Choose what you need help with

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Resources last reviewed: August 2026

Banking and credit unions

U.S. governmentFree resource

FDIC BankFind Suite

Check whether a bank is FDIC-insured before opening a deposit account.

Verify a bank
U.S. governmentFree resource

NCUA Credit Union Locator

Find federally insured credit unions and review institution information.

Find a credit union

Credit and debt

U.S. governmentFree resource

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Plain-language tools for bank accounts, debt, credit cards, mortgages, and other consumer financial decisions.

Visit consumer tools
Federally authorizedFree resource

AnnualCreditReport.com

The federally authorized source for free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Get your credit reports

Investing

U.S. governmentFree resource

Investor.gov

SEC education covering investing basics, fees, fraud prevention, and professional background checks.

Learn about investing

Consumer protection

U.S. governmentFree resource

USA.gov Money and Credit

Government information about benefits, taxes, credit, scams, and managing money.

Explore money topics

How we choose resources

We prioritize official public-service and regulatory sources that provide free access, clear instructions, and information relevant to everyday financial decisions.

  • The source has a clear public or consumer-education purpose.
  • The core information or tool is free to use.
  • The resource helps you verify facts or evaluate a financial decision.
  • Links and descriptions are reviewed for accuracy.

Take-Home Plan does not currently publish paid product recommendations. If that changes, paid relationships will be disclosed near the recommendation and will not change the calculator or five-bucket framework.