At WalletHub, editorial integrity is paramount. We have rigorous standards to which all editorial staff must adhere, which are outlined below, and we believe users’ interests should come first. WalletHub’s best credit card picks are a great example of that. WalletHub shows users the best credit cards, period. Other sites will show you the best credit cards from their partners.
Editorial Mission
WalletHub’s personal finance experts are focused on producing accurate, unbiased assessments of financial products, services and strategies, with the end goal of providing WalletHub users with the best possible advice so they can maximize their savings and improve their financial health.
To that end, WalletHub has very high standards for its editorial staff, who must follow strict rules designed to ensure objectivity and transparency.
Editorial Independence
- Advertising Status Has No Editorial Content Impact: WalletHub’s editorial evaluations of products and services are not influenced by WalletHub’s partners and advertisers. Evaluations are based solely on the merits of the products and services from a consumer’s perspective.
- Independent Editorial Team: Evaluations are conducted independently by the editorial staff and not marketing/sales staff. Editorial staff do not receive direct compensation of any kind from advertising partners, and performance evaluations are not tied to advertiser satisfaction or compensation.
- Business Compartmentalization: Internal reports that editorial team members use to perform evaluations of products and services do not include information about advertising status. Of course, this information is available on WalletHub for the sake of transparency to customers, but editorial staff are prohibited from using it in their evaluation of products or services.
- Editorial Recusal: Any editorial staff member who has, in the past one year, been employed by a third-party must recuse himself or herself from any evaluation of products or services in which that third-party is eligible to be evaluated.
- No Quotas: No quotas are used to ensure certain third-party product or service providers (be they paid advertisers or not) receive editorial accolades or highlights. This would undermine the legitimacy and integrity of the evaluation, and advertising status is not considered when making editorial evaluations anyway.
- Broader Range of Options: Editorial staff are encouraged to find the best products and services for users, wherever they may come from. By considering more options when possible, WalletHub can find deals other sites might not come across or be willing to share.
- Checks & Balances: “Best Picks” or other comparative assessments or rankings made by a primary editor must be challenged and verified by a secondary editor to ensure accuracy and integrity of the assessment. Approval by the compliance team also is required before publication.
Editorial Process
WalletHub’s team of financial experts uses defined processes and procedures to ensure information is as thorough, up to date, and accurate as possible. Below, we highlight the core principles.
Primary Sources: WalletHub uses primary sources for factual information whenever possible. For example, we obtain product terms directly from the banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. We also conduct consumer surveys and use data from government sources, where appropriate. If a primary source is not available, the editorial team uses multiple reputable sources to corroborate information.
Expert Interviews: We reach out to government and industry experts with authority on a topic, when possible and appropriate.
Data-Driven Approach: WalletHub takes a highly analytical approach to its editorial work, relying on a proprietary database that consists of more than 1,500 credit cards, 1,200 banking products, and 600 loans, which is updated on a weekly basis.
Extensive Research: Hours of work go into each piece of content the WalletHub editorial team produces. We dive deep to make sure we have the most important information on a topic, and multiple people have oversight of each review, Q&A, guide, etc.
Fact-Checking: All content is fact-checked for accuracy and relevance.
Clear Methodology: WalletHub’s reviews and best picks are based on a defined methodology that aims to not only identify the best possible products and services for consumers, but also to do so in a consistent manner that minimizes subjectivity and human error. For example, check out our methodologies for credit card reviews, personal loan reviews, and insurance company reviews.
Transparency & Accountability: We strive never to make mistakes, but we’re only human. Thankfully, we have some really smart readers who clue us in to the occasional error. When we find a mistake, we correct it right away.
If you notice something inaccurate on WalletHub, let us know at [email protected].
How WalletHub Makes Money
WalletHub makes money from third-party advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers. If you apply for a credit card, for example, from one of our advertisers and you get approved, WalletHub gets compensated. Advertising also impacts how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub, we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products. Advertisers do not affect our editorial content. We will always maintain our editorial independence and integrity.
WalletHub experts are widely quoted. Contact our media team to schedule an interview.