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About Bankrate
We at Bankrate, Inc. have over three decades' experience in financial publishing. Bankrate was born in 1976 as "Bank Rate Monitor," a print publisher for the banking industry. The "Bank Rate Monitor" newsletter we originally distributed contained much of the same rate research and information we're known for and respected for today. After two decades of conducting quality, trusted rate research, we took our product to the Web, expanded our offerings and made our online debut in 1996. Since then, we have increased our site traffic to
over 7 million monthly unique visitors, expanded our distribution outlets, added new content channels and continually strive to provide a better, more comprehensive consumer experience.
Today, Bankrate, Inc. is the Web's leading aggregator of financial rate information, offering an unparalleled depth and breadth of rate data and financial content. Bankrate continually surveys approximately 4,800 financial institutions in all 50 states in order to provide clear, objective, and unbiased rates to consumers. Our flagship Web site, Bankrate.com, provides free rate information to consumers on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees.
In addition to rate data, we publish original and objective personal finance stories to help consumers make informed financial decisions. Our staff of award winning reporters and editors provides expert advice on just about every major financial decision facing our readers: from purchasing their first home, to selecting a new car, to saving for retirement.
Hundreds of print publications depend on Bankrate as the trusted source for financial rates and information, including 8 of the top 10 newspapers in the country. And we're in broadcast: "The Bankrate.com Personal Finance Minute" plays over 200 times per day on XM Satellite Radio and you will see our data frequently referenced on "CNN Headline News," "ABC News" and many other major broadcast news outlets.
The Bankrate Online Network
Through our Online Network, which includes Bankrate.com, Interest.com, Nationwidecardservices.com, creditcardsearchengine.com, Insureme.com, Savingforcollege.com, Mortgage-calc.com, Feedisclosure.com, and Bankrate.com.cn
(China), as well as co-branded web sites hosted by our network of 80+ online distribution partners, we provide the tools and information via a suite of products and services that can help consumers make better informed financial decisions.
INSUREME
InsureMe (www.insureme.com) is a lead generation company which operates a Web site and, with a network of hundreds of affiliates, offers consumers competitive insurance rates for auto, home, life, health and long term care. The company is a marketing resource for thousands of insurance agents and providers across the nation. The acquisition allows Bankrate to provide individualized quotes to consumers on a broad array of insurance products.
FEE DISCLOSURE
Fee Disclosure (www.feedisclosure.com) empowers consumers with comprehensive information on mortgage transaction and closing fees. The company provides information and rates for a variety of products including title, inspection escrow, hazard and appraisal fees at the local level. Fee Disclosure answers the desire of legislative and policy makers, consumer advocates and the general public for more transparency into fees associated with real estate and mortgage transactions.
NATIONWIDE CARD SERVICES
Nationwide Card Services (www.nationwidecardservices.com) markets a comprehensive line of consumer and business credit cards via the Internet, including low interest, reward, cash-back, and student credit cards through a network of over 500 active affiliates. The NCS platform provides Bankrate with a better credit card offering, allows the company to better monetize its credit card channel traffic and enhances the company's advertising relationships.
SAVINGFORCOLLEGE.COM
Savingforcollege.com (www.savingforcollege.com) is the premier Internet destination for objective information about 529 savings plans. Founded by 529 industry specialist, Joe Hurley, the site is designed to help consumers and financial professionals learn more about options for college financing. Savingforcollege.com's rich content enhances Bankrate's college finance offering to financial advisors and consumers and satisfies advertiser demand with increased page views from a highly qualified audience.
MORTGAGE CALC
Mortgage-calc (www.mortgage-calc.com) provides quick and easy access to mortgage and financing calculators to help consumers with their home buying and home financing needs. Mortgage-calc's organic Web traffic extends the reach of Bankrate's network.
MMIS/INTEREST.COM
When acquired, MMIS published mortgage guides in over 300 newspapers and operated Interest.com (www.interest.com), a Web site which publishes financial rates and information connecting consumers with lenders. Bankrate Print sells advertising and publishes consumer mortgage and deposit tables in many of the top newspapers in the country, including: The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, The Orlando Sentinel, The Indianapolis Star and The Dallas Morning News. The integration increases Bankrate's footprint to nearly 500 newspapers across the country with an aggregate weekly circulation of over 40 million copies and extends Bankrate's comprehensive rate offering to the Interest.com user.
FASTFIND/BANKRATE SELECT
FastFind (www.fastfind.com), an Internet lead aggregator based in San Francisco, California, is in the business of generating and selling consumer leads to lenders for mortgages, home-equity loans, auto financing and online education. The acquisition of FastFind allowed Bankrate to optimize and leverage its traffic within the lead aggregation business. FastFind was renamed Bankrate Select in 2007.
CREDITCARDGUIDE.COM
CreditCardGuide.com offers the consumers the ability to shop, compare and apply for credit cards online. Bankrate acquired CCG in September 2008 due to their success in developing organic traffic and high rankings in a number of important credit card search terms. CCG will add more direct, high-quality traffic to Bankrate's credit card business.
BANKAHOLIC
Bankaholic provides rate information on savings products, such as certificates of deposit, savings accounts, and money market accounts, as well as insurance quotes and a comparison of the best credit card offers, which were powered by Bankrate prior to the acquisition in September 2008. In addition, Bankaholic offers consumers advice and information that allows consumers to comment and rate banks and their promotions through social networking features. Bankaholic's high ranking in natural search for both deposit and credit card keywords made them an ideal acquisition to help grow Bankrate's business.
Bankrate International
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