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© epSos.de

Many people may not realize that they could be held liable for bank credit cards owed by a deceased family member. Some children who have recently lost a parent are appalled to receive letters from the credit card issuers of their deceased relatives just week after their death. Discover Card, for example, sends out form letters offering "sincere apologies" on the death of the card holder.

This is followed up by an offer for the family member to assume the debt balance on the card at an introductory APR of 0% which increases after 6 months. The bank then threatens that if the family member does not want to take over the account they will have to "discuss" how the estate can pay off the credit card balance. While this is highly unethical, it is not illegal as the estate can be held liable for debt if it has sufficient money to pay it.

© Images_of_Money

Citizens Bank has decided to offer special 0% interest bank credit cards to those people affected by hurricane Irene. Existing customers of the bank who live in states hit by Irene will be eligible to apply for the cards this week. Individuals, nonprofits and small businesses are all eligible for the promotional rate on these cards, as well as special loans also being offered by the bank.

Citizens Bank is offering the products to provide support and access to immediate resources needed to clean up after the hurricane. Nonprofits and small businesses are eligible for the 0% interest credit card offer and can also expedite the process with next day business delivery. The bank is also offering disaster bridge loans to those who have already applied for federal disaster aid relief from the Small Business Administration.

© The Consumerist

Many consumers today simply don't carry cash around with them, and so small businesses need convenient and cost effective solutions for accepting bank credit cards and debit cards for transactions. The good news is that there are more options available today than ever, even for those on a tight budget. Rather than turning to the bank for a traditional credit card reader set up, many small business owners are finding alternative credit card solutions that are cheaper and more mobile from companies like Square.

This new service allows the small business owner to attach a small credit card reader directly to their smartphone and run credit and debit cards on the spot. The service has been available for less than a year now, but it's already becoming a popular choice among small business owners.