Free Tax Preparation Begins at Locations Throughout Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — Free tax preparation has begun at 16 sites throughout Indianapolis. This year, the city received a $90,000 boost in funding through a grant provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as part of the agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

The goal for 2010 is to complete 5,000 tax preparations. Last year over 3,400 tax returns were completed. Partners in this effort include the City of Indianapolis, Indy’s Campaign for Financial Fitness, and the Indianapolis Asset Building Coalition.

Volunteers are crucial to free tax preparation efforts and spend many hours becoming certified. First Lady Winnie Ballard will also be preparing taxes at various locations throughout the city.

“The VITA grant significantly improves our ability as a community to provide free tax preparation for eligible Indianapolis residents,” said Indianapolis First Lady Winnie Ballard.  “I was one of many volunteers during last year’s tax season who prepared individual tax returns at each tax site, and it was a great experience to see first-hand the profound effect this assistance has on families in our community. I am looking forward to another great season.” 

In order to qualify for free tax preparation, an individual must make $20,000 or less each year or $49,000 or less each year with dependents.  For more information on site locations, days and hours of operation, or volunteer opportunities, please call 2-1-1 or visit United Way of Central Indiana’s website at http://www.uwci.org 

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Bank on Indy Featured In USA Today!  Check It Out!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-11-04-bank-on-side_N.htm

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Mayor, First Lady, Community Leaders Kick Off Bank On Indy

Rally at Riverside Park offers residents first chance to open low-cost and no-cost accounts through Bank On Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and First Lady Winnie Ballard joined community leaders and financial institution partners today at Riverside Park to launch Bank On Indy, a citywide campaign aimed at getting nearly 80,000 unbanked Marion County residents to start using traditional banking services.

“Introducing financial fitness, and connecting people with the tools they need to manage money wisely and live within their means is one of the most significant steps we can take to improve the quality of life for all citizens,” said Mayor Ballard.

The initiative is a new public-private partnership designed to offer low-cost and no-cost checking and savings accounts, financial education and other banking and credit union products designed to bring the county’s unbanked population into the financial mainstream. Bank On Indy will encourage people to write checks instead of buying money orders, avoid check-cashing fees, build savings, establish or rebuild credit, protect their money from theft and natural disasters, and monitor their spending.

“Many people have little or no introduction to banking, and others have had difficulty staying in the financial mainstream for a number of reasons.  Second chances seem hard to come by in the financial world, but when other cities have tried programs similar to Bank On Indy, the response demonstrates that second chances are well worth the investment.  People get banked and stay banked, because they understand that checking and saving give you financial stability,” said Indianapolis First Lady Winnie Ballard.

Currently, 16 financial institutions have signed on to participate in the Bank On Indy campaign. Community partners United Way of Central Indiana and the Central Indiana Community Foundation will assist in the effort by connecting individuals with financial education and financial coaching resources throughout Indianapolis.

Participating institutions include:

•          Chase Bank

•          Clarian Federal Credit Union

•          Eli Lilly Federal Credit Union

•          Fifth Third Bank

•          Finance Center Federal Credit Union

•          Flagstar Bank

•          Harris Bank

•          Huntington National Bank

•          KEMBA Financial Credit Union

•          Key Bank

•          M & I Bank

•          National City Bank

•          Old National Bank

•          Salin Bank and Trust Company

•          Star Financial Bank

•          Warren MSD Federal Credit Union

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Bank on Indy Launch Set for October 9

Bank on Indy will formally launch on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, from 10 a.m. – noon with a rally at Riverside Park (2420 E. Riverside Drive, Indianapolis). At the rally, people can open a checking or savings account with any of the participating financial institutions.

After the rally, all Marion County branches of participating financial institutions will open new accounts for people interested in the Bank on Indy program.

For more information about Bank on Indy or for branches near you, call 2-1-1 or visit www.bankonindy.org. The Mayor’s Action Center will field all phone calls made to 2-1-1.