Technology company Apple has unveiled its latest Foster + Partners-designed store in the recently revamped Battersea Power Station in London, which features updated fixtures and furniture.
Set to open later today, Apple Battersea is the brand’s 40th UK store and represents an evolution in its retail design thinking with more of an emphasis placed on accessibility and sustainability.
“We developed this material palette and this fixture set that is really trying to align with like Apple’s goals,” said Bill Bergeron Mirsky, a global retail design lead at Apple.
“This material palette is new for us, it’s an evolution of the Apple Store,” he told Dezeen.
The shop is arranged around four original brick piers and has steel roof supports exposed on the ceiling. On top of this base, Foster + Partners overlaid a revamped fixture set that Mirsky said “will become familiar over time”.
Apple Battersea is the second store – after the recently reopened Tysons Corner store in the USA, which replaced Apple’s first ever store – to feature the redesigned fixtures.
It features an updated fixture set
Around the edge of the store is an oak framework of shelving that was developed with Foster + Partners. The timber structure also defines a space dedicated to watches, a pick-up area and a redesigned Genius Bar.
The Genius Bar has a counter for stand-up service along with a lowered area where people can be served sitting down. Along with its standard Parsons tables, which are made from sustainably harvested European oak, the store also has several lowered tables.
The redesigned Genius Bar has a lower counter
“We’ve thought about mobility issues across the whole fixture set,” explained Mirsky. “We have our traditional Parsons table with our standard height, but you notice that the tables in the back are varied and our new genius bar as well.”
“We have a standing height because the team really prefers to stand and it lets them work with more people and then they can stand at the tables, but customers who want to sit or need to sit can actually use these slightly modified tables,” he continued.
As part of the focus on mobility, Apple also increased the amount of circulation around the edge of the store.
There is more space around the edge of the store
Along with the timber framework, Apple aimed to replace other more carbon-intensive elements in the store with biomaterials.
The floor, which was first used in the Brompton Road store, was made from aggregates bound together with a bio-polymer, while the acoustic baffles in the ceiling were made from biogenic material.
The acoustic baffles and bright floor form part of a focus on improving visual and acoustic clarity in the store, with a dark band placed around the base of the walls to provide visual differentiation with the flooring.
“Something I want to point out that is really part and parcel of the material palette, but also goes to our universal design, is the contrast in the store,” said Mirsky.
“We wanted to make sure we have this really enhanced kind of navigation,” he continued. “So the floor is brightened – it helps us with our low energy – but it also makes it so that you can clearly see the table and the walls are defined.”
The store has a dedicated pick-up corner
The fixture set, flooring and ceiling baffles were also used at the Tysons Corner store and Mirsky believes the base can create a feeling of familiarity for Apple’s customers.
“Each store is really dealt with as a unique circumstance Battersea has this incredible, incredible existing architectural fabric to work in,” he said.
“We use the same fixture set at Tysons Corner in a mall setting in America which doesn’t have this sort of grand grandiose architecture, but the same fixture set can generate an environment that’s very familiar and welcoming no matter where you are.”
Deepfakes use AI to replace the likeness of one person with another in video or audio.
There are concerns that deepfakes can be used to create fake news and misleading videos.
You can spot deepfakes by doing a reverse image search or investigating who posted it.
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Computers have been getting increasingly better at simulating reality. Media generated by artificial intelligence (AI) has been making serious headlines — especially videos designed to mimic someone, making it appear as though they’re saying or doing something they aren’t.
In all three cases, AI-generated video was made with the goal of convincing you that someone did something they never actually did. There’s a word for this kind of content: Deepfakes.
What is a deepfake?
Deepfakes use AI to generate completely new video or audio, with the end goal of portraying something that didn’t actually occur in reality.
The term “deepfake” comes from the underlying technology — deep learning algorithms — which teach themselves to solve problems with large sets of data and can be used to create fake content of real people.
“A deepfake would be footage that is generated by a computer that has been trained through countless existing images,” said Cristina López, a senior analyst at Graphika, a firm that researches the flow of information across digital networks.
How are deepfakes different from other kinds of manipulated media?
Deepfakes aren’t just any fake or misleading images. The AI-generated pope in a puffer jacket, or the fake scenes of Donald Trump being arrested that circulated shortly before his indictment, are AI-generated, but they’re not deepfakes. (Images like these, when combined with misleading information, are commonly referred to as “shallowfakes.”) What separates a deepfake is the element of human input.
When it comes to deepfakes, the user only gets to decide at the very end of the generation process if what was created is what they want or not; outside of tailoring training data and saying “yes” or “no” to what the computer generates after the fact, they don’t have any say in how the computer chooses to make it.
How are deepfakes created?
There are several methods for creating deepfakes, but the most common relies on the use of deep neural networks that employ a face-swapping technique. You first need a target video to use as the basis of the deepfake and then a collection of video clips of the person you want to insert in the target.
The videos can be completely unrelated; the target might be a clip from a Hollywood movie, for example, and the videos of the person you want to insert in the film might be random clips downloaded from YouTube.
The program guesses what a person looks like from multiple angles and conditions, then maps that person onto the other person in the target video by finding common features.
Another type of machine learning is added to the mix, known as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), which detects and improves any flaws in the deepfake within multiple rounds, making it harder for deepfake detectors to decode them.
Though the process is complex, the software is rather accessible. Several apps make generating deepfakes easy even for beginners — such as the Chinese app Zao, DeepFace Lab, FakeApp, and Face Swap — and a large amount of deepfake softwares can be found on GitHub, an open source development community.
How are deepfakes used?
Deepfake technology has historically been used for illicit purposes, including to generate non-consensual pornography. The FBI released a public service announcement in June 2023 warning the public about the dangers of generative AI, and how it’s used for “Explicit Content Creation,” “Sextortion,” and “Harassment.”
In 2017, a reddit user named “deepfakes” created a forum for porn that featured face-swapped actors. Since that time, porn (particularly revenge porn) has repeatedly made the news, severely damaging the reputation of celebrities and prominent figures. According to a Deeptrace report, pornography made up 96% of deepfake videos found online in 2019.
Deepfakes have also been used for non-sexual criminal activity, including one instance in 2023 that involved the use of deepfake technology to mimic the voice of a woman’s child to threaten and extort her.
Deepfake video has also been used in politics. In 2018, for example, a Belgian political party released a video of Donald Trump giving a speech calling on Belgium to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. Trump never gave that speech, however – it was a deepfake. That was not the first use of a deepfake to create misleading videos, and tech-savvy political experts are bracing for a future wave of fake news that features convincingly realistic deepfakes.
But journalists, human rights groups, and media technologists have also found positive uses for the technology. For instance, the 2020 HBO documentary “Welcome to Chechnya” used deepfake technology to hide the identities of Russian LGBTQ refugees whose lives were at risk while also telling their stories.
WITNESS, an organization focused on the use of media to defend human rights, has expressed optimism around the technology when used in this way, while also recognizing digital threats.
“Part of our work is really exploring the positive use of that technology, from protecting people like activists on video, to taking advocacy approaches, to doing political satire,” said shirin anlen, a media technologist for WITNESS.
For anlen and WITNESS, the technology isn’t something to be entirely feared. Instead, it should be seen as a tool. “It’s building on top of a long term relationship we have had with audiovisuals. We’ve already been manipulating audio. We’ve already been manipulating visuals in different ways,” anlen said.
Experts like anlen and López believe that the best approach the public can take to deepfakes is not to panic, but to be informed about the technology and its capabilities.
How to detect a deepfake
There are a handful of indicators that give away deepfakes:
Do details seem blurry or obscure? Look for problems with skin or hair, or faces that seem to be blurrier than the environment in which they’re positioned. The focus might look unnaturally soft.
Does the lighting look unnatural? Often, deepfake algorithms will retain the lighting of the clips that were used as models for the fake video, which is a poor match for the lighting in the target video.
Do the words or sounds not match up with the visuals? The audio might not appear to match the person, especially if the video was faked but the original audio was not as carefully manipulated.
Does the source seem reliable? One technique that journalists and researchers often use to check the true source of an image, which you can do right now, is reverse image searching. You should also check to see who posted the image, where it was posted, and whether or not it makes sense for them to do so.
Combatting deepfakes with technology
As technology improves, the discrepancies between real and fake content will likely become harder to detect. For that reason, experts like anlen believe that the burden shouldn’t be on individuals to detect deepfakes out in the wild.
“The responsibility should be on the developers, on the toolmakers, on the tech companies to develop invisible watermarks and signal what the source of that image is,” anlen said. And a number of startup companies are developing methods for spotting deepfakes.
Sensity, for example, has developed a detection platform that’s akin to an antivirus for deepfakes that alerts users via email when they’re watching something that bears telltale fingerprints of AI-generated media. Sensity uses the same deep learning processes used to create fake videos.
Operation Minerva takes a more straightforward approach to detecting deepfakes. This company’s algorithm compares potential deepfakes to known video that has already been “digitally fingerprinted.” For example, it can detect examples of revenge porn by recognizing that the deepfake video is simply a modified version of an existing video that Operation Minerva has already cataloged.
Despite these advances, Nasir Memon, a professor of computer science and engineering at NYU, said there haven’t been any efforts to combat deepfakes at scale, and that any solution that comes won’t be a cure-all for stopping harmful deepfakes from spreading.
“I think the solution overall is not technology based, but instead it’s education, awareness, the right business models, incentives, policies, laws,” Memon said.
A growing problem is the use of deepfakes in a live setting to mask one’s identity in the moment, like over a phone call or Zoom meeting. According to Memon, the threat of someone using a fake identity could arise in any number of situations, from job interviews to remote college exams to visa applications. Even Insider reporters have had to deal with AI-generated scams reaching out as sources.
“The problem with detection is that the burden is on the defender,” Memon said. “I have to analyze every single image in every possible way. But in security, you want to do it the opposite way.” Ideally, technology would be developed to detect these types of live deepfakes, too.
Still, Memon doesn’t expect this kind of approach to be the end of the deepfake question.
“Nothing is going to completely solve the problem. Authenticity always has to be tested in society,” he said. “Don’t jump to conclusions when you see an image now. Look at the source. Wait until you have corroborating evidence from reliable sources.”
You’re jogging through a picturesque park, the rhythm of your favorite tunes pushing you to reach new limits. Suddenly, dark clouds roll in, and rain starts pouring down. But fear not! With your favorite headphones or earbuds by Phiaton, your music won’t be silenced, and the beats will continue to flow. In this blog post, we’ll dive into what IPX4 water resistance means and why it’s a must-have feature for music lovers who refuse to let a little rain dampen their audio experience.
What is IPX4 Water Resistance?
To truly appreciate the value of IPX4 water resistance, let’s start with a quick explanation. IPX4 is an industry-standard rating that measures the water resistance of electronic devices, especially headphones, and earbuds. An IPX4 rating signifies that the device is protected against splashes of water from any direction. This means your favorite Phiaton earbuds can withstand light rain or sweat during workouts without skipping a beat.
Unleash Your Active Lifestyle Are You an Avid Runner, Hiker, or Gym Enthusiast?
If so, your favorite Phiaton headphones or earbuds become your trusted companion. Gone are the days of worrying about rain ruining your earbuds or sweat causing them to malfunction. With IPX4-rated Phiaton earphones, you can focus on your activities, knowing that your audio gear can handle the elements.
Music That Follows You Everywhere Life Is Unpredictable.
Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or simply going about your daily routine, Phiaton audio gear will give you the freedom to enjoy your music anywhere, anytime. From sudden rain showers to accidental spills, your Phiaton headphones or earbuds will keep playing your favorite tracks without skipping a beat.
Designed for Durability and Longevity Phiaton Understands the Importance of Durability in Audio Devices.
That’s why our products are IPX4-rated and engineered with premium materials and meticulous craftsmanship. The water-resistant design of headphones or earbuds enhances their longevity, ensuring they can withstand the demands of an active lifestyle.
With all Phiaton Products, You No Longer Need to Sacrifice Your Love for Music Due to Weather Conditions or Outdoor Activities.
We offer a wide range of IPX4-rated products that empowers you to embrace the beats, rain or shine. So, whether you’re exploring the great outdoors, sweating it out at the gym, or caught in an unexpected downpour, trust Phiaton to deliver an exceptional audio experience that endures. Don’t let a little water dampen your spirits—keep the music playing with Legacy 900+, BonoBuds, and BonoBuds Lite by Phiaton.
Teaching your dog to lie down is a practical cue because it leads to more advanced behaviors. When your dog can lie down on cue, he’ll be able to stay on his bed or master tricks like rolling over or crawling. The sky’s the limit! Your pup will enjoy the training and your friends will be impressed.
How to teach your dog to lay down
Before you start training, follow these tips to set up your surroundings for a successful session:
First, to set your dog up to succeed, exercise him before starting the training session. He needs to be tired enough that he will want to lie down.
Gather his favorite dog treats. The reward should be something that your dog loves and will follow with his nose when you attempt to lure him.
Start training in a room without distractions, not even his favorite dog buddy who may pounce on him in play.
How to teach your dog down: the lure method
Cue your dog to sit in front of you. If he doesn’t know that behavior, teach it to him first during a separate training session.
Hold a small piece of yummy treat in front of his nose. Slowly move the treat straight down towards the floor. When he follows the treat, mark the desired behavior with “yes” and give him the reward.
Dogster tip: Stay calm when marking the behavior. If you get too excited, chances are your dog will get up.
Repeat this several times. During each successive step, continue moving the treat closer to the ground. When successful, praise and reward.
Dogster tip: If your dog gets up, ensure you’re not moving the treat too quickly, causing the behavior. Start again.
If your dog hunches up instead of lying down flat, slightly move the treat away from him after the treat reaches the ground. It should look like an “L” motion.
When your dog lies down flat, with his elbows and hocks on the ground, praise and reward.
Dogster tip: Place the treat reward on the ground just between your dog’s paws. This keep her lying down.
Repeat these steps a few times, always praising and rewarding your pup when she lies down on the ground.
As you lure your dog from the sit position, add the cue “down.” Praise and treat when she lies down, elbows on the ground. Perform this a few times.
Fade the treat lure after your dog understands what’s expected. Still use the hand motion but have the treat hidden in your other hand behind your back. Mark the behavior and treat when she lies down.
After your pup successfully lies down without the treat lure, fade the hand motion. Then use the verbal cue only. Mix it up after your dog understands what’s expected. Sometimes use the verbal cue and hand signal. Other times, use just the verbal cue or the hand signal.
Use a random reinforcement schedule. After your pup understands what you expect, treat less frequently. Do this slowly. You still want your pup to be motivated. And don’t forget the praise.
Teaching this trick will often take more than one training session. Don’t rush the process. It’s most important that your dog understands what’s expected before moving on.
Don’t panic! Try luring your dog to go under something as if there were a bridge and he’s doing a limbo under it.
Sit on the floor and bend your knee as if it were a bridge. Alternatively, lure your dog under a table or chair rung, as long as the piece of furniture is stable and won’t move, which could startle a dog.
Then, follow the steps above, luring your dog with a yummy treat under the “bridge.” Always praise and reward when she lies down.
Eventually, fade the bridge and the treat lure.
If your dog won’t lure down, don’t despair. When you return from a walk or after a play session, have treats handy and wait for your dog to lie down.
Start calmly rewarding the behavior. Behavior that’s rewarded will repeat itself. Then you can start adding a “down” cue when she lies down. Mark and reward the behavior.
After your dog lies down on your cue, start adding distractions. Have someone walk in the room at a distance. Perform the trick in different locations, on different surfaces and at different times of day. Up the distraction ante as your dog can handle it. The goal is for your pup to generalize the behavior in other settings.
Teaching your dog how to lie down on cue is a very useful behavior if you want to take your pup in public settings, especially with other dogs. Think of all the fun you’ll have together taking the show on the road!
The evolution of open floor plans has genuinely reshaped the character of the kitchen in our homes. Just fifty years ago, the typical kitchen was often a separate, isolated room. The prevailing thought was that the kitchen was purely a workspace, where any muss and fuss created there should remain concealed from visitors or casual callers.
Our experts answer readers’ banking questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess banking products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
The national average APY (Annual Percentage Yield) on a 3-month CD is 0.62% APY. However, some of the best online banks offer up to 5.15% APY for a 3-month CD right now. Here are our recommendations for the best 3-month CDs.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Ponce Bank 3 Month CD
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Pros & Cons
Accounts pay high interest rates
No fees
Open accounts you might not be able access outside of SaveBetter
Minimum opening requirements are often lower than if you opened an account directly with a bank
No checking accounts or business accounts
Only way to deposit or withdraw money is by connecting to an external account
No mobile app
Can’t connect to third-party budgeting apps, like Mint
Highlights
SaveBetter is an online marketplace that partners with banks to offer competitive rates
Filter your search by institution, or by type of institution (e.g., minority-led, family-owned, or supports small business)
Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly
Deposits are federally insured by the FDIC and NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
The Best 3-month CD Rates
These are our picks for the best 3-month CD rates. Our top picks for CDs are protected by FDIC or NCUA insurance. Although Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank have recently been shut down, keep in mind money is safe at a federally insured financial institution. When a financial institution is federally insured, up to $250,000 per depositor is secure in a bank account.
Compare 3-month CDs
Ponce Bank 3 Month CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Ponce Bank 3 Month CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Ponce Bank 3 Month CD
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
5.15%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1
Pros & Cons
Accounts pay high interest rates
No fees
Open accounts you might not be able access outside of SaveBetter
Minimum opening requirements are often lower than if you opened an account directly with a bank
No checking accounts or business accounts
Only way to deposit or withdraw money is by connecting to an external account
No mobile app
Can’t connect to third-party budgeting apps, like Mint
Highlights
SaveBetter is an online marketplace that partners with banks to offer competitive rates
Filter your search by institution, or by type of institution (e.g., minority-led, family-owned, or supports small business)
Interest is compounded daily and paid monthly
Deposits are federally insured by the FDIC and NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
Newtek Bank 3 Month CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.60%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$2,500
Newtek Bank 3 Month CD
3.75/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.60%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$2,500
Newtek Bank 3 Month CD
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.60%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$2,500
Pros & Cons
High interest rate
Standard early withdrawal penalty
$2,500 minimum opening deposit
Highlights
For a 3 month CD term, the early withdrawal penalty is 90 days of simple interest
Interest is compounded daily and deposited monthly
FDIC insured
Alliant 3 Month Certificate
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Alliant 3 Month Certificate
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Alliant 3 Month Certificate
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Pros & Cons
Competitive APY
Low-to-standard early withdrawal penalties
Interest compounded monthly, not daily
$1,000 minimum deposit
No terms over 5 years
Highlights
Several ways to become a member; the easiest is to join Foster Care to Success (Alliant will cover your $5 membership fee)
Terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalty is dividends for the number of days the certificate is open. Up to 90 days dividends for terms of 17 months or less; up to 120 days dividends for terms of 18-23 months; up to 180 days interest for terms of 24 months or more; 7 days dividends if you withdraw during the 7-day grace period, even though no interest has accumulated yet
Interest compounded monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Additional Reading
Read our review
America First Credit Union 3 Month Certificate
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
America First Credit Union 3 Month Certificate
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
America First Credit Union 3 Month Certificate
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$500
Pros & Cons
Competitive APY
$500 opening deposit
Low early withdrawal penalties
No terms over 5 years
Interest compounded monthly, not daily
Membership restricted to certain counties in the West
Highlights
Membership restricted to certain parts of the West
Term lengths ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalty of 60 days interest for terms of 12 months or less; 180 days interest for terms over 12 months
Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
Federally insured by the NCUA
Popular Direct 3 Month CD
3.5/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$10,000
Popular Direct 3 Month CD
3.5/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$10,000
On Popular Direct’s website
Popular Direct 3 Month CD
On Popular Direct’s website
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.50%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$10,000
Pros & Cons
Competitive rates for certain term lengths
Compounds interest daily
$10,000 minimum deposit
Standard-to-high early withdrawal penalties
Highlights
Terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalties: 89 days simple interest for terms under 91 days; 120 days simple interest for terms of 91 days to less than 12 months; 270 days simple interest for terms of 12 months to less than 36 months; 365 days simple interest for terms of 36 months to less than 60 months; 730 days simple interest for terms of 60 months or more
Interest compounded daily, paid monthly
FDIC insured
Additional Reading
Read our review
Bank of America 3 Year Fixed Term CD
3.25/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.03%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Bank of America 3 Year Fixed Term CD
3.25/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.03%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Bank of America, Member FDIC
Bank of America 3 Year Fixed Term CD
Bank of America, Member FDIC
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
0.03%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Pros & Cons
Terms from 28 days to 10 years
Access to over 4,200 branches and 16,000 ATMs
Low APY
Interested is compounded monthly, not daily
$1,000 opening deposit
High early withdrawal penalties
Highlights
Access to over 4,200 branches and 16,000 ATMs
Terms ranging from 28 days to 10 years
Early withdrawal penalties are as follows: the greater of all interest earned or 7 days interest on the amount withdrawn for terms under 90 days; 90 days interest for terms over 90 days and under 12 months; 180 days interest for terms of 12 months to under 60 months; 365 days interest on terms of 60 months or more
Interest compounded monthly and paid monthly
FDIC insured
TIAA Bank Basic 3 Month CD
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
TIAA Bank Basic 3 Month CD
4/5
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
TIAA Bank Basic 3 Month CD
Details
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$1,000
Pros & Cons
Competitive APY
Interest compounds daily
$1,000 minimum deposit
No term over 5 years
Standard-to-high early withdrawal penalties
Highlights
Bank online; 125 TIAA offices in the US
Term lengths ranging from 3 months to 5 years
Early withdrawal penalties ranging from 22 days to 456 days simple interest
Interest compounded daily, paid monthly
FDIC insured
Additional Reading
Read our review
Expert Advice on Choosing the Best 3-month CD
To learn more about what makes a good CD and how to choose the best fit, Insider consulted four experts:
Insider
Here’s what they had to say about CDs. (Some text may be lightly edited for clarity.)
How do you choose a bank or credit union?
“You want to make sure it’s FDIC insured,” says Brown. For people using credit unions, the insurance comes from the NCUA. Next, she advises, consider the banking experience you want to have. “Do you like walking into a bank? Well, then you need someone local. Do you just not care if you ever see your bank? Then you’re okay online. Do you write checks? Do you not write checks?” Think through how your experience with that institution would be before you make that decision.
Acevedo recommends factoring in account costs when you’re envisioning your experience with a bank or credit union. “For example,” she says, “some banks have accounts that charge monthly service fees. I would look to see what the requirements are for waiving the monthly service fee and whether I think I could feasibly meet those requirements each month.” Or if she was searching for an interest-earning bank account, she would make sure it pays a higher interest rate than the average bank account.
How long should you leave money in a CD?
“I would think about when you need the money and then compare that with what the prevailing CD rates are,” says Ma. Then, he continues, consider what makes sense not only from a financial perspective, but from your own personal timing perspective. If the rates are highest on a 2-year CD but you need the money in six months, don’t sacrifice your plans for interest.
Your plans are important to the CD term you choose, says James. “I believe in having a plan for whatever the funds are,” she says. “If it’s supposed to be a house fund, and you want to wait for another two years to buy a house, that’s what you should be thinking of when you want to have this money.”
Methodology: How Did We Select the Best 3-month CDs?
At Personal Finance Insider, we strive to help smart people make the best decisions with their money. We understand that “best” is often subjective, however, so in addition to highlighting the clear benefits of a financial product or account — a high APY, for example — we outline the limitations, too.
We researched to find over 20 banks and credit unions that offered 3-month CDs. Then, we reviewed each institution to find the most-well rounded banking options. For each account, we compared the minimum opening deposits, early withdrawal penalties, and interest rates. We also used our CD rates methodology, reviewing the overall banking experience at each bank by assessing customer support availability, mobile app ratings, and ethics.
3-month CD FAQs
A 3-month CD is a type of short-term CD. Generally, CDs offer a fixed interest rate. This means your rate will stay the same for the entire term.
Let’s say you have a 3-month CD that pays 4.50% APY. You’ll earn 4.50% for the entire three months. Usually, you’ll only be able to make a deposit when you open your account. You also won’t be able to access your money before the CD reaches maturity without paying a penalty.
Deciding between a 3-month, 1-year, or 5-year CD will likely depend on the timeline for your goals. If you’ll need access to your money relatively soon, you may prefer a short-term CD over a long-term CD. You might consider CD laddering if you don’t want to deposit all your money in a particular CD.
Most financial institutions pay higher rates on high-yield savings accounts than on 3-month CDs. However, there may be exceptions, so you’ll want to double-check rates at a particular bank just to be sure. Your decision may also depend on when you’ll need to access your money. CDs have early withdrawal penalties, while savings accounts do not. You can also continuously add money to your savings account, whereas most CDs do not allow you to make additional deposits after opening an account.
Similar to a high-yield savings account, money market accounts have variable interest rates. You may prefer a money market account if rates are rising, but a CD if rates are dropping. You might also have a money market account over a CD if you want quick access to your money.
A CD is typically considered a type of savings account. It’s generally a low-risk place to keep your money because your potential for losses and gains is limited. If you need to access your money in three months and want a guaranteed rate of return, a 3-month CD is a better choice than a different type of investment account. But if you want to take more risks with your money, you may want to invest in the stock market.
Why it stands out: Through SaveBetter, you can use one platform to find, fund, and manage multiple high-yield savings accounts and CDs from over 20 banks and credit unions. Currently, the Ponce Bank 3 Month CD is the highest yielding 3-month CD on SaveBetter. That said, there are also other 3-month CDs on SaveBetter that pay more than the national average.
APY for a 3-month term: 5.15% APY
3-month early withdrawal penalty: 90 days of simple interest
What to look out for: You might prefer one of our other top picks if you would rather open a CD directly with a bank. You also can’t get a checking account with SaveBetter, so it may not be the best option if you want to do all your banking with one company.
Why it stands out: Anyone in the US can open a CD online with Newtek Bank. Its 3-month CD stands out for its competitive interest rate.
Newtek Bank also offers business checking and savings accounts, as well as a personal high-yield savings account. You’ll need to sign up for a waitlist for the personal high-yield savings account, though, because it isn’t currently available to new customers.
APY for a 3-month term: 4.60% APY
3-month early withdrawal penalty: 90 days of simple interest
What to look out for: Newtek Bank CDs have a steep minimum opening deposit of $2,500. If you’d like to open a CD with less money upfront, you may prefer one of the other institutions on our list.
Why it stands out: If you’re comfortable with banking online, Alliant Credit Union is a strong choice for CDs. It 3-month and 6-month terms, in particular, offer high interest rates.
APY for a 3-month term: 4.50% APY
3-month early withdrawal penalty: Up to 90 days of interest
What to look out for: Credit unions require you to become a member to open an account. The easiest way to become a member is to join Foster Care to Success. Alliant will cover the $5 joining fee.
Why it stands out: America First Credit Union is a financial institution with branches in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. America First Credit Union has a variety of terms with high interest rates.
APY for a 3-month term: 4.50% APY
3-month early withdrawal penalty: 60 days of interest
What to look out for: Credit unions require membership to open bank accounts. You may join America First Credit Union if you live, work, worship, or volunteer in an Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, or Utah county on this list. If you have a family member or spouse that’s a current member, you’re also eligible.
Why it stands out: Popular Direct pays a competitive rate, and it compounds interest daily.
APY for 5-year CD: 4.50% APY
3-month CD early withdrawal penalty: 89 days of simple interest
What to look out for: You’ll need at least $10,000 to open a Popular Direct CD. While the early withdrawal penalty for a 3-month term is pretty standard, the bank charges high penalties on certain terms.
Why it stands out: If you’d like to be part of a large brick-and-mortar financial institution, Bank of America might be an appealing option. A Bank of America 3 Month Fixed Term CD offers a competitive interest rate right now.
APY for a 3-month term: 4.00% APY
3-month early withdrawal penalty: 90 days of interest
What to look out for: Bank of America Fixed Term CDs range from 28 days to 10 years, but not all pay competitive rates. Its 3-month, 4-month, and 5-month fixed-rate CD terms have high rates, but the rest pay 0.03% APY.
Bank of America also has Featured CDs which pay 0.05% to 4.50% APY. Featured CDs are available in 7-month, 10-month, 13-month, 25-month, and 27-month terms and will turn into a Fixed Term CD for the same term after maturity.
Why it stands out: TIAA Bank offers a competitive interest rate for a 3-month term. It also has low early withdrawal penalties.
APY for a 3-month term: 4.00% APY
3-month early withdrawal penalty: 22 days of interest
What to look out for: While the minimum opening deposit for TIAA Bank CDs is on par with other banks, there are other financial institutions on our list that have more lenient opening requirements.
We looked at other 3-month CDs, as well. Our top picks stood out because they had appealing features, like higher interest rates, lower minimum opening deposits, or lower early withdrawal penalties. While the accounts listed below weren’t among our picks, you still might consider one of these options.
Chase 3 Month CD: Chase pays a higher rate on its 3-month term than on most of its CDs, but it still can’t compete with our top picks.
Citi Fixed Rate CD: Citi’s 3-month CD pays a lower interest rate than our top picks.
BrioDirect High-Yield CD: BrioDirect CDs have a low minimum opening deposit, but the 3-month CD pays a low interest rate.
Nationwide CD: Nationwide offers a solid interest rate on its 18-month CD, but its 3-month CD isn’t as strong.
BMO Harris CD: BMO Harris pays a significantly lower interest rate on its 3-month CD than all of our top picks.
Bank Trustworthiness and BBB Ratings
We’ve compared each company’s Better Business Bureau score. The BBB grades businesses based on factors like responses to customer complaints, honesty in advertising, and transparency about business practices. A strong BBB score doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a great relationship with a bank, though. You may still want to read online reviews and ask friends and family about their experiences with any bank you’re considering.
Here is each company’s score:
SaveBetter has an A rating because it has received 23 complaints on the BBB website. TIAA has a B rating because it has failed to respond to one customer complaint on the BBB website.
Bank of America and TIAA have been involved in recent public settlements.
In 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau charged Bank of America for freezing customers’ accounts because its automatic fraud filter incorrectly detected fraud on accounts. The CFPB claimed that the bank made it difficult for customers to un-freeze their accounts.
In 2020, the Department of Justice charged Bank of America when it accused the bank of unfairly denying home loans to adults with disabilities, even though they qualified for loans. Bank of America paid around $300,000 total to people who were refused loans.
In 2021, TIAA was required to pay $97 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to the settlement, the SEC said the bank failed to disclose conflicts of interest to customers that were part of employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Evelyn He is a compliance associate at Insider who supports the Personal Finance Insider team. Personal Finance Insider is Insider’s personal finance section that incorporates affiliate and commerce partnerships into the news, insights, and advice about money that Insider readers already know and love. The compliance team’s mission is to provide readers with stories that are fact-checked and current, so they can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by making sure language is clear, precise, and fully compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team. Before joining Insider, she served in various legal and compliance roles in different industries, including the legal and pharmaceutical industries. Evelyn obtained her M.S. degree in Marketing at Boston University in 2022. Prior to combining and consolidating her knowledge of law and business, she spent one year finishing 1L courses at Suffolk University Law School to further her legal knowledge. She has also completed MBA business law courses while working on her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her 14-year-old Shih Tzu named Money, and her 4-year-old Bichon named Tibber.
We wait all year for the warm summer months. Long nights by the campfire, days at the beach, weekend getaways, hiking, biking and barbecues. And making the most of this special time of year usually means spending lots of time outdoors.
At Eminence Organics, we want you to enjoy being outside and stay protected with a proper summer skin care routine. We asked our esthetics experts to hand-pick a few favorite summer skin care essentials to help you prep and protect your skin as we move into the summer months.
Summer Skin Care For The Daytime
Exfoliate To Prevent Ingrown Hairs
For many of us, one of the major bumps in the road to getting summer ready involves hair removal – and specifically ingrown hairs. These little spots can develop after shaving or waxing when the hair grows back into the skin instead of straight out. They usually show up as tiny bumps that can be painful and even end up swollen and infected.
Because cell turnover is much slower on your legs and underarms, dead skin cells can build up quickly, hiding stubborn ingrown hairs, clogging your razor and causing uncomfortable razor burn. Exfoliating your skin allows any hair that may be tucked under dead skin to be lifted and more easily removed. A scrub can help release ingrown hairs that are starting to form and prevent future ingrown hairs from developing. A couple of days before shaving or waxing, try the Coconut Sugar Scrub to slough off dead skin cells or use a swipe of the lactic acid-packed Bright Skin Licorice Root Exfoliating Peel to create a smooth and primed canvas.
Protect Skin With A Sunscreen Designed For Exercise
A sun-kissed glow might be a summer beauty goal, but proper sun protection is a non-negotiable part of any summer skin care routine. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.
And while we’re on the subject: Did you know that your risk of melanoma doubles if you have had more than five sunburns in your lifetime? If you’re planning to spend time in the sun, protecting your skin from sun damage should be priority number one.
Shield your skin from the sun’s harmful rays with Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF 30, which is formulated with zinc oxide. Whether you’re swimming or playing sports outside, this sweat and water-resistant sunscreen offers broad-spectrum protection from UV rays throughout those hot days. Resistant through water activities and perspiration for up to 40 minutes, this sport formulation should be a permanent fixture in your beach bag to prevent sun damage. Just remember to apply it at least 15 minutes before you head outside and re-apply every two hours. More is more when it comes to protecting your skin.
Use A Replenishing Mask To Hydrate Parched Skin
Chlorine (and salt water, if you’re a beach bunny) can strip away oil from the skin, leaving your summer complexion parched and dry. Consider treating your skin with a replenishing mask to rehydrate your complexion. If you’re suffering from too much sun and dry skin, our Strawberry Rhubarb Masque uses shea butter to provide the deep moisture you need for a plump and refreshed appearance.
To help the look of drying environmental damage, try a boost of vitamins and a smoothie’s worth of citrus, leafy greens and avocado oil. Not only does the Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Masque improve the appearance of dry, red skin, it leaves you looking bright, firm and plumped.
To rejuvenate your skin after masking, rehydrate your whole body with plenty of water. Down those eight glasses a day and keep your moisture levels topped up, inside and out.
Switch To A Moisturizer With SPF
Who doesn’t love the ease of a moisturizer that doubles as sun protection? Our Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40 is the multitasker you need this summer. This moisturizer uses natural minerals zinc oxide and titanium oxide to block UV rays. Lilikoi seed oil helps with the visible signs of aging, so the Lilikoi Mineral Defense Moisturizer not only protects the skin from the elements, it also leaves you lightly hydrated and looking fresh and natural.
And since we’re really into SPF around here, it can’t hurt to mention another all mineral SPF moisturizer that is silicone-free and formulated specifically for the face and neck. The Tropical Vanilla Day Cream SPF 40 has shea butter and a light scent of vanilla – you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a tropical oasis.
Apply Makeup That Doubles As Sun Care
If you’re looking for another multi-purpose product, our mineral powders pull double duty as skin care and makeup. For a more natural look this summer, swap out your traditional finishing powder for our Sun Defense Minerals. With five versatile shades plus one translucent powder to choose from, you’ll find just the right option for you. And don’t forget to protect your lips, which are highly susceptible to sunburn. Rosehip & Lemongrass Lip Balm SPF 15 is infused with rosehip oil, lavender and zinc oxide to keep your pucker perfectly moisturized and protected.
At Night: Repair Your Skin For An Ongoing Glow
Nighttime Skin Care Starts With Cleansing
You’re doing everything right during the day, but even the most protected skin can use some overnight care. Whether it’s chlorine, salt water or a bit too much time with a bit too little sunscreen, your skin will always benefit from some TLC. To help keep the skin clear this summer, make sure that you never go to bed without washing your face. Skipping the occasional wash might not seem like a big deal, but between sweat, oil, sand and SPF, your face sees a lot on a summer day and needs a good cleanse to get rid of all the surface buildup and impurities. Try the Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser and head to bed with a fresh face.
The sun’s harmful impact on the body doesn’t stop once you’ve sought out shade; the effects of UV exposure, including dry and itchy skin, can take from two to four hours to fully develop. Because of this, it’s always a good idea to follow time spent in the sun with the replenishing moisture from these Eminence Organics after-sun essentials.
Replenish Moisture
If your skin is suffering from sun exposure, hydrate and gently resurface dry skin with our Mangosteen Body Lotion. Infused with antioxidant-rich mangosteen and our Lactic Acid Complex, this lightweight lotion will leave your skin soft and moisturized.
Give dry, dull, itchy skin across your body some relief with Yuzu Solid Body Oil. This transformative solid body oil infuses dry, dull skin with dreamy yuzu and vitamin-rich camu camu for radiant skin. Refining PHA and lush tropical oils enhance hydration for all skin types to leave even the most sun-parched skin supple and glowing. Plus this body oil has a light yet irresistible citrus scent that feels as bright and uplifting as the summer sun.
How do you protect your skin from the sun? Browse our full list of summer essentials and find even more summer skin care tips and recommendations at an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you.
Today we will explain what’s VoIP and the difference between this service and analog phone lines. VoIP that stands for Voice over Internet Protocol is the newest service available and most commonly found in companies, as it allows to make phone calls over the internet in form of digital packets.
Due to these packets the sound quality is one of the best ones as the offering thru High Definition sound on handsets or headsets versus analog phone lines in which in most cases the sound is affected due to different cases, among them can be poor wiring in the facility or electrical lines too close to the analog phone lines, creating the common “dirty sound” when in a call.
Among some of the advantages of the VoIP service over the traditional analog systems we can find the following.
It can reduced the cost on the service for a company as it offers lower rates for long distance and international call as the phone call is thru the Voice over Internet Protocol and as it requires a reduced infrastructure and lower maintenance.
Additional features on VoIP systems is that offer is the customization of the same system, like for example call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, conference calling to mention a few ones. In the majority of the cases these features are already included in the service so no additional expenses are needed there.
The flexibility of using the VoIP system on a physical desk phone or on the computer or smart device as a tablet or cell phone thanks to its application, allowing the user to never miss a call and keep track of voicemails left off hours.
The integration with other applications, thanks for being a Unified Communications solution, the VoIP system can work together with your email, calendar and with the end user contact list from Outlook for example, allowing it to transfer all contact information including name, phone number and email as well.
A good headset option if considering a corded solution with a physical desk phone such as the Poly Edge E can be the Jabra Biz 2300 Mono Direct Connect. Simply plug in into the headset port and use the headset key at the front to answer/end calls.
Thanks for it’s integration with any computer, this VoIP system can be used in virtually any place as long as there’s a good internet connection and the best solution for remote workers as they can keep the mobility thanks to its applications for smart devices or computers.
After mentioning the benefits of VoIP systems versus the analog telephone systems, now we can discuss the cons of this system.
It is strongly advise to have the best internet connection as the digital data packets require this to have the best sound and connection available, if the internet service suffers a blackout this would affect the VoIP and there will not be any entering or exiting calls.
VoIP is mainly designed to cut costs on companies and is not just yet ready for general public, as it requires special equipment in order to keep the internet equipment up and running, the VoIP desk phones require to be programed in order to accept the system and in order that a desktop or laptop computer can power up a desk phone such as a Polycom VVX411 for example.
If want a wireless headset for your VVX desk phone, we have the Plantronics CS540+EHS Remote Answer Bundle for Polycom IP desk phones, with its noise canceling microphone and remote answer capability thanks to the built in Electronic Hook switch, so no mechanical lifter needed.
For same reason that it is required to have a stable internet connection, the user needs to have a battery back up as well in case there’s a power outage in order to keep the modem and the VoIP system equipment powered up, as without Internet there’s no system, while an analog telephone phone system still works even in the middle of a power outage or in the middle of a strong storm for example.
The cost can be a little higher for an individual as additional to the equipment purchase and the Internet service plus the VoIP service as well, as this as today is a well designed tool for companies in order to get the lower cost in the long distance calls or additional services such as voicemail or call forwarding.
If your company decide to go with a cordless desk phone, like the new Rove family and if in need of a headset. You can use the Plantronics Blackwire 5210 USB-A, 3.5mm Headset, Microsoft Teams, simply plug it in the side jack and wear the headset while carrying the cordless phone.
There are different services as today in the market, the most common and well known ones are RingCentral, 8X8, Vonage and Magic Jack, to mention a few, each one offers its independent features and is strongly advise to call them directly in order to know which ones are the features that you need.
If still willing to get a VoIP system, make sure your internet connection has the best speed, recommending to upgrade to Fiber access or Cable with Gigabit speed so it can handle the digital packets in downloading and uploading.
Stopping the excessive barking is the key, not to stop the bark entirely. Barking is a completely normal behavior for dogs, and they bark for many different reasons: alarm, boredom, excitement, frustration, demand, play, stress. You have coping skills and strategies for your emotions: Your dog needs some, too.
First, figure out context. Does he bark when deliveries come? When you leave for work? At the neighbor’s dogs? Knowing what your dog is attempting to communicate with his barking is half the battle. With time, patience and consistency ballistic barking will be a thing of the past.
How to stop your dog from barking
Once you figure out why he’s barking excessively, take these steps to help him adjust the behavior:
Manage the environment
The best time to stop a behavior is before it starts!
Set your dog up for success and minimize (ideally eliminate) repeated opportunities to get his bark on.
Remove your dog from the situation.
If you can’t remove him, manipulate the environment to soften the effects of the trigger, or distract him from it.
Train a positive interrupt
Train the cue during down time to use when he is
Say “Quiet please” or “Thank you,” and when he looks at you, immediately give a high value or favorite treat.
Practice often so it’s second nature for him to stop and look to you when barking starts and you give the cue.
Train an alternative behavior
Train touch, find it or go to mat/place so he has something to focus on other than barking. Here are our trainer’s tips on teaching basic cues.
Once you have your dog’s attention, cue the behavior and have at it!
Bonus tip: Reinforce the quiet. The instant he’s quiet mid-barkfest, mark and treat. Repeat.
How to train dogs not to bark at other dogs
This is a bit tougher. Context, again, is crucial. Is he on leash? In your yard? In your car? Barking is very self-reinforcing, meaning he’s reinforcing himself by barking since he probably likes it! So, setting up your dog for success is critical.
Start here:
Manage the environment
Put up a privacy fence.
Coordinate with neighbors to alternate dog outings .
Only let him out when it’s neighbor-dog free. Caveat: The one time you don’t check, the neighbor dog is out and barkfest starts, then you’ll have to start all over.
This dog training video gives some helpful tips on stopping your dog from barking at other dogs:
Desensitize/countercondition
Leash your dog in your yard.
Feed high value treats in the situation without the trigger (i.e. no other dogs present).
Slowly approach fence on leash, still treating if your dog is calm. If not, go back to last point of calm and practice there a bit longer.
Slowly decrease distance as long as he’s calm when the neighbor dogs are out.
This video has helpful tips for desensitizing your dog from a noisy environment:
Should I use a bark collar to train my dog to stop barking?
No. The allure of instant relief from your dog’s vocalizations might be tempting, but these collars focus on punishment, and not only can they make things worse, but they end up creating unintended associations and fear.
Instead, add more exercise and stimulation to your dog’s day. Fulfilling your dog’s physical and mental needs helps alleviate most behavior issues; it’s an ideal pairing with any dog training. Also, the longer a dog performs a behavior, the harder it is to change it. Act now so you don’t end up with a serial barker on your hands.
A three-tiered diving board stands next to a metallic palm tree inside this pop-up shop that designer Willo Perron has created for Kim Kardashian‘s lingerie brand SKIMS in London.
The brand’s first physical retail space in the UK, at the Selfridges department store in London, follows the same formula as its debut shop in Paris. Here, surfaces were coated in panels of glossy plastic with gentle thermoformed curves to suggest the shape of the human body.
SKIMS has opened a swimwear pop-up in Selfridges
But for this temporary summertime pop-up, Perron abandoned the brand’s typical fleshy colour palette in favour of a pale blue hue reminiscent of a heavily chlorinated swimming pool.
The resulting plastic panels are so glossy they look almost wet as they form everything from mirror frames and bench seats to wall panels and the shop’s monolithic till counter, which is embossed with the SKIMS logo.
A three-tiered diving board sculpture forms the centrepiece of the store
A huge replica of a three-levelled diving board stands at the heart of the store, with a stepped base and springboards formed from lengths of the same baby-blue plastic.
Shiny chrome tubes act as handrails and are repeated throughout the store in the form of gridded partitions and clothing rails, curving around the columns of the Grade II-listed department store.
Rounding off the poolside atmosphere is a matching metal palm tree sculpture, integrated into the long bench set that runs along the shopfront.
To display stacks of rolled-up nude-coloured SKIMS towels, Perron also added two smaller freestanding platforms with the same steps and chrome handrails as the diving platform but minus the springboards.
Thermoformed plastic panels in glossy blue glad most of the interior
Taking over Selfridges’ ground-floor pop-up space The Corner Shop until 8 July 2023, the shop will offer the brand’s core collection of swimsuits and bikinis alongside limited editions and seasonal colourways.
Customers will also be able to buy ice cream to match their swimwear, stored in baby-blue freezers courtesy of London gelato company Chin Chin Labs.
A metallic palm tree decorates the store
“I’m thrilled to bring SKIMS Swim to London for the first-time ever and take over The Corner Shop at Selfridges with our most conceptual pop-up experience to date,” said SKIMS co-founder and creative director Kim Kardashian.
“We have followers all over the world,” she added. “As we enter the next phase of SKIMS retail, I look forward to connecting with these customers through innovative shopping experiences on a global scale.”
A metallic palm tree completes the poolside atmosphere
Returning for its second year, SKIMS’s swimwear offering is pitched towards providing various levels of coverage for different body types and modesty requirements.
This is an extension of the brand’s drive to create inclusive underwear and shapewear that works for people of different sizes and abilities, following the launch of its Adaptive Collection last year.
Over the next three years, the brand is planning to open a roster of freestanding stores across the UK and EU.
