Bankrate, Inc. FAQs

To add a new user to the Bankrate Advertising Platform you must have admin rights.

Please follow the instructions below:

Login to BAP

Hover over the down arrow next to your name in the upper right-hand corner of the page for the drop-down menu to appear and click on User Permissions

Click Create User and

Enter First Name, Last Name, Phone Number and Email address (This is what the new user will use to login to BAP).

Select permissions for the new user

Manages Users

Manages Billing

Manages Campaigns

Receives Emails

Manage Rates

View Reports

Click Create Users

Emails sent to the new users with a link to create a password.

We are digitalizing your Direct Bill experience. Now, you have the ability to add funds through the Billing Page in the Bankrate Advertising Platform (BAP). To add funds, please follow the steps below:

Login into BAP

Hover over the down arrow next to your name in the upper right-hand corner of the page for the drop-down menu to appear.

Find Billing and click on it

On the Billing page, click on the tab: Credit Line

Approved Credit line and Available Credit line is located on the left-hand side

To fund your account, select your Product Category from the drop-down menu

Pick Today or the 1st of Next Month

Enter the amount to fund with

Enter a PO Number (Optional)

Review your entries, make any corrections or click continue

Review Terms and Conditions click the Accept box

Click Save to receive confirmation.

If there is a specific person in your organization who should sign off on adding funds, please add them as a user and give them the "Billing Permission". Click here for instructions on adding a new user to BAP

Should you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Budgeting options include Daily, Weekly or Open at the Ad Set level.Budgets run from 8AM EST current day and resets at 8AM EST the following day.

Daily:designated daily amount

Weekly:allocate same or unique budget per day of the week; Allotting $0 to a day(s) will pause your campaign/ad set for that day

Open:uncapped spending until funds are depleted for a given campaign/ad set

To create a campaign, follow the instructions below:

Navigate to the campaign manager

Click Create a Campaign

Designate: Name and Ad product.

Save and Create Ad Set

Low Funding Notifications will be triggered at two points:

When you are within 20\% of your budget.

When you’ve reached your budget.

To create a Cost Per Call Campaign, follow the instructions below:

Navigate to the Bankrate Advertising Platform Campaign Manager page

Select Create a Campaign

Enter name

Save and create Ad Set

Ad set name:

Ad set type: Cost per Call

Product type: select both Purchase and Refinance

Select all applicable states

Select phone number

Loan size: Select both jumbo and conforming

Select budget

Schedule times for phone number to be live on listing

Start Date: enter the current date

Activate Campaign and Ad set

Once the Campaign and Ad Set are activated, the Cost Per Call schedule will dictate if the phone number is live on the rate table.

New Bankrate Campaign Manager User Guide

How do I get to the new Bankrate Campaign Manager?

Login to the Advertiser Portal and go to https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns

What is the next phase of the Advertiser Portal redesign?

We will continue enhancing the Campaign Manager, so check back for updates. We are also working on more robust reporting and we welcome your feedback as you explore the new tools. Please email [email protected].

Can I put the same state in multiple Ad Sets within a single Campaign?

Our overlap rules prevent more than one active Ad Set with the same state and product types (purchase, refinance, jumbo, conforming).

Can I day-part?

We are planning to build this functionality into the Campaign Manager in the future.

How can I track my leads and spend?

You can view your leads and spend for your account by going to Reporting. ( https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns/mortgage/reporting )

How can I take advantage of the new targeting functionality?

Separate Campaignsallow you to track and budget uniquely.

Ad Sets can be used to target certain states or groups of states for unique tracking and budgeting. You can also use Ad Sets to target product types (purchase, refinance,conforming, jumbo) uniquely.

What reporting is available?

To download detailed lead and spend reports for your account go to Reporting ( https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns/mortgage/reporting )

Who can I contact if I have questions?

The Support Team can be reached through the following channels:

email: [email protected]

phone: 855-733-0700

chat feature: available by clicking on the Green Chat button at the bottom right on your screen

Will the new Bankrate Campaign Manager work on any browser?

For best results, use Google Chrome.

Is the new Bankrate Campaign Manager mobile-friendly?

All of the functionality is available on your mobile device. However, we recommend using your desktop to manage your Account.

Rate ads display the following:

Logo

APR

Intro APR

Draw amount

Fees

Lender Info

Next button directed to landing URL

Sponsored ads display the following:

Logo

Description (80 characters including spaces)

Next button directed to landing URL

The listing type is designated in the creative submission form. The creative submission form can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGCV0jJ0X6xEdsZvptqz1E8Ng2OwryGWtnDEOOwQZWipe9RA/viewform

Note: One ad (rate or sponsored) per account, per scenario is permitted.

https://www.bankrate.com/pdfs/QualityControlProgram.PDF

Many factors were considered in determining program costs per product/state. We are continually monitoring all of these variables, and will make adjustments to the charges as we detect changes in the industry. This means that the program costs could potentially increase or decrease.

Please note that our goal is to maintain pricing that is fair, equitable to all advertisers, and competitive in the marketplace.

There are four reasons why this might have happened:

You do not have adequate funds in your account. This will occur if you have either reached your designated spending limit, or if you have not replenished the funds available in your account. If your account funds have depleted, then your links will be inactivated.

Your rates have become "stale." Be sure to update your rates at least once every seven business days, otherwise your listings will be inactivated.

You have paused your campaign. You can log into your account and go to the Manage Campaigns section to see if you have paused certain products or states.

Your listing was found to be inviolation of Bankrate's Quality Control Policy and removed accordingly. If this is the case, Bankrate’s Quality Control department would have sent you a mystery shopping failure notice.

The Rate Table Product categories in Bankrate's CPC Program include: Certificates of Deposit, Money Market and Savings Accounts, Checking, Home Equity, and Auto Loans

The Rate Table Product Categories in Bankrate's CPL Program include Mortgage (Fixed, ARMs, Conforming, Jumbo, FHA, and VA Loans).

The rate tables are updated eight times per day, Monday through Friday. Updates are hourly between 10:00 am ET and 4:00 pm ET and the final update is at 5:30 pm ET.

Contact Client Support([email protected] or by clicking "Submit a Request").

Bankrate's CPC Programs cover all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

Bankrate's CPL Program for Mortgages covers all states plus the District of Columbia except Alaska and Hawaii.

The amount ofactivity you will receive is dependent on several factors:

Activity by state. Some states attract a larger volume of consumers than others, simply due to the size of the state or consumer interest. For example, Florida is much more active than Arkansas.

Your specific product offerings. Consumers will click on the loan or banking offers that meet their specific needs. There are many factors involved in which listings will attract clicks, such as brand recognition, rates, points & lock period (for mortgages), minimum deposit amount (for CDs), etc.

Your amount of traffic is largely dependent on the amount of advertisers listed and your position on the rate tables.

All rates are screened through automated system controls prior to posting. In addition, an extensive mystery shopping program is in place to ensure the posted rates are accurate.

Ad Placement Policy

Payment Plans

Click and Call Policy

Hyperlink Advertising Refund Policy

New Creative(s)

Please submit new creatives here :

Client Support will reach out when the creative has been added to your campaign manager.

Change or Implement Creative(s)

To change or implement creatives, please follow the instructions below:

Navigate to the Edit Ad Set page in BAP

Find the Creative Section and select the name of the creative to apply

New Creative will display

Review content

Click Save Ad Set

Once logged into the Advertiser Portal, click on Get Started under Campaign Management Summary then on the link titled Bankrate Advertising Platform (BAP). Once in BAP, you will have access to the Campaign Manager where you can adjust your budgets and Activate/Inactivate your listing on the rate table.

To go live on the rate tables, the following must be in place:

Updated rates that are not expired

An active account balance

Available budget balance

At least one Active ad set

Active campaign

To remove your listing from the tables, the below must be in place:

To remove your listing only for a certain ad set, Inactivate that ad set

To remove your listing across all ad sets, Inactivate your campaign

Current Promotion displays when the consumer clicks Offer Details on the rate listing and displays on the left side.

To update Current Promotion, please follow the instructions below:

1. Login to Advertiser Portal

2. Go to Update Rates Tab

3. Click on Update Company Information

4. Click on institution (Checking Only)

5. Click on Checking in box 2

6. Click on Go To Profile button

7. Please update the following fields

Company Statement

8. For all other fields, use your space bar to enter 5 spaces in each field to save updates successfully.

9. Click save button

Please email [email protected] when completed.

To keep your listing fresh on the tables, update your rate information whenever your rates change or you receive a stale rates notification email. You can extend your dates into the future. However, if a rate changes, you must update it in a timely manner. Feel free to pause the campaign to remove rate(s) from the table until rate(s) are updated and a Site Update has completed processing.

To update your rates, see instructions below:

1. Login to Advertiser Portal

2. Click Update Rates tab

3. Click Update Rates link

4. Step 1: Select Institution

5. Step 3: Click Deposits link

6. On Rates Entry Page, find the product(s) to update and input rate data in columns below

7. Check Effect to Date (located in top-middle of menu bar)

8. If date is correct, move to Steps 9 and 10. If extending date, enter new date and proceed to Steps 9 and 10.

9. Click Set Date button

10. Click Update button

11. Confirmation Message will appear in red and an email will be set to inbox

Guidelines

Required Fields

Intro Rate

Intro Months

Rate

Yield (APY)

Minimum to Open

Minimum to Avoid Fees

Monthly Service Charge

Can Checks be written from this account?

Enhancement Fields (Optional)

Advertiser Comments:Use call to action verbiage or highlight rate disclosures. Limited to 65 characters including spaces

Hyperlink Advertiser Comments: If enabled, text is clickable and directs consumer to landing page. If disabled, only plain text will appear.

To keep your listing fresh on the tables, update your rate information whenever your rates change or you receive a stale rates notification email. You can extend your dates into the future. However, if a rate changes, you must update it in a timely manner. Feel free to pause the campaign to remove rate(s) from the table until rate(s) are updated and a Site Update has completed processing.

To update your rates, see instructions below:

1. Login to Advertiser Portal

2. Click Update Rates tab

3. Click Update Rates link

4. Step 1: Select Institution

5. Step 3: Click Deposits link

6. On Rates Entry Page, find the product(s) to update and input rate data in columns below

7. Check Effect to Date (located in top-middle of menu bar)

8. If date is correct, move to Steps 9 and 10. If extending date, enter new date and proceed to Steps 9 and 10.

9. Click Set Date button

10. Click Update button

11. Confirmation Message will appear in red and an email will be set to inbox

Guidelines

Required Fields

Rate

Yield (APY)

Minimum to Open

Minimum to Avoid Fees

Monthly Service Fee

Non-Sufficient Funds Charge

Fee to use other ATM

ATM Surcharge

Enhancement Fields (Optional)

Advertiser Comments:Use call to action verbiage or highlight rate disclosures. Limited to 65 characters including spaces

Hyperlink Advertiser Comments: If enabled, text is clickable and directs consumer to landing page. If disabled, only plain text will appear.

To keep your listing fresh on the tables, update your rate information whenever your rates change or you receive a stale rates notification email. You can extend your dates into the future. However, if a rate changes, you must update it in a timely manner. Feel free to pause the campaign to remove rate(s) from the table until rate(s) are updated and a Site Update has completed processing.

To update your rates, see instructions below:

1. Login to Advertiser Portal

2. Click Update Rates tab

3. Click Update Rates link

4. Step 1: Select Institution

5. Step 3: Click Deposits link

6. On Rates Entry Page, find the product(s) to update and input rate data in columns below

7. Check Effect to Date (located in top-middle of menu bar)

8. If date is correct, move to Steps 9 and 10. If extending date, enter new date and proceed to Steps 9 and 10.

9. Click Set Date button

10. Click Update button

11. Confirmation Message will appear in red and an email will be set to inbox

Guidelines

Required Fields

Rate

Yield (APY)

Minimum to Open

Enhancement Fields (Optional)

Advertiser Comments:Use call to action verbiage or highlight rate disclosures. Limited to 65 characters including spaces

Hyperlink Advertiser Comments: If enabled, text is clickable and directs consumer to landing page. If disabled, only plain text will appear.

How do I get to the new Bankrate Campaign Manager?

Login to the Advertiser Portal and go to https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns

What is the next phase of the Advertiser Portal redesign?

We will continue enhancing the Campaign Manager, so check back for updates. We are also working on more robust reporting and we welcome your feedback as you explore the new tools. Please email [email protected].

Can I put the same state in multiple Ad Sets within a single Campaign?

Our overlap rules prevent more than one active Ad Set with the same state and product types (HELOC, HE Loan, Rate Ad, Sponsored Ad).

At this time, only one ad (rate or sponsored) can be created for each product (HELOC, HE Loan).

Can my Ad Set budget be higher than my Campaign budget?

Yes, your Ad Set budget may be higher, but your Ad Set spend across all Ad Sets will never exceed your Campaign budget. All Ad Sets within the Campaign will be removed from the tables when that Campaign budget is met.

Can I day-part?

We are planning to build this functionality into the Campaign Manager in the future.

How can I track my leads and spend?

You can view your leads and spend for your account by going to Reporting. ( https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns/home-equity/reporting )

How can I take advantage of the new targeting functionality?

Separate Campaignsallow you to track and budget uniquely.

Ad Sets can be used to target certain states or groups of states for unique tracking and budgeting. You can also use Ad Sets to target product types/ad types (HELOC, HE Loan, Rate ad, Sponsored Ad) uniquely.

What reporting is available?

To download detailed lead and spend reports for your account go to Reporting ( https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns/home-equity/reporting )

Who can I contact if I have questions?

The Support Team can be reached through the following channels:

email: [email protected]

phone: 855-733-0700

chat feature: available by clicking on the Green Chat button at the bottom right on your screen

Will the new Bankrate Campaign Manager work on any browser?

For best results, use Google Chrome.

Is the new Bankrate Campaign Manager mobile-friendly?

All of the functionality is available on your mobile device. However, we recommend using your desktop to manage your Account.

Bankrate CPL program is available in all states except Hawaii and Alaska.

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

To create an Ad Set, please follow the instructions below:

Click the name of the Campaign

Click Create an Ad Set

Designate: Name, Product Type, State(s), Creative, Budget

Save Ad Set

Each advertising state must be attached to an Ad Set within the campaign manager to be live.

Adding a new ad set

Click Create an Ad Set

Create ad set name

Select product type

Select state(s)

Apply a Creative

Select a budget and start/end dates

Save Ad Set

Adding state(s) to existing Ad Set

Click name of existing ad set

Select additional state(s) from Select States box

Save Ad Set

Cost Per Call charges are as follows:

Peak Hours:

8:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET Monday Friday

$100-$125 per call

Off-Peak/Weekend/Holidays:

Off-Peak: 8:01 PM ET Monday - 7:59 AM ET Friday

Weekend: 8:01 PM ET Friday - 7:59 AM ET Monday

Holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

$50-$75 per call

*Calls lasting fewer than 60 seconds will not be charged.

Credit Card

Clients funding with debit/credit card will store card(s) information and choose to fund continually or pay as you go and charge a designated amount (minimum is $3,000). Billing is negotiated through card provider.

Pay as you go: manually add funds as needed

Continuous Bill: creates a recurring charge when account balance reaches $0.00

Direct Bill

Direct Bill clients must have an approved credit application on file and funds are applied through signed Insertion Orders (IO). To request an IO, please email [email protected] with the following information: amount(s), product(s) and run through dates.

Calls, clicks and lead charges will be deducted from Bankrate account balance.

Please contact your Client Strategy Manager regarding required minimums for advertising. If you do not know your Client Strategy Manager, please contact Client Support Team at 855-733-0700 or [email protected]

If funding by credit card, billing is done through your card provider.

If funding by IO (Insertion Order), you are a Direct Bill client and will be invoiced for spend on a monthly basis.

Can be found using the link below. This report will provide both lead and call costs. https://advertiser.bankrate.com/campaigns/mortgage/reporting

Mortgage license numbers (NMLS/State Licenses) appear on the listing itself and the lead form.

To update these licensing numbers, please follow the instructions below:

1. Login To Advertiser Portal

2. Go to Update Rates Tab

3. Click on Update Rates link

4. Find Step 1: Select Institution

5. Find Step 2: click on licensing numbers link

6. Click on state name, use NMLS/State License fields to enter licensing numbers and click save

7. Repeat steps 4-6 for each institution listed in Step 1

Mortgage Icons display as bullet points when the consumer clicks the Offer Details link.

To select/update mortgage icons, please follow the instructions below:

1. Login to Advertiser Portal

2. Go to Update Rates Tab

3. Click on Update Rates link

4. Find Step 1: Select Institution

5. Find Step 2: click on icon selection link

6. Check the box to the left of the icon you wish to select. Limit is 5.

7. Click save button

8. Repeat steps 4-7 for each institution listed in Step 1

Icons may take up to 3 business to post to the site.

Lender Info displays when the consumer clicks Offer Details on listing and clicks Lender Info link.

To update Lender Info, please follow the instructions below:

1. Login to Advertiser Portal

2. Go to Update Rates Tab

3. Click on Update Company Information

4. Click on institution

5. Click on Mortgage Loans in box 2

6. Click on Go To Profile button

7. Please update the following fields

Company Statement

Specialties

Email

Hours of Operation

8. For all other fields, use your space bar to enter 5 spaces in each field to save updates successfully.

9. Click save button

8. Repeat steps 4-9 for each institution listed in box 1

Please email [email protected] when completed.

The Cost Per Call feature creates an additional point of contact on your listing by presenting the consumer with a toll free number to contact you directly.

Benefits

Allows for instant rate updates to the tables. Unlike other rate entry methods which require a site update to take effect, this allows you to make midday pricing adjustments and capture rate sheet changes in a timely manner.

Does not require tiers. OB and manual entry restrict to a maximum of 3 tiers per product while Mortech restricts to a maximum of 7 tiers per product.

Rate quotes are based on consumer's specific scenario.Flat file and manual rates entry price on the tables with the same rate for the entirety of the tier’s loan amount range.

Greater range of available LTV options. Manual entry and flat file options are restricted.

Single point of contact.Our Client Support team is able to assist with both Bankrate and LoanTek troubleshooting via phone, chat or email.

Prerequisites

Investors

To be eligible for real time pricing, your account must have a total of 14 investors or fewer. A list of your investors can be found under the Pricing tab in the Lender Manager. Please send a request to [email protected] to remove excess investors.

Rules

Please create a rule for each of the below parameters to ensure accurate pricing. Rules should be formatted to Disallow parameters that you DO NOT wish to quote on Bankrate.

Minimum Loan amount ($165k or lower)

Maximum Loan amount

Minimum FICO

LTV Range

Product Families

Property Types

Property Uses

Investor-specific restrictions

Bankrate Preferences

Must determine what products and tiers should be quoted via flat file to aspects of the Bankrate ecosystem that do not currently utilize RTP. There is a maximum of seven tiers combined for conventional and high balance products, and seven tiers for jumbo products.

Testing

Existing LoanTek Clients

Request your testing link from Support@Bankr ate.com

Once received, use the steps to complete testing. Please note that your campaign/ad sets must be live to test.

Use LoanPricer to run scenario you wish to quote on Bankrate

Run the identical scenario through the test link. The test environment will show your listing with a blue box around it.

The two prices should match (rate, APR, fees). If you experience discrepancies, please take a screenshot of LoanPricer AND the test environment and send to Support@Bankratecom.

New Loantek Clients

Please use the LoanPricer to test all scenarios you plan to advertise on Bankrate. If you experience discrepancies, please take a screenshot of LoanPricer and send to [email protected].

Once all scenarios have been tested for accuracy, please send request to [email protected] to convert your account to RTP.

Integration

Download XML file

Request FTP Credentials from [email protected]

Send to Mortech representative

Default Scenarios

Advertisers must quote the default scenario for all desired products. Any additional scenario variations outside of the default are optional.

See below for all product scenarios; default scenario marked by shaded box:

Point Options

All 0 point products must have total points (discount + origination) of 0.

1 Point: must have total points between .01 and 1 point.

2 Points: must have total points between 1.01 and 2 points.

No product should have total points greater than 2.

Tiers

All pricing will be based off loan amount tiers/buckets. Mortech offers 7 tiers/buckets.

Default Scenarios

Advertisers must quote the default scenario for all desired products. Any additional scenario variations outside of the default are optional.

See below for all product scenarios; default scenario marked by shaded box:

Points Options

All 0 point products must have total points (discount + origination) of 0.

1 Point: must have total points between .01 and 1 point.

2 Points: must have total points between 1.01 and 2 points.

No product should have total points greater than 2.

Tiers

Bankrate prices based on tiers/buckets. Advertisers select their tiers/buckets and amount within that tier/bucket to price off.

Advertiser chooses up to 3 tiers

Product points must be consistent for all tiers

Fees and Pricing

All products must have the same fees

OB creates separate institutions/entities for each state. If pricing is the same for multiple states/entities, OB should send only 1 state's file. Bankrate will publish the single file in all applicable states.

Rate Exception Best Practices

10\% rate will appear in rate file if a product/scenario is selected by OB to include but no rate is available on investor’s rate sheets. If 10\% rate is produces, OB should place a stop for product/scenario and notify Bankrate client support to remove product on back-end.

To download the XML File, please use the instructions below:

Log into Bankrate Advertiser Portal

Click Update Rates tab

Click Update Rates link

Find Step 1: Select an institution

Click ADES (bottom left corner)

Select the .XML Template

Open and Save

Send to your Pricing Engine representative

Each morning at 8:00AM ET, your target daily spend will automatically reset to the previously saved amount.

For account changes, please email [email protected]

If funding by credit card, billing is done through your card provider.

If funding by IO (Insertion Order), you are a Direct Bill client and will be invoiced for spend on a monthly basis.

To add a market group, follow the instructions below:

Create name

Designate Set Type

US States

Metro Areas: Market areas within each state

Save

Market groups are the areas in which rate(s) are published. For example, state-specific rates require one market group per state. If rates are the same across all states, only one market group (encompassing all states) is required.

To bulk edit rates, please follow the instructions below:

Export format to Excel

Enter Market, Type, Draw Amount, Min Amount, Max Amount, Min Score, Max Score, Min CLTV, Max CLTV, Extirpation Date, Rate, Fee, Fees & Conditions, Internal Notes, Intro Rate, Term

Copy all data including headers

Paste in BAP Bulk Rate Management field

Preview

Save and Replace All Rates

To update rates manually, please follow the instructions below:

Click Create a Rate

Designate: Set type, Market Group, Expiration date

Enter Rate information

*Note: If Intro Rate is not applicable, enter Rate value in both Intro Rate and Rate fields.

Enter Minimum and Maximum Amounts, Fees and Draw Amount

Select all applicable FICO Ranges

Enter CLTV Range

State any applicable Terms and Conditions

*Note: Internal Notes will not publish to rate tables.

Save or Save and Create Another