12 fun Super Bowl terms that could apply to personal finance

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With Super Bowl LII just days away, many football fans are thinking about where they’re going to watch the big game and who will win. For the sport of it, we thought it would be fun if we combined what we know about personal finance and football to show that the two are not that different.

Football and finance: 12 terms that apply to both fields

Here are 12 terms from the gridiron that translate perfectly in the financial world. Are you ready to play? Hut, hut, hut! Let’s go!

Block: Banks can block payments if they find suspicious transactions or if you report identity theft or your card stolen. In football, a block involves obstructing another player from getting to the ball handler.

First down: In finance, this is your initial or down payment on an item. This is typically a sizable amount and will determine how much you borrow and in many cases, your interest rate. In football, it’s the initial play of a team’s offensive possession and then again each time the offense covers 10 or more yards.

Eligible receiver: When you send money to someone via wire transfer or deposit and it goes through without a hitch. In football, it’s when a player has been cleared by the referees to catch a forward pass.

Extra point: An additional fee paid to the lender during the closing of a real estate deal, especially a residential or commercial property. In football, it’s the kick after a touchdown.

Hike: When your banking institution goes up on banking fees such as service charges. In football, it’s typically what the quarterback says to start a live play.

Holding: When a banking institution puts a hold on your account, typically when you deposit a check and want to withdraw funds but it hasn’t been processed. In football, it’s the illegal restraining of another player.

Nickel or dime defense: When you complain to the bank that you’re being nickel and dimed with all the fees they’re charging. In football, a dime defense is a formation involving six defensive backs. This is what it looks like in the NFL.

Pocket: In football, it’s the immediate area around the quarterback after he snaps the ball. In finance, it’s where the money is!

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Quarterback: The change you get when your item costs 75 cents and you hand over a dollar. In football, this player is responsible for calling the play in the huddle and distributing the ball.

Sacks: Or as they spell it in the financial world, Sachs. In football, it’s when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

Safety: Financial institutions and brokerage houses offer a number of products to protect their customers’ financial safety, although there are inherent security risks in any market. In football, it’s typically called when the ball carrier steps out of bounds or is tackled in the end zone.

Targeting: When you get unsolicited mail from a bank or credit card company. In football, it’s a personal foul committed by tackling a player using the crown of the helmet.

Well, we covered as many as we could think of. If you have any other terms that come to mind, go ahead and tackle them in the comments!

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