Your organization
plays a vital role
in this campaign.

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

	It's now easier than ever to plan your participation in Go Direct with the 2007-2008 Go Direct calendar. In addition, Go Direct has developed template materials – newsletter copy, monthly reminders and statement messages – for you to easily publicize your involvement to branch staff, customers and members.

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

November 2007

	Americans aware of direct deposit's safety benefits, but many still rely on checks, poll shows Disaster Preparedness: U.S. Treasury's Recommendation Following Southern California Wildfires U.S. Treasurer Promotes Direct Deposit in Special Holiday PSA In the Media

Americans aware of direct deposit's safety benefits, but many still rely on checks, poll shows

The popular image of a lottery or sweepstakes winner receiving a giant paper check is out-of-date, according to a new national poll sponsored by the Go Direct campaign. Three to one, Americans say if they hit the jackpot, they'd take the money by direct deposit, reflecting the country's growing familiarity with the safety and convenience of electronic banking.

Yet when it comes to their everyday payments, many Americans do not take the same precautions with their money, according to the poll. Direct deposit eliminates check fraud and helps protect people against other financial crimes, but more than one in four Americans – including 12 million Social Security and other federal beneficiaries – still get their salary or other regular payments by paper check.

Click here to read entire press release on poll findings.

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Disaster Preparedness: U.S. Treasury's Recommendation Following Southern California Wildfires

As Southern Californians assess the devastating impact of wildfires in their communities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Go Direct campaign is reminding Social Security check recipients about the importance of switching to direct deposit. The recommendation is aimed at safeguarding senior citizens and people with disabilities by ensuring seamless delivery of their federal benefit payments following a natural disaster.

“During this difficult time, as Southern Californians work to get their lives back in order, one simple step seniors and other federal beneficiaries can take is to sign up for direct deposit – the safest and most reliable payment option,” said Alvina McHale, Go Direct project director for the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Management Service.

Click here to access all of the tools your organization needs to promote disaster preparedness with Go Direct.

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U.S. Treasurer Promotes Direct Deposit in Special Holiday PSA

With the busy holiday season nearing, there's no better time than the present for seniors to gain peace of mind by safeguarding their money through direct deposit of their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment. Direct deposit is safer and easier than checks – and it protects people from fraud and identity theft.

U.S. Treasurer Anna Cabral is spreading this holiday financial safety message through a new televised Public Service Announcement (PSA) urging federal benefit recipients to sign up for direct deposit of their federal benefits.

Look for the new holiday PSA to air on your local television station – or in the lobby of a Go Direct partner! For example, the Dallas Regional Social Security Administration office has used Go Direct PSAs in their offices during the past few months.

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In the Media

• An Oct. 23 media alert (Hit the jackpot? Americans say "no thanks" to giant check, "yes" to direct deposit, according to national poll) generated the following coverage:
  
  • Radio interviews on CNN Radio, FOX National Radio, and stations in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Detroit/Cleveland, and Little Rock, Ark.
  • The Miami Herald ran a story in its print and online editions.
  • Online outlets including American Banker, Forbes, L.A. Times and Dallas Morning News posted the media alert on their Web sites.
    
• Submitting a letter to the editor is an easy way to share information about direct deposit with people who receive federal benefits in your community. Throughout October, which was National Crime Prevention Month, letters to the editor signed by Go Direct partners ran in the following newspapers:
  
  • The Dallas Morning News ran a letter from Tammy Snider, president of the Texas Crime Prevention Association and Plano Police officer.
  • The Gaston Gazette (N.C.) ran a letter from Det. Tony Wilson with the Gastonia Police Department.
  • The Cambridge Chronicle (Mass.) ran a letter from Susan Pacheco with the Cambridge Council on Aging.

If you are interested in submitting a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, contact your local campaign representative or call
(952) 346-6055.

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