Trust in financial content starts with showing your work. This page explains exactly how Buncto researches, verifies, and maintains the guides on this site.
In this article
Our Research Process
Every article published on Buncto follows a structured research process before it reaches publication. This process exists because fintech products change frequently, and outdated or inaccurate financial information can cost readers real money.
Step 1: Primary Source Review
We start every piece of research with primary sources. For fintech and banking topics, that means:
- Regulatory filings: FDIC BankFind records to verify insurance status and partner bank relationships. CFPB complaint databases to identify patterns in consumer issues. OCC interpretive letters and enforcement actions for regulatory context.
- Official product documentation: Terms of service, fee schedules, account agreements, and privacy policies published by the financial product provider. These documents contain the binding details that marketing pages leave out.
- SEC filings: For publicly traded fintech companies, 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly filings provide verified financial data, risk disclosures, and customer metrics.
- Federal Register notices: For regulatory changes affecting fintech, such as BNPL reporting rules or neobank charter requirements.
Step 2: Product Testing
When we write about a financial product, we test it ourselves whenever practically possible. This means:
- Going through the actual application or sign-up process and documenting what information is required
- Exploring the app interface, features, settings, and customer support channels
- Tracking fees, transaction speeds, and account behavior over time
- Testing specific claims made in the provider’s marketing, such as early direct deposit timing or fee-free ATM network coverage
When firsthand testing is not possible (for example, products requiring specific eligibility we do not meet), we disclose that limitation in the article.
Step 3: Changelog and Update Tracking
Fintech apps update frequently. A feature that existed last month may work differently today. We track:
- App store update logs for major fintech apps
- Official blog posts and press releases from product providers
- Changes to terms of service and fee schedules (we maintain archived copies of key documents)
- Regulatory announcements that affect how products operate
Step 4: Cross-Verification
Before publishing a factual claim, we verify it against at least two independent sources. If a claim can only be verified by a single source, we attribute it explicitly (“according to Chime’s account agreement” rather than stating it as universal fact).
We do not cite other blogs, review sites, or aggregators as primary evidence. These sources may have their own inaccuracies. We go directly to the provider, the regulator, or the legal document.
What We Will Not Do
- Fabricate data. We never invent statistics, user counts, ratings, growth figures, or review scores. Every number on this site traces back to a verifiable source.
- Hard-code dates. Financial products and regulations change. We write “when I last checked” or “as of [specific date]” rather than stating things as permanent facts.
- Publish unverifiable claims. If we cannot verify a fact against a primary source, we cut the sentence rather than publish it with a hedge.
- Present affiliate content as editorial. Our Disclosure Policy explains how we handle affiliate relationships. Referral fees never influence which products we recommend or how we rank them.
How We Handle Corrections
We make mistakes. When we do, we fix them transparently:
- Factual errors: Corrected immediately upon discovery. The article is updated with a visible correction note at the top, including the date and what was changed.
- Outdated information: Updated during our regular review cycle or when we become aware of a change. The “Last reviewed” date on the article is updated to reflect the new review.
- Reader-reported issues: We investigate every correction request sent to contact@buncto.fun. If the reader is right, we credit them in the correction note (with their permission).
We do not silently edit published articles to remove errors. If the substance of an article changes, the correction is noted visibly.
Content Freshness
Financial information decays faster than most content. Our freshness standards:
- High-priority guides (pillar pages, product comparisons): Reviewed and updated at least every 30 days
- Standard articles: Reviewed quarterly or when a relevant change is identified
- Legal and policy pages: Reviewed annually or when regulations change
Every article displays a “Last reviewed” date near the byline. This date reflects the most recent time the content was verified for accuracy, not just when a minor edit was made.
Editorial Independence
Buncto’s editorial content is independent of its revenue sources. Affiliate relationships, which are disclosed on every relevant page and in our Disclosure Policy, do not influence:
- Which products we choose to cover
- How we rank or compare products
- Whether we recommend or advise against a product
- The factual content of our articles
If a product has an affiliate link, we disclose that. If a product does not have an affiliate program, we cover it anyway if it belongs in the article.
Questions About Our Research
If you want to know the source behind a specific claim, or if you believe we have made an error, contact us at contact@buncto.fun. We will provide the source or correct the mistake.