About
Rachel Witkowski is an award-winning journalist whose 20-year career spans a wide range of topics in finance, government regulation and congressional reporting. Ms. Witkowski has spent the last decade in Washington, D.C., reporting for publications including The Wall Street Journal, American Banker and Bankrate. Ms. Witkowski's deep knowledge of government and policy aided a series of investigative stories that triggered congressional hearings on employee claims of discrimination at a federal agency and how indirect auto lenders were being reviewed by regulators.
Rachel Witkowski’s journalism career spans nearly 20 years covering a wide range of finance topics, from personal loans to fintech and bank regulation. She has spent the last decade in Washington, D.C., covering finance and policy for publications including The Wall Street Journal, American Banker and Bankrate.
Ms. Witkowski has won several journalism awards including for investigations on immigration and the 2008 banking crisis in Florida. Her investigative series on employee discrimination at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau led to congressional hearings and $5 million in compensation to affected government employees. She was also among the “40 Under 40” recognized by the Women in Housing & Finance Inc.
Beyond finance, Ms. Witkowski also enjoys writing human-interest stories like the rising trend of crystal-clear large ice in cocktails, which ran in The Wall Street Journal, and first-person take on sitting in a 911 call center.
Ms. Witkowski has frequently spoken at financial conferences nationwide as well as in TV appearances, podcasts and radio interviews. She volunteers for various organizations including animal rescues, a women in crisis center and fostering student mentorships.
Expertise
- Finance
- Bank Regulation
- Policy
- Politics
- Government Agencies
- Mortgages
- Personal Loans
Achievements
- Nearly 20 years of experience as a financial journalist and editor
- Award-winning journalist for investigations of federal agencies leading to congressional review
- Frequent public speaker on finance, fintech and consumer protections
Other Publications
- CFPB Grapples with Spike in Employee Bias Complaints
- What’s the Hottest New Thing in Craft Cocktails? Ice Cubes
- CFPB Overestimates Potential Discrimination, Documents Show
- Trump Budget Calls for Cutting Flood-Insurance Funds
Education
Bachelors in Communications with a double major in print and broadcast journalism, University of North Florida
Honors and Awards
- Jesse H. Neal Award, finalist for Best News Coverage
- Women in Housing & Finance Inc.’s “40 Under 40”
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Mortgage Rates Today: March 22, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
The current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.38% with an APR of 7.30%, according to Curinos. The 15-year fixed mortgage has an average rate of 6.59% with an APR of 6.53%. On a 30-year jumbo mortgage,... -
Current National Refinance Rates: March 22, 2024—Rates Drop
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance fell today. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage refinance is 7.38%, according to Curinos, while the average rate on a 15-year mortgage refinance is 6.59%. On a 20-year mortgage refinance, the... -
Here Are Today’s Refinance Rates: March 21, 2024—Rates Cool Off
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance tumbled today. The current 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance rate is averaging 7.47%, according to Curinos, while 15-year, fixed-rate refinance mortgages average of 6.67%. For 20-year mortgage refinances, the average rate is 7.31%. Related:... -
Current National Refinance Rates: March 20, 2024—Rates Decrease
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance declined today. The current 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance rate is averaging 7.50%, according to Curinos, while 15-year, fixed-rate refinance mortgages average of 6.69%. For 20-year mortgage refinances, the average rate is 7.34%. Related:... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 20, 2024—30-Year Mortgage Rates Increase, 15-Year Rates Steady
Currently, the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.50%, compared to 7.37% a week ago. For borrowers who want to pay off their home faster, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.69%, up... -
Mortgage Refinance Rates Today: March 19, 2024—Rates Increase
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance inched up today. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage refinance is 7.52%, according to Curinos, while the average rate on a 15-year mortgage refinance is 6.74%. On a 20-year mortgage refinance,... -
Current National Refinance Rates: March 18, 2024—Rates Move Up
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance inched up today. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage refinance is 7.49%, according to Curinos, while the average rate on a 15-year mortgage refinance is 6.70%. On a 20-year mortgage refinance,... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 18, 2024—Rates Move Up
Today, the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.49%, according to Curinos. On a 15-year fixed mortgage, the average rate is 6.70%, and the average rate on a 30-year jumbo mortgage is 7.42%. Current Mortgage Rates... -
Current Refinance Rates: March 14, 2024—Rates Remain Steady
Refinance rates didn't budge today. The current 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance rate is averaging 7.37%, according to Curinos, while 15-year, fixed-rate refinance mortgages average of 6.63%. For 20-year mortgage refinances, the average rate is 7.21%. Related: Compare Current Refinance Rates... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 14, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
The current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.37%, compared to 7.42% a week earlier. For borrowers who want a shorter mortgage, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.63%, up 0.03 percentage point from... -
Current Refinance Rates: March 13, 2024—Rates Climb
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance increased today. The current 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance rate is averaging 7.37%, according to Curinos, while 15-year, fixed-rate refinance mortgages average of 6.60%. For 20-year mortgage refinances, the average rate is 7.17%. Related:... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 13, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell by 0.09 percentage point in the last week to 7.37%. Meanwhile, the APR on a 15-year fixed mortgage dropped 0.05 percentage point during the same period to 6.60%. For existing homeowners,... -
Current National Refinance Rates: March 12, 2024—Rates Jump Up
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance rose today. The average rate for refinancing a 30-year fixed mortgage is currently 7.35%, according to Curinos. For refinancing a 15-year mortgage, the average rate is 6.58%, and for 20-year mortgages, it’s 7.12%.... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 12, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
The current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.35%, compared to 7.50% a week earlier. For borrowers who want a shorter mortgage, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.58%, down 0.16 percentage point from... -
Mortgage Refinance Rates Today: March 11, 2024—Rates Inch Down
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance slipped today. The average rate for refinancing a 30-year fixed mortgage is currently 7.32%, according to Curinos. For refinancing a 15-year mortgage, the average rate is 6.51%, and for 20-year mortgages, it’s 7.08%.... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 11, 2024—Rates Move Down
The current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.32%, compared to 7.52% a week earlier. For borrowers who want a shorter mortgage, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.51%, down 0.25 percentage point from... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 8, 2024—Rates Move Down
Today, the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.34%, according to Curinos, while the average rate on a 15-year mortgage is 6.58%. On a 30-year jumbo mortgage, the average rate is 7.30%. Current Mortgage Rates for... -
Today’s Refinance Rates: March 8, 2024—Rates Decrease
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance slipped today. The average rate for refinancing a 30-year fixed mortgage is currently 7.34%, according to Curinos. For refinancing a 15-year mortgage, the average rate is 6.58%, and for 20-year mortgages, it’s 7.17%.... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 7, 2024—Rates Move Down
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell by 0.13 percentage point in the last week to 7.42%. Meanwhile, the APR on a 15-year fixed mortgage dropped 0.18 percentage point during the same period to 6.60%. For existing homeowners,... -
Current National Refinance Rates: March 7, 2024—Rates Drop
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance declined today. Refinancing rates for a 30-year, fixed-mortgage are averaging 7.42%, according to Curinos. For 15-year fixed mortgages, the average refinance rate is 6.60%, and for 20-year mortgages, the average is 7.27%. Related:... -
Current National Refinance Rates: March 6, 2024—Rates Drop
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance tumbled today. The current 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance rate is averaging 7.46%, according to Curinos, while 15-year, fixed-rate refinance mortgages average of 6.65%. For 20-year mortgage refinances, the average rate is 7.29%. Related:... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 6, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
The current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.46% with an APR of 7.37%, according to Curinos. The 15-year fixed mortgage has an average rate of 6.65% with an APR of 6.61%. On a 30-year jumbo mortgage,... -
Current Refinance Rates: March 5, 2024—Rates Inch Down
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance slipped today. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage refinance is 7.50%, according to Curinos, while the average rate on a 15-year mortgage refinance is 6.74%. On a 20-year mortgage refinance, the... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 5, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
Currently, the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.50%, compared to 7.53% a week ago. For borrowers who want to pay off their home faster, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.74%, down... -
Current Refinance Rates: March 4, 2024—Rates Dip
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance tumbled today. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage refinance is 7.52%, according to Curinos, while the average rate on a 15-year mortgage refinance is 6.76%. On a 20-year mortgage refinance, the... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 4, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
Today, the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage 7.52%, down 0.05 percentage point from the previous week. Borrowers may be able to save on interest costs by going with a 15-year fixed mortgage, as they generally have... -
Today’s Refinance Rates: March 1, 2024—Rates Move Upward
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance inched up today. Refinancing rates for 30-year, fixed-mortgages are averaging 7.56%, according to Curinos. For 15-year fixed mortgages, the average refinance rate is 6.73%, and for 20-year mortgages, the average is 7.41%. Related:... -
Mortgage Rates Today: March 1, 2024—Rates Remain Fairly Steady
Today, the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.56%, according to Curinos. On a 15-year fixed mortgage, the average rate is 6.73%, and the average rate on a 30-year jumbo mortgage is 7.42%. Current Mortgage Rates... -
Here Are Today’s Refinance Rates: February 29, 2024—Rates Inch Down
The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance declined today. The average rate for refinancing a 30-year fixed mortgage is currently 7.55%, according to Curinos. For refinancing a 15-year mortgage, the average rate is 6.78%, and for 20-year mortgages, it’s 7.41%....
About
Rachel Witkowski is an award-winning journalist whose 20-year career spans a wide range of topics in finance, government regulation and congressional reporting. Ms. Witkowski has spent the last decade in Washington, D.C., reporting for publications including The Wall Street Journal, American Banker and Bankrate. Ms. Witkowski's deep knowledge of government and policy aided a series of investigative stories that triggered congressional hearings on employee claims of discrimination at a federal agency and how indirect auto lenders were being reviewed by regulators.