News Briefs for Financial Institutions
Information suitable for newsletters, websites and other communications
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Winter Storms Can Be Hazardous to Your Federal Benefit Check
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service
If you get federal benefit payments by paper checks, you should know that you are required by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury to switch to an electronic payment method. By getting your money
electronically, you will help save taxpayers millions of dollars each year. You must make the switch by
March 1, 2013, but you don’t have to wait for the deadline. The winter months are the perfect time to
switch and take advantage of the reliability and ease of electronic payments.
Ice, snow, freezing rain and subzero temperatures can leave you trapped in your home and temporarily
halt important services like mail delivery. When this happens, you can be stuck without access to your
money, making an already difficult situation even worse.
By switching to direct deposit, you can count on your money being in your account no matter what
winter brings. That’s because money goes straight from the Treasury Department into your account
each month. There’s no risk of delays and no need to cash or deposit a check. Making the switch is fast,
easy and free. Here’s how:
Visit your local [FI NAME] branch and ask a teller or banker
Call [FI NAME] at [PHONE NUMBER]
Go to www.GoDirect.org
Call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at
(800) 333-1795 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET
For more information, including an instructional video on how to sign up, visit www.GoDirect.org.
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Winter Storms Can Be Hazardous to Federal Benefit Checks
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service
All federal benefit check recipients are required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to switch to
electronic payments by March 1, 2013. It’s important that [FI NAME/BRANCHES/BANKS/CREDIT
UNIONS] urge [CUSTOMERS/MEMBERS] to switch to direct deposit now instead of waiting for the
deadline. In doing so, you will help them immediately get their money in a safer, easier way while
improving [CUSTOMER/MEMBER] loyalty for [YOUR/OUR] [BANK/CREDIT UNION/BRANCH].
The winter months are the perfect time to highlight the reliability and convenience of electronic
payments. Ice, snow and subzero temperatures can leave people trapped in their homes and
temporarily halt important services like mail delivery. When this happens, people who rely on paper
The Go Direct® campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks. The Go Direct® logo and Go Direct® are registered service marks
of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (used with permission).
federal benefit checks are left without access to their money, making an already difficult situation even
worse.
By urging [OUR/YOUR] [CUSTOMERS/MEMBERS] who are cashing or depositing paper checks to
switch to direct deposit, [WE/YOU] will help ensure that they get their money on time no matter what
winter brings.
When [OUR/YOUR] [CUSTOMERS/MEMBERS], are cashing or depositing a federal benefit check,
make sure they know about the electronic payment requirement and then urge them to sign up for
direct deposit on the spot. It they are not ready, encourage them to sign up online at www.GoDirect.org
or by calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795 Monday – Friday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
To learn more or to download or order free materials from the Treasury Department’s Go Direct®
campaign, visit www.GoDirect.org.
The Go Direct® campaign is sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve Banks. The Go Direct® logo and Go Direct® are registered service marks
of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (used with permission).