FINANCIAL LITERACY & EDUCATIONRESOURCE CENTER
A helpful guide to finding consumer resources such as online financial literacy training, budget worksheets, loan calculators, and consumer advocacy, education and protection programs.
CashCourse®
This website is offered by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) to provide customizable online tools such as worksheets, calculators and a Budget Wizard to help college students build financial skills to get through their college years and prepare for their future financial lives.
Consumer Action
Consumer Action is a national non-profit, multilingual and advocacy organization engaged in financial literacy and consumer protection. This site features links to headlines and news, outreach and training programs and publications that educate and advocate for consumers.
Helpwithmybank.gov
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) designed this site to provide answers and solutions for customers of national banks. It covers national bank topics such as credit cards, checking accounts, overdraft fees, mortgages and credit reports. The site also advises consumers on how to file a complaint if they are not satisfied with a resolution from a national bank.
Institute for Financial Literacy:
Budget Tools
The Institute for Financial Literacy (IFL) is a national, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote effective financial education and counseling. IFL offers financial literacy tools such as budget worksheets, interactive budget tracking form, loan payoff calculator, savings calculator, savings calculator, dialing spending logs, debt to income ration worksheet, financial goal action plans, financial goal lists, net worth worksheets, and an interactive net worth analysis.
Money Smart
The FDIC initiated this financial education program to help people of all ages enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. It provides free resources to teach financial management, as well as tools you can use to learn on your own. Money Smart for Young Adults is a separate curriculum that consists of eight instructor-led modules. Each module includes a fully scripted instructor guide, participant guide, and overhead slides.
National Credit Union Administration
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is an independent federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions throughout the United States and its territories. This site provides a consumer assistance and resource center for consumers to resolve disputes with credit unions and obtain information about federal consumer financial protection and their consumer rights.
Smart About Money
This website is offered by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) for consumers to find free online courses, information articles, calculators, worksheets, money-saving tips, discussion forums and other valuable resources to answer commonly asked questions and address various economic situations.
CONSUMER RESOURCE LINKS
Annual Credit Report.com: Get a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company. Credit reports may affect your mortgage rates, credit card approvals, apartment requests, or even your job application. Reviewing your credit reports helps you catch signs of identity theft early and helps you ensure that the information on your credit reports is correct and up to date.
Data Breaches--What to Know; What to Do: Did you recently get a notice that says your personal information was exposed in a data breach? Did you lose your wallet? Or learn that an online account was hacked? Depending on what information was lost, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself from identity theft. This website is offered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to assist you if your information has been exposed.
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Consumer Tools: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) provides consumer information to assist with issues such as how to learn who owns your mortgage, what is a loan modification, how does a deferment work.
FTC Facts -- Reverse Mortgages: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains how reverse mortgages work, the types of reverse mortgages, and consumer rights regarding reverse mortgages.
FRB Foreclosure Scams: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has compiled a list of tips to help protect consumers from foreclosure scams.
FTC Foreclosure Rescue Scams: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides information for consumers on how these scams work, the different versions of this scam, knowing your rights, the warning signs for spotting a scam, and where to find legitimate help.
Guide to Avoiding Foreclosure: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a list and summary of programs to assist homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and otherwise struggling with their monthly mortgage payments.
Housing Counseling Agencies: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, and credit issues.
HUD: Buying A Home: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides information for consumers who are thinking about buying a home and have questions or need to speak to a housing counselor.
IdentityTheft.gov: Consumers who believe that they have been a victim of identity theft can make a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and receive a recovery plan to minimize the impact of the theft.
Tips for Safe Banking Over the Internet: The FDIC created this brochure to provide consumers with information and tips on how to: (1) confirm that an online bank is legitimate and that your deposits are insured; (2) keep your personal information private and secure; (3) understand your rights as a consumer; and (4) learn where to go for more assistance from banking regulators.
Weathering the Storm Financial Tips and Resources for Hurricane Recovery: The U.S. Department of the Treasury provides these tips for residents of the Gulf Coast to protect their finances in the aftermath of a hurricane.