Customize Your Personal Checks

Personal checks can be customized  any way you like. They don’t have to be plain. Check printing companies offer a variety of ways to put your own imprint on those checks, so that you can create checks that meet your particular needs or desires.

The thing to do is compare. The options may vary, including such things as choice of designs, personal message lines, one-time offers of a few personal checks or a free box with the second at a reduced price. Be aware that some check printing businesses offer these options only to first-time customers. Look around and evaluate such things as the number of personal checks and the terms of the transaction, designs and shipping costs.  Then compare the variables to determine which appeals most to you. Some companies may offer free recycled checks or duplicates to entice you into an upgrade. Some require a coupon code, so make sure if you have such a code that it is still valid.

Follow these steps to complete your process:

1. Select a design. Companies will vary in how many designs they offer that you can choose among, ranging anywhere from four to 25.  If the special you choose includes a second box free, you’ll be set for a long time.

2. Select lettering styles. Some companies may throw in a monogram or symbol next to your name and address or add a personal message line gratis.

3. Be certain of the status of a register to keep a record of checks. If the deal you opt for does not include a register, you may want to add one to your shopping cart.
If you love the design you chose, consider coordinating with other items such as address books or labels to extend the effect.

4. When your check order arrives, be certain to look at the invoice to ensure that the fees and terms are what you agreed to. If you are certain everything is as it should be, submit your payment.

5. Print a copy of the invoice so you have a record of all the shipping terms, estimated shipping dates and customer service number just in case a question should arise after the fact. A printed copy is easier to access if it is required than having to look up the details online if references are needed later.

Personalizing your checks can be fun and rewarding. There is such a wide range of designs and photos that appeal to almost any age, women, men and young buyers.

Check writing not going out of style

Although a pocket full of plastic has become the norm for many Americans when they shop and pay bills, the online sales of personal checks show that writing checks remains a very viable option for millions, the experts at coolchecks.net say. In fact, the country’s two largest producers of personal and business checks posted revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars from sales in 2009. Obviously, it is too soon to say that credit and debit cards have nudged checks entirely out of the picture. Companies such as coolchecks.net are nowhere near ready to throw in the towel and they continue to provide a wide choice for those individuals and companies that find checks the best way to do business.

The 2009 annual report from Deluxe Corporation showed that more than 63 percent of its $1.3 billion in revenues came from the sale of checks. And Harland Clarke noted that 72 percent of its $1.2 billion in revenues was related to checks and other personal items. The Federal Reserve estimates that some 33 billion checks are written in this country every year—no small number.

There is evidence that Americans, dealing with a depressed economy, are now paying the price for over-use of credit cards They have racked up more than $1 trillion in such debt, a 25 percent increase in the past five years., the Federal Reserve reports. The experts predict that a return to personal checks may be one solution to this trend. The tendency to make a flip-of-the-wrist credit card purchase may be cooled by the necessity of actually writing the amount of the purchase on a piece of paper, they say. The immediacy of the deal cancels out that false sense that “I don’t have to pay until later” that accompanies a credit purchase. Many people find a canceled check to be a more tangible method of keeping track of finances.

And if checks online are your choice, they should say something about you. Being able to make a personal statement with every use is one of the good reasons to use checks. Coolchecks.net has hundreds of designs ranging from the simply classic to the Disney whimsical, with nature, hobbies and personal interests in between. And they come at prices that are up to half what a bank would charge. Check us out.

Switching banks? Take your time

If you’re one of those who are determined to switch banks, beware. Breaking up can be hard to do.

Since the call went out recently from people involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement and other efforts to rein in the country’s big banks, thousands have shifted their funds into alternative financial mangers, including credit unions, community banks, saving and loans and others. There is some indication that the big banks are paying attention to the unrest spreading through the country. Some have backed away from announced fee increases. Even so, the momentum for expressing disfavor with one’s bank by marching to another is under way. The date set by the Occupy group is Nov. 5, but don’t hurry just to meet that arbitrary date.

A spokesman for Institutional Risk Analytics reported that banks in more than 16,000 American zip codes — more than half of those in the country have been subject to recent online searches. That could be bad news for the largest banks, but is it enough to spur real changes in how they treat customers? Time will tell. As of 2009, four banks — Citigroup, JPMorganChase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo — held 39 percent of all deposits in FDIC-insured banks, according to Reuters. The options for getting out of one of those monsters into something more user-friendly are many. American Bankers Association reports more than 8,000 other banks and 7,600 federally insured credit unions to choose among.

But move cautiously. In 2008 the Federal Reserve published a study that indicated that trying to leave one bank and go to another may be a mere exercise in “switching costs.” The researchers found it was incredibly difficult for consumers to get reliable information about the costs charged by the new bank. They described a “bargains-then-rip-off strategy” in which the free toaster offered for enrolling is followed by an avalanche of previously unspecified fees. Often, the report says, the prospective bank will not even make information about fees available to new customers. The data is not listed on Web sites and comparison shopping is almost impossible. Some credit unions are providing “switch kits” to help in those considering a change, but in general the kits can do little more than identify differences in payments and deposits. In the end, switching banks means swimming through the red tape.

In some instances, credit unions charge fees that compare with those charged by the bigger banks. But they tend to have credit card rates that are lower — one full percentage point lower on average. Their car loans carry lower interest, but one-year CD rates and mortgage rates tend to be higher than at banks. Community banks tout community ownership as one of their pluses. A familiar face across the counter counts, they say.

Regardless of the direction your own study takes you, reduce the potential trauma of a switch by following these tips from Consumer Action:

Expect the switch to take some time. Initially, keep your original account open while setting up the new account, putting only as much into the new account as required to maintain it. If you have paperless banking, print or save statements and digital copies of canceled checks as PDFs or it may become difficult to access those documents after the fact. Order new checks (they’re cheaper from outside sources than through the bank itself) deposit slips and ATM cards from the new institution being aware they make take some time to arrive. Only when the new account is established should you transfer automatic or recurring payments from the old account. Don’t overlap. Be sure all outstanding items are cleared before closing the old account. Keep your user names and passwords on hand to smooth any sticky spots. Review several months of statements from the old bank to be be certain you haven’t missed anything such as utility or insurance payments that are authorized for automatic withdrawal bimonthly or quarterly. Be certain your old bank has your current contact information to facilitate any loose ends or slip-ups that occur in the transfer.

Occupy Movement Concerns

At this point, no one knows what effect, if any, the Occupy movement will have, ultimately, on the American economy. But the effort that was planted in Wall Street has sent off shoots that are bearing indignant fruits in all corners of this country, and even in countries beyond our borders. The determination to catch the attention of those who make things happen clearly manifests a growing undercurrent of dissatisfaction at the bottom end of the feeding trough. Those who have been left devastated by the effects of a prolonged recession are ticked. They’ve watched their own incomes disappear into the unemployment quagmire or get skinnier while some of the huge institutions that came palms-up for taxpayer help chalked up enormous profits and handed out hefty bonuses to those at the top. The protesters are screaming “No fair!” with good reason.

Bankers claim they should not be the focal point for the money-based class warfare that is brewing. And they may be right. Dozens of factors have played into the current money mess in America. But many Americans meet the reality of their tightening circumstances at the door to their banks. And the banks have not done much to give the impression that they are sympathetic to their neediest clients. When Congress capped the amount banks can charge merchants for debit card usage at about 24 cents per transaction, that might have helped, since the average fee had been about 44 cents per transaction. But instead of heeding the obvious direction Congress wanted them to pursue, many in the banking industry responded by adding monthly fees for debit card users. Increased fees for the use of credit cards and ATMs have added salt to the wounds of many. To demand that a client maintain a hefty (for him) balance while his home is being repossessed smacks of Scroogism at its worst, the protesters say. The banks justify fee increases by pointing to the “building a banking stop on every corner” approach they’ve adopted. Ready availability has its costs, too, they argue.

The end of the Occupy movement is nowhere in sight. Spontaneous groups are still emerging to shore up the earliest protesters and there are no signs that anyone is ready to quietly tuck in his tail and abandon the fray.

One of the ways the “have-nots” are showing the depth of their angst is encouraging people to take their funds out of banks and deposit it in other financial institutions. Credit unions all over the country are reporting significant membership increases. Occupy promoters have even set a day – Nov. 5 -– which they have dubbed Bank Transfer Day on which they hope many Americans will do just that. Whether your own concern rises to that level or not, there are things you can do to avoid unnecessary costs related to bank use. Up front, be aware of any fees you are being charged. Avoid triggering those fees whenever you can. Shop with cash and consolidate buying when you can to avoid individual fees on many purchases. Don’t pay the bank for providing personal or business checks. There are companies that will charge you up to 50 percent less.

Over the course of the upcoming election year, the debates will be become hot and heavy. Maybe the Occupy effort will be just a historical blip on the ongoing effort to redirect America. But it has raised awareness that a growing number of its citizens are not happy with the status quo.

Overdraft Bank Fees Limited

Overdraft bank fees are frustrating, annoying and can make you feel like you’ve been robbed. In one incident, a New Hampshire man, Josh Muszynski bought a pack of cigarettes from a local gas station. Later that day, he logged on to his bank account and was shocked to see a 23 quadrillion dollar overdraft ($23,148,855,308,184,500)! Josh thought that his account had been comprised and that someone had bought Europe with his card! He didn’t know what could cause that to happen. The bank, unable to account for the error, fortunately reversed the huge charge within 24 hours.

During 2009,  abusive overdraft and insufficient-funds fees brought banks more than $38 billion dollars. The new credit card regulations have been helping to bring that number down. The new law protects consumers from abusive fees, penalties, interest rate increases.

With statements sent out in March of 2010, you might see additional information printed on your credit card statements. The new credit card statements include an easy to see LATE PAYMENT WARNING which tells you what your late fee is going to be if you don’t make a payment by the date printed. This is easy to see and is not buried in fine print on the back of your statement.

Then you’ll see the sobering statistics that will come to reality if you continue making the minimum payments. If you continue on your merry way, it may take you 20 years, 25 years or 30 years to get rid of this debt.

Followed by that horrifying news, it tells you how long it would take you to pay off your debt if you just made a larger payment every month.

Then you are asked if you would like  an aspirin or a drink. Not really, but it does offer you credit counseling services and gives you a number to call besides 1-800-IAM-DUMB.

In early March, 2010, Bank of America came to our financial rescue by deciding to help us avoid overdraft fees. Now they are actually going to decline your debit transaction at the point of sale if there are insufficient funds, instead of letting it go through and charging you fees.

Although there are new protections for consumers to avoid overdraft fees, you can still be charged fees if you are late on your payments. Do yourself a favor and keep your payments current if you have any credit card debt.

The best way for you to manage your money is to buy things that you can pay for with the money you have. Sounds pretty simple. Why has credit card debt quadrupled between 1992 and 2008 to $853 billion dollars? -  Because many don’t follow this advice.

Joshua Kennon, a person who saved 90% of his income for a very long time, reminds us that “there are tens of millions of Americans who live free from the burden of credit card debt and there is absolutely no reason you can’t be one of them. ”

If you have suffered from overdraft fees  and it has negatively affected your finances, you will most likely be very happy that the credit card rules and regulations will help you end this destructive force.

Banking with an FDIC-Insured Bank

It is hard to trust anyone these days especially when it comes to money. Money talk is always serious talk which means that people are very stringent when it comes to where they will be putting their money. In these hard times, this is already the norm since money is so hard to earn that it’s almost impossible for someone to just put money anywhere. But what if you want to put your savings in the bank? Would putting your money in the bank be a much safer choice rather than just leaving it home in your closet?

Established in 1933, the FDIC or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has served as a safety net for bank depositors. Ever since its inception, no depositor has lost a single dime from their FDIC-insured funds. The independent agency of the US government does not only insure US citizens, they insure other citizens from other countries as well as long as the banks they bank with are insured by FDIC.

An FDIC-insured account means that your bank account is backed by the US government in full credit and full faith. This reputation is something that other insurers cannot offer. Operating for over 70 years now, the FDIC is the people’s support system when or if their banks close. The insurance limit for every account you open in an insured bank is $250,000.  The agency however does not insure money invested in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, municipal securities, and annuities even if the said investments are made in insured banks. The other types of accounts that the FDIC does not cover are safe deposit boxes and their contents. US treasury bills, notes or bonds are not insured by the FDIC as well but they are backed by the US government.

But what does this deposit insurance cover?

FDIC-insured accounts range from checking, savings, money market deposit, to time deposits and negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW). The depositors given this insurance are those who bank with insured banks. Banking with an FDIC-insured bank means your money is protected dollar for dollar. If you own two accounts in two different banks and these banks are FDIC-insured, it means that your two accounts also have the FDIC protection. This means that if these two banks close, you will have an insurance of $250, 000 for each account. If you have two accounts in one bank, you will not get two FDIC insurance, just one.

The standard maximum deposit insurance amount also known as the SMDIA allocates $250, 000 per depositor in every insured bank. This insurance will run through until December 13, 2013. By 2014, the said allocation per depositor will go back to $100,000 except for certain retirement accounts which will retain their $250, 000 per depositor insurance in every insured bank.

Banking with an FDIC-insured bank means that you as the depositor will receive insurance if the bank closes all of a sudden. Although this is something that most of us never imagine to happen, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Managing Your Checking Account

Managing your checking account can be summarized into five simple steps. These steps are essential to master so that you can properly manage your household expenses and your budget as well.

The first step is to choose a bank that you like. Go to the various banks and credit unions and ask them about the different kinds of checking accounts that they offer to their clients. The most important question you might ask is about all the fees that go with the account such as the ATM fees, cost of check, monthly fees, overdraft protection and overdraft charge. You should also ask if the account in question would be available for online banking transactions. Free checking is always a good bonus but do not base your decision solely upon it.

The second step has to do with recording your transactions. It is a tedious and boring job but you really need to put all transactions into writing. Put down in writing every monetary transaction, all deposits and even ATM withdrawals. This process will help you keep accurate bank records.

The third step is to balance your checking account transactions every month. When you get your monthly statement from the bank, reconcile it with the data you input in your check register. When you do this, you can often find mistakes and most often it is your mistake. Sometimes it is a true banking error or it could even be fraudulent activity. It is always helpful to be able to find these mistakes and keep all your records straight. In case there are errors and discrepancies, contact the bank immediately in order to correct it as soon as possible. If you cannot go personally to the bank and you use the telephone instead, be ready to discuss the situation in detail to the service representative.

Documentation is the key to money management. It is the proof of all your financial transactions so it is essential that you keep a copy of them for your future reference. Not just any copy but you need a written records so print them out. Even your online banking transactions should be printed out. When it is time to throw your records out, shred the documents first for they contain vital information you would not want other people to have.

Step number four is to keep a close eye on all automatic payments and deposits so you can be assured of its accuracy. Even if the system is in automatic already, you should not assume anything. You should have a general idea of what your normal transactions look like so you can spot things that are out of the ordinary.

Step number five is to avoid a zero balance like the plague. Do not totally deplete your checking account. You should always keep a cushion of a few hundred dollars in your account so you can use this money as a hedge against emergencies and overdrafts. If you are smart, you’ll have set up an overdraft protection account so you don’t get charged excessive fees if you do make a mistake in your records that causes you to go below zero.

Following these five suggestions will help you on your way to good money management skills and help you live life more comfortably.

Save money by ordering personal checks online.

How Seniors Can Protect Themselves From Financial Scams

Although Mary, a grandmother of four no longer owns a home, she still gets calls from refinancing agencies and so called finance managers even pester her not only with phone calls but through mail as well.  With the economic downturn, many illegitimate agencies try to offer bogus financing plans preying on the older generation in hopes of making money the easiest possible way.

Financial literacy is taught to teenagers and many young urban professionals. Older folks however are not updated with what is going on in the financial world –making them an easy target for those who profess to be “lenders”.

For seniors to protect themselves from these finance issues, here are a few tips to take into consideration:

1. Budget and List Your Expenses

Saving enough money is key to a much more comfortable life ahead. Think about things you really do not need to spend on and cut the spending from there. For example, there is no more need for you to maintain that four bedroom house if all the kids now have their own families and their own homes. You can sell the house for a profit and get a smaller apartment –it is easier and cheaper to maintain.

Having enough income will relieve seniors from stressing out because of finances even if a crisis hits. Budgeting and saving enough for retirement is a good thing.

2. Investments

When it comes to investments, seniors should be more careful. As much as possible, do not invest in the stock market if you are not an expert. The stock market goes down faster than it is supposed to go up.  Invest in something that does not fluctuate along with the market.

3. Power of Attorney

Before making any decisions, it is highly recommended that older Americans find someone they can trust to manage finances and other legalities. A son or a daughter is a good choice so that seniors can have peace of mind when it comes to their money. As much as possible, do not give anybody else control over finances except your own children because if you do not have enough control over your money, you might find that one day your money is gone.

4. Charities

If you want to help out in your own way with regards to a certain cause, be very careful because even legitimate charities can obtain the right to withdraw from your bank account. Help out in cash, give it to them and do not sign any agreements whatsoever nor should you give out your bank account number.

5. Beware of Phone Scammers

Do not give any personal information to anyone who calls you pretending to be from a legitimate company. These scammers usually call through the relay service – a service that is supposedly for the service of deaf people which allows them to make a regular phone call. The relay service is a legitimate company but somehow, through the advancement of technology, Nigerian scammers have hacked into their system and they pretend that they are deaf people trying to call relatives. The interpreters do not have the power to end the call since it is against federal laws to meddle in the call. The best thing you can do is report this call as soon as possible and never to entertain them anymore especially if you do not know someone who actually uses the service.

6. Retirement

For those who are still planning to retire. Delay your retirement. Figure out first how much money you have in your pension plan and if your retirement income is sufficient,  then go right ahead and enjoy your retirement benefits.

Order your personal checks here and save money.

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