With unemployment surging due to the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans are struggling to pay their mortgage. Jay Farner, CEO of Quicken Loans, told Cheddar Friday that the company is focused on educating customers about their available options.
"There's been a lot of news out in the media, you're hearing from the federal government, you're hearing from governors, you're hearing from mayors, and so, trying to educate our clients on the options that they have as they think about their mortgage payments has been important to us," Farner said.
Interest rates recently hit at all-time lows, driving a record number of homeowners to refinance their mortgages. Farner noted the company recently had its best month in company history -- even with nearly its entire workforce working from home.
"When you look at the uncertainty in the marketplace that is usually helpful to interest rates and bringing them down. So, what we're telling people is now is the time to take advantage," he said.
In addition to client outreach, Farner noted Quicken Loans' efforts to support communities by donating money to charitable organizations and purchasing face masks and gloves for healthcare workers on the frontlines.
"That's probably the number one thing you can do. Making sure you're taking care of your team members and community that you serve. If you can do that then you've got all the right capabilities to take care of your clients," Farner said.
Amazon was sued Wednesday by Federal Trade Commission for what it called a years-long effort to enroll consumers without consent into its Prime program and making it difficult for them to cancel their subscriptions.
A 29-year-old Cincinnati woman was awakened by her Apple Watch, which alerted her about an elevated heart rate, prompting her to head to a doctor who notified her of a blood clot.
Anheuser-Busch's top marketing executive Marcel Marcondes addressed the ongoing boycott of Bud Light after protests over the company's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
UPS recently announced it would equip delivery trucks with air conditioning. Dr. Douglas Casa, CEO of Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, spoke with Cheddar News on the dangers of heat stroke and how workers can keep themselves safe from extreme weather.
The push for clean energy is igniting an interest in electric vehicles but charging EVs continues to be a concern for consumers looking to save. Brian Moody, executive editor with Autotrader, joined Cheddar News to discuss how people can make home-charging more affordable.