To overcome isolation and disorganization of small urban producers, an experiment in Benin organized group-based networks to manage economic and financial services based on user needs and local culture. The feasibility and sustainability of these networks depend on recognition by existing institutions. (SK)

Describes how the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, traditionally conservative in its investments, is taking a riskier approach in the hope of increasing returns; moves include consideration of a private financial services spinoff. (EV)

Outlines the cash management program developed by the Orangeburg School District (SC) for the district's funds. They take bids from banks before deciding which bank to use for all their services, including an investment program. This new system has saved $30,000 in the first year. Sidebars tell how to shop for bank services and list technical…

Many people are investing these days, but many librarians, especially non-business librarians, are uncomfortable helping patrons with questions on the subject. This reference guide gives librarians the knowledge and confidence to assist patrons in identifying the correct information in a critical but little understood investment area--the bond…

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is designed to encourage banks and thrifts to meet the financial credit and service needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, requiring that lenders use their private-sector resources to meet the financing needs of all communities in which lenders conduct business. This brief outlines several types of…

The concept of preretirement planning is discussed: its advantages for the employer, the range of program activities, the successful program format, types of participants, meeting sites, discussion leader, and types of hand-out materials. (CT)

Electronic ground was broken in 1995 with the development of the completely Internet-based bank Security First Network Bank. This article discusses the need for developing online services, outlines the reasons for the formation of an Internet-based bank and argues that to remain competitive financial services providers must provide easier customer…

Federal Student Aid's core mission is to ensure that all eligible Americans benefit from federal financial assistance--grants, loans and work-study programs--for education beyond high school. The programs administered comprise the nation's largest source of student aid: during the 2007-08 school year alone, approximately $83 billion in new aid was…

In order to understand the relevance and applicability of current criteria restricting institutional lending and the possible need for further restrictions, the Congress of the United States mandated a study of institutional lender policy. The study's resources were a background report and literature review, case studies of state loan systems, a…

The Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) program provides market-rate loans to postsecondary students. This report presents information on SLS loan volume and default data for the 10 largest SLS lenders from nine guaranty agencies, for fiscal years 1987, 1988, and 1989. Data for both proprietary and nonproprietary schools and for both freshmen…

An officer of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund responds to an article criticizing the funds' pension policy issues and performance. (MSE)

The rotating credit associations of Brooklyn, New York, are institutions which have been transplanted from the West Indies. The association is an alternative to the United States banking system and offers immigrants, illegal aliens, and permanent residents alike the opportunity to alternately save and borrow small sums of interest-free money. (JCD)

Corporate training, financial services, entertainment, and education are among the top applications for streaming video servers, which send video to the desktop without downloading the whole file to the hard disk, saving time and eliminating copyrights questions. Examines streaming video technology, lists ten tips for better net video, and ranks…

Discusses a curriculum strategy based upon a hierarchy of four close readings of corporate financial reporting Web sites (described as (1) objective characteristics, (2) internet financial reporting as rhetoric, (3) metaphor and thought, and (4) deconstruction) that is proffered as part of a curriculum objective to encourage university business…

In 1988, Joliet Junior College (JJC) initiated a Set-Aside Loan Pool, designed to provide entrepreneurs, who traditionally would not be able to obtain a small business loan because of a lack of equity, with an alternate source of funding. Ten financial institutions were contacted and asked for contributions to the Loan Pool. Over the next five…