Karen Bennett

Senior consumer banking reporter

EXPERTISE

Banking
Personal finance
Credit cards

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in English, University of Illinois
Master’s degree in journalism, Columbia College Chicago

Karen Bennett is a senior consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. She uses her finance writing background to help readers learn more about savings and checking accounts, CDs, and other financial matters.

Karen brings decades of writing and reporting experience to the table, including the roles of credit cards writer for travel website Million Mile Secrets and money and career writer for The Cheat Sheet. Her work has also appeared in USA Today, Illinois Legal Times, and several Chicago, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C. newspapers. In addition, she’s worked in the areas of marketing and business development, and she was product manager for a consumer money-saving website.

When she’s not writing Bankrate articles, she can often be found cheering her kids on at soccer games, cooking and reading up on saving for retirement and other personal finance topics.

Karen's latest articles

10 ways to meet your savings resolutions in 2023

Make 2023 the year you get serious about saving for your goals with these 10 tips.

5 min read Jan 24, 2023
Holiday spending hangover: 7 tips to pay off debt and increase your savings

Here’s how you can start paying off that holiday debt and building up your savings.

4 min read Jan 13, 2023
Banking

See top banking accounts for 2023, backed with Bankrate's expertise. Low fees, online banks, savings accounts and more—find the best with The Bankrate Awards.

4 min read Jan 09, 2023
Banking

See top banking accounts for 2024, backed with Bankrate's expertise. Low fees, online banks, savings accounts and more—find the best with The Bankrate Awards.

1 min read Jan 09, 2023
Wells Fargo ordered to repay customers $3.7 billion for ‘illegal activity’

Wells Fargo to pay $3.7 billion to resolve allegations involving illegal fees.

3 min read Dec 20, 2022
No-penalty CD vs. savings account

Should you keep money you need access to in a no-penalty CD or in a savings account?

4 min read Nov 21, 2022
Midterm elections 2022: Here are the key things at stake for your money

Inflation and the economy are hot topics as the midterm elections draw near.

7 min read Nov 08, 2022
Guide to checking account terminology

Learn about common checking terms, from bounced checks to outstanding checks.

4 min read Nov 08, 2022

What is the average interest rate for savings accounts?

Comparing savings rates can ensure you get the best return on your savings.

3 min read Nov 21, 2024
What to do if a bank rejects you for a checking account

Your banking past has come back to haunt you. Here’s how to ask for a second chance.

3 min read May 02, 2024
APY vs. interest rate: What’s the difference and why it matters

Here’s the difference between APY and interest rate.

4 min read Aug 31, 2023
What is a SWIFT code?

You’ll need a SWIFT code for international wire transfers. Here’s how to find one.

2 min read Aug 14, 2023
How to join a credit union: Here’s what to do to become a member

Here’s what you need to do to become a credit union member.

3 min read Jul 18, 2023
6 ways to manage finances with multiple income streams

These strategies will help you manage multiple income streams.

4 min read Jul 18, 2023
Saving money from your summer job: Top tips for students

These tips can help students maximize savings from their summer job earnings.

3 min read Jul 17, 2023
5 tips to make sure revenge spending doesn’t wreck your wallet

As you look ahead to opening your wallet again, consider these key tips for avoiding revenge spending.

4 min read Jul 12, 2023