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By Libby Wells, Bankrate.com

Mobile banking is how a majority of Americans manage their money. But it’s also a growing target for fraud. The good news: when done right, it can actually be safer than swiping your debit card at a store.

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Here’s what experts say about how to keep your money — and your data — safe, plus how to choose banks that prioritize your security.

Is mobile banking safe?

In short, yes — if you’re smart about it.

“If you download the mobile app from a secure store, that is just as safe as visiting a bank branch,” says Paul Benda, senior vice president for operational risk and cybersecurity at American Bankers Association. read more

By JOSH FUNK

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tyson Foods’ decision to close a beef plant that employs nearly one third of residents of Lexington, Nebraska, could devastate the small city and undermine the profits of ranchers nationwide.

Closing a single slaughterhouse might not seem significant, but the Lexington plant employs roughly 3,200 people in the city of 11,000 and has the capacity to slaughter some 5,000 head of cattle a day. Tyson also plans to cut one of the two shifts at a plant in Amarillo, Texas, and eliminate 1,700 jobs there. Together those two moves will reduce beef processing capacity nationwide by 7-9%.

Consumers may not see prices change much at the grocery store over the next six months because all the cattle that are now being prepared for slaughter will still be processed, potentially just at a different plant. But in the long run, beef prices may continue to climb even higher than the current record highs — caused by a variety of factors from drought to tariffs — unless American ranchers decide to raise more cattle, which they have little incentive to do. read more

Jack Nicklaus’s former company has filed voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases after the golf legend won a $50 million award in a defamation lawsuit against the company last month.

Nicklaus filed the 2023 lawsuit against Nicklaus Companies LLC; the company’s executive chairman and billionaire banker Howard Milstein; and executive vice president of Nicklaus Companies Andrew O’Brien. It centered on statements made in another lawsuit filed in New York.

Nicklaus’s attorneys argued that the New York lawsuit included false claims that Nicklaus wanted to accept a leadership role with the controversial Saudi golf league LIV Golf, and those claims were widely circulated to news reporters, clients and others in the golfing world.

In October, the Palm Beach County jury determined Nicklaus Companies was liable for actively participating in the publishing of false facts and defamatory statements, awarding the 85-year-old North Palm Beach resident $50 million in damages, according to the verdict. The jury did not find Milstein and O’Brien personally liable, and they will not pay any part of the damages. read more

The next trip to space for Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner spacecraft won’t have a crew on board after NASA announced changes to the commercial crew contract that also slashes the total number of missions to the International Space Station.

NASA on Monday announced the update to the 2014 contract that originally called for six operational crewed flights to the station after completing both a successful uncrewed and crewed flight test.

Now, the contract reduces that total to four missions, although the remaining two will be available as options.

The move comes after Starliner’s last flight in June 2024, which flew to the station with two NASA astronauts for what was supposed to be as short as an eight-day stay on board.

But issues with its thrusters and helium leaks on its propulsion module led to NASA opting to send the spacecraft home without a crew, who ended up having to remain on board the station and be flown home on a SpaceX Dragon instead nearly 10 months after their arrival.

“After a thorough evaluation, NASA and Boeing have mutually agreed to modify the contract,” NASA posted in a press release. read more

By Tommy Tindall, NerdWallet

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — if being inundated with deals brings you joy.

If not, it can be kind of overwhelming. Officially, Black Friday is Nov. 28. But many sales are already underway.

Some examples: Target has daily deals happening now, and Best Buy is offering “early Black Friday deals,” too. Other retailers are planning for “Black Friday week” with sales starting Nov. 20 or sooner.

Manage the madness without marking up your calendar by simply knowing what a good price is for the items you want to buy.

You can also narrow down your list to the categories most likely to go low. We have some suggestions for you.

Buy: Top toys of the season

Toys make for a top category to get ahead of the Christmas curve. Every kid wants a Nintendo Switch 2, but don’t hold your breath for major markdowns on it. Instead, look for options like these, which are hot toys to grab now, according to website Toy Insider (and not as pricey as a game console).

• Melissa & Doug Sort, Stock, Select Beauty Kiosk Play Set
• Fisher-Price Imaginext Jurassic World Rebirth Ultimate Action Chomp T. Rex
• Play-Doh Barbie Designer Fashion Show Playset

“A new twist is that toy deals will be dropping earlier this year because people are worried about how tariffs will increase prices,” says Andrea Woroch, a money-saving expert who shares budgeting tips on her website. read more