Guide
Retail Banks
Retail banks provide the deposit, payment, lending and other financial services households use every day, while managing the funding, liquidity and risks behind those services.
Read more →

MarketReview author profile
Editor-in-Chief
ActiveKen Stephens has spent decades following financial markets from both sides of the screen: as an individual investor and through work connected with the investment-banking industry. That breadth informs the way he approaches MarketReview’s coverage of investing, trading and the institutions that influence asset prices.
He is less interested in repeating the market’s conventional wisdom than in examining what supports it. When a familiar explanation is offered for a rally, a sell-off or a shift in policy, Ken looks for the assumptions underneath it, the evidence that confirms or weakens it and the risks that may be overlooked. His writing often connects the choices facing individual investors with the larger forces at work in financial institutions and markets.
As Editor-in-Chief, Ken sets editorial priorities and helps shape how MarketReview explains complex financial subjects. He also contributes directly to articles on investment strategy, market analysis and trading, with an emphasis on clear reasoning, honest uncertainty and conclusions that can withstand closer scrutiny.
Published work
News, analysis and evergreen financial guides credited to this author.
Retail banks provide the deposit, payment, lending and other financial services households use every day, while managing the funding, liquidity and risks behind those services.
Read more →Banking evolved from ancient systems of deposits and credit into regulated institutions that move payments, extend credit and support modern financial systems.
Read more →Retail, secured and prepaid cards serve different purposes, so understanding how each works can help you compare costs, credit effects and protections before choosing one.
Read more →Visa is the payment network behind many credit cards, while the issuing bank sets the account's rates, fees, rewards, credit limit, and borrowing terms.
Read more →Mastercard is the payment network behind many credit cards, but the bank that issues your card controls the credit line, pricing, rewards and most account decisions.
Read more →Discover combines card issuing with its own payment network, offering cash back, miles, student and secured options under Capital One ownership.
Read more →American Express combines card issuing, payment-network operations and merchant relationships in a way that differs from most major card brands, so choosing an Amex card requires looking beyond rewards alone.
Read more →Credit cards can differ widely in fees, APRs, rewards, introductory offers and long-term value. Use MarketReview’s rankings, detailed reviews, comparison tools and calculators to research your options and…
Read more →Commodities link the physical economy to financial markets, covering energy, metals, agricultural goods and other standardized raw materials. This page explains in practical terms how cash and futures…
Read more →