Rate comparison methodology
Short answer: TODAY.you identifies each rate’s source and timestamp, withholds feed values older than 48 hours, and compares matched products using APR or APY, fees and conditions.
Where the information comes from
Provider disclosures control specific offers; Freddie Mac, FDIC, Federal Reserve and CFPB material provide market or disclosure context.
Individual offers
A bank or lender disclosure is the main source for a specific offer. It should state the product, rate, fees and important conditions. A market average is not a personal quote.
Mortgage market context
Freddie Mac data can show a broad mortgage benchmark. A borrower’s credit, property, loan type, points and lock period can produce a different result.
Deposit market context
FDIC data can show national savings and CD rates. An account disclosure controls its APY, balance tier, fees, withdrawal rules and renewal terms.
Consumer credit context
Federal Reserve data can show broad borrowing trends. CFPB material helps explain disclosure rules. The lender’s final disclosure controls the actual loan terms.
How freshness works
Numeric feed values appear only when they include a valid timestamp and pass the 48-hour freshness check.
When numbers may appear
A live feed must include a valid date and time. It must also pass a 48-hour freshness check. The rate tables show the data status so a reader can judge the timing.
When numbers disappear
If the feed is missing, broken or stale, TODAY.you hides the numeric offers. We do not leave an old rate on the page just to make the table look full.
How we compare like with like
Normalization means holding the important facts steady. Without that step, a lower number may describe a different product.
Mortgage offers
Match loan type, amount, term, points and rate-lock assumptions. Then compare payment, APR, lender charges and cash to close.
Savings accounts and CDs
Match the expected balance and holding period. Compare APY, balance tiers, fees, access rules, penalties and insurance eligibility.
Consumer loans
Match the cash received and the term. Compare APR, required fees, monthly payment and total scheduled repayment. Use a matching calculator to test the dollar result.
Editorial order and payment
Commercial payment does not control an editorial table, comparison order or guide conclusion.
Editorial results come first
Payment does not change the order of an editorial table or the conclusion of a guide. The current build has no sponsored placements.
Future sponsored material
If sponsored content is introduced, it must be labeled and kept separate from editorial rankings. Sponsored links must use the proper link attributes. The commercial disclosure explains the boundary.
Quality checks before publishing
The editorial policy contains the full standard, and the About page identifies the publisher responsible for it. These are the main checks:
- The title, H1 and reader’s question must agree.
- Facts need a primary source or clear attribution.
- A page needs a useful example, framework, tool or comparison.
- Headings must follow a clear order.
- A page with no distinct value stays unpublished or noindexed.