On Thursday, a significant number of Capital One customers reported problems with their direct deposits, causing concern for many who rely on timely access to their funds. As of Thursday morning, more than 2,000 users had expressed frustration over the banking service’s failure to show their expected direct deposits, according to Down Detector, a reputable platform that tracks website and app outages.

By the afternoon, it appeared that some progress had been made, with reports of outages reducing to just over 1,700 by 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time. However, for those affected, the issue created a tense situation, as direct deposits are often critical for managing monthly bills and living expenses.

Real Concerns from Real Customers

Social media was abuzz with complaints, as many customers turned to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustrations. One user summed up the sentiment succinctly: “Some of us have bills to pay and groceries to buy. At least keep us in the loop.” This highlights not only the inconvenience of the technical issue but also the anxiety it causes for individuals who count on their bank to provide reliable services.

Capital One’s Response

In response to the outcry, Capital One acknowledged the issue and assured its customers that it was actively working to resolve the glitch. While specific details about the nature of the technical difficulties have not been disclosed, the bank has expressed its commitment to restoring normal operations as quickly as possible. As financial tech failures can prompt feelings of mistrust, transparency in communication is key during these situations.

What Should Affected Customers Do?

For Capital One customers experiencing issues with their direct deposits, here are a few steps to consider:

1. Check for Updates: Stay informed by checking Capital One’s official social media channels and website for updates regarding the technical issues.
2. Contact Customer Support: If you haven’t received your expected payment, contact Capital One’s customer service for clarification on your account status.
3. Monitor Your Account: Regularly check your bank account for updates on your direct deposit status and any other service announcements.
4. Plan for Contingencies: If you anticipate payments may be delayed, consider adjusting your budget temporarily to accommodate any unexpected expenses.

Conclusion

Banking issues like those experienced by Capital One customers on Thursday serve as a reminder of our reliance on financial institutions for our everyday needs. While banks strive to deliver seamless services, technical hiccups can happen. For now, it’s crucial for customers to remain patient and informed as Capital One works diligently to resolve the situation and restore access to their funds.

If you’ve been affected, share your experience and solutions. Community support during these times can make all the difference!

CBS News Reporting on the issue: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/capital-one-direct-deposit-issues/

STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.

Advertisement

https://stmdailynews.com/

Affordability and job growth are key drivers of competition 

• Competition among buyers never cooled in Buffalo last year, and that heat should keep smoldering through 2025.
• Hot markets spread from the Northeast, Great Lakes and South regions into the Midwest and West.
• Virginia Beach jumped farthest up the list from 2024, leapfrogging over 23 markets.

SEATTLE, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Buffalo, New York, will be the hottest major housing market in 2025, according to a new analysis by Zillow®, the first time a market has held the title in back-to-back years. Relative affordability and few homes for sale are common threads among what should be the most competitive markets for buyers this year. 

“Construction that keeps pace with an area’s growth remains a crucial piece of keeping homes available and accessible. In chilly Buffalo, competition among buyers will remain hot, with employment growing far faster than builders are adding homes,” said Skylar Olsen, Zillow chief economist. “Shoppers nationwide should see more options for sale than in recent years, along with slow and steady price growth. That’s the good news. But both buyers and sellers should expect unpredictable mortgage rates.”

This hotness ranking of the nation’s 50 most populous metros takes into account Zillow’s forecast for local home value growth and how quickly homes are selling. It also considers job growth per new home permitted and expected growth in owner-occupied households. 

Zillow forecast Buffalo to be the hottest market in 2024, and that prediction proved prescient. Sellers held a strong advantage in negotiations there throughout last year, according to Zillow’s market heat index.

Buffalo has the most new jobs per new home permitted — a measure of expected demand. New jobs often mean new residents, which raises competition and drives up prices unless builders can match the additional demand.

Although affordability has improved slightly compared to last year, it’s still top of mind for buyers. Lower-than-average home prices and rent costs in Buffalo as well as Midwest metros like Indianapolis, St. Louis and Kansas City have bolstered demand in these areas, helping push them to the top of the list. 

Relative affordability is a powerful force, too. Nearby alternatives to expensive Northeastern metros like New York and Boston dominated Zillow’s list of the most popular cities among home shoppers in 2024. Metropolitan areas in the same vein — Providence, Hartford and Philadelphia — rank high on this list as well.

Hartford, Providence, Indianapolis and Charlotte are all among the top five in Zillow’s forecast for home value appreciation in 2025. Hartford leads the pack with 4.2% expected growth. But home value growth is set to largely level out this year — even these standout metros look tame compared to the double-digit annual appreciation seen in 2021 and 2022. 

Advertisement

Rising fastest in the ranks from 2024’s hottest markets list is Virginia Beach, which leapfrogged over 23 markets to the No. 13 spot this year, driven by job growth that has far outpaced new home permitting. Memphis fell the farthest by the same token, dropping 30 places, as new home permitting has eclipsed low job growth. 

After the entire western half of the country was shut out of last year’s top 10, Salt Lake City nudged its way onto this year’s list at No. 10. San Diego was the only other Western metro in the top 20, at No. 19. 

Mortgage rates are likely to continue on their bumpy path in 2025, and swings will have a major impact on which homes shoppers can afford or even qualify for. Zillow Home Loans’ BuyAbility^SM tool tracks rates in real time to show users which homes fit their budget.

About Zillow Group:
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and easier buying, selling, financing, and renting experiences. 

Zillow Group’s affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Zillow Rentals®, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce®, and Follow Up Boss®. 

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2025 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

(ZFIN)

Advertisement

SOURCE Zillow

Beauty meets convenience with largest specialty U.S. beauty retailer now available on Instacart for delivery in as fast as an hour from more than 1,400 stores

SAN FRANCISCO and BOLINGBROOK, Ill., Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), the leading grocery technology company in North America, and Ulta Beauty, the nation’s largest beauty retailer, today announced a nationwide partnership to offer same-day delivery. With this collaboration, Ulta Beauty’s unparalleled assortment – spanning every category and price point – now available for delivery in as fast as an hour via Instacart from more than 1,400 stores across the United States.

From established to emerging beauty brands, Instacart customers can now shop a wide selection of beloved skin care, hair care, cosmetics, fragrances, and wellness products with even greater convenience. This partnership also integrates Ulta Beauty Rewards™ into the Instacart App, allowing members to earn points on every Ulta Beauty purchase made via Instacart by linking their accounts  through Ulta Beauty’s storefront.* To celebrate the launch of the partnership, customers can receive $10 off their $50 order through January 26.**

“Our partnership with Ulta Beauty comes at a perfect time when millions of Instacart customers are setting new intentions, focusing on wellness, and envisioning aspirational versions of themselves,” said Blake Wallace, Senior Director of Retail Partnerships at Instacart. “With Ulta Beauty’s wide range of products now available on Instacart, we’re giving customers more selection, convenience, and beauty options in the New Year and beyond.”

“Reimagining how and where beauty lovers can shop with us has always been at the core of Ulta Beauty’s mission,” said Jodi Williams, Vice President of eCommerce at Ulta Beauty. “Our collaboration with Instacart allows us to meet guests in even more places, offering fast and seamless access to the products they love. With self-care top of mind in the New Year, this partnership debuts at the perfect time to help guests refresh their rituals and routines with ease.”

Ulta Beauty joins more than 1,500 retailer banners already available on the Instacart App – ranging from grocery to beauty to home improvement to pet supplies. To begin shopping from Ulta Beauty for same-day delivery via Instacart, customers nationwide can visit https://www.instacart.com/store/ulta/storefront or select the Ulta Beauty storefront on the Instacart App. 

*For full details, see Program Terms and Conditions
**$10 off is valid through 1/26/2025 at 11:59PM PT and is valid only in the United States for one order of $50 or more with Ulta Beauty and purchased through Instacart.com, while supplies last. Discount will be applied to the total purchase price for all non-alcohol products, and excludes taxes, service fees, special handling fees and/or other fees; offer cannot be applied to alcohol products. Deliveries subject to availability. In order to take advantage of this offer, customers must have a valid account on Instacart.com with a valid form of accepted payment on file. Only one offer per household. Instacart reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time. Offer may not be sold, copied, modified, transferred or used retroactively for prior purchases. Void where restricted or prohibited by law. Offer may not be combined with any other sale, promotion, discount, code, coupon, and/or offer. Offer has no cash value. Instacart is not a retailer or seller. Instacart may not be available in all zip or post codes.

About Instacart
Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 1,500 national, regional, and local retail banners to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 85,000 stores across North America on the Instacart Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of people to get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for approximately 600,000 Instacart shoppers to earn by picking, packing and delivering orders on their own flexible schedule. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of CPG brands – from category leaders to emerging brands – partner with the company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. With Instacart Health, the company is providing tools to increase nutrition security, make healthy choices easier for consumers, and expand the role that food can play in improving health outcomes. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company, and to start shopping, visit www.instacart.com. Maplebear Inc. is the registered corporate name of Instacart.

Advertisement

About Ulta Beauty

At Ulta Beauty, the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest U.S. beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. In 1990, the Company reinvented the beauty retail experience by offering a new way to shop for beauty – bringing together All Things Beauty, All in One Place®. Today, Ulta Beauty operates more than 1,400 retail stores across 50 states and also distributes its products through its website, which includes a collection of tips, tutorials, and social content. For more information, visit https://www.ulta.com.

SOURCE Maplebear Inc. dba Instacart

Visit STM Daily News for more information.