ING DIRECT USA To Help Chicagoans Get 'Money Smart'

WILMINGTON, Del., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- To help Chicagoans give their family finances a healthy check up and spring cleaning, ING DIRECT USA, the nation's largest direct bank, announced today it will host a series of free financial education workshops and activities at its Chicago Cafe beginning April 17 through April 23, 2010.  

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As part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's ninth-annual Money Smart Week®, the ING DIRECT Cafe in Chicago will hold five events to raise consumers' financial education awareness and promote fiscally responsible behavior.  Events at the Cafe will range from financial education activities for children to important lessons on how new government regulations will affect checking accounts.

"Getting your personal finances in order should be at the top of every consumer's spring cleaning check list," said Arkadi Kuhlmann, CEO of ING DIRECT USA. "Money Smart Week® is the perfect opportunity for Chicagoans to brush up on their money management skills and adopt some positive new savings behaviors. ING DIRECT is pleased to be a part of Money Smart Week® and help Cafe visitors save their money."

Throughout Money Smart Week®, ING DIRECT's Cafe in Chicago, located at 21 East Chestnut Street (between N. Wabash Ave. and N. State St.), will host the following free financial workshops and activities.  All attendees will receive a special $50 bonus to open an Electric Orange checking account with ING DIRECT.  

• Saturday, April 17, 2010 – Local speaker, educator and author, X'ernona Woods, will be in the Chicago Cafe on Saturday, April 17, from 1 p.m. – 2p.m. CT, to read her book Save That Penny for a Sunny Day to children in grades 4-6.  Activities will follow that encourage kids to pay close attention to their ideas, use time wisely and reach goals.

• Tuesday, April 20, 2010 – Learning about money should be entertaining and educational. Teachers and parents are encouraged to stop by the Cafe from 5 p.m. – 6p.m. CT to learn how Planet Orange – ING DIRECT's virtual web experience for children – can help them prepare students for a solid financial future.  

• Wednesday, April 21, 2010 – Looking for some helpful ways to save money in Chicago?  At 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT, the ING DIRECT Cafe will let visitors in on secret ways to immediately save hundreds of dollars in Chicago on everything from entertainment to dining out with friends.

• Thursday, April 22, 2010 – How will the federal government's July 1 changes to bank overdraft policies affect consumers?  During a seminar at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT, ING DIRECT will highlight what consumers need to know about overdraft protection as well as the benefits of online banking. Stick around afterward for an hour with Rob Weaver, Head of IT Security at ING DIRECT, to find out how safe online banking really is and what you can do to further protect yourself online.

• Friday, April 23, 2010 – Missed a workshop from earlier in the week? On Friday, from 4 p.m. – 6p.m. CT, the Cafe will host a Money Smart Week® recap followed by a customer appreciation reception. Free cookies and coffee will be handed out to show how much the Cafe appreciates Savers.

Coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its Money Smart partners, Money Smart Week® is designed to educate and inform consumers about money management through educational programs on a wide range of financial topics. An advocate for greater financial education awareness, ING DIRECT USA supports organizations that focus on economic empowerment to help individuals achieve financial stability and lead self-sufficient lives.

For more information or to RSVP to ING DIRECT USA's Money Smart Week® events, visit www.ingdirect.com/seminars or http://moneysmartweek.org.

About ING DIRECT USA

ING DIRECT USA, the nation's largest direct bank and largest thrift, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 7.6 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to $90.3 billion in assets.  ING DIRECT has developed a comprehensive social media Savers Community, including Twitter, Facebook and its We, The Savers blog.  For more information about ING DIRECT call 1-800-ING-DIRECT, and for information about its commitment to financial education visit Planet Orange.  Style note to Editors: ING DIRECT is always capitalized and never referred to as ING.

SOURCE ING DIRECT USA