Home Authors Bethany Hickey
Bethany Hickey

Bethany Hickey

Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.

Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.

Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.

Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine.

Expertise

  • Personal finance
  • Banking
  • Auto loans
  • Insurance
  • Cryptocurrency and NFTs

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, English-Writing

Educational organizations

  • University of Michigan-Flint

Featured publications

Industry insights from Bethany Hickey

We asked Bethany Hickey for her thoughts on borrowing during a recession and how to choose the best loan.

Is it a good idea to take out a loan during a recession?

The answer isn’t so straightforward, unfortunately. In a recession, it may be harder to qualify for a loan, because lenders are known to tighten up stipulations to reduce risk. We occasionally see lower rates in business loans as a way to stimulate the economy, but that’s not always the case. It can be good before a full-out recession to prepare by sorting out your finances — such as consolidating your credit card debt or refinancing a home for a lower interest rate while the getting is good. But if rates are high and your credit isn’t great, it may be a better idea to hold off on taking on new loans to reduce your risk of default during a recession.

How do I choose the best personal loan when my credit isn’t great?

Personal loan rates can get high if you have poor credit. Most personal loans are unsecured, so they carry a little more risk and lenders tend to charge higher rates. And with short-term installment loans and payday loans, you could see a 200% APR or higher. My advice would be to avoid no-credit-check payday loans, if at all possible. And even with a credit score of around 580 to 670, there are plenty of personal loan providers that could work if you have steady income. Also consider a cosigner or coborrower to increase your approval odds. And adding someone else to the loan could get you a higher loan amount or lower interest rate (or both!).

Latest articles by Bethany Hickey

441 articles written by this author

Apps Like Self

Top apps like Self that build credit include Kikoff, Grow Credit, Chime Secured Credit Builder Card, Credit Strong and Cleo.

Bethany Hickey 5 December 2024
Apps Like Self

Banks with Free ATMs

Most banks offer fee-free ATM access, but some of the banks with the largest network of no-fee ATMs include Axosi, SoFi, Upgrade and Varo.

Bethany Hickey 5 December 2024
Banks with Free ATMs

Apps Like Kikoff

Top alternatives to Kikoff for easy credit-building include Self, Cleo, Grow Credit, Fizz and One Finance.

Bethany Hickey 18 November 2024
Apps Like Kikoff

Axos Bank Bonus Offers in December 2024

The $500 Axos Bank bonus is now expired, but you can still earn $50 per qualifying referral, plus up to $400 with a new business account.

Bethany Hickey 15 November 2024
Axos Bank Bonus Offers in December 2024

Modak vs. Greenlight: Which Kids’ Card Is Worth It?

Modak has no monthly fee, but it's slim on features. Greenlight starts at $5.99 but is a value for big families.

Bethany Hickey 8 November 2024
Modak vs. Greenlight: Which Kids’ Card Is Worth It?

How to Save $1,000 a Month

1. Make a budget 2. Create a savings plan 3. Automate savings 4. Pay yourself first 5. Use a high-yield account 6. Do a savings challenge...

Bethany Hickey 6 November 2024
How to Save $1,000 a Month

How to Save $10,000 in a Year

To save $10K: 1. Automate savings 2. Invest 3. Budget 4. Open a high-yield savings account 5. Cut down on spending 6. Pay off debt...

Bethany Hickey 6 November 2024
How to Save $10,000 in a Year

How to Save $5,000 In a Year (or less)

Want to save $5,000 in 3 months, 6 months or a year? Our banking experts share 7 realistic steps to help you reach your savings goals.

Bethany Hickey 30 October 2024
How to Save $5,000 In a Year (or less)

Business Checking Account Bonuses

Top business checking offers we've found are from Bluevine, Chase, PNC, Truist, Huntington, AMEX and Bank of America. See requirements here.

Bethany Hickey 30 October 2024
Business Checking Account Bonuses

100 Envelope Challenge: What It Is and How It Works

The 100 Envelope Challenge is trending on TikTok as a way to quickly save money. We share tips on maximizing savings and modifying your goals.

Bethany Hickey 29 October 2024
100 Envelope Challenge: What It Is and How It Works
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