# Resource Center Tips, tools and insights to improve your financial life. ## Latest Resources ### [Best personal loan rates in 2026: How to compare lenders accurately](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan/how-to-compare-lenders-accurately) The best personal loan rate in 2026 isn't the one with the lowest advertised interest rate: it's the one with the lowest APR, which includes additional finance charges. APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the only apples-to-apples comparison figure because it includes both the interest rate and any origination fee. - [Personal Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan) - Jul 12, 2026 - 11 min read [Credit card consolidation loans: How to pay off multiple cards with one fixed rate](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance/how-to-pay-off-multiple-cards) A credit card consolidation loan replaces multiple high-interest card balances with a single fixed-rate personal loan – one monthly payment, one interest rate, and a defined payoff date. For borrowers carrying balances at 21.39% APR or higher, the interest savings are often substantial. The math works for the same term when your consolidation loan APR is lower than your current weighted average card APR and the fixed monthly payment fits your budget. - [Personal Finance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance) - Jul 12, 2026 - 9 min read [Home improvement loans: How to finance your next project](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan/how-to-finance-home-improvement-loans) The best home improvement loan depends on two things: how much equity you have and how quickly you need the funds. Homeowners with significant equity can access lower starting rates through a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or home equity loan, but closing costs and appraisal fees may narrow that advantage on mid-size projects. An unsecured personal loan requires no equity, no appraisal, and can be funded in days – at a fixed rate that won't move over the life of the project. Happen Bank offers eligible applicants a 1% interest rate discount on personal loans used for home improvement. - [Personal Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan) - Jul 12, 2026 - 7 min read [HYSA vs CD: Which is right for your savings?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings/hysa-vs-cd-which-is-right-for-your-savings) Both a high-yield savings account (HYSA) and a certificate of deposit (CD) outperform a traditional savings account. - [Personal Savings](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings) - Jul 8, 2026 - 7 min read ## Personal Finance ### [Credit card consolidation loans: How to pay off multiple cards with one fixed rate](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance/how-to-pay-off-multiple-cards) - [Personal Finance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance) - Jul 12, 2026 - 9 min read [Why is budgeting so important for financial success?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance/tips-for-financial-success-in-budgeting-your-money) Budgeting is a lifelong money management skill that can help you control your spending, save for the unexpected, and build a strong financial foundation. - [Personal Finance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance) - Apr 9, 2025 - 4 min read [What is credit utilization? (and how to improve it)](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance/what-is-credit-utilization-and-how-to-improve-it) Your credit utilization rate measures the balances of your revolving accounts against your credit limits. Naturally, your ratio can influence your credit scores. A low utilization rate could improve your credit scores while a high utilization rate may hurt them. - [Personal Finance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance) - Apr 8, 2025 - 6 min read [Can allowances help kids build smart financial habits?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance/should-you-give-your-kids-an-allowance) Allowances are common in the U.S., but it’s important to weigh out the pros and cons before giving your kids an allowance. - [Personal Finance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-finance) - Apr 5, 2025 - 4 min read ## Personal Loan [Home improvement loans: How to finance your next project](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan/how-to-finance-home-improvement-loans) - [Personal Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan) - Jul 12, 2026 - 7 min read [Best personal loan rates in 2026: How to compare lenders accurately](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan/how-to-compare-lenders-accurately) - [Personal Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan) - Jul 12, 2026 - 11 min read [What is debt consolidation?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan/what-is-debt-consolidation) Debt consolidation is a debt management strategy that uses methods like a debt consolidation loan to combine multiple debts into an easy-to-manage monthly payment—usually with a lower interest rate. - [Personal Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan) - Apr 6, 2025 - 7 min read ### [Does debt consolidation hurt your credit score?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan/does-debt-consolidation-hurt-your-credit-score) Consolidating debt often helps your credit—at least over the long term. A lower interest rate and a single fixed monthly payment make it easier to pay down debt, and lower credit card balances and on-time loan payments often help raise your score. - [Personal Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-loan) - Feb 18, 2025 - 6 min read ## Personal Savings ### [HYSA vs CD: Which is right for your savings?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings/hysa-vs-cd-which-is-right-for-your-savings) Both a high-yield savings account (HYSA) and a certificate of deposit (CD) outperform a traditional savings account. - [Personal Savings](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings) - Jul 8, 2026 - 7 min read [Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement explained](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings/fire-movement-financial-independence-retire-early) What does it take to achieve financial independence early in life? The end goal for many FIRE followers is early retirement—but it’s not the only goal. - [Personal Savings](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings) - Sep 24, 2024 - 9 min read [CD early withdrawal penalty: What you need to know](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings/cd-early-withdrawal-penalty-what-you-need-to-know) What happens when you take money out of a CD before the maturity date? Here's everything you need to know, including how CD early withdrawal penalties are calculated, how to avoid these fees, and when incurring them might be a good idea. - [Personal Savings](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings) - Jun 26, 2024 - 6 min read [What is a high-yield savings account & do you need one?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings/do-you-need-a-high-yield-savings-account) Savings accounts are considered a low-risk and highly liquid place to hold cash—and typically provide a very low annual return. Recently, high-yield savings accounts are proving to be the exception. - [Personal Savings](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-savings) - Jun 26, 2024 - 5 min read ## Personal Checking [Guide to banking online](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-checking/guide-to-banking-online) Chances are, you’re managing money differently today than you were a few years ago. If your shopping, spending, and money management have moved online and onto your phone, you might want to consider whether an online-only bank is a fit for you. - [Personal Checking](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-checking) - Sep 30, 2024 - 7 min read ### [How to open a bank account online](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-checking/how-to-open-a-bank-account-online) Opening a bank account online is a convenient way to manage your money without setting foot in a local branch. Today, many online-only banks, traditional banks, and credit unions have easy online applications, so you can shop around and open an account from the comfort of your home. - [Personal Checking](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/personal-checking) - Sep 25, 2024 - 6 min read ## Auto Refinance ### [What is car refinancing & how does it work?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance/how-does-refinancing-a-car-work) Auto loan refinancing is when you use a new car loan to pay down your old loan—often with a lower monthly payment or interest rate. - [Auto Refinance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance) - Apr 7, 2025 - 7 min read [Does refinancing a car hurt your credit score?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance/does-refinancing-a-car-hurt-your-credit) Your credit score may be impacted when you refinance your auto loan thanks to a hard credit check, but the effects are typically short-lived. - [Auto Refinance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance) - Mar 19, 2025 - 6 min read [What is the total cost of owning a car?](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance/essential-factors-that-impact-the-total-cost-of-car-ownership) The total cost of owning a car includes the purchase price, interest on loans, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration, depreciation, and unexpected expenses. - [Auto Refinance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance) - Feb 5, 2025 - 3 min read [Pros and cons of leasing vs. buying a car](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance/important-factors-to-consider-when-leasing-or-buying-a-car) Should you lease or buy your next car? Leasing costs less on a monthly basis and puts limits on how you can use your car. Buying comes with ownership responsibility but will cost you less in the long run. - [Auto Refinance](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/auto-refinance) - Jan 15, 2025 - 7 min read ## Business Loan [How to get your first small business loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/business-loan/how-to-get-a-small-business-loan) A small business loan can help you get the cash you need to grow your business. Getting a business loan can sometimes be tricky, especially if you’re a new business owner. - [Business Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/business-loan) - Jun 23, 2024 - 6 min read ### [7 recession-proof small businesses](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/business-loan/recession-proof-small-business-ideas) Some small businesses seem to thrive no matter what the economy is doing. What’s their secret? Here are a few business ideas to consider and tips to help you bake some resiliency into your venture. - [Business Loan](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/business-loan) - Aug 15, 2023 - 6 min read ## Institutional Investing ### [What investors need to know about the personal loan market](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/institutional-investing/what-investors-need-to-know-about-the-personal-loan-market) The unsecured personal loan market continues to hit record highs, and despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, shows few signs of slowing down. - [Institutional Investing](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/institutional-investing) - Jul 29, 2025 - 4 min read [How diversification builds resilience in banking](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/institutional-investing/how-diversification-builds-resilience-in-banking) Banks that diversify across customer segments, lending categories, income streams, geographies, and digital platforms are not courting fragility, but insulating themselves against it. - [Institutional Investing](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/institutional-investing) - Jul 7, 2025 - 3 min read [Banking on consumer credit: A smart move in today’s uncertain times](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/institutional-investing/banking-on-consumer-credit) The typical investment mix of long-term loans and securities may turn out to yield lackluster results. Banks may have another investment option: consumer credit. - [Institutional Investing](https://www.happen.com/resource-center/institutional-investing) - May 12, 2025 - 4 min read