News Release

CHICAGO—The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, along with 176 partner organizations, announced today the fourth annual Indiana Money Smart Week will be October 10–17, 2009.

During the week, hundreds of free educational events will take place at various times and locations around the state. All will provide consumers with education on personal finance and money management. The classes will be on a variety of topics and will be carried out by members of the Indiana Money Smart Advisory Council (MAC).

"The MAC members have shown great enthusiasm for this statewide personal finance initiative," said Doug Tillett, vice president of the Chicago Fed's Public Affairs Department. "We are thrilled the program has doubled in size from one year ago, bringing twice as many events to cities and regions across the state."

Money Smart Week classes are held for consumers of all ages. Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita is leading a group of prominent local officials in support of the effort.

"Like other states, Indiana has been hit hard by the shaky economy," said Secretary Rokita. "In the last year, we've seen dramatically high unemployment rates, an increasing number of foreclosures and several high profile cases of investment fraud. Now, more than ever, it's critical that we place an emphasis on financial literacy and empower people with the knowledge and resources they need to be smarter savers, more responsible consumers and better informed investors."

For the first time, Money Smart Week will include an annual Money Smart Financial Literacy Award. Sponsored by the Indiana Jump $tart Coalition, this award recognizes an Indiana teacher in grades K – 12 who is dedicated to promotion financial literacy in young Hoosiers. The 2009 winner will be announced at the statewide kick-off breakfast and press conference on October 13th.

For more information, please visit http://www.moneysmartweek.org or call the Money Smart Week Hotline 1-877-MNY-SMRT (1-877-669-7678).

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago promotes financial education by helping coordinate Money Smart Weeks in Indiana as well as Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Money Smart Week is a registered service mark of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

2009 Indiana Money Smart Advisory Council (MAC)

1st Source Bank
1st Source Foundation
Abundant Life Church
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.;
Gamma PSI Omega Chapter
Ameriprise Financial
Ancilla College
Anderson and Company
Ball Realty Group LLC
Bartholomew County Financial Literacy Coalition
Bartholomew County Human Services
Bartholomew County Public Library
Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana
Bloomfield–Eastern Greene County Library
Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake County
Bremen Chamber of Commerce
Bremen High School
June Bules, Attorney
Centier Bank
Centra Credit Union
Charles Schwab
Charlestown Library
City of Fort Wayne
City of Gary Homeownership Opportunity Network (HON)
Collins & Company
Columbus Indiana Eastside Community Center
Community Action of Southern Indiana (CASI)
Community Connections
Community Foundation – Women's Fund
Community Hospital of Bremen
Community RULE
Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Northeast Indiana
East Chicago Public Library
Edward Jones Advisors
Elkhart Housing Authority Euell A. Wilson Center, Inc.
Evansville–Vanderburgh School Corporation
ExecuEssential Administrative Services, Inc.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago – Detroit Branch
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – Louisville Branch Fifth Third Bank
Financial Planners Association
Financial Stability Partnership of Evansville
First Federal Savings Bank
First Financial Bank
First Midwest Bank
First State Bank of Bourbon
Fort Wayne Housing Authority
Fort Wayne Urban League
FORUM Credit Union
Thomas Franko, CPA
Freddie Mac
Gary Community Schools
Gary Metro Corporation
Gary Neighborhood Center
George and Frances Ball Foundation
GreenPath
Harris Bank
Harrison College – Lafayette Campus
Hasbro
Hawthorne Community Center
Hispanic Leadership Coalition of Northeast Indiana
Homestead Consulting Services
Housing Opportunities, Inc.
Huntington National Bank
Images of Hope
Indiana Association of United Ways
Indiana Bankers Association
Indiana Certified Public Accounting Society (INCPAS)
Indiana Council for Economic Education
Indiana Department of Education
Indiana Education Savings Authority
Indiana Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita's Indiana Investment Watch
Indiana State Police
Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock
Indiana University Northwest
Indiana University Northwest – 21st Century Scholars
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Human Resources Administration Work/Life
Indiana University School of Dentistry at IUPUI
Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership
Internal Revenue Service
Ivy Tech Community College
Jackson County Public Library
Jackson County United Way
John Boner Center
Jones, Huff, & Jones
Juan Diego Latino Center
Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana
kidscommons
LaCasa
Lafayette Urban Ministry
Lake Area United Way (LAUW)
Lake City Bank
Lakeshore Public Radio
Lakeshore Public Television
Lifeplex Health and Wellness Center
Mappleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation
Marshall County Community Foundation
Marshall County Council on Aging
Marshall County Habitat for Humanity
Marshall County Life Enrichment Center
Marshall County United Way
Meals on Wheels
Miller/Norcen Insurance
Ministerial Alliance of Marshall County
Momentive Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Morrow Insurance Agency
National City Bank – Now a part of PNC
Networks Financial Institute (NFI) @ Indiana State University
Northeast Indiana Continuum Care Coalition
Northwest Indiana Asset Building Coalition (NWIABC)
Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation (NWICAC)
Northwest Indiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Office of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller
Office of Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita
Old National Bank
People's University – Marshall County
Plymouth Public Library
Prime Real Estate
Public Service Credit Union
Purdue Extension
Purdue Extension – Allen County
Purdue Extension – Bartholomew County
Purdue Extension – Clark County
Purdue Extension – Greene County
Purdue Extension – Huntington County
Purdue Extension – Jackson County
Purdue Extension – Marion County
Purdue Extension – Marshall County
Purdue Extension – Tippecanoe County
Purdue Extension – Warrick County
Purdue Extension Consumer and Family Sciences
Purdue University – Department of Agricultural Economics
Purdue University – Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing
Purdue University – Division of Financial Aid
Purdue University – WorkLife Programs
REAL Services/A2AA
RSVP, Community Connections
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
SDM Investments, LLC
South Bend Tribune
Southeast Community Service Center
Southeastern Indiana Small Business Development Center
Southern Indiana Asset Building Coalition (SIABC)
State Farm Insurance
Stevens, Travis, Fortin Lukenbill
Teachers Credit Union
The First National Bank of Monterey
The Pilot News -– Marshall County
The Nia Group
Tippecanoe Area Economic Education Coalition
Tom Franko, CPA
True Holiness Pentecostal Church
United Methodist Church of Hammond
United Neighborhood Inc.
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
United States Social Security Administration (SSA)
United Way of Allen County
United Way of Greater Lafayette
United Way of Marshall County
Urban League
Volunteer Center @ RSVP
Warren Ward Associates
Watt Watchers of Marshall County
Wells Fargo Bank Community Development/Social Responsibility Group
WorkOne – Linton
WTCA-AM 1050 (Plymouth)
YMCA Caldwell Community Center
YMCA of Southwestern Indiana Inc.
YWCA Greater Lafayette
YWCA of Northwest Indiana
Zehner, Maloy and Associates, CPAs, LLC

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Background

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, DC, make up the nation's central bank. The Chicago Reserve Bank serves the 7th Federal Reserve District, which encompasses the northern portions of Illinois and Indiana, southern Wisconsin, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and the entire state of Iowa. In addition to participation in the formulation of monetary policy, each Reserve Bank supervises member banks and bank holding companies, provides financial services to depository institutions and the U.S. government, and monitors economic conditions in its District.