STATISTICS, FACTS, & SUCH

• Between 500,000 and 700,000 people each year become victims of identity theft.
  Privacy Rights Clearinghouse/Massachusetts US Attorney's Office, PR Newswire, 5/1/02





• Over 50% of victims who report identity theft to the FTC have discovered the use of their information in multiple accounts, including credit cards, cell phones, auto loans, and leases.
  Federal Trade Commission, 3/28/02





• It is estimated that, on average, identity theft victims each spend 175 hours and $800 trying to clear their records of fraudulent charges.
  The California Public Interest Research Group, 5/10/02





• In spite of the popularity of the Sacagawea dollar coin, only 20% of Americans are in favor of replacing the paper dollar with the golden coin.
  Coinstar National Currency Poll, http://www.coinstar.com/news/pressrel.html





• The bounced check charge is at an all time high - it now averages $24.85.
  Semi-Annual Bankrate 2001 Checking Account Pricing Study





• Over 50% of demand deposit checking accounts that pay interest in financial institutions pay less than 1%.
  Ibid.





• The average minimum balance to earn interest on a checking account is $695.10. In order to avoid a $10.85 monthly service charge and still get the 0.97% interest rate, an average balance of $2,434.50 is necessary.
  Ibid.





• Mortgage rates in November, 2001, were at the lowest level in 33 years. Mortgage rates should hover between 7% and 7.25% during 2002.
  Freddie Mac, Press Release





• Hispanic home ownership in the U.S. increased from 47.5% to 48.8% in 2001, an increase of 1.3%, which is four times the rate of African Americans and twice as large as white Americans.
  National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), February 19, PRNewswire.

Copyright © 2002 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 12, No. 4, 5/02