U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class LaTunya Howard

Commonplace just a few years ago, zero percent credit card deals were the staple diet of the financial consumer. Almost every lender had a deal going and it was just a case of finding the one that offered the longest interest-free period. The boom in easy, cheap credit even gave rise to a new financial attitude, the credit card floozy, with people switching their debts between providers as soon as 0% periods ran out.

Now though, http://www.ThinkingMoney.org reports, the marketplace is very different, with card interest rates averaging 18.6%, lenders charging more fees and credit hard to come by. It is this backdrop that makes the new MBNA Ireland low APR credit card offering even more of a noteworthy event and indeed, a rare occurrence. It’s been a while now since most lenders ditched 0% deals as credit dried up and consumers had fewer choices.

As well as fewer options for borrowers, credit providers also faced a restraint on the amount they could borrow, meaning less was available and demand out-stripped supply. Add to this the reduction in profits from lending and the removal of revenue streams such as payment protection insurance, and credit has become a truly endangered species.

The new card from http://www.mbna.ie takes us back to the glory days of cheap credit, only now it’s also responsible credit as well. The Bank of America subsidiary has over 7 million customers across Europe and has been praised for its ‘smarter lending’ policies. This was no greater illustrated than with the removal of unsolicited credit card cheques before any other lender and even before they were banned by financial authorities.

So then, those seeking credit in the Republic of Ireland now have a chance to obtain the funds they need without obscene amounts of money being charged in interest. Those who will really benefit from the new MBNA Ireland product are those borrowers who have been stuck with an uncompetitive interest rate and outstanding debt. Many were caught with large outstanding balances as the good times ended and the downturn hit. 0% deals dried up and they were left with an average yearly increase in interest rate of 6%. For these individuals, the arrival of the 0% card will be a financial relief.

The latest card from the MBNA Ireland stable is without doubt a unique proposition in a marketplace where credit is a prized item. The question is: will it be the first of a new wave of zero percent deals and if so, who will be next? That situation is doubtful and as long as MBNA Ireland offer the 0% card, every other provider may just see cardholder numbers dropping as ‘flooziness’ sees a resurgence.

Alex Johnson, Wiki Commons

Beyonce scored the number one position this week on Billboard’s Dance Club Play Chart with her infectious hit “Video Phone.”

Her indelible presence on the Dance Club Play Chart continues after recent #1′s including “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” “Halo,” “Diva,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Why Don’t You Love Me.”  ”Video Phone” marks her eighth #1 Dance Song and her tenth Top 10 dance hit since 2008. “Video Phone” also becomes her fourteenth (14) #1 Dance Club Song. She continues her reign as Billboard’s 2009 #1 Dance Club Artist.

“Video Phone” was co-written by Beyonce and features Lady Gaga. It marked their first video collaboration after meeting appropriately enough at Billboard’s Women In Music luncheon in October 2009, where Beyonce was named Woman Of The Year.  They have since collaborated on “Telephone,” which also claimed the #1 dance position.

International superstar Beyonce has dominated the music charts this decade spending the most weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, more than any female artist. She has had more Top 40, Top 20, Top 10 and Top 5 hit records over the past 10 years and more cumulative time spent at #1.

Beyonce started the year making history for the most Grammy® wins by a female artist in a single year.  She took home six awards including “Song of the Year,” for “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).”

chexhelp.com

A proposal gaining ground on Capitol Hill to force banks to spin off their derivatives-trading operations would represent a severe blow to one of Wall Street’s most profitable businesses and would allow people listed with ChexSystems approval for checking accounts with many banks.

Banks took in about $20 billion in revenues in 2009 on trading of derivatives, according to industry estimates of the size of the market for financial contracts tied to other assets, such as oil or mortgages.

U.S. banks and credit unions report incidents to ChexSystems to protect themselves and other banks in the future. Each incident stays on your record with ChexSystems for five years from the date the incident was reported.

With the banking industry suffering these and other recent record losses, more and more banks are allowing people to open new checking accounts even when individuals have had previous accounts closed for “cause”. If a checking account applicant can show that a previous debt to a financial institution has been cleared, an account may be granted.

bloomingtwigbooks.com

Independent publishers Oratia Media Ltd of Auckland, New Zealand and Blooming Twig Books of New York, USA, today signed a cooperation agreement that will greatly expand their respective reach and publishing capacity.

With immediate effect, Oratia Media will represent titles from Blooming Twig Books in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. Blooming Twig Books will represent titles from Oratia’s Libro International and Rock Your Life lists in the USA and Canada.

Both companies are to promote each other’s titles and will manage printing and distribution through print-on-demand and offset printing arrangements.

Oratia Media managing director Peter Dowling and Blooming Twig Books operating manager Kent Gustavson welcomed the announcement.

“Blooming Twig Books is an innovative young publisher that has many synergies with our publishing, with us both committed to children’s books, self-help and general non-fiction,” Dowling said. “Having guaranteed North American distribution is a major plus for our authors, and we look forward to working with Kent to maximize sales in bookstores as well as through Amazon and other online retailers, and to taking Blooming Twig Books’ titles to market Down Under.”

Gustavson anticipates great interest for the Oratia Media titles in the American market: “I am excited to have the chance to work with the diverse front and backlist that Oratia Media has to offer, and we are looking forward to reaching a new market in New Zealand and Australia.”

First releases in the Australasian market for Blooming Twig Books will be Dr. John Molidor’s brilliant take on inter-generational mix-ups, “Psycho Generations: How Each Generation Drives the Other Crazy and What You Can Do About It”; and Jennifer Powers’ “Oh Shift!”, a hilarious guide to handling change in a rapidly changing world.

Blooming Twig Books will start with Libro International’s television tie-in “Outrageous Fortune: The West Family Guide” and Tim Tipene’s classic junior novel “Kura Toa”, to be followed by the first two titles from the Rock Your Life series, Damian Milo’s “Recession-Proof Your Life” and Mike Handcock’s “What If You Were God?”

baass.com

BAASS Business Solutions Inc. (BAASS), a distinguished Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Sage ERP partner within central and southern Ontario, today announced that it has acquired Mississauga based ProfitPoint Inc. The acquisition enhances BAASS’ Microsoft Dynamics business unit with the addition of consulting, development, and project management resources.

“ProfitPoint Inc. provides our organization with a depth of experience spanning seven years within the Greater Toronto Area. Their vertical expertise within the manufacturing, distribution, job shop, and apparel industries aligns seamlessly to BAASS strategic focus,” said Joseph Arnone, President of BAASS Business Solutions Inc. “We will have expanded reach for all of our offerings including integrated IT services, custom software development, accounting, and technical support.”

ProfitPoint Inc. helps companies leverage the Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP solution, targeting small and medium-sized businesses. ProfitPoint has delivered solutions to organizations including manufacturing, distribution, financial management, construction and trades, and fashion and apparel.

“Organizations today are looking for more than business systems. This merger increases our service delivery bandwidth and solution offering, resulting in better value to our current and target clients”, said Len Vanspall, ProfitPoint Inc., President.

“This acquisition reflects BAASS’ commitment to growing our Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM practice”, said Chuck Jerome, BAASS, Vice President & General Manager – MS Dynamics Business Unit. “Bringing together best-in-class products and services with a gifted team of resources strengthens our competitive advantage and allows us to add tremendous value to our customers.”

BAASS is a full-service technology consulting firm with over twenty years experience in providing quality products, services, and support to clients in a number of industries across Southern Ontario. Industry recognitions include being ranked in Accounting World’s Top 100 VARs, Accounting Technology Magazine’s Pacesetters Award, and two consecutive Business Partner of the Year recognitions from Sage Software Inc.

With a complete team of certified IT and e-Business consultants, BAASS offers a comprehensive line of services, from needs consultation and network setup, to software training and technical support in accounting, CRM, e-business, EDI, software customization and web solutions, specializing in Sage Accpac and Microsoft Dynamics products.