Your organization
plays a vital role
in this campaign.

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


	Are you a Go Direct partner? Are you listed as a partner on the Go Direct Web site? Click here to view Go Direct's partner list. If you're not on the list, but would like to be recognized as an official Go Direct partner, please fill out and return the Go Direct Partner Form.

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

March 2008

Gear Up for Financial Literacy Month

FDIC Money Smart Curriculum

MB Financial Bank Promotes Direct Deposit

In the Media: Go Direct Month

Gear Up for Financial Literacy Month

Get ready... Financial Literacy Month is just around the corner! Throughout April, partner organizations across the country will be hosting financial literacy and senior safety workshops to help people who receive Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments gain more control over their money.

It's easy to incorporate the benefits of direct deposit – and information about Go Direct – into your financial literacy programming:

Include information on the benefits of direct deposit and Go Direct in your presentations or workshops.
Distribute and display Go Direct materials, including posters, flyers and table tents during your presentations and in your lobbies.
Include an article about Go Direct in your newsletter or on your Web site.
Post a Go Direct Web banner on your Web site linking to www.GoDirect.org.
Collaborate with another Go Direct partner on financial literacy workshops or presentations. For example, a financial institution representative could present to audiences assembled by a community-based organization.

Click here to access free materials and information to help your organization incorporate direct deposit messaging into your financial literacy efforts.

To learn how your organization can host a Go Direct financial literacy presentation or plan a financial literacy event with another Go Direct partner, please call (952) 346-6055 to speak to a campaign representative or visit www.GoDirect.org.

FDIC Money Smart Curriculum

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recognizes the importance of financial education. That's why they created the Money Smart program – a free training program to help individuals enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships.

If you don't yet have a financial literacy curriculum, consider adopting FDIC's Money Smart program. The latest version of Money Smart includes information about signing up for direct deposit through Go Direct.

The Money Smart CD-ROM is now available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and Russian. By the end of March, another version will also be available in Vietnamese.

To order a free copy of the Money Smart curriculum, call the Go Direct partner line at (952) 346-6055 or click here to access the Go Direct Materials Order Form.

MB Financial Bank Promotes Direct Deposit

Go Direct partner MB Financial Bank has been heavily promoting direct deposit in its 70-plus branches throughout the Chicagoland area.

"We are committed to the communities we serve and have been helping our customers grow, manage and protect their assets for nearly 100 years. Our priority is to make banking simple and easy. That is why we embrace direct deposit as the best way for our customers to receive payments," said MB Financial Bank's Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Karen Perlman.

In addition to distributing Go Direct materials, MB Financial Bank trained all of its tellers to discuss the benefits of direct deposit with customers who come in to cash or deposit a federal benefit check.

The bank is also promoting Go Direct on its Web site – including a link to www.GoDirect.org – and distributing internal communications to their branch staff about its involvement in Go Direct.

To learn more about ways your organization can support the campaign, visit www.GoDirect.org, contact your local campaign representative or call (952) 346-6055.

**In the Media: Go Direct Month**

Go Direct recently announced the results of a national survey sponsored by the U.S. Treasury, which coincided with February Go Direct Month. Other media initiatives in February included a radio media tour and local partner events. Here are some of the highlights:

Alvina McHale, director of legislative and public affairs for the Treasury's Financial Management Service, participated in 21 interviews with radio stations across the country, including an interview with USA Radio and the National Radio Network.
In North Carolina, WBTV-TV (Charlotte) and The Charlotte Observer ran information about a Go Direct event in Charlotte and The News & Observer ran an article about a Go Direct financial literacy summit in Raleigh.
Go Direct Month events in Manhattan, Long Island and New Jersey received several print and television media hits in New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Dallas Morning News ran a letter to the editor from Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, reaching an audience of more than 2 million people.
The Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Defender ran a letter to the editor from Chicago Treasurer Stephanie Neely, reaching nearly a half million people.