The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today issued tips to help consumers spend less, save more, protect against fraud and borrow wisely at any time, but especially during a difficult economy. The advice was published as a special edition of the FDIC Consumer News (the Winter 2008/2009 issue) entitled "Managing Your Money in Good Times and Bad."

The new publication can be read or printed at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0809. To order up to two free paper copies, consumers can use the online form on that same Web page or call the Federal Citizen Information Center toll-free at 1-888-8-PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256) weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time and ask for Department 92.

Among the topics covered:

• Simple ways to cut back on spending;
• Tips on how to continue adding money to savings accounts;
• Ways to be sure that deposits are fully protected within the FDIC's insurance limits;
• Proactive measures for consumers to consider taking if they're having problems managing a loan, credit card or other expenses;
• The new assistance program for many distressed mortgage borrowers announced by the Obama Administration;
• Tips for avoiding frauds and rip-offs that target distressed homeowners, consumers who are late paying their bills, people who have lost their jobs, and others facing financial troubles in a slow economy; and
• Ways to get a good loan and save money on existing loans and credit cards, including how to improve a credit score.

The goal of FDIC Consumer News is to deliver timely, reliable and innovative tips and information about financial matters, free of charge. Current and past issues of FDIC Consumer News, including previously published special editions, are online at www.fdic.gov/consumernews.

There are two ways to subscribe to the quarterly FDIC Consumer News. To receive an e-mail about each new issue with links to stories, go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html. To receive the newsletter in the mail, free of charge, call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-275-3342, send an e-mail to publicinfo@fdic.gov or write to the FDIC Public Information Center, 3501 North Fairfax Drive, Room E-1002, Arlington, VA 22226.

The FDIC encourages financial institutions, government agencies, consumer organizations, educators, the media and anyone else to help make the tips and information in FDIC Consumer News widely available. The publication may be reprinted in whole or in part without advance permission. Organizations also may link to or mention the FDIC Web site.

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Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 8,305 banks and savings associations and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars – insured financial institutions fund its operations.

FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically (go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-38-2009