The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is issuing a nationwide alert, urging caution to seniors who may receive a telephone call from “AFD Medical Advisors,” selling a prescription drug discount plan or referencing Medicare and requesting a bank account number.

Adding co-owners to a deposit account vs. alternative arrangements. Under FDIC rules, a joint account is a deposit account owned by two or more people who have equal rights to withdraw 100 percent of the deposits and to close the account. "For a couple wishing to share common funds, the upside is that each person may write checks and pay bills from the account, which is certainly a convenience in managing a household or as someone needs assistance," said Joni Creamean, Chief of the FDIC’s Consumer Response Center.

In addition, each co-owner is insured for up to $250,000 for his or her share in all joint accounts at an insured bank. "For someone who wants to add co-owners primarily for convenience purposes or accessing funds in an emergency, carefully consider how limits on withdrawal rights could affect your insurance coverage," warned Martin W. Becker, an FDIC Senior Deposit Insurance Specialist.

For example, if a single mother adds two children as co-owners but specifies that they must act together to withdraw any funds, the three individuals do not have equal withdrawal rights and the account would not necessarily be FDIC-insured up to $750,000 ($250,000 for each person named). "In this situation," Becker explained, "the FDIC would have to look to state law to determine the ownership interest of each person and would provide deposit insurance coverage accordingly."

Becker noted that there is another, better way to give someone limited access to a deposit account on an as-needed basis without granting ownership rights. That is to obtain a power of attorney — the written authorization for one or more people to represent or act on another’s behalf in financial affairs or other personal matters. Powers of attorney can be broad, allowing unlimited access, or narrow, limiting access to accounts.

Allowing others to access your safe deposit box. The rules and procedures for safe deposit boxes can vary by state and by bank, so ask your bank about the options for granting someone access and what you would have to do if you later change your mind. "Remember that this person could go to the box and take anything out, without your approval," explained Edward Nygard, an FDIC Senior Consumer Affairs Specialist.

Adding co-owners vs. "authorized users" to a credit card account. A co-owner is financially responsible for all debt incurred, including any charges by an authorized user. Depending on the cardholder agreement, authorized users may or may not be financially responsible for any debt on the card. A card owner also may be able to place restrictions on authorized users, such as limits on amounts that can be charged.

Think carefully before you co-sign a loan. "If the other co-signer does not pay the debt, you will have to," Creamean said. "You may also have to pay late fees and collection costs, which increase the debt amount. Additionally, your credit rating could be affected if this person fails to pay or pays late."

Want more guidance about adding names to accounts? Consider consulting an attorney, your banker or another advisor.

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Take security precautions. Because financial documents contain personal information, institutions offer a secure connection to their Internet banking site. You should use and update anti-virus software, strong passwords and a "firewall" to stop hackers from accessing your computer.

Monitor the e-mails from your bank and credit card company. Regularly review bank statements or credit card bills and manage the accounts to avoid penalties and fees.

Be on guard against fraudulent e-mails. "Fraud artists commonly use well-known bank names and logos in e-mails that ask recipients to click on a link that will take you to an unauthorized site,” offered William Henley, Jr., Associate Director of the FDIC’s Technology Supervision Branch. “So if you want to access your bank’s Web site, don’t click on a link in an e-mail. Instead, carefully type in the Web address or use a ‘Favorites’ link."

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Questions and tips to help you narrow down the choices:

It's important to have a banking product to handle everyday financial needs that range from making payments to getting paid. There also is no shortage of options — from different kinds of checking accounts to products such as prepaid cards that, at first glance, may seem like convenient alternatives to bank accounts but may lack the federal protections for insured accounts. How can you choose what's best for you?

FDIC Consumer News has developed a 10-question self-test to help you focus on what you want most in a bank account, plus additional tips to help you narrow your choices and make a good decision. Ready to get started?

Questions to Ask

1. How do I want to deposit money into an account? If you're not already having your payroll, pension, Social Security payments, unemployment benefits or other income directly deposited into your bank account, look into it. Direct deposit may save you money on fees, plus you will receive the payment more quickly than depositing it in person.

For checks that you need to deposit into your account, consider how you'd prefer to do that (in person, electronically, by mail) and if a bank you're looking at would be a good choice. For example, you might be interested in depositing checks using a smartphone, but not all banks offer that service. Or, if you like to make deposits at a teller window, find out the hours you can do so.

2. How do I plan to pay bills or purchase goods? More people are using debit cards instead of writing checks to draw money from their checking account, in part because of the convenience and speed. The FDIC recently conducted a pilot program at nine institutions offering electronic, card-based accounts and found that "checkless checking" can reduce the risk of overdrawing accounts.

If you want to pay bills online, explore what the bank offers and whether there are any fees. "The potential benefits of online bill-paying services include a confirmation that you paid the bill, and with some institutions, a guarantee that any payment you originate will be delivered on a set day," noted Luke W. Reynolds, Acting Associate Director of the FDIC's Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection. "Some banks' bill-payment services will even electronically deliver your bills from certain companies you do business with, which can save you time and hassles." These online programs vary, he said, so check on any limitations, such as on what bills can be paid through the service.

Also, if you'd like to electronically pay other people (as opposed to companies), find out about your options. They may include payment by phone, computer or smartphone. Again, ask about any limitations and fees.

3. Do I want to monitor my account electronically? Telephone and online access to accounts is increasingly becoming the norm. But if you want to monitor your account activity and balance using a smartphone or tablet computer, find out whether these features are available.

Electronic alerts from your bank can save you money. Options may include text or e-mail messages if your account balance reaches a threshold you set (say $10), so you can curtail spending or add funds to avoid overdraft fees.

4. What are my options for withdrawing cash? Find out if the bank has branches or fee-free ATMs you can use close to where you think you need them, perhaps near your home or work.

You also may be able to get cash from your account when you make a purchase with a debit card at certain merchants, but this can lead to unnecessary expenditures.

5. Are there features that can help me put more money into savings? Many consumers find that setting their savings on auto-pilot — by automatically transferring money into a savings account on paydays or at other regular intervals — is the easiest way to build a rainy-day fund or achieve other savings goals. "Paying yourself first is the most effective way to ensure that you set money aside because, as the saying goes, 'What you don't see you probably won't spend,'" noted Lekeshia Frasure, Acting Chief of the FDIC's Outreach and Program Development Section.

6. What will the new account cost? Pay careful attention to how much money you may need to open and maintain the account. For example, what does the bank charge for falling below the minimum balance requirement?

Making Your Decision

By now you should have a better idea of the features you want in a bank account and how much they're likely to cost. Here are other questions to ask before you make a final decision:

7. Have I compared several institutions? Look at each bank's disclosure of fees and key terms. The types of fees may vary considerably from bank to bank. Also compare the products and features a bank offers on its Web site to what you are told in person; it's possible that a special offer may be available through certain branches only and not online, or vice versa.

By comparison shopping based on the fees and how you expect to use your account, you should be able to predict what each account will cost you.

8. Am I giving too much consideration to "rewards" or other special offers? "One-time deals, whether they involve cash or merchandise, can induce consumers to select an account that isn't necessarily the most cost-effective," said Reynolds. "Likewise, with specials that won't last the life of the account, such as an interest rate bonus that will only last a few months, compare the regular terms and conditions of the account to what the competition is offering to decide if the account is right for you for the years ahead."

Also carefully evaluate the requirements to qualify for any special offer and determine if that is consistent with how you already manage your finances. For example, if you expect to use a debit card infrequently, don't sign up for an account that offers a special interest rate that is conditioned on making a dozen or more debit card transactions per month.

Frasure also warned to be especially cautious when the reward is based on making purchases. "Don't let down your guard against unnecessary spending in order to earn rewards," she said. "If you are spending more than you would at another bank, those 'free' rewards may end up costing more than you think."

9. Will all my deposits be federally insured? This is important to know before opening an account or making a sizable deposit in the future. The FDIC guarantees deposits up to at least $250,000 per depositor per institution, including principal and accrued interest, if the bank fails. If you have less than $250,000 in a bank account, you can rest easy knowing that no depositor has lost a penny of insured funds since the FDIC's creation in 1933.

For help or information regarding FDIC insurance coverage, call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877 ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342) or visit www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits.

10. If I'm thinking about using a prepaid card to pay for purchases, is it the case that they may have fewer consumer protections than a traditional bank account? Generally, bank checking accounts, including any cards linked to an account, are covered by comprehensive consumer protection laws that, for example, limit how long a bank may hold a deposit before making funds available or offer protections in the event of fraudulent activity.

However, some people have turned to prepaid cards that are reloadable and can be used for general purposes (such as at merchants and ATMs) as alternatives to checking accounts without realizing there may be hidden fees and fewer consumer protections.

"For these reasons and others, often including the inability to easily set aside money in a separate savings account, most prepaid cards cannot offer the features of a well-selected, well-managed bank checking account," said Reynolds. To learn more about prepaid cards, see Debit, Credit and Prepaid Cards: There Are Differences.

Using Your New Account

Once your account is open, remember the following.

• Overdrafts pose the largest risk for costly fees, but you can avoid them. The easiest way to avoid these fees is to keep an up-to-date record of how much money is in your account and check your balance before making a purchase or writing a check. Also, ensure that you have sufficient funds in the account to cover any bills automatically paid from the account."Mistakes — overdrafts — can happen, so understand how you can deal with the consequences in the most cost-effective way possible," said Frasure. For overdrafts caused by debit card transactions, she explained, if you do not "opt in" (agree) to a fee-based overdraft program from your bank, "debit card transactions that exceed the available funds in the account would generally be declined, but at least you would not pay a costly fee for spending money not in your account."

  An effective way to handle overdrafts may include pre-arranging for an automatic transfer from your savings account to your checking account when the balance falls to zero.

• You can control whether financial companies share your information for marketing purposes with certain other companies. The privacy of your personal financial records with a financial institution is protected by law. If your financial institution intends to share your information with anyone outside its corporate family, it generally must give you the chance to "opt out" or say "no" to information sharing under certain circumstances. Consult the privacy notice of the institution for details.
• You may choose to switch from paper statements to electronic statements. If you do so, be sure to immediately review your electronic statement because timely reporting of errors is essential to limiting your liability in the event of a problem. Also, if you ever need to confirm that you paid a bill, consider saving a copy of each monthly statement in a secure, perhaps electronic location, especially if the institution charges a fee for retrieving previous statements. For more information, see Going Paperless with Electronic Statements.
• It's important to monitor communications from your bank about changes it plans to make to your account, including new fees. "These notices can prompt you to reevaluate whether you can get a better deal by shopping around," Reynolds said.

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