Your organization
plays a vital role
in this campaign.

Please call:
(952) 346-6055
with any questions
on partnering with
Go Direct.

	Posting a Go Direct Web banner on your Web site is an easy way to promote the benefits of direct deposit. Click here to access our selection of Web banners.

Visit the
Partners Section
of our Web site and enter the password: 4partners

Mid-March 2007

	Financial literacy events connect Go Direct partners Go Direct introduces a new marketing tool for financial institutions Spreading the Word: Partners promote direct deposit during Go Direct Month In the Media

Financial literacy events connect Go Direct partners

When Go Direct partners work together, good things happen!

Go Direct encourages cooperation between partners that would like to work together on financial literacy in their communities – for example, financial institutions, senior centers, police departments and elected officials. Hosting financial literacy and senior safety workshops is a great way to build on your organization's community relations efforts – and April, which is Financial Literacy Month, is a great time to get involved.

Dozens of Go Direct partners are already collaborating on financial literacy events across the country.

For instance, in Queens, New York, the Sunnyside Community Services senior center hosted a financial literacy event on March 1 with participation from the New York City Police Department, North Fork Bank and the Office of Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, 37th Assembly District (click here to see photo). The partners teamed up to inform seniors about the safety benefits of choosing direct deposit for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.

In Detroit, National City Bank hosted Go Direct financial literacy events at the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit, in addition to regularly holding Go Direct Days at its Detroit-area branches. Cynthia Smith, branch manager of National City in Oak Park, Michigan, says that promoting Go Direct helps the bank support the community.

“Working with Go Direct offers us an opportunity to get in front of seniors more than we usually would and enables us to help them avoid identity theft, fraud and other crimes by switching to direct deposit,” Smith said. “It really allows us to perform a service that benefits the community at large – which is what National City is all about.”

If your organization is interested in hosting a Go Direct financial literacy presentation or planning a financial literacy event with another Go Direct partner, contact your local campaign representative, call (952) 346-6055 to speak to a campaign representative or visit www.GoDirect.org.

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Go Direct introduces a new marketing tool for
financial institutions

One of the best times to talk to people about Go Direct is during the first few days of the month, when they're cashing or depositing their federal benefit checks at a bank or credit union. But long lines and busy branches can mean tellers have limited time to promote the benefits of direct deposit. That's why Go Direct has created a new marketing tool for financial institutions – Go Direct deposit slip stickers.

The 2” x 1.25” stickers feature the Go Direct toll-free helpline number and Web site address. When someone cashes a Social Security or SSI check, tellers can simply attach the Go Direct sticker to the deposit slip and encourage them to sign up for direct deposit – the safest, easier way to get their federal benefit. It's that easy!

Go Direct deposit slip stickers are available free to financial institutions. If your financial institution is interested in ordering deposit slip stickers, click here, contact your Go Direct campaign representative or call
952-346-6055.

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Spreading the Word: Partners promote direct deposit during Go Direct Month

Go Direct Month is in full swing! Across the country partners are actively promoting the benefits of direct deposit to seniors and others who receive federal benefits by paper check. Here's a look at what two of our partners are doing:

Banco Popular's 190-plus branches will spread the word about the benefits of direct deposit during March and beyond.

Banco Popular, Puerto Rico
Longtime Go Direct partner Banco Popular has been working hard to support Go Direct Month by incorporating Go Direct messaging in customer materials, and heavily promoting direct deposit in its 190-plus branches.

"Our commitment as a bank is to inform and provide the general public with the tools that will help them and their employers achieve their goals. That is why we embrace direct deposit as the best way to receive payments," said Néstor O. Rivera, executive vice president of retail banking.

In addition to distributing Go Direct materials, Banco Popular's branch employees will mention the benefits of direct deposit, including ease, convenience and safety to customers that come in to cash or deposit a federal benefit check.

Banco Popular's other efforts in March include:

• Producing footage to be aired on Popular TV, the bank's internal television program that airs in all branches.
• Developing press releases and bylined articles to generate local and regional media coverage surrounding Go Direct and the bank's efforts to support the campaign.

Banco Popular cites enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty, decreased operational costs and fewer paper-based transactions as key reasons for partnering with Go Direct.

City Treasurer - Chicago, Ill.
City of Chicago Treasurer Stephanie Neely prides herself on being a trusted source of information on financial matters for city residents. During Go Direct Month, she's going the extra mile to promote the benefits of direct deposit to seniors, people with disabilities, and others who receive federal benefits.

The Treasurer's office posted a press release on its Web site announcing its partnership with Go Direct and encouraging all Chicago financial institutions to participate in the Go Direct campaign. The Treasurer's office also is currently working with its extensive network of partners, including City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Department on Aging and Chicago Aldermanic Wards, to promote the Go Direct campaign throughout Chicago.

As a proponent of financial literacy and direct deposit, the City Treasurer plans to include Go Direct messages and materials in her office's upcoming community presentations. In the weeks and months ahead, the City Treasurer's office will continue to promote Go Direct by submitting a letter to the editor of a Chicago newspaper and posting a Go Direct banner link on its Web page.

To learn more about the ways you can support the campaign during Go Direct Month and beyond, visit www.GoDirect.org, contact your local campaign representative or call 952-346-6055.

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In the Media

• On Feb. 28, Go Direct announced the results of a national survey sponsored by the U.S. Treasury, which coincided with the kick-off of Go Direct Month in March. The story was covered by more than 160 news outlets across the nation, reaching an audience of more than 124 million people! Media coverage included:
• A major story by the Associated Press and an interview with Commissioner of Treasury's Financial Management Service, Kenneth Papaj, on Associated Press Radio on Feb. 27.
• A story in the March issue of AARP Bulletin that included the Go Direct toll-free number and Web site address.
• National news coverage on CNN Radio, The Washington Post, MarketWatch.com, BusinessWeek Online, Forbes.com, Yahoo! News and Yahoo! Finance.
• Radio interviews featuring U.S. Treasury officials totaling more than two million impressions nationwide.
• Local television, radio and newspaper coverage, including WBIX-AM radio Boston, WGN-AM radio Chicago, and the Web sites for The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle and Dallas Morning News.

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