Editorial Standards & Methodology

How we report figures

When an article states a rate, a fee, a threshold or a dollar amount, we aim to trace it back to a primary source: a regulator's published data, an official statute or rule, or a rate that is representative of the current market rather than a single promotional offer. Worked examples (for instance, "a $5,000 balance at 22% APR") are labeled as illustrative and are built to show how a calculation works, not to quote a live product. Where a range exists across lenders or providers, we say so instead of presenting one number as universal.

Sourcing

Our default sources for consumer-finance topics are U.S. government and regulatory bodies: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for lending and servicing rules, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax figures and thresholds, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for deposit insurance and bank data, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for consumer-protection and credit-reporting rules. For credit-specific claims, we reference guidance published by the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Where we cite a private research firm or a company's own disclosure, we name it in the text rather than presenting it as independent data.

Updates and corrections

Every article carries a "last updated" date alongside its original publish date. That date changes only when we've reviewed the piece against current rules or figures and made a substantive edit — not for minor copyediting. Rates, thresholds and program details are the parts most likely to move, so those are what we recheck first on any revisit.

If you believe something in one of our explainers is inaccurate or out of date, tell us. Include the article's URL and, if possible, a source for the correct figure, and send it to us via our contact page. We review correction requests and update the article and its "last updated" date when a change is warranted.

Independence and disclosures

The Ledger Gazette is not owned by, and does not accept editorial direction from, any bank, lender, broker or financial product company. We do not accept payment in exchange for favorable coverage of a specific product or company. Any sponsored or promotional content, should it appear, will be clearly labeled as such and kept separate from our editorial explainers.

Not financial advice

Nothing published on this site is individualized financial, investment, legal or tax advice, and none of our authors is acting as your advisor. Our explainers describe how financial products, rules and markets generally work, using figures that are illustrative unless a source is explicitly cited. Your own circumstances vary, and rates, terms and rules change over time — verify current details with the relevant institution or official source, and consult a licensed professional before making a financial decision.