Is Financial Literacy Low?

During Financial Literacy Month in April, Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to keep track of their credit, debt and sensitive financial documents.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling says that most Americans are not up-to-date on their credit standing. According to the NFCC’s 2011 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey Final Report:

• 65 percent have not obtained yearly credit reports within the last 12 months;
• 63 percent have not requested credit scores.

Of those that have not checked credit histories:

• 43 percent say they do not think it is useful or do not plan to apply for new credit;
• 22 percent do not believe they have any credit history to review.

The same study finds that millions of Americans carry credit card debt month-to-month and 28 percent admit to not paying bills on time; seven percent currently have debts in collection.

BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington encourages consumers to utilize free resources:

Free Credit Reports: annualcreditreport.com
National Foundation for Credit Counseling: nfcc.org
Federal Reserve: federalreserve.gov
Financial Literacy and Education Commission: mymoney.gov
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
FINRA Investor Education Foundation: saveandinvest.org
BBB’s Managing Credit - Made Simpler: bbb.org/credit-management
Be Money Wi$e: money-wise.org
Alaska Jump$tart: akjumpstart.org or jumpstart.org
Oregon Jump$tart: orjumpstart.org
Washington Jump$tart: wajumpstart.org

BBB urges consumers to also take advantage of free events:

BBB’s Secure Your ID Day – Free Shredding: akorww.bbb.org/secure-your-id
Money Smart Week: moneysmartweek.org
Anchorage Public Library’s Money Smart Week Seminars: muni.org/Moneysmart
Mid-Oregon Free Shredding: midoregon.com
Money Smart Week: moneysmartweek.org
Oregon Money Smart Week Luncheon: frbsf.org
Spend Smart Tips to Manage and Safeguard Your Money Forum: dfcs.oregon.gov
Washington Money Smart Week Luncheon: frbsf.org

Find more credit tips at bbb.org.