MMI Introduces Toll-Free Credit Counseling Referral Line

Credit counseling referral line to help credit unions and banks comply with the CARD Act

HOUSTON, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a result of the CARD Act, financial institutions must provide a toll-free telephone number that provides information about credit counseling agencies on each billing statement. In response to this requirement, Money Management International (MMI) has created the National Credit Counseling Services Referral Line.

"As one of the nation's largest nonprofit credit counseling organizations, we feel a sense of responsibility to those struggling financially," said Jeff Davis, senior director of industry relations for MMI. "We continuously look for opportunities to assist individuals and families struggling financially, which is why we are happy to provide this referral line as a convenient way for financial institutions to comply with this government regulation and better serve their members and customers."

The National Credit Counseling Services Referral Line provides callers with the option to connect with three nationwide, nonprofit credit counseling agencies. These nonprofit organizations have all been licensed and approved by the Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST) for credit counseling services in all 50 states.

The benefits of the National Credit Counseling Services Referral Line include:

• Free. There will be no cost to financial institutions or their cardholders to implement or use the referral line.
• Easy to use. The process for both financial institutions and their cardholders to access information about government-approved, nonprofit credit counseling agencies has been simplified and streamlined with a single, toll-free telephone number. The line requires no technological or administrative maintenance by the financial institutions that choose to utilize it.
• Help is a telephone call away. The referral line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To learn more about the National Credit Counseling Services Referral Line, contact Carolyn Tarrant, MMI's director of project management, at 866.795.2227 Ext. 6510, or email [email protected].

About Money Management International

Money Management International (MMI) is a nonprofit, full-service credit-counseling agency, providing confidential financial guidance, financial education, counseling and debt management assistance to consumers since 1958. MMI helps consumers trim their expenses, develop a spending plan and repay debts. Counseling is available by appointment in branch offices and 24/7 by telephone and Internet. Services are available in English or Spanish. To learn more, call 800.432.7310 or visit www.MoneyManagement.org.

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SOURCE Money Management International