About Bankrate

Bankrate is a leading financial data provider and online publisher established in 1976. Originally a print publisher of the “Bank Rate Monitor,” it has evolved into a massive digital authority in the personal finance space.

Now owned by Red Ventures, Bankrate aggregates and compares financial rates for mortgages, credit cards, loans, savings accounts, and insurance. They are widely trusted by consumers and major media outlets (like the WSJ and NYT) for their objective research, editorial content, and comprehensive rate tables.

Bankrate Affiliate Program Overview

The Bankrate Affiliate Program operates primarily as a financial affiliate network (Bankrate Credit Card Network), connecting publishers with top-tier financial institutions.

Feature Details
Industry Personal Finance & Insurance
Product Type Credit Cards, Mortgages, Personal Loans, Auto Loans, Banking (CDs/Savings), Insurance
Affiliate Program Type CPA (Cost Per Action) & CPL (Cost Per Lead) Network

Bankrate Affiliate Program Offers

Bankrate provides robust tools for affiliates to integrate financial offers into their content.

Feature Details
Promotional Materials Banners, Text Links, Comparison Tables, Widgets, APIs, Co-branded sites
Affiliate Cookie Duration Varies by offer (Typically 30 to 45 days)
Accepted Traffic Source Blogs, SEO (Organic Search), Review Sites, Email Marketing (with restrictions), Fintech Apps
Accepted Countries Global (Affiliates can be from anywhere, but traffic must usually be US-based)
Explicit Content Prohibited (Strictly forbidden)
Religious or Political Content Prohibited (Financial institutions require brand-safe environments)

Bankrate Affiliate Commissions & Payments

Bankrate is known for high payouts because they work directly with major banks and lenders.

Feature Details
MLM No (Single-tier program)
Commission Rate Variable (e.g., $200+ per approved credit card, or percentage of loan value). Rates depend on the specific bank offer.
Commission Structure Cost Per Action (CPA) – Paid upon approved application or funded loan.
Payout Frequency Monthly (typically Net 30 or Net 45 terms)
Payout Methods Direct Deposit (ACH), Wire Transfer, Check
Minimum Payout None (or very low, e.g., $25, depending on the specific payment method selected)

Suitable Affiliates for Bankrate Affiliate

This program is highly competitive and compliance-heavy, making it best suited for professional content creators with high-intent traffic.

  • Bloggers: Specifically in Personal Finance, F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early), Investing, and Travel Hacking niches.
  • YouTubers: Creators reviewing credit cards, teaching budgeting, or explaining real estate/mortgages.
  • Influencers / KOL / KOC: Financial educators on Instagram/LinkedIn who share money-saving tips.
  • Review Sites: Websites dedicated to comparing financial products (e.g., “Best Travel Credit Cards of 2024”).
  • News & Media Publishers: High-volume news sites looking to monetize their business sections.

Bankrate Affiliate Software

Bankrate largely uses its own proprietary platform, the Bankrate Credit Card Network. This allows them to offer specific data feeds and white-label solutions that standard affiliate networks cannot. However, they may also list specific sub-offers on major public networks (like Impact or FlexOffers) occasionally.

3 Alternatives for Bankrate Affiliate Program

Here is a comparison with three major competitors: NerdWallet (Direct competitor), Credit Karma (High volume/lower barrier), and SuperMoney (Flexible aggregator).

Comparison Factor Bankrate NerdWallet Credit Karma SuperMoney
Average Bill / Payout High (Variable CPA, often $100+) High (Variable CPA, often $100+) Low ($2 – $12 per signup) High (Up to $750/loan)
Entry Fees Free Free Free Free
Withdrawal Threshold $0 – $25 Network Standard (~$50) Network Standard ($100) Net 30 Terms
Payment Frequency Monthly (Net 30/45) Monthly (Net 30/60) Monthly (Net 45) Monthly (Net 30)
Commission Variable CPA (Sale) Variable CPA (Sale) CPL (Lead/Signup) Variable CPA/CPL
Conversion Medium (Requires credit check/approval) Medium (Requires credit check/approval) High (Free signup, no credit check) Medium (Loan funding)
Marketing Materials Widgets, Tables, API Widgets, Banners Banners, Links Widgets, API