Consolidation is popular among consumers who have multiple accounts with different banks.
While you may think it would be simple to consolidate these accounts into one, there are rules to follow and deadlines that need to be met to make the process successful.
These steps will walk you through the entire process of consolidating your consumer banking and investment accounts.
Streamline your Finances:
Foremost, consolidate your accounts. This is a basic step, but itโs one that can make a big difference in your financial life. You should consolidate as many of your accounts as possible into one location, so you donโt have to pay multiple fees every time you want access to them.
Also, consolidate bills and loans from different lenders or companies into one place so that theyโre easier for you to manage financially (and legally). This includes everything from utility payments like water or electric bills; mortgage payments; student loan payments; auto loans/lease agreements; credit card debt consolidation plans; etc.
Review your accounts
You should review the types of accounts you have, their fees, and minimum balance requirements. If you have an account that allows transfers between different banks or credit unions, make sure that it also offers free transfers between those banks or credit unionsโyou may not get the full value out of your money!
- Review interest rates. Banks and credit unions tend to offer lower interest rates on savings accounts than they do loans or lines of credit. Itโs important to know what kind of rate youโre getting with each type so that if there are any changes in your financial situation (like losing a job), you can adjust accordingly without having to pay more for using deposits at one place versus another.*
- Check online access through mobile devices like tablets as well as desktop computers.*
- Make sure customer service representatives understand how best to help customers resolve issues quickly without having them call back after 24 hours waiting on hold until someone answers their call again later today.* Donโt forget about reviewing past statements too โ look at all those transactions over time! Are there any payments made late? Did anyone close an account unexpectedly before its maturity date was reached? What did these accounts purchase over time?
Identify what you want and need.
Now that you have a better idea of what your financial situation is, itโs time to figure out exactly what kind of banking services you need. This will help ensure that the consolidation process isnโt just about growing your balance but also meeting new needs and goals.
The first step is identifying what exactly you want from your bank. Do you want multiple accounts? If so, how many? What kind of features do they offer (e-banking, mobile apps)? Do any specific features appeal more than others at this stage in life? The answers may vary depending on whoโs asking but here are some examples:
- I want my savings account open 24/7 while my checking account isnโt online at all during those hours when Iโm not working or sleepingโthat way I can easily transfer funds between them whenever needed without having access only through their separate websites.
- Honestly, online payments made easier to get your accounts lined up in order to identify your needs.
Evaluate lending options
Once youโve consolidated your banking and investment accounts, itโs important to evaluate the different lending options available. You may have a lot of unused credit card balances that need to be paid off before applying for new loans. Or perhaps you have some cash in the bank but are looking for an investment vehicle with higher yields than stocks or bonds.
Hereโs what you need to consider:
- Interest rates โ Compare interest rates on loans by comparing them against each other and then against similar-quality investments (like CDs). Do not assume that lower interest rates mean better deals; high-yield investments tend to carry higher fees as well as higher risk than lower-yield ones do.
- Fees โ Look at how much money is being charged in fees when borrowing money through credit cards versus through personal lines of credit such as home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which can help reduce debt payments over time by suspending minimum monthly payments during emergencies like job loss or medical bills incurred between paychecks (assuming no late fees were applied).
Set up alerts.
Alerts are a great way to keep track of your accounts, especially if you want to make sure theyโre all being paid on time.
The first step is setting up alerts for your credit cards and bank accounts. Youโll want to do this immediately after consolidating those accounts into one. Once the new account has been opened, itโs important that you set up the following alerts:
Card payment due date alert
If a payment isnโt made on time, this will let you know about it so that next month (or whenever) there wonโt be any late charges added onto your bill from processing fees or other expenses incurred when trying to get back payments owed by customers who donโt pay their bills promptly enough.
Deposits made alert
This is important because if someone deposits money into someones account without noticing it already being paid out by another person before they can even finish making their own deposit into theirsโwhich happens sometimesโthen both parties might end up paying overdraft fees instead of just one person doing so because both partiesโ transactions were processed at once.โ
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you to understand how and why consolidating your banking and investment accounts can help you reduce the cost of managing your finances.
While there are many benefits to doing so, it is important to remember that no matter what type of account consolidation you choose, itโs a process that should take some time and effort on your part.
