Home Authors Bethany Hickey
Bethany Hickey

Bethany Hickey

Writer

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 and AOL. 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 | University of Michigan-Flint | 2014–2019

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

267 articles written by this author

Best free debit cards for kids and teens

Compare the best free kids’ debit card options that teach financial literacy.

Bethany Hickey 24 May 2023
Best free debit cards for kids and teens

Grasshopper Business Checking review

An online bank, Grasshopper offers an interest-bearing checking account with unlimited cashback rewards and no monthly fees.

Bethany Hickey 24 May 2023
Grasshopper Business Checking review

FedNow: What is it and how it works

The Federal Reserve is launching its own instant-payment system called FedNow, advertising a staggering delivery speed of seconds.

Bethany Hickey 4 May 2023
FedNow: What is it and how it works

Best business bank accounts for LLCs

Find the best business bank accounts for LLCs with low fees, software integrations and extra perks like ATM reimbursements.

Bethany Hickey 20 April 2023
Best business bank accounts for LLCs

Apple savings account review: High APY for iPhone users

Apple’s new savings account has a high APY and simple set up, rivaling top competitors.

Bethany Hickey 18 April 2023
Apple savings account review: High APY for iPhone users

Apps like Albert

Compare five other cash advance apps that are similar to Albert.

Bethany Hickey 9 April 2023
Apps like Albert

Loans like Transform Credit

Transform Credit accepts cosigners on personal loans, but there are cheaper alternatives.

Bethany Hickey 7 April 2023
Loans like Transform Credit

Albert Instant cash advance review

The banking app Albert offers cash advances up to $250 and many other perks.

Bethany Hickey 6 April 2023
Albert Instant cash advance review

Compare LLC business loans

Compare business loans and financing your LLC, and learn how to apply.

Bethany Hickey 6 April 2023
Compare LLC business loans

Apps like SoLo Funds

Compare 7 alternatives that are very similar to the cash advance app SoLo Funds.

Bethany Hickey 23 February 2023
Apps like SoLo Funds
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