Prepaid cards: New report finds fees, gotchas
A new report finds that upon close examination, prepaid debit cards are laden with numerous types of fees and other gotchas. Comments: 0

FDIC study: Serving the unbanked and underbanked
In the first national survey of banks' efforts to serve unbanked and underbanked individuals and families in their market areas, the FDIC found that improvement may be possible in certain areas. Comments: 0

Women head of households in worse financial condition
The 26 percent of all households headed only by a woman earn, save, and have accumulated far less wealth than have other American households, according to a Consumer Federation of America (CFA) analysis of the most recent data collected by the Federal Reserve Board's authoritative Survey of Consumer Finances. Comments: 0

Avoid Tax Refund Loans Even With Improvements
Consumer advocates warn taxpayers to steer clear of Refund Anticipation Loans this tax season even with some limited improvement in these products. Comments: 0

The Arbitration Trap: Credit Cards Companies Ensnare Consumers
Consumers who seek justice in disputes with their credit card companies shouldn’t expect to find it in binding mandatory arbitration (BMA); in cases decided in California by a major arbitration firm over a four-year period, consumers lost 94 percent of the time, according to a new Public Citizen report . Comments: 0

Financial Literacy and Education Summit 2007
The Financial Literacy and Education Summit, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during Money Smart Week and sponsored by VISA, brought together leading thinkers in the area of financial literacy policy and practice to share their vision on the future of personal finance education and explore what role the government should play in this crucial issue. Comments: 0

Household debt in America
During a one-day conference on July 19, the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC, presented a number of interesting panels on debt. At the event, The Debt Survey: Public Recognizes Debt as a Fast Growing Problem in U.S., was introduced. Comments: 1

Start Smart: Money Management for Teens
The latest issue of FDIC Consumer News, published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, contains a special free guide to help teens make good money decisions. Comments: 2

Charles Schwab Foundation’s ‘Teens & Money Survey’
A survey examining issues surrounding Teens & Money released this spring by the Charles Schwab Foundation provides insight into the need for young people to learn the fundamental ABCs of money management. Comments: 0

Can You Afford to Retire?
Many experts state that the baby boomer generation is headed for a shock as it hits retirement: many boomers will be long on life expectancy but short on savings. The two main strategies for funding retirement - lifetime pensions and 401(k)-style savings plans - are in serious trouble. In "Can You Afford to Retire?" Frontline correspondent Hedrick Smith investigates this looming financial crisis and the outlook for middle-class Americans. Comments: 0