Company Profile

Bankrate, Inc. is a leading aggregator of financial rate information for American banks and lending institutions. The company owns and operates an Internet-based, consumer banking marketplace, licenses data, and editorial content to publishers and institutions, and operates a newsletter business. Bankrate’s rate data research offering is unique in its depth and breadth. Bankrate continually surveys approximately 4,800 financial institutions in all 50 states in order to provide clear, objective, and unbiased rates to consumers. The company's flagship Web site, Bankrate.com, provides free rate information to consumers on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. In addition to rate data, the company presents personal finance editorial content to help consumers make informed financial decisions.

Bankrate, Inc. generates revenue by selling advertising on the Bankrate.com Web site. Financial institutions and marketers purchase graphic ads on our site in the form of banner, badge, billboard, poster, and island advertisements. In addition, over 500 financial institutions listed on the rate tables, purchase hyperlinks. These links enable consumers to be connected directly to the financial institution’s Web site, application page, or customer service department, allowing the lender to directly reach “in-market” consumers on the Bankrate site. Bankrate has revenue-sharing agreements with over 75 online partners, including Yahoo!, America Online, MSN, The Wall Street Journal Online and The New York Times Online. Bankrate had nearly 53 million unique visitors in 2006.

Revenue is also generated from distributing rate information and content in newspapers and magazines across the United States. Approximately 100 newspapers, including eight of the nation's top 10, distribute Bankrate’s content. The company’s distribution partners include The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, and numerous other national and regional publications. Bankrate publishes newsletters and licenses research data under agreements that permit the use of the data in other media. Bankrate also generates revenue by providing rate surveys to institutions and government agencies. For over 25 years Bankrate, Inc. has gathered competitive rate information on banking products. The company’s experience, reputation in the banking industry and installed knowledgebase has enabled Bankrate to develop a one-of-a-kind service and product offering for consumers.

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