Consumer Information and Links

These links are provided for the general information of visitors to the Office of Financial Institutions (OFI) Web site. Inclusion of a link does not constitute an endorsement of a site's organization or of the information provided at the site.

Money Smart - An Adult Education Program – Provides access to the Money Smart Computer-Based Instruction, an easy-to-use, interactive learning tool that teaches the 10 modules of the Money Smart curriculum through the computer. The program is available online or on CD-ROM in both English and Spanish.

OnGuard Online: Your Safety Net – Provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer and protect your personal information.

FakeChecks.org – Explains how fake check scams operate and offers tips for avoiding falling victim. It also includes a "fraud test" and videos.

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy – Offers information grouped by life stages, such as college, parenthood, home ownership and retirement or by financial topics, such as business owner, investment planning, estate planning and personal finance. There is also a section for women, "Ask the Money Dr." and a related links page.

Federal Trade Commission for the Consumer Information – Offers links to publications with advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs, as well as tips on other consumer topics.  You can also file a complaint with the FTC or order FTC publications.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Quick Links for Consumers and Communities – Provides links to information on topics such as identity theft and privacy, financial education, banking tools and resources, consumer protection assistance, deposit insurance, real estate and housing, and community reinvestment and development. Also there are links to publications by the FDIC, such as this special edition of the "FDIC Consumer News" about loans and credit.

Federal Reserve Consumer Help – Offers assistance with filing a complaint as well as information on checking accounts, credit, credit reports, deposit insurance, electronic banking, mortgage loans and small business products. 

Help With My Bank – Answers many questions common to all banking consumers from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The site also provides information about contacting regulators to file a complaint.

Federal Citizen Information Center – Provides links to a number of free and low-cost publications, as well as recall notices, scam and fraud alerts and a link to kids.gov/. Also, it includes a link to the Consumer Action Web site, which includes all of the information in the Consumer Action Handbook, billed as the "everyday guide to being a smart shopper."

Financial Football Training Camp – Features an interactive game with four modules where financial savvy leads to touchdowns. Choose your team and answer questions correctly to advance down the field.

Kentucky Jump$tart Coalition – Offers a list of coalition activities and a link to the national Jump$tart's clearinghouse of information on a variety of financial topics.

Kentucky Council on Economic Education's Parent's Corner – Provides tips on teaching children to save and helping children learn decision making skills. Also links to a children's literature list and games, as well as resources for teachers.

Practical Money Skills for Life – Features resources for consumers and parents on topics such as buying a home, using employee benefits and setting a child's allowance. Financial resources are also available for teachers and businesses.

Consumer Jungle – Features areas specific to teachers, students, parents and consumer awareness. Topics include buying a car, using credit responsibly, avoiding fraud, budgeting and living on your own.

Consumer Federation of America – Provides information resources on payday lending for consumers and advocates.

Annual Credit Report – Offers a free annual credit report.

Don't Borrow Trouble Kentucky – Offers a toll-free hotline for lending help. The Kentucky Housing Corporation, along with Kentucky’s Don’t Borrow Trouble task force of more than 40 individuals representing more than 20 different organizations including OFI, invites people to learn about this initiative for combating predatory lending.

Federal Trade Commission's Competition in the Real Estate Marketplace – Provides many publications for home buyers, home sellers and those who are interested in home improvement from the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Predatory Lending by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Offers tips to protect yourself and contact information for victims to report predatory lending practices or file a complaint.

Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs: Are They for You? – Offers information by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 

Personal Finance Glossary – Features more than 700 financial terms and definitions.

Investor Education by the North American Securities Administrators Association – Features a fraud center, the Senior Investor Resource Center, investor alerts and the "investor bill of rights." Also try the investor awareness quiz to learn what you can do to avoid becoming a victim of investment fraud.

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority – Provides investor alerts, financial calculators, market information and more. Also, check out the background of your securities broker, sales person, or investment adviser through the FINRA Broker Check.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission – Provides investor education publications on mutual funds, variable annuities, stocks and bonds. This site also contains financial calculators and investor education specifically for seniors.

America Saves – Offers savings tips, money saving strategies, past newsletters and a Home Wealth Estimator.

eXtension.org Personal Finance – Provides information on a variety of topics, finance calculators, frequently asked questions and other resources. The site is created by an educational partnership of more than 70 universities to help you improve your life every day with access to objective, research-based information and educational opportunities.

Investopedia – Offers a dictionary, stock simulator, calculators, articles and more.

Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement – Provides retirement tips and links from the U.S. Department of Labor.

AARP Financial Planning and Retirement – Features tips for planning and managing finances, as well as how to order a free, five-part video called "Mission Retirement."

Kentucky Office of the Attorney General – Offers a downloadable identity theft victim kit, tips for victims and information for businesses.

Identity Theft – Features the results of the President's Task Force on Identity Theft, established May 10, 2006. The Taking Action link leads to a variety of federal resources regarding identity theft.

Fighting Back Against Identity Theft – Provides resources from the Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft, order publications, file a complaint and resolve specific identity theft problems.

Operation Hope's Hope Coalition America – Provides links to the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit and the Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide.

Kentucky Office of Homeland Security – Tells how to protect your family and your business in the event of a disaster. Also offers tips for children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Office of Financial Institutions
1025 Capital Center Drive
Suite 200
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-573-3390
Fax: 502-573-0086
E-mail: kfi@ky.gov