Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities Launches 'Financial $ense Week' as part of October Consumer Financial Protection Outreach Schedule

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education and outreach staff from the Department of Banking and Securities will be meeting with senior citizens, professionals, and the general public across Pennsylvania during the month of October to promote financial capability as part of Governor Tom Wolf's Consumer Financial Protection Initiative. 

New for October is "Financial $ense Week," which runs October 23-29, and features outreach events across the commonwealth on diverse topics such as: scam and fraud prevention; saving, investing, and making informed financial decisions; creating a spending plan; and staying up to date on federal and state securities laws and regulations for investment professionals.

Financial $ense Week

• October 24: "$cam Jam" – which helps retirees and seniors learn to better detect and avoid financial scams through games like Investment Fraud Bingo and presentations from consumer protection groups – at Beaver Springs Senior Center, 55 Elm Street in Beaver Springs (Snyder County) from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Call UDS/Independent Living Services at 1-888-837-4235 (Registration is required for this event).
• October 25: "Money Matters 2017" – a noncommercial consumer education conference that will offer sessions on investing and other financial related topics to help consumers make more informed financial decisions – at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass in Camp Hill (Cumberland County) from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Executive producer of CNBC's "American Greed" will be keynote speaker. This event is free and open to the public; registration is required: https://www.secure.dobs.pa.gov/?a=mm.reg.
• October 26: Compliance 2017 – a statewide conference designed to keep investment professionals up-to-date on changes to federal and state securities laws and regulations – at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass in Camp Hill (Cumberland County) from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Continuing education credits are available through this conference. The cost of attendance is $175 per registrant. For more information and to register online, visit: www.dobs.pa.gov/For%20Media/Pages/Compliance2017.aspx.
• October 29: "Creating a Spending Plan" – which outlines the differences between wants and needs; setting "SMART" goals; creating a spending plan; and putting the plan into action – at New Beginning Church of Philadelphia, 5285 Castor Avenue in Philadelphia from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

For Senior Citizens

Department staff will be participating in several senior citizen expos sponsored by members of the General Assembly, including:

• Sen. Christine Tartaglione will offer two senior expos at the following locations:
• Mayfair Community Center, 2990 St. Vincent Street in Philadelphia on October 5 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter School, 1100 East Erie Avenue in Philadelphia on October 12 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Sen. John Sabatina's senior expo at PA Army National Guard Armory and Readiness Center, 2700 Southampton Road in Philadelphia on October 6 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Sen. John Yudichak, Sen. Lisa Baker, Rep. Aaron Kaufer, and Rep. Gerald Mullery's senior expo at Kingston Armory, 280 Market Street in Kingston (Luzerne County) on October 12 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Rep. Bill Kortz's senior expo at Broughton Volunteer Fire Hall, 1030 Cochran Mill Road in Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) on October 12 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Rep. Martin Causer's senior expo at Roulette Fire Hall, 12 Riverside Drive in Roulette (Potter County) on October 13 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Rep. Dom Costa's senior expo at Ross Township Community Center, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive in Pittsburgh (Allegheny County) on October 13 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

The presentation "Creating a Spending Plan" will also be presented at Hopewell Manor at 58 E. Main Street, #100 in Elverson (Chester County) on October 6 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. (Open to residents and their guests ONLY.)

Department staff will offer the presentation "Banking Basics" – an overview of how banks and credit unions work, including differences among types of accounts, what to do if you have past banking issues, and questions you should ask before opening an account – at Romano's Catering, 1523 E. Wingohocking Street in Philadelphia on October 18 from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM. (Open to Philadelphia Chapter of PARSE members ONLY.)

For Professionals

Department staff will present "Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program" – an innovative, research-based program that trains medical doctors, lawyers, social workers, senior services providers, and other partners to recognize and report financial abuse targeting their clients, especially those suffering from mild cognitive impairment – at the following locations (Events are NOT open to the general public):

• PA Department of Revenue Tax Seminar in Altoona (Blair County) on October 14
• PA Department of Revenue Tax Seminar in Breinigsville (Lehigh County) on October 19
• PA Medical Directors Association Annual Symposium in Hershey (Dauphin County) on October 21

The presentation "Senior$afe" – which helps financial professionals identify the "red flags" of suspicious behavior of their clients and/or those close to their clients – will be offered to the Fraud Prevention Group of Northern Bank in Breinigsville (Monroe County) on October 11. (Event is NOT open to the general public.)

For General Audiences

As part of an ongoing series with MontcoWorks and PA CareerLink in Montgomery County, department staff will present "Avoiding Scams and Identity Theft" – which helps consumers protect themselves from financial scams as well as informs victims of scams on how to get help – will be offered at Montgomery County CareerLink at 1430 Dekalb Street in Norristown (Montgomery County) on October 11 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM (Registration required for this free event. Space is limited. Call 610-278-2609 to register.)

The presentation "Cybersecurity: Protecting Yourself Online" - covering key topics such as using secure websites, creating strong passwords, being aware of what you put on social media, and even tips for shopping online safely – will be offered at the Schuylkill Township Building, 111 Valley Park Road in Phoenixville (Chester County) on October 19 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

The Department of Banking and Securities offers educational presentations designed to help consumers of all ages learn to protect and grow their own money. The department's Calendar of Events can be found online: http://bit.ly/1KIscBZ. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email [email protected] for more information, or learn more online: http://bit.ly/2bjKrTa. 

Media contact: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us