Individual

Knowing how to secure your financial well-being is one of the most important things you’ll ever need in life. This brochure covers the basics of saving and investing and includes key tips on making money grow over time.  Sections include: (i) Define Your Goals, (ii) Make a Financial Plan, (iii) Determine Your Risk Tolerance, (iv) Investment Products: Your Choices, (v) How to Pick a Financial Professional, and (vi) Avoid Problems.

If you’re considering using the services of a credit counseling organization, here’s what you can expect.

Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission. It’s a serious crime that can wreak havoc with your finances, credit history, and reputation — and can take time, money, and patience to resolve.

This website includes information on the importance of personal information privacy, including the security of personal information.

A new car is second only to a home as the most expensive purchase many consumers make. That’s why it’s important to know how to make a smart deal. This article provides tips to help you with the purchase. It explains commonly used industry terms, and it provides a worksheet to help you negotiate on price.

This article provides information on obtaining a free copy of your credit report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – once every 12 months. It also provides guidance on disputing incorrect information on your reports.

You've probably been receiving privacy notices from banks and other financial companies. This article explains the federal law that require the notices and that protect your financial privacy. These laws give you the right to stop (opt out of) some sharing of your personal financial information. The laws also require that you will receive privacy notices from your financial institutions.

If you don’t make timely payments on the vehicle, your creditor may have the right to “repossess” — or take back your car without going to court or warning you in advance. Your creditor also may be able to sell your contract to a third party who may have the same right to seize the car as the original creditor. This website discusses the requirements for seizing and reselling your car for nonpayment. It explains deficiency - the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your creditor gets for reselling your car.

This special edition of FDIC Consumer News puts special focus on staying focused and avoiding costly decisions during major life events.

Your liability for fraudulent credit card charges is $50, but that doesn’t stop scam artists from peddling “loss protection” services.