Credit Cards Raising Minimum Payments
Consumers who tend to make only the minimum payment due on their credit card bill each month can expect to write bigger checks than in the past. That's because many credit card issuers are increasing their minimum payment requirements after federal banking regulators expressed concerns about borrowers getting deeper in debt and taking too long to pay off their card balance.

"Being required to send in more money may seem like bad news but the bottom line is that it's good news in the long run in that you will be paying your debt off sooner and paying less in interest charges," said Janet Kincaid, FDIC Senior Consumer Affairs Officer. If you have questions, contact your card issuer.

Interim Final Rules on the Use of Medical Information
Federal financial regulators in June issued interim final rules that clarify instances in which a lender can obtain or use a consumer's medical information in connection with a decision about credit eligibility. The agencies said that a lender generally cannot consider a consumer's medical status or prognosis in making a credit-related decision but can consider payment information, such as whether he or she owes money to a hospital.

The regulations contain a few limited exceptions, such as one that allows a lender to consider medical information if doing so would be to the benefit of the consumer. For example, a creditor could consider someone's medical information if the person is requesting a higher credit limit to pay for a medical emergency.

The interim final rules will take effect on March 7, 2006.

New FDIC Service for Finding Bank Information
A new service on the FDIC's Web site enables you to quickly and easily answer questions such as: Is my bank insured? Where are its branches located? How can I find my bank's Web site? And, has a bank closed, merged or changed names?

To use the Bank Find page, go to www2.fdic.gov/idasp/main_bankfind.asp.