(NAPSA)—Oh, how the tides have turned. According to the 2002 National Housing Survey by home loan giant Fannie Mae, 70 percent of Americans now see owning a homeas a solid investment—a 40 percent jump from 2001. But while it seems everyone these days is attempting to save up for a houseor find a great deal on a car loan, they may be overlooking some of the best fringe benefits of their spendthrift ways. Savvy travelers have figured out how to leverage their favorite loyalty program. These programs give them the opportunity to earn points or miles through airline or hotel stays that they can redeem for free travel and other services. One of the best in the business is Hilton HHonors. Its members earn points and airline miles for the same stay at more than 2,400 participating hotels. However, many members don’t know they can also benefit through keyrelationships with companiesthatoffer a host of financial services. Here are some tips for earning bonus points while managing your money with HHonors program partners: Log onto Peoplefirst.com/ Hilton for a hassle-free way to refinance your existing vehicle loan and drive away with 7,000 bonus points. Peoplefirst, a Capital One company, can also assist you with buying a new or used car or motorcycle. All loans of at least $7,500 qualify for the bonus. To submit your loan request, visit the Website. can earn 3,000 HHonors bonus points for a minimum deposit of $2,000; 10,000 points for a minimum deposit of $7,500; and 22,000 points for a minimum deposit of $15,000. This offer is available to participants through November 30, 2008, at www.ameri trade.com/hhonors. Get your next home loan through a national leader in residential finance and receive 2,500 bonus points for every $10,000 by With a rewards program, meeting your financial goals can pay off with free travel or accommodations. Enjoy faster business loans without the paperwork at iBank. This service is terrific whether you need $50 million for a commercial hotel real estate loan or $500 for an equipment lease. The company has processed more than $3 billion in commercial loans for its customers and has a nationwide network of 200 lenders who view, analyze and submit proposals to get the very best rates and terms. Just click on www.ibank.com/hhonors to get your loan application in the hands of qualified target lenders while earning 2,500 bonus points for every incremental $10,000 funded. Online investors now have a new way to earn points toward travel rewards through Ameritrade, a provider of self-directed brokerage services. Members in the U.S. who open a new account financing or refinancing your home loan with Countrywide Home Loans. Countrywide also offers 6,000 bonus points on home equity loans that can be used for anything from adding a room to remodeling your kitchen to consolidatingbills. “IT didn’t realize how easy it would be to earn points and miles for travel and meet my financial goals at the sametime,” said HHonors member Chris Lind. “Countrywide not only provided me with a very competitive rate, but has since provided me with an excellent home equity line of credit with very favorable terms.” For more information on these financial service opportunities, visit the partner sites listed, go to www.hiltonhhonors.com or call 1800-HHONORS. * Brokerage services provided exclusively by Ameritrade, Division of Ameritrade, Inc., member NASD /SIPC. Additional require- ments apply; go to www.ameri trade.com /hhonorsfor details.
