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Karen Bennett

Senior banking and home lending reporter
  • 30
    Years of experience
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Consumer banking
  • Savings accounts
  • CD rates
  • Money market accounts
  • Personal finance
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • Master of Arts in Journalism, Columbia College Chicago
  • Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Illinois
  • Minor in Political Science, University of Illinois

Karen Bennett is a senior consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Her expertise lies in finding the best savings accounts, checking accounts and CDs, as well as all things personal finance. She also writes about home lending, including mortgages, refinancing and home equity. She’s been a reporter at Bankrate since 2021, and she holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in English.

Karen’s writing experience spans topics including bank accounts, saving money, budgeting, and credit cards, and homeownership. She also spent time as a writer of product reviews and a reporter for local newspapers in Chicago, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. In addition, she worked for over a decade as a writer and product manager for CoolSavings, a website devoted to saving money on groceries, travel and other products.

Karen stays on top of the latest in banking and mortgages. Topics she writes about for Bankrate include how to choose the best high-yield savings account, ways to protect yourself from bank fraud and how to lower your mortgage payment.

On the personal finance front, Karen has covered topics such as progress for women in banking.

When she’s not working, Karen enjoys working on her novel, as well as reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family.

Karen beyond Bankrate

Karen talks with NBC Bay Area on claiming unclaimed property

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Karen on how to cash a check without a bank account

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Karen on protecting your bank account from unauthorized charges

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Ways to save at the grocery store

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The pillars of smart money management include having an emergency fund in a high-yield savings account, paying down debt, following a budget and living within your means.

— Karen Bennett

Karen's latest articles