Tiered Rate MMDA - New Twist

Posted By: SJB

Tiered Rate MMDA - New Twist - 12/04/03 07:33 PM

This is a followup to this old thread: Tiered Rate Account
In proposed advertising, marketing wants to avoid listing all the tiers with their corresponding thresholds and APYs and just show the LOWEST tier and mention that larger balances earn higher yields. (I know, normally they want to just list the highest APY.)
I have looked through Reg DD and it does not seem to provide any safe harbor for advertising just the lowest tier and lowest APY.
Thoughts?
Posted By: John Burnett

Re: Tiered Rate MMDA - New Twist - 12/04/03 07:39 PM

My thought, for what it's worth --

While this approach avoids the "bait and switch" allegation of deceptively using only the higher tiers, the Fed didn't allow for it when writing the regulation.

Unless you can obtain a written approval from the Fed's staff for your Marketing Department's suggestion, I'd recommend against using it.