This report provides explanations of checks and checking accounts and offers guidelines for their use. Types of checks which are explained include personal checks, negotiable orders of withdrawal, counter checks, universal checks, domestic and international money orders, cashier's checks, and travelers checks. A description of the different…

This report explains savings accounts and low-deposit investments in order to help consumers determine which accounts are right for them. It is divided into the following four sections (topics covered are listed in parentheses): (1) the savings program (setting savings goals, saving regularly, choosing a savings account, interest, the savings…

This report presents information on checking accounts, describes how to read a monthly statement from the bank, and provides guidelines for balancing a checkbook. Topics covered include: how banks record transactions; the importance of keeping personal records and of balancing the checkbook promptly; what happens when there are insufficient funds…

Thirty years ago a cashless society was predicted for the near future; paper currency and checks would be an antiquated symbol of the past. Consumers would embrace a new alternative for making payments: electronic money. But currency is still used for 87% of payments, mainly for "nickel and dime" purchases. And checks are the payment…

Designed for the general public and possibly suitable also for high school economics students, this pamphlet presents a brief overview of United States currency. Separate sections discuss the role of currency today, how the dollar has evolved, how the dollar got its name, laws concerning legal tender, types of currency in circulation, the meaning…

This report gives suggestions for starting a personal money plan, provides a worksheet for developing the plan, and offers ideas for putting the plan into action. Guidelines are presented for the following steps in developing a money plan: setting short- and long-term spending and saving goals; making a timetable for reaching those goals;…

This booklet provides brief descriptions of approximately 115 books, journals, looseleaf services, and reference materials pertinent to the thrift industry. It is noted that the bibliography can be used to establish a savings institution library or to update the collection of an existing one. Topics covered include finance, accounting, interest…

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is designed to encourage banks and thrifts to meet the financial credit and service needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, requiring that lenders use their private-sector resources to meet the financing needs of all communities in which lenders conduct business. This brief outlines several types of…

Ending the use of cash in the United States can provide substantial social and economic gain while requiring only modest levels of investment. One primary benefit is the reduction of cash-related crimes. Because most street crime is committed to obtain cash or uses cash as a transaction medium, elimination of cash will dramatically reduce crime.…

A study was conducted to determine who, within a target user group, used and benefitted from a videotex system. The subjects were large-scale farmers who agreed to have videotex terminals installed in their homes to receive a wide range of informational and commercial transaction services provided by a bank holding company. At the end of an…

Designed for the general public and possibly suitable also for high school economics students, this booklet briefly explains the terminology associated with general economic concepts about banking and the Federal Reserve System. Part 1 deals with financial regulators and institutions, including nondeposit intermediaries and depository…

Designed for the general public and possibly suitable also for high school economics students, this booklet examines the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFT), which protects consumers who use debit cards for the electronic transfer of funds. This commercially adapted version of the character in "Alice in Wonderland," uses a story-teller…

Designed for the general public and possibly suitable also for high school economics students, this pamphlet explains how a complaint against a Federal Reserve bank concerning a possible violation of any of the federal consumer credit laws can be filed. Seven consumer credit laws are listed with a brief statement about the major protections of…

This leader's guide is designed for use in conducting a seminar to train bank employees in correct procedures for issuing and redeeming U.S. Savings Bonds and in answering routine customer inquiries concerning savings bonds. Included in the first section of the guide are an overview of the purpose and content of the seminar, procedures for…

To assist in making funds available for student higher education loans and to keep their interest rates as low as possible, the Department of Education compensates participating lending institutions using a combination of interest subsidies and special allowance payments. Lenders use ED Form 799, Lender's Interest and Special Allowance Request and…