Training Modules

• Banking Basics
  This training series provides a simple introduction to the primary services offered by banks and credit unions, including checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit and debit cards. It also covers opening an account, resolving problems, the options that bank customers have and the decisions they need to make when using bank services. January 03, 2007
• California LifeLine
  Universal LifeLine Telephone Service (ULTS), also known as California LifeLine, provides discounts on basic residential telephone service to eligible low-income households. Consumers who qualify for California LifeLine pay a fraction of the regular cost for telephone connection and monthly local telephone service. This brochure explains the features and benefits of Lifeline phone service, how to apply for the program, and what you must do to continue participation. June 15, 2009
• California's Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program
  This module provides an useful information for the Californian low-income good drivers with access to affordable liability insurance in 11 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Armenian, Japanese, Hmong, Tagalog and Cambodian. January 31, 2008
• Cell Phone Savvy
  The Cell Phone Savvy training module provides you with tools and materials that you can use to educate your clients and community about how to make wise wireless choices and avoid problems with wireless devices or service. It consists of a multilingual fact sheet, a training manual (FAQs), a lesson plan that includes class activities, a companion PowerPoint presentation, and a quiz with answer key. October 15, 2012
• Credit Card Fraud
  This module is designed to help participants to recognize and avoid many forms of fraud that involve credit cards, such as skimming, phishing, ID theft and counterfeit cards. January 16, 2008
• Credit Card Terms
  This module is designed to help participants to understand the different types of cards available; sort through offers to choose the card that's right for them; understand credit card terms and conditions and avoid fees and penalty rates. The series includes a multilingual brochure (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese), training manual, training guide and PowerPoint slides. October 10, 2007
• Credit Freeze
  A credit file "security freeze" is a preventive tool to help you avoid identity theft and to block impostors from using your personal information to establish credit. This module explains how to place, lift and remove a security freeze on your credit file. It includes a multilingual brochure, training manual (Q&As), lesson plan, state credit freeze chart and PowerPoint slides. May 19, 2008
• Credit Reports, Credit Scores and Specialty Reports
  This module contains information on what goes into the credit report and score, interpreting the credit score, improving credit rating, types of specialty reports, who should request their report, how to get your reports, your rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA). October 29, 2010
• Digital Dollars
  The Digital Dollars series provides information, advice and training materials to help consumers navigate the new online economy. The series contains three multilingual brochures: Banking Online Safely; Mobile Banking and Mobile Payments; and Safety and Privacy in Online and Mobile Transactions. The brochures are accompanied by a lesson plan and PowerPoint slides that you can download. August 16, 2011
• Elder Fraud
  This training module covers many guises of fraud (with special attention to scams that target senior), signs of fraud and tips for avoiding scams. April 13, 2007
• Empower U
  The Empower U training module provides you with tools and materials that you can use to educate your clients and community on four key telecommunications topics: TV service, wireless phone service, Internet service and telemarketing. It consists of four multilingual fact sheets, a PowerPoint presentation and companion guide, and a quiz with answer key. May 05, 2011
• Establishing Wireless Service
  This training module helps the participant to understand the issues involved in shopping for and using cell phone service. Topics covered include wireless service plans and coverage, wireless phones, keeping your phone number when you change providers, reading a wireless phone bill, cell phones and driving, courtesy when using cell phones, preventing theft and fraud, privacy concerns and resources for information and assistance. June 12, 2006
• Fair Housing
  Everyone has the right to fair housing opportunities. This module explains what actions are discriminatory under the federal Fair Housing Act, how to file a housing discrimination complaint, and what the complaint resolution process looks like. It includes two brochures: "Filing a Housing Discrimination Complaint" and "Know the Signs of Housing Discrimination"; a lesson plan and class activities; and a PowerPoint presentation. January 12, 2012
• Families and Credit Cards
  This module is designed to help parents and trainers talk to youth about credit cards. Topics include adding cardholders to your account, secondary cardholder policies, payment options for kids while they're traveling and helping young people understands the importance of good credit. The series includes a multilingual brochure (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese), training guide and PowerPoint slides. October 11, 2007
• Good Credit
  This training module covers what credit history is, what a credit report is, how to get your credit report, how to establish good credit and where to complain if you have a problem. April 13, 2007
• ID Theft and Account Fraud
  This training module covers steps to prevent ID theft, or if you are a victim, to clear up the problems created by ID theft and to lessen its impact on your life. April 13, 2007
• Inspection Reports
  This training module covers an introduction of home inspection and hazard reports that can help you decide whether repairs or mitigations (cures or preventative efforts) are needed. April 13, 2007
• Internet Safety
  This module outlines ways that you can protect yourself and your computer when you use the Internet and email. Also, it includes the information to protect your kids online. February 09, 2010
• Keys to Homeownership
  Buying a house has a steep learning curve. Homebuyers need to learn the meaning of unfamiliar terms, be prepared for unexpected costs and peruse piles of paperwork. This training module contains suggestions to help people successfully complete the many stages of the home buying process. Making sense of this complicated system can help your clients achieve the goal of homeownership. July 25, 2007
• Micro Business
  This module is designed to help participants learn basic information about the creation and financial management of a micro business. Micro businesses are very small companies run by their owners with few employees. They are often home-based, with annual sales under $250,000 and few assets, but they can qualify for loans to help them grow into large regional, national or franchise businesses. April 13, 2007
• Money Management 1-2-3
  This module covers all aspects of money management from building a strong financial foundation, achieving financial goals and planning a secure financial future. September 24, 2010
• Personal Bankruptcy
  This training module covers bankruptcy new rules (effective in October 2005) in order to give debt-burdened consumers an organized and systematic way of paying back creditors. April 13, 2007
• Phone Services
  This module is designed to help the participants choose the phone equipment and services that best meet their needs. It comes with five multi-lingual brochures, leader's guide, training guide and powerpoint slides. February 05, 2008
• Prepaid Cards
  A low-fee, reloadable prepaid card can be a useful financial tool for many consumers, but it won't be the best option for everyone or every situation. The Prepaid Cards series, which includes a 12-page booklet, a backgrounder written in question-and-answer format and two short videos, will help you decide if a reloadable prepaid card is right for you and teach you how to choose, use and manage a prepaid card wisely. April 20, 2012
• Protecting Your Phone Records
  Phone records are an important source of private information that someone might try to access without your consent for illegal or harmful purposes. This project includes materials that can help you understand who would want to access your phone records, why they might want to do it, how they try to access your private information and what you can do to reduce the chances of becoming a victim. June 28, 2007
• Rebuilding Good Credit
  This training module covers the importance of having a good credit, your rights if your credit application is rejected, how to check your credit report, how to dispute mistakes on your credit report and how to begin to rebuild good credit. April 13, 2007
• Saving to Build Wealth
  This training module covers information about the importance of saving, setting short- and long-term goals to promote saving, opening a savings account and ways to make your money grow faster, including certificates of deposit (CDs), individual retirement accounts (IRAs), U.S. Savings Bonds and college savings accounts. April 13, 2007
• Short Term Credit
  Credit can be a valuable financial tool for consumers who understand its costs and benefits and how to use it wisely. This module helps consumer to defines open-ended, or revolving, credit, including credit cards, home equity lines of credit and overdraft lines of credit, and discusses the pros and cons of using credit. It includes tips on high-cost credit to avoid. October 29, 2008
• Successful Homeownership
  This module covers the financial responsibilities of homeownership and how to manage them, how to maintain and protect your property, and how to build and preserve your home equity. November 06, 2008
• Teens and Money
  This training series is designed primarily for parents but may also be useful for older teens. The materials cover—budgeting, figuring out if a purchase is a "need" or a "want," banking, writing checks, savings, credit cards, credit reports, driving and cell phones. January 03, 2007
• Tracking Your Money
  This training module covers basic money management and develop a budget or spending plan to control your expenses. April 13, 2007
• WirelessED
  There are three topics covered in this module: Using Mobile Data Wisely, Choosing and Using Mobile Devices, and Wireless International Roaming. There is a separate booklet for each topic; the manual, lesson plan and PowerPoint slides cover all three topics together. May 17, 2011
• Workplace Privacy
  This module explains some of the situations in which monitoring might occur in the workplace and explains your privacy rights as an employee. To protect your personal privacy and your job, you should know when and how employers can monitor and gather information about you. October 20, 2009