How Would You Improve the Money Smart Curriculum for Adults?
The FDIC is updating the instructor-led Money Smart curriculum for adults, and we want to hear from financial educators, bankers, consumers and others about ways we
can enhance the curriculum. Please submit your tips and comments by August 14, 2009 to Communityaffairs@fdic.gov.
The revised version of Money Smart is expected to be ready to order in late December.
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News and Information about Financial Education from the FDIC
In This Issue
Message from the FDIC
FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, in a recent speech in Washington, DC, challenged financial educators to think about new ways to teach money management -- to young kids as
well as adults -- so that more consumers will be better prepared to both protect themselves and to help prevent another economic crisis. And with this issue of Money Smart
News, you'll find reports (as well as a link to Chairman Bair's speech) that we believe can help inspire financial educators to find the innovative approaches
that best suit the needs of their students.
Here you'll read about the latest Money Smart product from the FDIC -- a portable audio (MP3) version of our award-winning financial education curriculum
that presents the essentials of money management in a podcast format for people on the go. Portable audio players have become increasingly popular among adults -- of
all ages and income ranges, and for everything from listening to music to downloading audio files from the Web. We think the time is right to take financial education
beyond the classroom and beyond the computer and into speakers and headphones all across America.
In another example of how to reach people on the go, see our latest "Success Stories" about how Money Smart partners are teaming up with major employers to
teach financial education classes at the workplace. These arrangements save time and effort for workers who need help saving more from their paychecks and learning about
mainstream financial services, resulting in a win-win situation for employers, employees and financial educators.
This issue of Money Smart News also features an FDIC brochure on foreclosure and loan modification scams (we told you about this in our Spring issue
but now we have a Spanish translation available); a revised publication from federal regulators about stopping identity theft; the latest issue of the FDIC's quarterly
newsletter for consumers; and an interactive, online version of an actual exhibit describing the history of the FDIC, the role of the agency today, and some other
interesting facts. You can also learn about a new partnership to help promote financial education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Our main point is this: Just as financial institutions must always be researching and developing new products and services, financial educators should be doing their
own research and development to better meet the ever-changing needs of their students. We hope you'll gain some new insights and new ideas in our newsletter. We also hope
you'll remember that your FDIC Regional Community Affairs Officer can be a valuable resource as
you continue to use financial education to help consumers navigate through changing times.
Likewise, the FDIC values the insights and ideas of Money Smart partners as we strive to meet the changing needs of financial educators. That is why we are
asking for your suggestions for how we can improve and enhance the Money Smart curriculum. Please see the box above for more details.
Sandra L. Thompson Director FDIC Division of
Supervision and Consumer Protection
FDIC Introduces a Portable Audio (MP3) Version of Money Smart
The FDIC has released the Money Smart Podcast Network, the portable audio (MP3) version of the agency's award-winning financial education curriculum. The new
version of Money Smart is suitable for use with virtually all MP3 players so that consumers of all ages can learn to make informed and prudent financial decisions
while "on the go." It is available free of charge, easily reproduced, and has no copyright restrictions. For more information, see
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/press/2009/mspr0901.html.
Chairman Bair Speaks on Financial Education
FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, in a June 17 speech at the Operation Hope Global Financial Literacy Summit in Washington, DC, reflected on the critical role that financial
education plays in helping consumers protect themselves from bad loans, fraud and other troubles. She also offered her vision for using financial education early and often
in the future. "It's absolutely essential that people of all ages -- and I mean all ages starting in kindergarten – learn financial basics so they can make prudent
financial decisions," she said. To read Chairman Bair's speech, go to
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/speeches/chairman/spjun1709.html.
FDIC Publishes Spanish Version of Foreclosure Scam Brochure
The FDIC has published a Spanish translation of the new brochure "Beware of Foreclosure and Loan Modification Scams" that was previously reported in our Spring 2009
issue. This resource provides information on common scams, tips for detecting fraudulent deals, and resources for reporting criminal activity. The Spanish version of the
brochure is available at http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/rescuesp/index.html.
Find the English version at http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/rescue/index.html.
Our Latest Success Stories: What Works in the Workplace and at Military Installations
For this edition of our Money Smart Success Stories, we describe a few ways that financial education can be offered in the workplace, plus we look at some
"financial readiness" programs for military personnel and their families. (Read the stories and tips.)
Federal Regulators Revise Brochure on Protecting Against ID Theft
The federal bank, credit union and thrift regulatory agencies have published a revised version of their free consumer brochure that helps consumers prevent and resolve
identity theft. The updated brochure, entitled "You Have the Power to Stop Identity Theft," focuses primarily on "phishing" – on Internet
pirates trying to steal personal financial information. Find the brochure at
http://www.ncua.gov/NewsPublications/Publications/PDF/brochures/IdentityTheft/PhishBrochure-Web.pdf
(PDF Help)
The Latest FDIC Consumer News Features Tips on How to Protect Against Foreclosure Frauds, Easy Money Schemes and Other Costly Deals
Many people concerned about their mortgage, their job or their finances may be especially vulnerable to scams and other costly "fixes" for their problems.
The Spring 2009 FDIC Consumer News features tips to help consumers be on guard financially in the current economy. Other topics include the extension of $250,000
deposit insurance, more about mortgage modification programs, and shopping for a CD. The FDIC encourages financial institutions, financial educators and others to
distribute the information in FDIC Consumer News by reprinting, linking to the material, or making copies and affixing their name or logo. Anyone can subscribe
for free. See the latest newsletter and subscription information at
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnspr09.
FDIC, White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Launch Partnership
The FDIC and the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have established a partnership partly intended to help ensure that students and faculty have access to high-quality financial
education materials. The collaboration also will focus on enhancing money-management skills in the communities served by the HBCUs, including small businesses.
For more details, go to http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2009/pr09089.html.
Learn More About The Rich History and Vital Current Work of the FDIC
Financial educators and their students interested in learning more about the history of the FDIC (including how and why it was established in 1933) and its important
roles today, can view our interactive, online exhibit at http://www.fdic.gov/75exhibit.
Reminders
Send Us Your Success Stories
The FDIC wants to hear how Money Smart is making a difference. We're interested in finding out about your programs and procedures, tips and other information that
Money Smart educators and partners might find useful. The best contributions may appear in a future issue of Money Smart News.
See our previously published success stories.
Submit your stories today!
Keep Up With Money Smart News
To subscribe to a listserv that will e-mail you each new edition of Money Smart News, follow the instructions at
www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html. The FDIC does not send unsolicited e-mail. If this publication has reached
you in error, or if you no longer wish to receive this service, please unsubscribe.
For More Help or Information
If you need additional assistance, contact your regional Community Affairs Officer; or if you would like
additional information on the Money Smart program, visit our overview.
Past Issues
See other issues of the quarterly Money Smart News dating back to 2003.
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