Consumer Information

Consumer Protection

• Federal Reserve Consumer Help
  Find information on consumer credit, consumer protection, credit reports, foreclosures, frauds and scams, home mortgages and more.

Credit

• 5 Tips for Improving Your Credit Score (FR Board)
  Helps consumers understand how a credit score is determined and provides steps to improve it.
• Credit Card Information (FR Board)
  Provides a basic guide to navigating the credit card process.
• Credit Guide (FRB Chicago)
  Helps you get a good start in establishing credit, avoid hazards and know where to go and what to do if you have credit problems.

The Economy

• Economic Indicators for Consumers (FRB Richmond)
  Explains the key measures of economic well-being and what to watch for in the news media.
• What's a Dollar Worth? (FRB Minneapolis)
  CPI inflation calculator lets you find out how much a product or service purchased in one year would be worth in another.

Home Mortgages

• A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing (FR Board)
  Contains useful tips and answers to frequently asked questions about the refinancing process
• Mortgage Comparison Calculator (FR Board)
  Helps consumers make informed decisions when shopping for home loans.
• Foreclosure Resources for Consumers (FR Board)
  Information and links to agencies and organizations that may be able to help you if you are having difficulty making your mortgage payment.
• Mortgage Payments Sending You Reeling? Here's What to Do (Federal Trade Commission)
  explains the different kinds of mortgages, what to do if you're behind in your payments, how to avoid default and foreclosure, and how to avoid predatory scams.
• Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (FR Board)
  Helps consumers understand this important and complex mortgage option available to homebuyers.
• Understanding the Process and Your Right to Fair Lending (FR Board)
  Explains where to look, what to look for and what takes place when you apply for a mortgage.
• Looking for the Best Mortgage: Shop, Compare, Negotiate (FR Board)
  Shop for the mortgage package that best meets your financial needs.
• Putting Your Home on the Line is Risky Business (FR Board)
  What you should know about home equity lines of credit.
• Mortgage Servicing: Making Sure Your Payments Count (FTC)
  Know what a mortgage servicer does and what your rights are.
• Putting Your Home on the Line Is Risky Business (FR Board)
  What to consider before taking out a home-equity loan to solve money problems.
• What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit (FR Board)
  Explains home equity lines of credit, where to look for one and the costs of maintaining it.

Identity Theft

• Identity Theft (FRB Boston)
  Keys to understanding what identity theft is, how it happens, how to protect yourself, and what steps to take if your identity is stolen.
• Fighting Back Against Identity Theft (FTC)
  What to do and who to contact if you think your identity has been stolen.
• Internet Pirates Are Trying to Steal Your Information (OCC)
  How to identify and protect yourself from the latest Internet scam—phishing, a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Interest Rates

• Find the current Discount Rate, Prime Rate, Fed Funds Rate and rates for Certificates of Deposit. (FR Board)
• Compound Interest Calculator
  Allows you to figure interest over a period of time.
• Interest Rates: An Introduction (FRB New York)
  Learn the basics of interest rates: what they are, how they're determined and what they do.
• The ABCs of Figuring Interest (FRB Chicago)
  Walks you through the basics of calculating the most common types of interest.

Money and Banking

• Take It to the Bank: Your Guide to Opening a Bank Account
  Developed for the Bank on Dallas campaign, this guide provides information on why a bank account is needed and advice on how to open and manage an account. Also available in Spanish.
  
• MyMoney.gov
  Federal Government's website dedicated to helping Americans understand more about their money—how to save it, invest it, and manage it to meet their personal goals.
• Protecting Yourself Against Overdraft and Bounced-Check Fees (FR Board)
  What you can do to avoid bouncing checks and suffering the often high-cost assciated with it.
• When Is Your Check Not a Check: Electronic Check Conversion (FR Board)
  Explains how electronic check conversion works and what your rights are as a consumer.
• Currency Information (Bureau of Engraving and Printing)
  Information on the newly designed currency notes as well as designs of past U.S. notes.
• Coin Information (U.S. Mint)
  Find out about newly minted coins, the new state quarters and commemorative coin sets.
• Dollars and Cents (FRB Atlanta) Facts about U.S. currency and coin: how they are made, design and features, circulation and how to spot counterfeits.
• ETA—Electronic Transfer Account (U.S. Treasury)
  Find a provider that offers this low-cost account to which your federal benefit, wage, salary or retirement payment can be deposited electronically.
  ETA informational brochure available in English and Spanish
• How to File a Consumer Complaint About a Bank (FR Consumer Help)
  What to do if you think a bank has been unfair or deceptive in its dealings with you or has violated a law or regulation.
• Complaints and Inquiries Hotline: 888-851-1920

Savings Bonds and Treasury Securities

• Treasury Securities & Programs (U.S. Treasury)
  Information on Treasury bills, notes, bonds and Savings Bonds.
• Savings Bond Redemption Calculator (U.S.Treasury)
  Compute the redemption values of your Savings Bonds.
• Treasury Direct (U. S. Treasury)
  Operated by the Bureau of Public Debt, TreasuryDirect allows you to buy Treasury securities—T-bills, notes, and bonds—directly from the government.

Vehicle Leasing

• Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide (FR Board)