Useful government resources, including
Internet sites and toll-free call centers

Federal Regulators of Depository Institutions
The FDIC and the four other federal regulators of banks, savings institutions and credit unions have publications, Internet sites, staff and other resources that can help answer your questions on Year 2000 matters. The FDIC has set up a toll-free assistance line (see box above) for consumers. If you'd prefer to put your request to the FDIC in writing, send it to the Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs. To call or write another federal regulator regarding the Y2K, see our separate listing. Below are the Y2K Internet sites for the five federal financial institution regulators, which also provide links to other Year 2000 sites:

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation:
  www.fdic.gov/about/y2k
  
• Federal Reserve Board:
  www.federalreserve.gov/y2k
  
• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency:
  www.occ.treas.gov/y2k/default.htm
  
• Office of Thrift Supervision:
  www.ots.treas.gov/y2k.html
  
• National Credit Union Administration:
  www.ncua.gov/news/year2000/year2000.html

President’s Council on Year 2000 Conversion

This organization was established by President Clinton in 1998 to coordinate the federal government's efforts to address the Year 2000 problem. Its Internet site (www.y2k.gov)provides the public with links to Year 2000 information in a variety of areas, including finance and banking. The president's Council also offers a toll-free line for general Y2K information in areas such as electricity, telephone service, banking, personal computers, household products and government programs. That number is (888) USA-4-Y2K or (888) 872-4925. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day. Information specialists will answer calls during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission has several Year 2000 brochures in a series called "Y2K? Y2Care," including one on preparing your personal finances. For a free copy or for other assistance, contact the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Washington, DC 20580 or phone (202) 382-4357. Y2K brochures and other consumer education information also are available at the FTC's Internet site by going to www.ftc.gov and clicking on "Consumer Protection." The FTC also maintains the "U. S. Consumer Gateway," an Internet site providing consumer information from a variety of federal agencies. For Y2K news and information from this site, go to www.consumer.gov and click on “Year 2000 Issues.”

General Services Administration

The GSA, a central source of government information, operates an Internet site for sharing and soliciting Y2K information. Just go to www.itpolicy.gsa.gov and click on "Year 2000 Directories." The GSA also has a booklet called "Year 2000 and You" that provides general information for consumers. To order a copy, call the GSA toll-free at (888) 878-3256. Or, read the GSA brochure and other helpful literature on the Consumer Information center's Internet site (www.pueblo.gsa.gov).

Small Business Administration

The SBA offers several ways to get information about how small business owners can deal with the Y2K problem. One way is to call the SBA's toll-free Answer Desk at (800) 827-5722 to be routed to an appropriate source of Y2K information, including an SBA district office near you. A second way to get Year 2000 information from the SBA is to check the agency's Y2K Internet page at www.sba.gov/y2k/. Finally, there's the SBA's "Y2K Fax-Back" system that's available free of charge, 24 hours a day. Using your standard telephone or the phone on your fax machine, call toll-free to (877) 789-2565 and follow the instructions. You should receive your fax within minutes.