.2 million views, but that video was 10 minutes long. Shaba and Nonny's videos are usually around 3 minutes long.

Screenshot of The Pun Guys Facebook page.

Earnings plateau once a video hits over 50 million views 

When a video hits 50 million views, earnings start to drop off a bit, the two said.

For videos with about 50 million views, the duo's earnings fall between $40,000 and $50,000.

A video with over 100 million views can earn the pair between $80,000 and $100,000, they said. But their videos only reach that threshold three to four times a year – "if we're lucky."

(Insider verified these estimates with screenshots of their creator studio dashboard.) 

How Facebook differs from YouTube and TikTok

Nearly all of the videos posted by the Pun Guys have timestamps of 3:02 or 3:32. The reason is pretty straightforward: In order to qualify for revenue share on Facebook, videos must be at least three minutes long.

But any longer, and it may not pop off: Short videos on Facebook do well because people aren't coming to the app to sit down and watch videos like they are on YouTube, Nonny said. 

While there's no minimum length requirement on YouTube, most videos go over 10 minutes to optimize ad revenue through multiple ad breaks. Meanwhile, on TikTok, videos are often no longer than 60 seconds. 

Two men laughing. Pictured is Dan Shaba and John Nonny of The Pun Guys.

Partially because Facebook videos have to grab the attention of someone who didn't necessarily plan on tuning in, they have a reputation for being clickbait and teasing "gotcha" or mindblowing endings that trail viewers along until the very last second.

Nonny said it's something the pair has to balance, especially in making sure viewers don't drop off before the ad break.

"There's a fine line between being straight up corny and baity, and just trying to make your videos where it's entertaining enough where they want to see the climax," Nonny said.

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An NFT collection inspired by the 16th-century Dutch tulip bubble is drawing flocks of bidders — and one has sold for more than $50,000

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An NFT collection of pixelated flowers inspired by the Dutch tulip bubble is attracting crypto buzz, with one selling for more than $55,000.

The collection of 50 NFTs, launched on Monday, are an explicit tribute to the 16th-century Dutch mania that saw multicolor tulip bulbs sold for massively inflated prices before crashing. At the peak of the bubble, one tulip bulb sold for 20 times the yearly income of a skilled worker, according to the BBC

The collection — pitching itself as paying "homage to the investors who risked it all to make a fortune"— sold out on NFT marketplace OpenSea within hours, according to the artist

One NFT in the collection sold for as high as 17.5 ether, worth about $55,785 at Wednesday prices. 

The tulip mania that swept Dutch society has become a modern parable for how the madness of crowds can drive rampant price speculation — on the "greater fool" theory that another person will always buy your overpriced flower — eventually leading to a devastating crash. 

But in recent years, many scholars have noted that the tulip bubble's history is often oversimplified. In particular, they say that the "mania" was contained to a small number of frenzied speculators, rather than being a society-wide phenomenon. Evidence that anyone was financially ruined by the crash in tulip prices is thin.

Still, some commentators have used the tulip bubble to frame today's meme-stock and crypto phenomena, pointing to skyhigh prices for GameStop and AMC shares or bitcoin as portents of a coming collapse.

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Marcus by Goldman Sachs personal loans review: Fee-free lender with low rates for borrowers with good credit

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Table of Contents: Masthead StickySummary List Placement 

Should you use Marcus by Goldman Sachs?

You may like Marcus by Goldman Sachs if you ... You may not like Marcus by Goldman Sachs if you ... 
  • Can take advantage of the lender's on-time payment reward
  • Want to avoid origination fees and late payment penalties
  • Are looking for a strong mobile app
  • Want preapproval to compare rates with other lenders
  • Want to borrow more than $40,000
  • Have a credit score below 670
  • Can find a lower APR with a competitor
  • Want to file a joint application

Loan amounts and interest rates

Marcus Personal Loan personal loan amounts range from $3,500 to $40,000 and can be repaid over three to six years, depending on the agreement you strike with the lender.

Marcus' lowest APR of 6.99% is marginally higher than comparable lenders. With SoFi, you can get a rate as low as 4.78%, and LightStream has a minimum APR of 2.49%. You should note that your credit will have to be in good shape to qualify for the best rates with these lenders. 

On the bright side, Marcus has roughly the same maximum APR as similar companies. Marcus' top rate is 19.99%, the same as Lightstream's maximum, and SoFi's is slightly lower at 19.38%. Shop around with different companies to see which will offer you the best terms. 

How Marcus by Goldman Sachs works

Marcus Personal Loan offers unsecured personal loans through Goldman Sachs Bank USA (Member FDIC). Collateral, like a house or a car, isn't needed to get an unsecured personal loan. You can take out a personal loan for a variety of purposes, including debt consolidation, home improvement, and vacations. 

Depending on when your application is approved, it will take between one to four business days to receive money in your account from Marcus. You won't pay any fees with the company. 

A unique feature of Marcus is that the company offers an "on-time payment reward." You can skip a month of payments if you pay your loan on time and in full every month for one year, and you won't rack up interest during that period. Your loan will then be extended by one month. This pause in payments could help you put money toward other financial goals for a month, like your emergency fund, retirement, or higher-interest debt. 

To contact customer support, call the lender Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, or on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. If calling doesn't work for you, you can also mail correspondence to Marcus' Utah address. 

Marcus also has a sleek mobile app on the Google Play and Apple stores that allows you to manage your loan on the go. 

You'll need to meet the following requirements to apply for a personal loan with Marcus:

  • Be at least 18 years old (19 years old in Alabama, 21 in Mississippi and Puerto Rico)
  • Have a valid US bank account
  • Have a valid social security or individual tax ID number

Pros and cons

How to get a Marcus by Goldman Sachs personal loan

The application is available online or over the phone and can be completed in several minutes. Marcus doesn't allow you to file a joint application. You'll need basic information for the initial application, including:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Contact information including your address, phone number, and email
  • Total annual income
  • Monthly housing payment
  • Source of income
  • Employment status
  • Social Security number 

Marcus Personal Loan may ask you for several documents to verify your information, including:

  • A bank statement
  • Recent pay stubs
  • Contacting your employer directly

After you apply and your loan is approved, you will probably get your money within one to four business days.

What credit score do you need?

Marcus Personal Loan doesn't list a minimum APR to be eligible for a loan, however, you'll probably need a score of 670 or above to qualify for good rates. This suggested score is comparable to similar personal loan lenders. For instance, SoFi's minimum is 680, and the lowest score Lightstream will accept is 660. 

You can find your credit report for free on annualcreditreport.com from any of the three major credit bureaus weekly through April 20, 2022. While this report won't give you your credit score, it will show you information about your credit and payment history, which lenders use to decide whether to give you a loan. Reviewing your credit report can help you know what you need to improve. 

You can find your score at no cost on your credit card statement or online account. You can also pay for it from a credit reporting agency. 

Your credit score won't be affected when you check your rates with Marcus, as the lender will only perform a soft credit inquiry. Keep in mind that before finalizing your loan, Marcus will perform a hard credit inquiry, which will likely impact your credit score. A hard inquiry offers a lender a complete view of your credit history, but it might negatively affect your credit score.

If you are interested in getting a personal loan from Marcus but need to improve your credit score to do so, here are some tips that may help you boost your score: 

  • Request and review a copy of your credit report. Look for any mistakes on your report that could be lowering your score. If so, ask the credit bureau about fixing the errors.
  • Keep low credit card balancesMaintaining a credit utilization rate — the percentage of your total credit you're using — of 30% or less will prove to lenders that you can manage your credit responsibly.
  • Create a system for paying bills on time. Your payment history makes up a substantial portion of your credit score, and lenders want to see consistent and reliable past payments. Make calendar reminders or automatic payments to make sure you don't forget any of your obligations.

Is Marcus by Goldman Sachs trustworthy?

Marcus Personal Loan is a Better Business Bureau-accredited company, and the BBB gives Marcus an A+ in trustworthiness. The BBB measures trustworthiness by reviewing businesses' replies to consumer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices. 

However, a great BBB rating doesn't necessarily mean you'll have a positive relationship with Marcus, so ask friends and family about their experiences with the company and look over consumer reviews online. 

Marcus does not have any recent controversies. You might feel comfortable choosing Marcus as your personal loan lender due to its sparkling history and top-tier BBB rating.

 

How Marcus by Goldman Sachs compares

Marcus Personal Loan interest rates are similar to those offered by comparable lenders — though rates will depend on your particular profile. Here's how Marcus compares to the competition:

Marcus Invest (Goldman Sachs) LogoSoFi LogoLighstream Logo

Min. credit score

Unspecified

Min. credit score

680

Min. credit score

660

APR

Marcus Personal Loan

APR

SoFi personal loan

APR

LightStream Personal Loan

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

No

Marcus Personal LoanSoFi Personal LoanLightStream

Marcus by Goldman Sachs review vs. SoFi review

Marcus Personal Loan has no minimum credit score requirement, but in general, you'll need a credit score of 670 or above to qualify for a good rate.

You'll need a higher minimum credit score to qualify for a personal loan with SoFi,  and the company's APR range is similar to what Marcus requires. If you have top-notch credit, you might qualify for a marginally lower APR with SoFi than Marcus, but the difference is slim. 

You won't pay any origination fees, prepayment penalties, or late payment fees with either lender, making both a great option to skip out on added costs to your loan. 

Marcus' loan term range of three to six years is slightly smaller than SoFi's range of two to seven years. If you want to spread out your payments over more time, SoFi may be a better option for you. 

Marcus by Goldman Sachs review vs. Lightstream

Lightstream's minimum APR of 2.49% is substantially lower than Marcus' minimum APR of 6.99%, though you'll only qualify for Lightstream's best rate with excellent credit. Additionally, you can take out up to $100,000 with Lightstream, while you can only take out a maximum of $40,000 with Marcus. Neither company charges origination fees or prepayment penalties. 

While it would be easiest to compare offers to find out which rate is better for you, Lightstream does not offer preapproval and would require you to submit an application and agree to a hard credit pull to get your rates. Marcus offers preapproval online. 

A distinguishing feature of Marcus' personal loans is the company's "on-time payment reward." If you pay your loan on time and in full every month for one year, you can skip a month of payments, and interest will not accrue during that period. Your loan will then be extended by one month. You may prefer Marcus if you'd want to take advantage of this perk. 

 

Related Content Module: More on Loans

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Yelp has removed thousands of 'review bombing' attempts that target businesses' COVID-19 safety measures, such as vaccine requirements

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Kindrick Brooke checks a vaccination card outside Risky Business in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on May 21, 2021.

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Bars and restaurants that list their vaccine requirements on Yelp are being hit with one-star "review bomb" attempts proactively removed by Yelp, WSJ reported on Tuesday.

While Yelp's content guidelines require that reviews be based on first-hand customer experience, some users are taking to the platform to post opinions on COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates. 

"Not sure why my review was removed," one user wrote in a since-removed one star-review on the Yelp page for cocktail bar The Alembic in San Francisco. "This bar has recently implemented a medical apartheid which is just horrific." 

Insider's Allana Akhtar spoke to Kathryn Kulczyc, the co-owner and general manager of The Alembic earlier this August. Kulczyc said that while the negative Yelp reviews were harmful, she believed requiring proof of vaccination was the best way to protect her staff from the virus. 

"People were calling us Nazis," Kulczyc told The Wall Street Journal."Saying that we supported the devil because we wanted proof of vaccination."

Attempted review bombings on Yelp are not entirely new — when the company launched a feature that highlighted minority-owned businesses in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, a similar system was put in place to remove hateful or racist reviews that violated content guidelines.

Yelp launched "unusual activity alerts" as a way to detect cases of review bombing. Triggered by abnormal spikes in page traffic, Yelp moderators can freeze the businesses' page and delete posts in violation of the app's content guidelines. However, this risks positive reviews from being frozen as well. 

"When a business gains public attention, people often come to Yelp to express their views on the matter," wrote on the company website. "Mitigating against these 'review bombing' events has become a significant issue for online review platforms." 

She added that Yelp is proactively monitoring pages that choose to indicate their vaccine requirements on the app in order to avoid "backlash."

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The best online sales and deals happening now, including discounts from Casper, Chewy, and Embark

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We rounded up the best sales and deals happening online today, including discounts at Casper, Twillory, and Nisolo.

Deals in this story are subject to change throughout the day. The prices listed reflect the deal at the time of publication. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our roundup of the best deals from Amazon.

The best sales and discounts happening right now

Get 15% off select mattresses at Casper

Shop the Casper Labor Day Sale now.

Mattress retailers love Labor Day Sales, and Casper is no exception. Select mattresses, including the luxe Wave Hybrid and Nova Hybrid, are 15% off just for the occasion. Everything else on the site is also 10% off. 

Best-Selling Bundle (Queen) (medium)Nova Hybrid Mattress (Queen) (medium)

Get up to 40% off at Twillory

Shop the Twillory Summer Warehouse sale now.

For shirts that can stand up to a full day's work and then some, Twillory is the place to go. The brand's performance dress shirts are wrinkle-resistant and prevent sweat, making them a solid choice for a day of rigorous wear. 

Non-Iron Purple Cube Weave Shirt (medium)Untuck(able) Linen Blue Shirt (medium)

Save on Nisolo footwear

Shop the Nisolo Semi-Annual Sale now.

Nisolo doesn't hold sales often, making its huge Semi-Annual Sale worth looking into. With comfortable and stylish shoes for every gender, Nisolo's lineup has something for everyone. The brand's Chelsea Boot even made it into our roundup of the best ankle boots

Emilio Chukka Boot (medium)Smoking Shoe (medium)

Get a $30 gift card when you spend $100 at Chewy

Shop the Chewy sale now

Celebrate National Dog Day this week by purchasing treats, food, or toys for your furry friend. Right now, when you spend $100 on select items at Chewy, you can score a $30 gift card. 

Classic Dog Toy (medium, Preferred: Chewy)Classic Launcher Dog Toy (medium)

Get up to 50% off at Columbia Sportswear

Shop the Columbia sale now

Right now, you can save up to 50% off boots, jackets, pants, and tops during Columbia's Summer Sale. Get discounts on some of Columbia's best-selling apparel. 

Women's Heavenly Long Hooded Jacket (medium, Preferred: Columbia)Men's Steens Mountain Full Zip Fleece Hoodie (medium, Preferred: Columbia)

Get up to 50% off at Reformation

Shop the Reformation sale now

Reformation is a sustainable clothing brand selling mostly online, with a few retail stores around the US. Right now, you can get up to 50% off dresses, tops, and jeans. Everything is final sale, so make sure you know your sizes before purchasing items. 

Lillet dress (medium)Fonda dress (medium, Preferred: Reformation)

Get up to 70% off at Mango

Shop the Mango sale now

Mango is having its Final Clearance Sale going on now where you can get up to 70% off tops, bottoms, dresses, and shoes. 

Belted cotton jumpsuit (medium, Preferred: Mango)Fitted blazer with pocket (medium, Preferred: Mango)

Get $50 off the Embark Breed and Health Kit

Shop the Embark discount now.

If you've ever wondered what kind of dog you have, Embark's Breed and Health Kit can give you those answers. Plus, the test will tell you genetic health conditions and ancestry. You can save $50 on the test using the exclusive promo code INSIDER at check out. Read our full review of the Embark Breed and Health Kit here.

Breed + Health Kit (medium, Preferred: Embark)

Get 30% off your first month at Pawp

Get the Insider-exclusive discount at Pawp now

Save 30% on your first month's subscription to Pawp. Get 24/7 access to vets and other pet experts through unlimited telehealth appointments for your cat and dog. Use the link to get an Insider-exclusive discount on your first month. 

First Month Subscription (medium)

Get 25% off your first order at Fuzzy

Shop the Insider-exclusive sale at Fuzzy now

New customers can get 25% off sitewide at Fuzzy using the Insider-exclusive promo code INSIDER25 to save on all pet products. 

Itch Relief Spray (medium)Cat Dental Bundle (medium)

The best deals and sales available now

  • Anthropologie: Get an extra 25% off sale items.
  • Athleta: Get up to 50% select swimwear through August 31. 
  • Backcountry: Get up to 60% off The North Face gear. 
  • Bare Necessities: Get up to 40% off bras during the Top Drawer sale event. 
  • Bed, Bath, and Beyond: Get 20% off all college essentials.
  • Cara: Get 70% off all swimsuits. 
  • Chewy: Save with Chewy Summer Deals.
  • The Farmer's Dog: Get 50% off your first box. 
  • Grove Collaborative: Get a free gift set of your choice, including a Mrs. Meyer's set valued at over $50 when you spend $20. 
  • Kohl's: Get 30% off Levi's jeans and jackets.
  • The Happy Planner: Get up to 75% off during the Virtual Warehouse Sale.
  • HBO Max: Get $25 off an annual plan after adding the promotion to your American Express card. 
  • Levi's: Get 30% off select Trucker jackets for men and women. 
  • Merrell: Get up to 50% off sneakers, sandals, and hiking shoes during the end of season sale. 
  • Olay: Get 25% off sitewide. 
  • Plants.com: Get 20% off plants for the office with promo code OFFICE20
  • Pottery Barn: Get up to 70% off bedding, furniture, and kitchenware. 
  • Ray-Ban: Get up to 50% off select sunglasses. 
  • Sur la Table: Get up to 75% off kitchenware. 
  • Verishop: Get up to 60% off apparel, home, and more. 
  • William Sonoma: Get up to 75% off clearance items during the summer sale.

Read more about how the Insider Reviews team evaluates deals and why you should trust us.



Discover personal loans review: Lender with low maximum loan amounts but no origination fee

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Discover personal loans logo on Personal Finance pattern background

Table of Contents: Masthead StickySummary List Placement 

Should you use Discover Personal Loans?

You may like Discover if you ... You may not like Discover if you ... 
  • Are interested in the lender's 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Want to avoid origination and prepayment fees
  • Are looking for a low, competitive APR
  • Want to borrow more than $35,000
  • Want to file a joint application
  • Fear you might incur a late fee

Loan amounts and interest rates

Discover Personal Loans personal loan amounts range from $2,500 to $35,000 and can be repaid over three to seven years, depending on the agreement you strike with the lender.

Discover's lowest APR of 6.99% is roughly the same or lower than comparable lenders. Marcus' minimum rate is also 6.99%, and LendingClub's lowest rate is 8.05%. Keep in mind that you'll need to have good credit to qualify for the best rates. 

However, Discover's top APR of 24.99% is middle of the pack compared to similar companies. Marcus' top rate is 19.99%, while LendingClub's is 35.89%. See what your rates are at different companies before settling on one to take out a loan from. 

How Discover works

Discover Personal Loans offers unsecured personal loans that can be used for many reasons, including debt consolidation, home improvement, and vacations. You don't need collateral, like a house or a car, to get an unsecured personal loan

Depending on when your application is approved, your money could be received as soon as the next day with Discover. You won't pay any origination fees or prepayment penalties with the company, but you may be charged a $39 fee for late payment.  

A unique feature of Discover is its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you decide within 30 days of getting your loan that you no longer want it, you can send back the funds via check and won't be charged any interest. This perk may be helpful if you find a lender with a lower rate or if you end up not needing the loan amount you initially requested. 

To contact customer support, call the lender Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, or on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. If calling isn't the best work for you, you can also send mail to Discover's Utah address. 

Discover Personal Loans has a well-reviewed app that has received 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Apple store and 4.6 out of  5 stars on the Google Play store. This is useful if you want to manage your loan on the go. 

You'll need to meet the following requirements to apply for a personal loan with Discover:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Have a minimum household income of at least $25,000

Pros and cons

How to get a Discover personal loan

You can find the application online or over the phone, and you can complete the application in several minutes. Discover doesn't allow co-signers. You'll need basic information for the initial application, including:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Contact information including your address, phone number, and email
  • Your personal ID number, if you received an offer in the mail
  • Household income
  • Employment history
  • Bank account number and routing number
  • Creditor information if you're using the loan to consolidate debt

Discover Personal Loans might need several documents from you to verify your information, including:

  • A bank statement
  • Recent pay stubs
  • A work email address
  • Contacting your employer directly

After you apply and your loan is approved, you can get your money as soon as the next business day. 

What credit score do you need?

Discover Personal Loans doesn't have a minimum credit score to qualify for a loan and instead will make its approval decision based on other financial factors. Other comparable lenders have no specified minimum, such as Marcus by Goldman Sachs and LendingClub. That said, you'll likely receive a better rate with a higher score.

If you need to access your credit report, you can get it at no cost from any of the three major credit bureaus on annualcreditreport.com weekly through April 20, 2022. This report will give you information about your payment and credit history — though it won't provide you with your credit score. Looking over your credit report can help you spot errors and find areas for improvement.

You can get your score for free on your credit card statement or online account. You can also buy it from a credit reporting agency.

If you check your rates with Discover, your credit score won't be negatively impacted, as the lender will only generate a soft credit inquiry. However, before your loan is finalized, Discover will perform a hard credit inquiry, which will probably affect your credit score. A hard inquiry gives a lender a comprehensive view of your credit history, but it may ding your credit score.

If you want to get a personal loan from Discover but need to boost your credit score to do so, here are some steps you may want to take to improve your score: 

  • Ask for and review a copy of your credit report. Search for any mistakes on your report that could be tanking your score. If so, ask the credit bureau about correcting the errors.
  • Maintain low credit card balancesKeeping a credit utilization rate — the percentage of your total credit you're using — of 30% or less will show lenders that you can handle your credit responsibly.
  • Design a system for paying bills on time. Your payment history makes up a significant portion of your credit score, and lenders want to see consistent and reliable past payments. Set up calendar reminders or automatic payments to make sure you don't skip out on any of your obligations.

Is Discover trustworthy?

Discover Personal Loans is a Better Business Bureau-accredited company, and the BBB gives Discover an A+ in trustworthiness. The BBB evaluates trustworthiness by reviewing businesses' responses to customer complaints, truthfulness in advertising, and openness about business practices. 

However, a top-notch BBB rating doesn't guarantee a positive relationship with Discover, so look over reviews on the internet and ask friends and family about their experiences with the company. 

Discover does not have any controversies over the past several years. You may feel comfortable choosing Discover as your personal loan lender due to its clean history and great BBB rating.

 

How Discover compares

Discover Personal Loans rates are similar to those offered by comparable lenders — though rates will depend on your particular profile. Here's how Discover compares to the competition:

discover bank logo

Marcus Invest (Goldman Sachs) LogoLending Club logo

Min. credit score

Unspecified

Min. credit score

Unspecified

Min. credit score

Unspecified

APR

Discover Personal Loan

APR

Marcus Personal Loan

APR

Personal Loans

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

Yes

Discover Personal Loans

Marcus Personal Loan

Personal Loans

Discover review vs. Marcus by Goldman Sachs review

Neither Discover nor Marcus by Goldman Sachs has a minimum credit score requirement, but if you have a lower credit score, your APR may be higher with Discover than Marcus. The top end of Discover's APR range is 5% higher than Marcus' range. If your credit is in good shape, you'll likely pay a similar rate with both lenders. 

You won't pay any origination fees or prepayment penalties with either company, but Discover may charge a late fee of up to $39. If you're worried about potentially missing a payment, Marcus may be the better option for you. 

Marcus offers a loan term range of three to six years, which is slightly smaller than Discover's range of three to seven years. Discover's seven-year repayment term will allow you to reduce your monthly costs, but you'll pay more in interest over the life of the loan. 

Discover review vs. LendingClub review

Discover has a better APR range than LendingClub, as you can get a minimum rate over 1% lower with Discover than LendingClub, and a maximum rate over 11% lower. Neither lender has a minimum credit score requirement. 

LendingClub's repayment terms are either three or five years, while Discover's terms range from three to seven years. If flexible repayment options are important to you, Discover may be the better choice. 

A distinguishing feature of Discover is its 30-day money-back guarantee on its personal loans. If you decide within 30 days of receiving your loan that you no longer want it — perhaps you found a better rate elsewhere — you can return the funds via check and won't be charged any interest. 

 

Related Content Module: More on Loans

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A complete guide to Amazon's return policies

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amazon warehouse

Summary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky

Amazon is one of the most convenient sites to shop for everything, from gifts to daily essentials. The massive online retailer offers a ton of products to choose from, including tons of tech, outdoor gear, beauty and grooming products, and fashion for the entire family.

But what if that Kindle e-reader or cashmere sweater you buy doesn't work out as you planned? To help you shop worry-free, it may be helpful to learn the ins and outs of Amazon's return policy.

While some products vary based on the category and return reason, most new and unused items can be returned to Amazon within 30 days. Below, we've answered the most common questions about Amazon's return policy— including how to make a return, what items are eligible, and when to expect your refund.

What is the Amazon Prime return policy?

Typically, most items purchased with an Amazon Prime account have a 30-day return window. Some products may vary based on product category or seller.

Are there free returns on Amazon Prime?

Most items delivered within the US qualify for free returns. To confirm that an item qualifies, you can look to see if it has "Free returns" listed next to the price. There are a few exceptions for things like items that weigh more than 50 pounds, fashion items purchased from The Drop, and products bought through third-party sellers. 

How do you return things to Amazon?

To start a return, visit the "Your Orders" page under your account. From there, select "Return or Replace items," choose your return method, print the label, and package for shipping. 

In addition to shipping your item, you can also choose the Label-Free, Box Free option and bring your unwrapped item to drop off with a provided QR code. Amazon continues to expand its network of participating locations, but as of writing, here are your options:

  • Amazon Physical Stores: Customers can walk into one of Amazon's physical locations, like Amazon Books or Amazon 4-Star stores, show the QR code, and complete the return there, just as long as the product comes with its original box. 
  • Amazon Hub Locker and Locker+: Shoppers can use Amazon Lockers to return items in a box or shipping envelope and use the barcode or six-digit code sent after starting a return to place the item in the slot. Some Locker+ locations allow shoppers to use the free packing materials available onsite.
  • Kohl's: You can now return eligible Amazon items, without a box or label, at a Kohl's near you. With over 1,000 stores nationwide, it should be relatively easy for you to find a Kohl's and drop off your Amazon return.
  • UPS: Select UPS locations offer free no-box and no-label return drop-off. Other locations offer free returns using pre-paid mailing labels. 
  • Whole Foods Market: Some Whole Foods locations have free no-box and no-label return drop off for eligible items. Some Whole Foods also offer Amazon Locker and Amazon Locker+ return options.

Will I have to pay a restocking fee?

You'll never have to worry about a restocking fee if you're returning an item that arrived defective. Similarly, if you change your mind and return an undamaged item within the 30-day return window, you won't have to pay either.

The most common situation in which you'd owe a fee is if you return an item that isn't in its original condition or you miss the return window. The exact amount depends on your situation, per Amazon's guidelines

What items are not eligible for a return?

Unless they arrive damaged or defective, certain items cannot be returned. Some of these include groceries, customized or personalized products, gift cards, downloadable software, and subscription services after they've been accessed. You can find out if an item is non-returnable under the "Your Orders" page. 

When can I expect a refund?

You should expect it to take around 2-3 weeks total to receive your refund, including the time it takes to ship, receive, and process the return. Most refunds are fully refunded within 7 days of receiving your item, but you can read more about estimated return times here.

Read more about how the Insider Reviews team evaluates deals and why you should trust us.

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We updated our Netflix org chart after key exec shuffles including its talent, TV, and marketing leadership (NFLX)

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Netflix execs Bajaria and Ted Sarandos pose together on the red carpet.

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Netflix has radically transformed its leadership over the past year, as international growth took center stage at the company and a growing roster of rivals rose to challenge it.

The streaming company named its content chief as co-CEO, appointed its first chief operating officer, hired a new marketing boss, and overhauled its TV division to function more like a traditional studio, among other changes made in the last year.

In the past three months alone, COO and product chief Greg Peters hired former PepsiCo exec Sergio Ezama as the streamer's new talent chief; CMO Bozoma Saint John poached a former Spotify exec for a key role; global TV boss Bela Bajaria elevated longtime content VP Peter Friedlander to a crucial position overseeing US scripted series; and chief content officer (and co-CEO) Ted Sarandos shook up its creative leadership in the Asia-Pacific region.

As the power dynamics shift at Netflix, we've updated our organizational chart of the top executives at the streaming company and who they report to. The interactive project was last updated on August 25, 2021.

We've mapped out the roles of rising stars like Minyoung Kim, the content VP in charge of Netflix's creative endeavors in most of Asia, as well as key recent hires such as game development VP Mike Verdu. 

We've also removed from the chart other key execs who have exited the company, like Ty Warren, the former VP of physical production; previous chief talent officer Jessica Neal; and former content VP Cindy Holland.

Read more about Netflix's recent executive changes and explore the interactive org chart

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Wells Fargo Active Cash card review: 2% cash back with no strings attached and no annual fee

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 Table of Contents: Masthead StickySummary List PlacementWells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Review: Is the Wells Fargo Active Cash the best credit card for you?

There's a lot to like about the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card, and that's especially true if you're looking for a card that offers a high rate of rewards without rotating categories or earning caps. The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card earns a flat 2% cash back for each dollar you spend, and without any hoops to jump through.

This card also comes with no annual fee, and new cardholders get an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card starts you off with a Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card, which makes it more rewarding than its closest cash-back competitor — the Citi® Double Cash Card. Most people know the Citi® Double Cash Card as the other major rewards card that offers 2% back on all purchases, but there are some major differences.

Read more: The best no-annual-fee credit cards of 2021

With the Citi® Double Cash Card, you earn 2% back but your rewards are doled out in two segments — you get 1% when you make a purchase and another 1% when you pay it off. Also note that the Citi® Double Cash Card does not offer a sign-up bonus, and that its 0% introductory APR only applies to balance transfers and not to purchases.

If you opt for the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card instead, you'll get the chance to earn a sign-up bonus and 2% back for each dollar you spend, and the card comes with benefits like cell phone protection and Visa Signature Concierge to boot.

Comparison: Wells Fargo Active Cash vs other Wells Fargo credit cards

 

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Wells Fargo Platinum Card

Hotels.com Rewards Visa®️ Credit Card

Annual fee

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Wells Fargo Platinum Card

Hotels.com Rewards Visa®️ Credit Card

Rewards rate

2% cash back on all purchases

N/A

Collect 1 stamp each time you spend $500 on card purchases

(10 stamps = 1 rewards night)

Welcome bonus

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

N/A

Get 2 reward nights worth $250 total (max $125 per night)* when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months

Card benefits

Cell phone protection

Visa Signature Concierge

Roadside dispatch

Travel and emergency assistance services

Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement

Access to the Visa Signature Hotel Collection

 

Cell phone protection

 

Automatic Hotels.com Silver status for the first 12 months of account opening

Cell phone protection

Secondary car rental insurance

Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

Travel accident insurance

Roadside dispatch 

Travel and emergency assistance services

Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement

 

Introductory 0% APR offer

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then a Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card variable APR)

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 months (then a Wells Fargo Platinum Card variable APR)

 

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

Yes

Yes

No

*Welcome bonus reward nights on the Hotels.com Rewards Visa®️ Credit Card exclude taxes and fees, and if your reward night costs less than $125, you won't get the difference

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card vs other cash-back credit cards

 

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Citi® Double Cash Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Annual fee

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Citi® Double Cash Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Rewards rate

2% cash back on all purchases

1% cash back when you buy, plus 1% cash back when you pay your bill

5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards

3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases

1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on everything else

Welcome bonus

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

N/A

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

5% cash back (5x points) at grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 in spending during the first year of account opening (then 1x)

Card benefits

Cell phone protection

Visa Signature Concierge

Roadside dispatch

Travel and emergency assistance services

Emergency cash disbursement and card replacement

Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

Access to Citi Entertainment 

Purchase protection

Extended warranty

Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise)

Trip interruption/cancellation insurance

Travel and emergency assistance services

Introductory 0% APR offer

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then a Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card variable APR)

0% intro APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months, then Citi® Double Cash Card

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 14.99%–23.74% variable APR

Foreign transaction fee

Yes

Yes

Yes

Review

 

Citi Double Cash card review

Chase Freedom Unlimited card review

How to earn cash back with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card offers 2% back on everything you buy with no rewards category limitations or quarterly activation. This means you can use it for all your purchases and earn this flat rate of rewards for each dollar you spend.

Read more: The best cash-back credit cards of 2021

It doesn't get any more simple than that, which is one of the biggest upsides of this card. 

How to redeem rewards from the Wells Fargo Active Cash

Rewards earned with the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card belong in the Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards program, which means you can redeem them in several ways. For example, you can:

  • Redeem to cover purchases charged to your card in amounts starting at $1 in rewards
  • Redeem for statement credits to a Wells Fargo mortgage, loan, or credit product account
  • Redeem at an ATM in increments of $20, although you'll need a Wells Fargo debit card to do so
  • Cash in your rewards for gift cards
  • Use your rewards to book travel, including airline tickets

This kind of flexibility is good news for consumers who want more than one way to redeem their cash back. However, you should note that a few of the redemption options available are only for Wells Fargo customers, including payments to Wells Fargo loan products and cash back at an ATM. 

Read more: Many people are reconsidering earning travel rewards, but it's impossible to get stuck with flexible credit card points that work for both travel and cash back

Benefits and features

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card comes with decent benefits for a no-annual-fee card. 

Introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers

New Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card cardholders are eligible for a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Read more: The best low-interest and 0% APR credit cards

Cell phone protection

Pay your phone bill with your Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card and you'll become eligible for cell phone protection coverage. This benefit is worth up to $600 per claim against damage or theft, although a $25 deductible applies. There's a maximum of two claims per 12 month period.

Read more: The best credit cards with cell phone protection

24/7 Concierge Service

Visa Signature concierge can help you make travel or dining plans or provide other types of personal assistance. This benefit is offered for free and 24 hours a day provided you're a Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card customer.

Read more: Visa Signature credit cards offer perks at luxury hotels and benefits that can save you money and hassle, but many cardholders aren't aware they have one

Emergency card disbursement and card replacement

If your credit card is lost or stolen, this protection can replace your card in as little as 24 hours.

Roadside dispatch

This benefit includes a phone number you can call for pay-per-use assistance when you're on the road. For example, you can call roadside dispatch for help with a flat tire, tire changes, lockout service and more.

Travel and emergency assistance services

This benefit is offered 24 hours a day, and it comes in the form of an assistance hotline. You can use this hotline to get help with medical or legal referrals, emergency transportation assistance, emergency translation services and more. The service itself is complimentary, but you're responsible for any third-party costs.

Read more: 6 lesser-known credit card travel benefits that can save you thousands of dollars if things go wrong on a trip

Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection

Cardholders can book through the Visa Signature Hotel Collection and receive additional perks, including:

When you make a reservation through Visa Signature Hotels, you're automatically entitled to the following:

  • Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
  • Free in-room Wi-Fi
  • Late check-out upon request, when available
  • Complimentary breakfast for two
  • A $25 food or beverage credit

Read more: Hotel programs from Amex, Visa, and more can get you free elite benefits like room upgrades and on-property credits — here's how

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

Fees and costs

The Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card doesn't charge an annual fee, which is a major benefit considering the high rate of cash back you get. 

With that being said, there are some other additional charges that can apply. For example, fees can be charged for balance transfers and cash advances, and you could be charged a late fee or returned payment fee up to $40. This card also charges 3% in foreign transaction fees when you make purchases abroad. 

Read more: The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Related Product Module: Cash Back Credit CardsRelated Content Module: More Credit Card Coverage

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Discover student loans review: Low-fee lender with a cash bonus for good grades

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Discover Bank review 2x1

Table of Contents: Masthead StickySummary List Placement 

Pros and cons

ProsCons
  • Cash reward for good grades
  • No origination fee
  • No prepayment penalty
  • No late fees
  • Relatively high APRs compared to competitors
  • Only one term length for undergraduate and graduate loans
  • One physical branch

Discover undergraduate student loans

Discover Undergraduate Student Loans

You may like Discover Undergraduate Student Loans undergraduate student loans if you want to avoid fees, as the lender doesn't have any prepayment penalties, origination fees, or late charges. However, you may be able to find lower fixed rates with competitors.

You might be eligible for Discover's one-time 1% cash reward on its student loans if you get a GPA of 3.0 or higher for any academic term covered by the loan. You'll need to redeem your reward within six months after the loan's disbursement or six months after the academic term has ended, whichever is later.  

Discover graduate student loans

Discover Graduate Student Loans

Discover Graduate Student Loans graduate student loans function similarly to the lender's undergraduate loans. The major difference between the two is the repayment term length; the graduate loans are for 20 years, while the undergraduate loans are for 15 years. You'll still get a loan with no fees and will be eligible for Discover's one-time 1% cash reward on its student loans.

How Discover student loans work

Discover Undergraduate Student Loans offers student loans for a variety of different types of degrees, including undergraduate, graduate, law school, MBAs, and health professions. 

To qualify for a loan, you must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be enrolled at least half-time in a program (undergraduate, graduate, law school, MBA, health program) at an eligible school
  • Be pursuing a degree
  • Be making adequate academic progress as determined by your school
  • Be a US citizen, permanent resident, or international student (international students need to have a cosigner who is a US citizen or permanent resident)
  • Be 16 years or older when you apply
  • Pass a credit check

Before applying for any private student loan, including with Discover, make sure to consider your federal student loan options, as you can often find more favorable terms and better protections through the government.

To contact customer support, call the lender 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company has both a US number and an international number. If calling isn't the best work for you, you can also send mail to Discover's Utah address. 

Discover Undergraduate Student Loans has a well-reviewed app that has received 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Apple store and 4.6 out of  5 stars on the Google Play store. If you want to manage your loan on the go, this could be helpful. 

Is Discover trustworthy?

The Better Business Bureau has rated Discover Undergraduate Student Loans as an A+ in trustworthiness. A great BBB rating indicates the company is honest in how it handles business, responds effectively to consumer complaints, and is truthful in its advertising.

However, you won't necessarily have a positive relationship with Discover simply because the company has a top-notch BBB rating. Ask friends and family about their experiences with the lender and read customer reviews online.

Discover does not have any recent scandals. You may feel comfortable choosing Discover as your student loan lender because of its clean history and great BBB rating.

How Discover compares

Discover Undergraduate Student Loans rates are similar to or higher than those offered by comparable lenders — though rates will depend on your creditworthiness and other financial factors. Here's how Discover compares to the competition:

discover bank logo

CASL logoAscent showcase

Min. credit score

Unspecified

Min. credit score

Unspecified

Min. credit score

540

APR

Discover Undergraduate Student Loans

APR

College Ave Undergraduate Student Loans

APR

Ascent Undergraduate Student Loans

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

No

Origination fee?

No

Discover Undergraduate Student Loans

Student Loans

Student Loans

Discover review vs. College Ave review

You can get a lower minimum APR on your loan with College Ave than with Discover, so if your credit is in good shape, College Ave might be the better choice. 

College Ave has a quicker application process than Discover, as you can get a rate in a few minutes with College Ave, and it will take roughly 15 minutes with Discover. This may not be a dealbreaker, but if you want to speedily compare multiple rates, College Ave could be a better place to start. 

Discover offers a unique perk that College Ave does not. Discover has a one-time 1% cash reward on its student loans if you achieve a GPA of 3.0 or higher during any academic term covered by the loan. You have to redeem your reward within six months after your loan is disbursed or six months after your academic term is over, whichever is later.  

You won't pay any origination fees, prepayment penalties, or late fees with either company.

Discover review vs. Ascent review

Discover has a better APR range on graduate loans than Ascent. The minimum rate is about 1% lower with Discover than with Ascent, though the maximum rate is nearly the same. Ascent has a better range on undergraduate loans with a minimum rate roughly .75% lower than with Discover. The maximum rate with both companies is about the same.

Ascent has five repayment terms available with co-signed loans, five, seven, 10, 12, or 15 years. Discover has only one standard term available, 15 years. 

You may be eligible for a 1% cash reward with Ascent and Discover. Neither company charges origination fees or prepayment penalties, but Ascent may charge a late fee while Discover does not. 

Related Content Module: More on Loans

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How Netflix is changing the global entertainment industry (NFLX)

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Money heist

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Since Netflix first began its worldwide expansion in 2016, the streaming service has rewritten the playbook for global entertainment — from TV to film, and soon, to video games.

Global hit series and movies were once nearly all made in Hollywood and exported internationally. Now, thanks to Netflix's investments in international TV and film, programming from Spain, India, Brazil, and Korea is finding massive audiences around the world.

Netflix figured out that to thrive on an international stage it needed both mass-market programming like "Stranger Things," as well as local content like "Lupin,""Money Heist," and "Sacred Games" that could grab viewers in specific markets.

Read more about how Netflix's strategy for buying international TV shows is changing, according to producers who have worked with the streamer and its rivals

The strategy helped the streaming service grow its customer base to 209 million paid subscribers globally, as of June.

Its momentum is also reinvigorating production in places like Germany, Mexico, and India, as companies like Disney, WarnerMedia, Apple, Amazon follow Netflix's lead. 

Read more about how Netflix's global focus is changing international production markets

Netflix has reoriented its leadership around its new global model.

The streaming company, cofounded by tech entrepreneur Reed Hastings, promoted content chief Ted Sarandos to co-CEO in 2020, which cemented the importance of content within the organization. Meanwhile, Bela Bajaria, who had been in charge of international non-English TV, took the reins of the overall TV business, and product chief Greg Peters took on additional duties as COO, including streamlining how global teams work together. Peters also hired a new talent chief with international experience, former PepsiCo executive Sergio Ezama, to lead Netflix's global workforce.

View our full interactive chart of Netflix's top leaders

The company has also formed an elite team of 23 interdisciplinary execs to help make its biggest decisions. Known internally as the "Lstaff "— the "L" stands for leadership — the group sits between the company's officers and its larger executive staff of vice presidents and above, who are called the "Estaff."

Read more about Netflix's elite 'Lstaff' of 23 execs that helps the company make its most important decisions

Netflix is searching for its next frontier

Still, Netflix is facing more competition than ever from an influx of rivals that are learning to play its game.

Nearly every major media company, from Disney to WarnerMedia, now runs a streaming service. Their platforms are stockpiled with tentpole movies and TV shows that used to only be found in theaters or on linear TV, and their libraries now rival Netflix's.

The competition is pushing the streaming giant to continue to evolve.

Netflix recently expanded its efforts into podcasting and even started pedaling merchandise for series like "Lupin."

In July, the company confirmed plans to offer video games on its subscription service.

It hired Mike Verdu, the former head of Facebook Reality Labs, as its vice president of game development and is currently hiring for video-game-related jobs.

Read more about what Netflix's video-game roles reveal about its strategy

Netflix plans to approach gaming like it did movies and TV shows. It'll start off slowly, commissioning and licensing titles based on existing franchises like "Stranger Things" or "Bridgerton." Then, it will begin to experiment with other kinds of video-game storytelling, like it did with its original series.

"Maybe someday we'll see a game that spawns a film or a series," Peters told investors in July. "That would be an amazing place to get to and really see the rich interplay between these sort of different forms of entertainment."

Here's a list of our recent coverage of how Netflix is disrupting facets of the entertainment industry: 

The Netflix effect on global TV:

On filmmaking:

On video gaming: 

Netflix's evolving business model and corporate structure:

Netflix's growth trajectory:

Working at Netflix: 

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Popular pro-vaccine Reddit page calls on founders to do more to combat COVID-19 disinformation

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A popular pro-vaccine reddit page, r/vaxxhappened, shared a post on Wednesday calling for the site's founders to do more to combat COVID-19 disinformation spreading on the site.

The page has over 330,000 subscribers and the moderators wrote that they, "collect the outrageous and dangerous tales told by dimwitted anti-vaxxers on all forms of media."

"We could have been better off months ago, but disinformation and lies have been allowed to spread readily through inaction and malice, and have dragged this on at the cost of lives," the page's moderators wrote. "There are those who deny that the pandemic even exists, there are those who think that wearing a mask will literally suffocate you, there are those who think it's no worse than a regular flu virus, that it's a bioweapon, and everything in between. This volume of blatant misinformation is problematic and dangerous."

"It is clear that even after promising to tackle the problem of misinformation on this site, nothing of substance has been done aside from quarantining a medium-sized subreddit, which barely reduces traffic and does little to stop misinformation," they added.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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Binance is "not capable" of being effectively supervised and is a significant risk to consumers, says UK financial regulator

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Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance, speaks at the Delta Summit, Malta's official Blockchain and Digital Innovation event promoting cryptocurrency, in St Julian's, Malta October 4, 2018.

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Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, is "not capable" of being effectively supervised, according to the UK's financial regulator. 

The Financial Conduct Authority in an 11-page notice published Wednesday said Binance Markets Limited, a London-based affiliate of Binance, failed to supply further information about its business model and wider product offerings, among other requests.

"This is of particular concern in the context of the firm's membership of a global group which offers complex and high-risk financial products, which pose a significant risk to consumers," the notice said.

In response to the FCA's first inquiry into its business, Binance said: "We do not consider these questions to be appropriate, or in any way relevant, to BML's application."

The cryptocurrency exchange added its website is operated outside of the UK and therefore does not fall under the country's regulations concerning money laundering, terrorist financing, and transfer of funds.

But the fact that Binance's main exchange is not UK-based is a problem for the watchdog because people living in the country can still trade cryptocurrency products that otherwise won't be allowed via Binance's broader platform. 

"The FCA considers that the firm's responses to some questions amounted to a refusal to supply information, and that the firm has failed to respond adequately to the FCA's information requirements," the notice said.

Binance, which was founded in 2017, does not have a formal headquarters. While it was founded in China and officially domiciled in the Cayman Islands, the firm is mostly present online, something authorities have taken issue with.

The FCA in June banned Binance's UK-based marketplace from conducting activity without written consent and has issued a warning to potential investors, telling them to be "wary" of promises of big returns.

The watchdog also took issue with Binance's lack of approved senior officials and its stock tokens, which the exchange stopped offering just three months after launching them. 

In recent months, Binance has been slapped with multiple warnings, and in some jurisdictions, has been banned from operating due to its failure to register with local regulators.

The company has faced scrutiny from CanadaJapanGermanyThailand, Italy, and the Cayman Islands, among others.

In the US, Binance is reportedly under investigation by the Department of Justice the the IRS. 

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao in July said his firm will be "fully compliant" to protect its users.

 

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The Taliban reportedly beat a United Nations worker trying to reach the Kabul airport

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Taliban soldiers with guns.

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Taliban fighters beat an Afghan UN worker as he tried to reach the Kabul airport on Sunday after searching his car and finding his staff identification, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday. 

The next day, three unidentified men showed up to the home of another UN staff worker and intimidated his family, the report said. 

According to the report, an internal UN security document outlines dozens of incidents that describe threats, looting of UN offices and physical violence against staff since August 10. 

"The authorities that are in charge in Kabul are responsible for the safety and security of U.N. staff and premises. We remain in touch with them in that regard," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said to Reuters. 

The report said there are still around 3,000 Afghan UN staff still in the country.

"Every woman I know has the same fear as I do," said one Afghan women who worked at the UN for several years. "What will now happen to our children if we are punished for our work? What will happen to our families? What will they do to us as women?"

An Afghan UN worker told Reuters that he knew of at least 50 Afghan staff who were threatened or warned by the Taliban. 

"We were expecting the entire U.N. system to help us. We were honestly expecting that," another UN worker said. "We are in danger. And if we cannot work, who is going to reach the people?"

According to the report, she has a visa to another country but has expressed frustration with the evacuation process. 

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