Nuts and Bolts: Tools for Today’s Economy

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) highlights consumer education efforts across the nation. NCPW 2009 can help people get the most for their money, whether they are trying to stretch their paychecks, improve their credit history, or tell the difference between a real deal and a potentially fraudulent product or service. For more information about this program visit: http://www.consumer.gov/ncpw/index.html.

The FDIC is a major sponsor of NCPW and provides several consumer-based Web products linked below:

Financial Education

Money Smart: A Financial Education Program
Money Smart is a training program to help individuals, particularly those outside the financial mainstream, enhance their money management skills and create positive banking relationships.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/index.html

Protect Yourself and Contact Us

Consumer Assistance Brochure
The Consumer Response Center strives to offer optimal customer service by responding to consumer complaints and inquiries in an objective, knowledgeable, professional, accurate, and timely fashion. Find out how to file a complaint and more
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/questions/consumer/complaint.html

Customer Assistance Online Form
Complete this form if you have a question regarding FDIC deposit insurance coverage, or an inquiry or a complaint regarding your financial institution.
https://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp

Consumer Alerts
A comprehensive look at how you can protect yourself against various threats, including phishing scams and identity theft.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html

Don’t Be an On-line Victim: How to Guard Against Internet Thieves and Electronic Scams
This presentation provides information on steps consumers should take to secure their computer and protect themselves from identity theft, as well as actions consumers should take if they become a victim of identity theft.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/guard/index.html

Consumer Publications

FDIC Consumer News
FDIC Consumer News provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Each issue offers helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/index.html

Safe Internet Banking
As use of the Internet continues to expand, more banks and thrifts are using the Web to offer products and services or otherwise enhance communications with consumers. The Internet offers the potential for safe, convenient new ways to shop for financial services and conduct banking business, any day, any time. However, safe banking online involves making good choices – decisions that will help you avoid costly surprises or even scams. This brochure offers information and tips to help you if you are thinking about or already using online banking systems.
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/online/safe.html

Looking for the Best Mortgage
Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A mortgage--whether it’s a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan--is a product, just like a car, so the price and terms may be negotiable. You’ll want to compare all the costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of dollars.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/looking/index.html

Your Insured Deposits
The FDIC protects depositors against the loss of their insured deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/insured/index.html

Your Investments: Consumer Facts
Consumer facts about investments that are not deposits and are not insured by the FDIC.
http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/investments/investments/index.html

Resources

Press Release
FDIC Encourages Taxpayers to Take Advantage of IRS Programs and Save More of Their Refunds
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2007/pr07006.html

FDIC Bank Find
FDIC Bank Find allows you to locate a single FDIC-insured institution by entering one or more of the criteria into certain fields
http://www2.fdic.gov/idasp/main_bankfind.asp

Edie The Estimator
EDIE the Estimator can calculate your FDIC insurance coverage for each FDIC-insured bank where you have deposit accounts. EDIE lets you know in a printable report for each bank whether your deposits are within or exceed coverage limits.
https://www.fdic.gov/edie/index.html

Unclaimed Funds
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides deposit insurance to financial institutions and depositors of these institutions. If a financial institution is closed by a regulatory agency, the FDIC is appointed as Receiver and is responsible for the payment of insured deposits and the liquidation of the remaining assets. If you did not claim your funds previously you now have another opportunity to do so.
http://www2.fdic.gov/funds/index.asp

Foreclosure Prevention
Provides information that may be helpful to consumers, financial institutions, and the community groups working with them on foreclosure-related issues.
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/index.html

Online Subscription Service
The FDIC's free subscription service lets you sign up for many different alerts, including news releases, Financial Institution Letters, statistical publications and others.
https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html