New Year Resolution: Make the Most of Your Money in 2013

Ally Bank offers four financial resolutions to make in the coming year

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Dec 19, 2012, 12:00 ET

MIDVALE, Utah, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the New Year approaches, many consumers will resolve to make money management a priority in 2013. Ally Bank—a direct bank offering a full suite of products and features designed around the customer—provides the following solutions to ensure consumers are maximizing the potential for their everyday banking needs.

"Our goal is to offer consumers smart and convenient ways to manage their money," said Di Morais, deposits and innovation executive, Ally Bank. "Since New Year resolutions often include a financial check-up, it's important to understand what banking products are available and make the most sense for each individual."

Build a Better Budget
Before determining how and where to store money, it's important to understand exactly how much household income was earned in 2012 versus how much was spent. Tracking this information allows consumers to pinpoint unnecessary expenditures that can be cut, and may lead to greater savings in the coming months.

Perform a Checking Check Up
Many consumers use a standard checking account without realizing that convenient options exist—and some even offer daily compounded interest on checking balances. Ally Bank's Interest Checking Account requires no minimum deposit, no monthly maintenance fees and offers a competitive interest rate as well as Ally Perks^®debit rewards program, with no sign-up or points to track or redeem.

Customers can easily deposit checks using Ally Mobile Banking on either an Android^™ or iPhone^®, an at-home scanner, or by using Ally's postage-free envelopes.

Store Short-Term Savings Safely
In addition to Ally Bank's Online Savings Account, a variety of certificate of deposit (CD) options exist, which offer optimal flexibility along with the benefit of competitive interest rates. For instance, Ally Bank's 11-month No Penalty CD allows money and earned interest to be withdrawn anytime following the first six days after account funding, while the Raise Your Rate Two- and Four-Year CDs allows customers to raise their rate once or twice (respectively) during the CD term if rates should increase.

Re-evaluate Retirement Planning
Setting aside enough money for retirement is the primary concern among the majority of consumers, according to a recent Ally Bank survey. As a direct response to customer requests, Ally Bank developed its Traditional, Roth and SEP IRA Plans, including an IRA Online Savings Account, Raise Your Rate CD and High Yield CD. Designed to provide secure growth for retirement savings, these accounts all feature no minimum deposit, no monthly maintenance fees and daily compounded interest.

For more information, please visit www.Ally.com or download Ally Bank's product or feature fact sheets.

About Ally Bank
Ally Bank is a direct bank in the U.S. that offers a straightforward approach to banking with no minimum deposit required to open an account, no monthly maintenance fees and 24/7 live customer service. A subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc., the Bank offers online savings, interest checking, money market accounts, certificates of deposit with terms ranging from three months to five years, and IRA Plans and products. Member FDIC.

For more information, visit the Ally media site at http://media.ally.com or follow us on Twitter @ally.

Contact:

Jessica Howell
313-656-6993
[email protected]

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SOURCE Ally Financial