The Federal Reserve is again partnering with the U.S. Treasury, NACHA and the regional payments associations to recognize National Direct Deposit and Direct Payment Week. This year's promotion, May 14-18, is the third consecutive year for the nationwide event.

Set aside to draw special awareness to electronic payments, this week is an ideal time for financial institutions to conduct their own campaigns and build on the momentum being created across the country. Taking part in this event is easy--and free!

Brighten your lobby and spur questions from customers visiting your institution with free Direct Deposit balloons from the U.S. Treasury, or counter tents from the Automated Payments Partnership, a 13-state alliance that conducts educational campaigns to increase use of electronic payments. Take your promotion one step further and place fliers in customer statements using free inserts from the Partnership. To request materials from the Treasury, call (202) 874-6540. Partnership materials can be ordered online at www.appartnership.org.

National Direct Deposit and Direct Payment Week is also a perfect time for one-on-one discussions with your business customers who offer greater potential for using and offering electronic payments. Do you serve any schools, churches, newspapers, local radio stations or cultural organizations? Even small businesses are good candidates. Take this opportunity to show how your ACH services can enhance their business.

When pitching this promotion to nonprofit organizations, enjoy an added bonus--the Partnership has a cover letter and educational materials you can use when approaching these organizations. (These materials are available on the Partnership web site, too.) Even more ideas for how you and your business customers can promote electronic payments this May--or any time--can be found at www.directdeposit.org.

We hope you will join thousands of financial institutions nationwide in this educational push. If you want more information on how you can get more involved with National Direct Deposit and Direct Payment Week, call Cheryl McCarthy at (314) 444-8459 or toll-free at 1-800-333-0810. You may also call your regional payments association.