January 27, 2006
Speed up tax refunds with Get Checking program
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The onset of direct deposit enables thousands of Hoosiers to get their tax returns sooner than expected, but some people don't have access to that convenience because they can't get a checking account, says Elizabeth Kiss, a Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service family resource management specialist.There are more than 500,000 records of account abuse, mismanagement and fraud in ChexSystems, a national database that keeps track of bank account mismanagement. Once a consumer's name goes into the database, it's almost impossible for them to get an account, Kiss says.
Get Checking, a program offered by Purdue Extension, can help those residents get a checking account in time to have their tax return direct deposited.
"Get Checking is designed for people who've had trouble getting a checking account because of their account history," Kiss says.
In six hours, the program teaches basic account management skills, including how to select an account, how to use the check register and how to balance a checking account. Students who've successfully mastered the skills receive a certificate of completion that can be used to open a checking account at a participating financial institution.
"This program is really a win-win. Consumers can gain access to checking accounts, and financial institutions know they're getting customers who have account management skills," Kiss says.
Registration for Get Checking is $40 per individual or $60 per couple. The fee includes all materials. Contact your local Purdue Extension office or call (888) EXT-INFO for course schedules.
Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682
Source: Elizabeth Kiss, (765) 494-8299, dekiss@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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