A few tips on financial safety for National Protect Your Identity Week

In almost 60 percent of households it’s the women who are in charge of managing the finances – from balancing checkbooks to paying monthly bills. With new research showing 4 out of 5 web-savvy families are paying their bills online, it’s important that money-managing moms understand and use a few helpful online tools to effectively plan for their family’s financial future.

Would you be interested in providing other moms with a few quick and easy resources to simplify and maximize their planning process?

Here’s a quick overview of a few online tools to consider:

First things first: protect your family’s identity.
Just in time for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, moms can use the free service www.MyIDScore.com to assess their current risk of identity fraud. Instead of waiting six months or more to find out they’ve been a victim (like 25 percent of people polled for a recent study by the Federal Trade Commission), moms can use this site to understand their immediate risk and to take the necessary steps to protect their family’s identity and financial future.

Save time, money and paper with online banking.
Moms can visit www.ebillplace.com and use an online calculator to see their family’s green and cost savings potential by going paperless when it comes to paying bills. Once they understand the benefits, moms can browse the site for expert tips to start the savings process with online banking and bill pay.

Understanding the facts.
57 percent of consumers have lost a paper bill in the mail, forcing them to pay late fees or deal with the aggravation of calling the biller’s customer service.
64 percent of consumers have lost a paper bill in their own home.
Paying and receiving bills online can reduce a consumers risk by up to 18 percent.
According to a 2009 Javelin Research study, women are 26 percent more likely to be victims of identity fraud than men.