1
Money Smart News Fall 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
Message from the FDIC
FDIC Releases New Instructor-
Led Version of Money Smart
FDIC Launches Spanish-
Language Podcast (MP3) Ver-
sion of Money Smart
Reports from the Field: More
Money Smart Success Stories
Federal Deposit Insurance Cov-
erage Permanently Increased
to $250,000 Per Depositor
Treasury Offers Financial Edu-
cation Toolkit, Online Exam for
High School Students
Consumer Alerts from the FDIC
Warn About Fraudulent or
Questionable Transactions
FDIC Consumer News Includes
Tips for Young Adults
Message from the FDIC
Nine years ago, the FDIC rolled out the Money Smart program to help
consumers learn how to manage money and form relationships with fed-
erally insured financial institutions. I am very pleased to say that since
that time, more than 2.5 million individuals -- from senior citizens to high
school students -- have benefited from a Money Smart education. This
issue of our Money Smart newsletter for financial educators describes
valuable updates to the Money Smart curriculum for adults.
Although the Money Smart curriculum continues to focus on the importance of saving
for the future, comparison shopping for financial services, and being on guard against
fraud, consumers also need to understand and be able to evaluate many new financial
services choices and options. And the Money Smart curriculum has evolved to help
people do just that. The curriculum now reflects changes as a result of newly enacted
legislation and industry practices and, in response to input from educators, incorpo-
rates proven strategies in instructional delivery.
For example, the Instructor Guide now includes a matrix for each module which will
help instructors select the most appropriate material for their audience. Exercises to be
administered before and after the workshop have been added to help participants and
instructors focus on the most relevant content and measure knowledge growth. And
finally, the Participant Take-Home Guide includes new tools and information that stu-
dents can use after completing a module.
I encourage you to order the new Money Smart free of charge at www.fdic.gov/
moneysmart and read all the articles in this edition of our newsletter, including success
stories about how Money Smart is making a lasting difference. We are honored to be
your trusted partner for quality, research-driven financial education tools, and we work
hard to ensure our resources meet your needs.
And, as always, if you want to learn more, speak with a specialist or offer your own
suggestions, please send an e-mail to the FDIC.
Sandra L. Thompson
Director
FDIC Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection
Money Smart News Fall 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
Message from the FDIC
FDIC Releases New Instructor-
Led Version of Money Smart
FDIC Launches Spanish-
Language Podcast (MP3) Ver-
sion of Money Smart
Reports from the Field: More
Money Smart Success Stories
Federal Deposit Insurance Cov-
erage Permanently Increased
to $250,000 Per Depositor
Treasury Offers Financial Edu-
cation Toolkit, Online Exam for
High School Students
Consumer Alerts from the FDIC
Warn About Fraudulent or
Questionable Transactions
FDIC Consumer News Includes
Tips for Young Adults
Message from the FDIC
Nine years ago, the FDIC rolled out the Money Smart program to help
consumers learn how to manage money and form relationships with fed-
erally insured financial institutions. I am very pleased to say that since
that time, more than 2.5 million individuals -- from senior citizens to high
school students -- have benefited from a Money Smart education. This
issue of our Money Smart newsletter for financial educators describes
valuable updates to the Money Smart curriculum for adults.
Although the Money Smart curriculum continues to focus on the importance of saving
for the future, comparison shopping for financial services, and being on guard against
fraud, consumers also need to understand and be able to evaluate many new financial
services choices and options. And the Money Smart curriculum has evolved to help
people do just that. The curriculum now reflects changes as a result of newly enacted
legislation and industry practices and, in response to input from educators, incorpo-
rates proven strategies in instructional delivery.
For example, the Instructor Guide now includes a matrix for each module which will
help instructors select the most appropriate material for their audience. Exercises to be
administered before and after the workshop have been added to help participants and
instructors focus on the most relevant content and measure knowledge growth. And
finally, the Participant Take-Home Guide includes new tools and information that stu-
dents can use after completing a module.
I encourage you to order the new Money Smart free of charge at www.fdic.gov/
moneysmart and read all the articles in this edition of our newsletter, including success
stories about how Money Smart is making a lasting difference. We are honored to be
your trusted partner for quality, research-driven financial education tools, and we work
hard to ensure our resources meet your needs.
And, as always, if you want to learn more, speak with a specialist or offer your own
suggestions, please send an e-mail to the FDIC.
Sandra L. Thompson
Director
FDIC Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection
2
Money Smart News Fall 2010
FDIC Releases New Instructor-Led Version of Money Smart
The FDIC has released an enhanced version of the instructor-led Money Smart financial education curriculum for adults.
The revised curriculum incorporates changes in the law as well as industry practices, including new content on overdraft
programs, taxes, insurance, and recent amendments to the rules governing credit cards. In addition, a new module,
"Financial Recovery," summarizes the steps consumers can take to recover and rebuild their finances after a financial
setback. Read more at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10239.html.
FDIC Launches Spanish-Language Podcast (MP3) Version Of Money Smart
The FDIC has released the Spanish-language version of the Money Smart Podcast Network to teach the Money
Smart curriculum using MP3 players. "This new version of Money Smart will be particularly relevant for U.S. consumers
who speak only Spanish at home," said FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair. The results of an FDIC survey of the unbanked
and underbanked show that about 36 percent of the households where Spanish is the only language spoken at home
are unbanked, compared with only seven percent for households in which Spanish is not the only language spoken. This
version of Money Smart is free and can be accessed at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/audio/
index.html.
Reports from the Field: More Money Smart Success Stories
This edition of our "Success Stories" focuses on how the curriculum is making a difference in a variety of settings. You
will read about a single parent who acted on the knowledge gained in Money Smart to set, achieve, and then exceed her
goal to build a savings fund. Other stories describe how a nonprofit organization is serving groups from senior citizens to
at-risk youths and how a high school is using Money Smart for Young Adults to meet new state educational require-
ments. (Read the stories.)
Federal Deposit Insurance Coverage Permanently Increased to $250,000 Per Depositor
President Barack Obama signed legislation on July 21, 2010, that, in part, permanently raises the standard maximum
deposit insurance amount to $250,000. The insurance coverage applies per depositor, per insured depository institution
for each account ownership category. To learn more, go to http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10161.html.
Financial educators also may be interested in the FDIC's updated brochures on deposit insurance coverage at http://
www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/index.html.
Treasury Offers Financial Education Toolkit, Online Exam for High School Students
High school teachers and other educators working with teen-age students are encouraged to register for the National
Financial Capability Challenge for 2010-11, coordinated by the U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury.
The Challenge features an online exam and a classroom toolkit that facilitates learning about critical financial literacy
topics. Educators and students who score in the top 20 percent nationally and those who score highest in their school
will receive award certificates. To learn more and register for the Challenge, visit http://www.challenge.treas.gov/.
Consumer Alerts from the FDIC Warn About Fraudulent or Questionable Transactions
As a public service on our "Consumer Alerts" Web page, the FDIC posts examples of fraudulent or questionable calls, e-
mails, or sales practices involving the agency's name or FDIC-insured products. For example, readers will learn that the
FDIC does not send unsolicited e-mails requesting personal financial information (such as bank account numbers), and
recipients should consider these e-mails as attempts to commit fraud. Also, consumers recently were advised to take
precautions before placing deposits through an agent rather than going directly to an FDIC-insured institution. These
alerts can supplement Money Smart training on identity theft and fraud. Visit the "Consumer Alerts" Web page
at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html.
FDIC Consumer NewsIncludes Tips for Young Adults
The Summer 2010 issue of FDIC Consumer News includes tips for managing deposit accounts and personal financial
advice for young adults. The FDIC encourages financial institutions, financial educators, and others to distribute the in-
formation in FDIC Consumer News by reprinting, linking to the material, or making copies and affixing their name or
logo. Subscriptions are free. See the most recent newsletter and subscription information at www.fdic.gov/consumers/
consumer/news/cnsum10.
Money Smart News Fall 2010
FDIC Releases New Instructor-Led Version of Money Smart
The FDIC has released an enhanced version of the instructor-led Money Smart financial education curriculum for adults.
The revised curriculum incorporates changes in the law as well as industry practices, including new content on overdraft
programs, taxes, insurance, and recent amendments to the rules governing credit cards. In addition, a new module,
"Financial Recovery," summarizes the steps consumers can take to recover and rebuild their finances after a financial
setback. Read more at http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10239.html.
FDIC Launches Spanish-Language Podcast (MP3) Version Of Money Smart
The FDIC has released the Spanish-language version of the Money Smart Podcast Network to teach the Money
Smart curriculum using MP3 players. "This new version of Money Smart will be particularly relevant for U.S. consumers
who speak only Spanish at home," said FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair. The results of an FDIC survey of the unbanked
and underbanked show that about 36 percent of the households where Spanish is the only language spoken at home
are unbanked, compared with only seven percent for households in which Spanish is not the only language spoken. This
version of Money Smart is free and can be accessed at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/moneysmart/audio/
index.html.
Reports from the Field: More Money Smart Success Stories
This edition of our "Success Stories" focuses on how the curriculum is making a difference in a variety of settings. You
will read about a single parent who acted on the knowledge gained in Money Smart to set, achieve, and then exceed her
goal to build a savings fund. Other stories describe how a nonprofit organization is serving groups from senior citizens to
at-risk youths and how a high school is using Money Smart for Young Adults to meet new state educational require-
ments. (Read the stories.)
Federal Deposit Insurance Coverage Permanently Increased to $250,000 Per Depositor
President Barack Obama signed legislation on July 21, 2010, that, in part, permanently raises the standard maximum
deposit insurance amount to $250,000. The insurance coverage applies per depositor, per insured depository institution
for each account ownership category. To learn more, go to http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2010/pr10161.html.
Financial educators also may be interested in the FDIC's updated brochures on deposit insurance coverage at http://
www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/index.html.
Treasury Offers Financial Education Toolkit, Online Exam for High School Students
High school teachers and other educators working with teen-age students are encouraged to register for the National
Financial Capability Challenge for 2010-11, coordinated by the U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury.
The Challenge features an online exam and a classroom toolkit that facilitates learning about critical financial literacy
topics. Educators and students who score in the top 20 percent nationally and those who score highest in their school
will receive award certificates. To learn more and register for the Challenge, visit http://www.challenge.treas.gov/.
Consumer Alerts from the FDIC Warn About Fraudulent or Questionable Transactions
As a public service on our "Consumer Alerts" Web page, the FDIC posts examples of fraudulent or questionable calls, e-
mails, or sales practices involving the agency's name or FDIC-insured products. For example, readers will learn that the
FDIC does not send unsolicited e-mails requesting personal financial information (such as bank account numbers), and
recipients should consider these e-mails as attempts to commit fraud. Also, consumers recently were advised to take
precautions before placing deposits through an agent rather than going directly to an FDIC-insured institution. These
alerts can supplement Money Smart training on identity theft and fraud. Visit the "Consumer Alerts" Web page
at www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/alerts/index.html.
FDIC Consumer NewsIncludes Tips for Young Adults
The Summer 2010 issue of FDIC Consumer News includes tips for managing deposit accounts and personal financial
advice for young adults. The FDIC encourages financial institutions, financial educators, and others to distribute the in-
formation in FDIC Consumer News by reprinting, linking to the material, or making copies and affixing their name or
logo. Subscriptions are free. See the most recent newsletter and subscription information at www.fdic.gov/consumers/
consumer/news/cnsum10.