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Wells Unexpectedly Shuts All Existing Personal Lines Of Credit, Hinting US Economy On The Edge
Wells Unexpectedly Shuts All Existing Personal Lines Of Credit, Hinting US Economy On The Edge
Wells Fargo just announced that it’s shutting down all of its existing personal lines of credit – a popular product offered by the retail-focused Wall Street giant – a move that will likely infuriate legions of customers.
The revolving credit lines, which will be shut down in the coming weeks, typically allow users borrow $3K to $100K, were pitched as a way to consolidate higher-interest credit-card debt, pay for home renovations or avoid overdraft fees on checking accounts attached to the loan.
Customers have been given a 60-day notice that their accounts will be shuttered, and remaining balances will require regular minimum payments, according to the statement.
According to CNBC, it’s the latest “difficult decision” facing Wells CEO Charlie Scharf, who is being forced to make cutbacks to the banks’ business thanks to restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve years ago as punishment for the bank’s criminal scandals like the now-infamous scandal whereby branch managers opened credit lines for customers without permission. a scandal that outraged the public.
“Wells Fargo recently reviewed its product offerings and decided to discontinue offering new Personal and Portfolio line of credit accounts and close all existing accounts,” the bank said in the six-page letter. The move would let the bank focus on credit cards and personal loans, it said.
The sudden closures will leave many customers without what may be a critical source of liquidity. What’s worse, many will be penalized for the decision, making it more difficult for them to receive credit from a new source. Per CNBC, those whose credit lines are involuntarily closed will still see their FICO scores penalized as if they had elected to close the credit line willingly.
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Low interest rates prompt savers to borrow to invest
Kevin Stone plans to borrow $20K this year to invest in various stocks
Kevin Stone is 28 years old and already has over half a million dollars of debt, including a mortgage and a loan to purchase farmland. But he’s not concerned, because that apparent burden is actually helping fuel his roughly $400,000 net worth.
He’s one of a number of Canadians taking a gamble and borrowing money at historically low rates not to fuel an excessive lifestyle, but to invest in the stock market. It’s a strategy one financial planner warns isn’t for everyone, and even seasoned investors can see things go wrong.
The Bank of Canada recently lowered its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points for the second time this year. Canada’s major banks partially followed suit and lowered their prime lending rates to 2.7 per cent.
These changes caused the rates for already low variable-rate mortgages, as well as home equity and personal lines of credit, to fall.
The low rates prompted Harry, an Albertan in his 40s who requested his last name not be used for privacy reasons, to look at his $100,000 home equity line of credit, or HELOC, a different way.
He plans to use that money over the next several years to maximize his unused RRSP contribution room. He’s withdrawn funds from his HELOCbefore to pay for a few vacations, but this will be his first time borrowing the money for investments.
Harry plans to use his annual tax returns as large, lump-sum payments against the loan, while paying down the remaining balance at a low 2.2 per cent interest rate.
“I think the bigger risk is not using other people’s money to invest,” says Stone, who blogs about his money maneuvers at Freedom Thirty Five, where he doesn’t shy away from aiming to join Canada’s one per cent. “By taking on these debts today, I can have a longer time to build up my assets.”
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