ناز پرورده تنعم نبرد راه به دوست

ادامه مطلب

http://www.iran-hadj.org

سازمان حج و زيارت با انتشار اطلاعيه اي خبر منتشر شده در رسانه ها مبني براعزام بدون نوبت افراد بالاي 65 سال به حج تمتع را تکذيب کرد . در اطلاعيه سازمان حج و زيارت آمده است متأسفانه خبرنگار خبرگزاري فارس که اين خبررا منتشر کرده به رغم تأکيد مدير کل روابط عمومي سازمان که اين خبر صحت ندارد حاضر نشد تيتر وليد خبر ارسالي خود را تصحيح کند . سازمان حج و زيارت در آيين نامه نقل و انتقال اسناد حج آورده است افرادي که بيمار هستند و پزشک اجازه سفر به آنان را نمي دهند ، افرادي که مشکل مالي دارند و توان تشرف ندارند وکساني که فيش حج داشته و فوت کرده اند و ورثه آنها مي خواهند به فرد ثالثي نيابت دهند ، مي توانند با مجوز سازمان حج و زيارت اسناد خود را به ديگري منتقل نمايند . گيرندگان، چنانچه سند اولويت داراز افراد فوق الذکر در يافت کرده باشند و سن آنها هم بالاي 65 سال باشد در همان سال مي توانند مشرف شوند و چنانچه سن آنها کمتر باشد زمان تشرف آنها پنج سال بعد خواهد بود. سازمان حج و زيارت در اطلاعيه خود از همه شعب بانک ملي که وديعه حج در يافت مي کنند خواسته است که مراجعه کنندگان را راهنمايي کنند و به آنان تأکيد نمايند که کليه متقاضيان بر اساس نوبت مشرف مي شوند و اولويت سني وجود ندارد . روابط عمومي سازمان حج و زيارت

اطلاعيه سازمان حج و زيارت درباره پذيرش دارندگان اولويت تشرف حج تمتع سال 1386

مقدمه:

با عنايت خداوند متعال و از آنجاييكه برنامه ريزي هاي لازم جهت پذيرش متقاضيان داراي اولويت تشرف جهت حج تمتع سال 1386 در كاروانهاي منتخب فراهم گرديده است لذا از افراد واجد شرايط دعوت مي گردد به ترتيب ذيل اقدام نمايند.

1-    مشمولين تشرف:

1/1- متقاضيان داراي اسناد 8.000.000 ريالي كه تا تاريخ 31/01/1378 در يكي از شعب بانك هاي ملي ثبت نام نموده اند، منوط به آنكه برابر مفاد فراخوان مكرر سازمان از 21/2/84 و دفعات بعدي، به بانك ملي محل ثبت نام مراجعه و نسبت به تبديل سند خود به 10.000.000 ريال اقدام كرده باشند، و يا در مهلت باقيمانده نسبت به تبديل سند خود اقدام نمايند.

2/1- صاحبان اسناد 8.000.000 ريالي كه از 1/2/1378 لغايت 29/12/1378 در يكي از شعب بانك ملي ثبت نام نموده باشند لازم است. اين عده پس از اين اطلاعيه به بانك ملي مراجعه و سند خود را تبديل نمايند.

3/1- كليه صاحبان اسناد 10.000.000 ريالي كه از 1/1/1379 لغايت 15/7/1382 در يكي از شعب بانك ملي ثبت نام نموده باشند.

4/1- افرادي كه داراي سند ثبت نام حج تمتع سال 1363 به مبالغ 270.000 ريالي يك نفره و يا 520.000 ريالي دو نفره مي باشند. و همچنين افرادي كه در ثبت نام عمومي سال 1360 شركت نموده و سند هاي 200.000 ريالي يك نفره و يا 380.000 ريالي دو نفره در دست دارند، منوط به آنكه از طريق دفتر حج و زيارت استان ذيربط به بانك ملي مراجعه و نسبت به تبديل سند خود به 10.000.000 ريالي اقدام كرده باشند و يا در مهلت باقيمانده اقدام نمايند.

5/1- كليه افرادي كه در سنوات گذشته در كاروان ها ثبت نام نموده و به دلايلي مشرف نشده اند و اصل سند حج تمتع آنان اعم از 200.000، 380.000،270.000، 520.000، 8.000.000 و 10.000.000 يالي از طريق مدير كاروان به سازمان حج و زيارت تحويل شده است، منوط به آنكه ابتدا به منظور روشن شدن وضعيت بستانكاري خود به دفتر حج و زيارت استان ذيربط مراجعه و سپس با دريافت نامه رسمي و چك مبلغ بستانكاري به بانك ملي مراجعه و نسبت به دريافت سند جديد 10.000.000 ريالي داراي اولويت تشرف اقدام كرده باشند يا در مهلت باقيمانده اقدام نمايند.

توضيح مهم: ما به التفاوت بستانكاران اسناد مشمول بند هاي 1/1 و 4/1 و 5/1 (بستانكاران 200.000، 270.000،  380.000، 520.000، 8.000.000 تا 31/1/78) تا سقف 11.000.000 ريال از طريق دفاتر حج و زيارت استان مربوط تأمين خواهد شد. بديهي است در مورد ساير بستانكاران نيز كل مبلغ بستانكاري آنان پس از كسر

هزينه هاي صورت گرفته به همراه نامه رسمي به بانك ملي جهت تبديل سند آنان با حفظ اولويت تشرف ارسال مي شود.

2-    تاريخ پذيرش در كاروان ها:

اسامي، آدرس و تلفن مديران كاروان هاي منتخب در روز چهارشنبه مورخ 6/4/1386 در سطح هر استان از طريق جرايد محلي اعلام خواهد شد. بنابراين مهلت پذيرش زائرين داراي اولويت تشرف در كاروان ها از روز جمعه مورخ 8/4/86 لغايت روز جمعه مورخ 22/4/86 خواهد بود.

در استان هايي كه فاقد روزنامه باشند، اسامي كاروانهاي مجاز قبل از 7/4/86 به نحو مقتضي اعلام خواهد شد.

تذكر مهم 1- چنانچه در زمان تعيين شده، ظرفيت كاروانهاي هر استان تكميل نگردد، از متقاضيان اولويت هاي بعدي براي مراجعه به كاروان ها دعوت بعمل مي آيد. لذا تأكيد مي گردد كه دارندگان اولويت تشرف فوق الذكر، حتماً در مهلت مقرر جهت ثبت نام در كاروان مورد نظر مراجعه نمايند.

تذكر مهم 2- از آنجايي كه ظرفيت، قيمت و تاريخ رفت و برگشت كاروان ها قابل تغيير نبوده و امكان جابجايي پس از ثبت نام مقدور نيست، لذا در هنگام انتخاب كاروان، افرادي كه مايل به همسفر بودن با آشنايان و بستگان خود هستند، با هم ثبت نام نموده و شرايط كاروان در خصوص هزينه، مدينه اول و دوم بودن را نيز مدنظر قرار دهند تا بعداً دچار مشكل نشوند.

3-    مدارك مورد نياز جهت پذيرش در كاروان ها:

1/3- نسخه اصلي سند تبديل شده داراي اولويت تشرف به همراه تصوير آن جهت مشمولين بندهاي 1/1 و 2/1 و 4/1 و 5/1.

2/3- نسخه اصلي سند ثبت نامي به همراه تصوير آن جهت مشمولين بند 3/1.

3/3- اصل شناسنامه به انضمام تصوير تمام صفحات شناسنامه آن و كارت ملي.

4/3- شش قطعه عكس 4×3 تمام رخ بدون كلاه و عينك با زمينه روشن (از تاريخ گرفتن عكس نبايد بيشتر از شش ماه گذشته باشد).

5/3- دو قطع عكس 4×6 سياه و سفيد با زمينه سفيد و شفاف كه كاملاً همانند عكس هاي 4×3 باشد.

تذكر 1- زائرين محترم در قبال تحويل مدارك فوق از مدير كاروان رسيد دريافت مي نمايند.

تذكر 2- چنانچه پس از ثبت نام اوليه، نشاني و تلفن منزل متقاضي تغيير يافته است، بايد نشاني و تلفن جديد در پشت سند علي الحساب نوشته شود و همچنين اگر مشخصات درج شده در سند با مندرجات شناسنامه مغايرت دارد، ضروري است با مراجعه به دفتر حج و زيارت استان مربوطه و اخذ تائيديه، به مدير كاروان مراجعه شود.

تذكر 3- زائران پس از پذيرش اوليه در كاروان طبق برنامه تنظيم شده به پزشك كاروان جهت معــاينه معــرفي مي شوند و پزشك نيز حداكثر 72 ساعت پس از مراجعه زائر، نتيجه را به مدير كاروان اعلام مي كند.

6/3-  دريافت فرم واريز ما به التفاوت هزينه سفر پس از قبولي در معاينات پزشكي از مدير كاروان (قبض مخصوص هزينه سفر حج تمتع سال 1386) جهت مراجعه به بانكه به همراه اصل سند علي الحساب اوليه جهت محاسبه سود سپرده گذاري از محل مشاركت در عقود اسلامي و واريزي وجوه ما به التفاوت و دريافت قبض تائيد شده از بانك و تحويل آن به مدير كاروان.

تذكر- متقاضيان محترم تصوير سند اوليه و قبض واريز ما به التفاوت را تا پايان سفر همراه داشته باشند.

v  زائرين محترم حداكثر يك هفته پس از دريافت قبوض مذكور، فرصت خواهند داشت تا نسبت به مراجعه به بانك اقدام لازم را انجام داده و قبوض را به مدير كاروان برگردانند،‌در غير اينصورت منصرف از سفر تلقي شده و مدير كاروان مجاز خواهد بود نسبت به پذيرش جايگزين اقدام نمايد.

4-    هزينه تشرف:

با توجه به اينكه مبلغ دريافت شده در ثبت نام اوليه بانك به صورت علي الحساب بوده، بنابراين هزينه قطعي سفر بر مبناي مخارجي كه براي هر زائر در سال جاري انجام مي شود محاسبه و در اطلاعيه استاني براي هر كاروان درج شده است، طي قبوض بانكي ويژه حج تمتع سال 1386 به حساب هاي مربوطه توسط زائر واريز خواهد شد.

ضمناً زائرين محترم علاوه بر پرداخت هزينه ما به التفاوت سفر به بانك ملي و دريافت قبض مخصوص هزينه سفر حج تمتع، وجوه مربوط به هزينه هاي آموزش و مخارج دفتر مدير كاروان را كه بين 150.000 تا 250.000 ريال به تناسب استان مربوطه متغير خواهد بود، مستقيماً به حساب بانكي مدير كاروان واريز و قبض آن را به وي تحويل دهند و در نتيجه ضرورتي به پرداخت هيچگونه وجه نقد ديگري به مدير كاروان نخواهد بود.

توضيح: بر اساس دستورالعمل سازمان براي هزينه هاي شخصي از قبيل تهيه ساك – احرامي – پتو، هزينه انتقال به فرودگاه و ...) مدير كاروان موظف است در اولين جلسات آموزشي با همكاري و همفكري سه نفر از منتخبين زائرين اقدام به تهيه ملزومات سفر (با هزينه زائران) نمايد و نظارت بر اينگونه هزينه ها نير به عهده سه نفر نماينده زائرين خواهد بود.

5-    اقدامات ذيل در رابطه با اسكان زائرين انجام شده است:

1/5- برابر مقررات وزارت حج عربستان سعودي سرانه اسكان حجاج در مدينه منوره 4 متر و در مكه مكرمه 5/3 متر مربع تعيين شده كه براي زائران ايراني سعي شده بيش از اين متراژ در نظر گرفته شود. در سالجاري تلاش شده است امكان اسكان 100 در صد زائرين در هتل هاي منطقه مركزي مدينه منوره و نزديك به حرم شريف نبوي (ص)فراهم گردد.

2/5- به دليل شرايط خاص جغرافيايي مكه از يك طرف و نامناسب و پر هزينه بودن و قدمت اكثر ساختمان هاي نزديك مسجد الحرام و بعضاً تخريب آنها براي نوسازي از سوي ديگر و نيز نوع طبخ و تغذيه زائرين كه اسكان حجاج ايراني را در اطرف حرم با دشواري مواجه مي سازد، ترجيح داده شد، همانند سالهاي گذشته در مكه معظمه عليرغم مقررات دولت سعودي مبني بر سرانه اسكان براي هر زائر 5/3 متر مربع، ساختمانهاي مناسبتر در فاصله هاي متفاوت با مسجد الحرام بر اساس اسكان هر زائر بطور متوسط 4 متر مربع اجاره گردد و زائرين براي تشرف به مسجد الحرام از اتوبوس هاي مخصوص زائران ايراني كه از مناطق مختلف به حرم تردد مي كنند، استفاده خواهند كرد. در سال جاري كيفيت منازل مكه نيز بهبود نسبي يافته و در صد قابل توجهي از ساختمان ها براي بار نخست مورد استفاده قرار مي گيرد.

v  در صورت اجاره منازل در اطراف مسجد الحرام هزينه اسكان زائران در دوره اقامت در مكه بين تا چندين برابر افزايش مي يابد.

3/5- با عنايت به مطالب فوق، هزينه مسكن هر زائر به تفكيك در مدينه منوره و مكه معظمه بر مبناي ساختمان و منطقه اي كه در آن سكونت خواهد داشت محاسبه و تعيين گرديده است. لذا يكي از دلايل مهم تفاوت پرداختي در سرجمع هزينه هاي زائرين، مكان اقامت آنان در هر يك از دو شهر مذكور مي باشد.

تذكر 1- از آنجايي كه تفاوت هزينه هاي زائرين در هر كاروان ناشي از اختلاف قيمت اجاره مسكن، ايستگاه پرواز و يا ظرفيت كاروان مي باشد و پس از واريز وجه هزينه سفر به بانك، بالطبع امكان استرداد ما به التفاوت پرداختي را در اسرع وقت مقدور نمي سازد لذا به دليل ايجاد مشكلات اجرايي، جا به جايي در كاروان مقدور نمي باشد. بر اين اساس به زائرين محترم توصيه مي شود از ابتدا دقت كافي در انتخاب كاروان مورد نظر خود مبذول دارند.

تذكر 2- در سال جاري همانند سال گذشته كليه زائرين مدينه اول از ايستگاه هاي پروازي تعيين شده مستقيماً به مدينه منوره اعزام و زائرين مدينه دوم نيز از اين شهر به ايستگاه هاي پروازي خود باز خواهند گشت. اين اقدام با توجه به عدم ورود يا خروج از فرودگاه جده در يك نوبت، در آسايش و رفاه زائرين از طريق كاهش سفر بين شهري و توقف در سطح فرودگاه جده، مؤثر مي باشد.

ضمناً در سالجاري اعزام حجاج از 17 ايستگاه پرواز داخل كشور صورت خواهد گرفت.

6-    هزينه و نحوه دريافت وجوه قرباني حجاج محترم متعاقباً و پس از نهايي شدن به اطلاع متقاضيان خواهد رسيد.

7-    نقل و انتقال اسناد:

با توجه به بخشنامه شماره 15885/34/1 مورخ 27/9/78 سازمان ثبت اسناد و املاك كل كشور، آن دسته از افرادي كه بنا به هر دليلي تمايل دارند اسناد حج تمتع خويش را به بستگان درجه يك شامل: (پدر، مادر، فرزند، خواهر، برادر و همسر) واگذار نمايند، مي بايست قبل از ثبت نام در كاروان ها مستقيماً به دفاتر اسناد رسمي مراجعه و نقل و انتقال را انجام دهند. شرايط نقل و انتقال اسناد در موارد غير از بستگان درجه يك، توسط توسط دفاتر حج و زايرت استان ها در اختيار متقاضيان قرار گيرد.

8-    استفاده از گذرنامه بين المللي:

امسال نيز همچون سال گذشته از گذرنامه بين المللي براي تشرف به حج تمتع استفاده خواهد شد. لذا متقاضيان واجد شرايط، لازم است در صورت عدم دارا بودن گذرنامه بين المللي از هم اكنون نسبت به اخذ گذرنامه جديد و كساني كه داراي گذرنامه هستند نسبت به تمديد مهلت آن تا پايان خرداد ماه 87 معتبر باشد اقدام نمايند.

ضمناً بلحاظ شرايط خاص سفر حج تمتع، سهولت اخذ رواديد و برخي امور اجرايي حج، ضروري است متقاضيان محترم اقدام به اخذ گذرنامه انفرادي (حتي در صورت تشرف مشترك همسران) نموده و حداكثر تا اول شهريور ماه سالجاري گذرنامه معتبر خود را به مدير كاروان مربوطه تحويل نمايند. بديهي است با تمهيدات به عمل آمده توسط ادارات گذرنامه ناجا در استان هاي مختلف جهت تسريع در صدور گذرنامه حجاج، نيازي به مراجعه و ازدحام در ادارات گذرنامه وجود نخواهد داشت.

9-    شرايط تشرف مشمولين وظيفه، نظاميان، مقامات و مديران دستگاه هاي دولتي:

شرايط خروج از كشور مشمولين، نيرو هاي نظامي و انتظامي تابع مقررات مربوطه خواهد بود و سفر آندسته از مقامات و مديران دستگاه هاي اجرايي و نيز فرمانداران و بخشداران كه قبلاً به حج تمتع مشرف شده اند تابع مفاد بخشنامه شماره 61689/481 مورخ 4/10/84 دبير محترم هيأت دولت خواهد بود.

http://www.iran-hadj.org/InfoArchive/haj.asp

منبع:http://www.banknegar.com

     براي اتصال يك دستگاه پوز در يك فروشگاه كوچك يا چند دستگاه در يك فروشگاه بزرگ، احتياج به يك بستر ارتباطي بين فروشگاه و شركت يا بانك واگذار كننده پوز است. استفاده از تلفن معمولي شايع‌ترين نوع خود براي فروشگاه‌هاي كوچك با يك پوز و استفاده از شبكه اختصاصي درون شهري يا گاهي برون شهري براي اتصال به تهران براي فروشگاه‌هاي بزرگ است.

     اگر يك فروشگاه كوچك با يك پوز را در نظر بگيريم كه از تلفن معمولي استفاده مي‌كند؛ تقريبا در هر بار تماس يك تراكنش انجام مي‌دهد كه برايش هزينه حداقل يك بار تماس ثبت مي‌شود كه مقدار آن در حال حاضر كمتر از 50 ريال است. براي فروشگاه‌هاي بزرگ اين هزينه متغير بوده و با توجه به تعداد تراكنش‌ها بايد تعيين شود. هزينه ماهانه يك شبكه اختصاصي درون شهري با توجه به هزينه‌هاي نگهداري، هزينه‌هاي جانبي وسربار آن، كمتر از 3 ميليون ريال در تعداد زياد نيست.

     يكي از راه‌هاي رقيب براي اتصال پوز به بانك تامين كننده آن، استفاده از جي.پي.آر.اس و اينترنت است. اگر تنها تامين كننده اين ارتباط كه شركت ايران سل است را در نظر بگيريم، هزينه هر هزار بايت آن فعلا 15 ريال است و كمتر از اين مقدار نيز اعلام شده است. ميزان ارسال اطلاعات يك تراكنش خريد يا مانده نيز كمتر از هزار بايت مي‌شود. بنابراين بطور تقريبي مي‌توان گفت كه هزينه ارتباط هر تراكنش حدود 15 ريال و كمتر از طريق جي.پي.آر.اس است. البته اين هزينه‌ها در حال ارزان‌تر شدن هستند.

     استفاده از كارت اعتباري ارزان قيمت نيز مشكل هزينه اوليه سيم‌كارت را رفع مي‌كند. حال با استفاده از پوزهايي كه از طريق جي.پي.آر.اس كار مي‌كنند و محلي براي نصب سيم‌كارت دارند، قادر خواهيم بود كه به سرعت و سادگي يك پوز را بدون نياز به خط تلفن راه اندازي نماييم. نكات مهم استفاده از جي.پي.آر.اس به قرار زير است:

1- هزينه ارتباط يك تراكنش كمتر از 15 ريال است. بايت‌هاي ارسالي با يكديگر جمع شده و به ميزان كل آن هزينه دريافت مي‌شود. هر تراكنش كمتر از هزار بايت ارسال و دريافت مي‌كند. در آينده امكان ارزان‌تر شدن هزينه ارتباطي و سيم كارت نيز زياد است.

2- خط تلفن مغازه را اشغال نمي‌كند يا احتياج به خط اضافه نيست. اين مزيت كاملا توسط مغازه داران و شركت‌هاي نصب پوز محسوس و قابل توجه است.

3- وابسته به مكان نيست. تقريبا در تمام شهرهاي بزرگ در حال حاضر و كمي ديگر در تمام شهرهاي كوچك هم قابل استفاده است. حتي در تاكسي‌ها، تحويل دهندگان پيتزا درب منازل و دكه‌هاي كوچك هم كاربرد دارد. يكي ديگر از مزاياي آن همراه بودن آن است. حتي به اشخاص داراي اعتبار نيز مي‌توان پوز واگذار كرد و دريافت يا انتقال پول را توسط آن شخص و از هر كارت بانكي و در هر مكان ميسر نمود. به عنوان لطيفه مي‌توان در يك جشن تولد، وجوه نقد و كادو را از اين طريق دريافت كرد! انواع استفاده ديگري نيز براي آن مي‌توان ذكر كرد كه به خواننده محترم واگذار مي‌نماييم.

http://www.raherast.com/

بعضي از بانك‌ها خودپردازهايي قابل حمل توسط يك كاميون ساخته‌اند كه در بعضي مراسم و نمايشگاه‌ها و مانند آن شركت داده و مقداري پول به مردم مي‌دهند تا احتياجات خود را توسط پول دريافت شده از خودپرداز خريداري كنند. اين خودپردازها از طريق ايستگاه ماهواره متحرك و هابي كه در ايران يا خارج از ايران نصب شده است به مركز بانك مرتبط مي‌شوند. اگر چه راه حل درست، قرار دادن پوز در همان اماكن فروش است، اما فعلا فرض مي‌كنيم كه بانك‌ها از ما عاقل‌ترند و حتما مي‌خواهند كه خودپرداز نصب كنند. اما نصب خودپرداز در اماكن مورد نياز مردم مانند پارك‌ها، دانشگاه‌ها، چهارراه‌هاي بزرگ و متوسط، مجتمع‌هاي ساختماني و مانند آنها بطور مستقل كاري پسنديده است و در خارج از ايران نيز رواج دارد.

     به جاي استفاده از ايستگاه ماهواره متحرك و قبول خرج و دردسرهاي آن، مي‌توان از موبايل با جي.پي.آر.اس استفاده نمود. مشكل اصلي آن ارتباط از طريق اينترنت است كه براي حل اين مشكل نيز راه‌هاي زيادي وجود دارد. اگر بتوان از طريق اينترنت به سايت يك بانك وصل شد و چندين ميليون تومان جابجا كرد، براي دريافت 200 هزار تومان نبايد مشكل زيادي داشت. ميزان ديتاي جابجا شده براي يك تراكنش حدود يك هزار بايت است كه با قيمت‌هاي اعلام شده جي.پي.آر.اس كاملا مقرون به صرفه است.

     در رقابتِ جي.پي.آر.اس با كيفيت و خدمات مناسبِ بعد از فروش؛ با ماهواره، خط اختصاصي، تلفن معمولي و ساير بسترهاي موجود در ايران جاي تامل براي انتخاب آن وجود ندارد. بيشترين چيزي كه ما ايراني‌ها از آن رنج مي‌كشيم، عدم ثبات در ارايه سرويس و كيفيت مطلوب است.

     استفاده از جي.پي.آر.اس فقط محدود به خودپرداز و پوز نيست. دستگاه خودكار فروش نوشابه، تلمبه خودكار بنزين متصل به پوز، دستگاه‌هاي فروش خودكار انواع محصولات و مانند آنها نيز براي اين كاربرد مناسب هستند. در اين موارد مشتري عزيز ما مي‌تواند بدون نياز به فروشنده يا اپراتور، با كارت بانكي خود خريد نمايد.

http://www.raherast.com/

http://www.raherast.com/

http://www.raherast.com/

This section provides an overview of the various payment instruments and clearing and settlement processes used for different retail payment systems. Although the diagrams reflect the general flow of transactions and participants, in many cases, other third parties may facilitate one or more processing functions.

Figure 1: Four-Corner Payments Model

Figure 1 displays the clearing and settlement process for retail payments using a standard four-corner payments model. While the flow of information, data, and funds is different for each payment instrument, there is a common set of participants for retail payments. The initiator of the payment, typically a consumer in retail payments, is located in the upper left-hand corner of the diagram. The recipient of the payment, typically a merchant, is in the upper right-hand corner of the diagram. The bottom two corners of the model represent the relationship of the consumer and merchant to their financial institution. In some cases, third-party service providers will act on behalf of financial institutions. The payments networks or clearinghouse organizations that route the transactions between financial institutions are in the middle of the chart. In some instances, for example check clearing, a financial institution may exchange check items directly with another financial institution bypassing the clearinghouse. In figures 1 through 8 solid lines represent the flow of information and dashed lines represent the flow of funds.

Check-Based Payments

Until recently, consumers used checks more often than any other retail payment instrument in the United States other than cash. Checks are very convenient payment instruments. Consumers can use them at the point of sale, for bill payments, and for person-to-person transactions. Nonetheless, checks comprise a decreasing percentage of the total non cash payment volume in the United States.

In recent years, check-clearing associations, financial institutions, and the Federal Reserve have introduced or participated in various electronic check presentment (ECP), electronic check conversion (ECC), and check imaging initiatives supporting the conversion, or truncation, of checks to electronic form. Consumers will no longer have a float period when using electronically converted checks for purchasing goods and services and paying bills.

ECP improves the speed of collection and return of checks. It enables check truncation by using magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR) line information to present checks electronically to the paying institution for payment. ECP eliminates the need to forward the paper check physically. Check imaging technology supports ECP and the creation and use of “substitute checks” stored on secure electronic media for retrieval when needed.

Increasingly, using ECC, payees convert checks to ACH or EFT transactions. Once the payee converts the check at the point of sale through ACH or EFT, or in a lock box environment through ACH, the transaction is governed by existing regulations for whichever electronic payment network is used.

In the past, financial institutions have agreed among themselves to use various forms of check truncation, such as using a check image or MICR information from a check to substitute for the original check. The Check 21 Act (CTA) declares that a qualifying substitute check shall be the legal equivalent of an original check even in the absence of institution-specific agreements. Such substitute checks must meet certain specified requirements to be treated as a legal equivalent, and the truncating institution must indemnify other parties for losses that result from their receipt of a substitute check instead of the original check. Financial institutions should consider the implications of the CTA on the institution’s risk profile. Examiners should stay current with anticipated supervisory guidance that will address the significant risks that can arise from implementation of the CTA.

Check Clearinghouses

A check includes the names of the payer and the payee, the account number, amount of the check, and the name of the paying financial institution. The MICR line at the bottom of the check enables high-speed reader/sorter equipment to process checks. Before financial institutions process checks, they encode the amount of the check in magnetic ink at the bottom of the check. Check formats are governed by standards developed by the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) on Financial Services, X9B Committee, which works under procedures sanctioned by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Financial institutions clear and settle checks in different ways depending on whether the checks are “on-us” checks (checks deposited at the same institution on which they are drawn) or interbank checks (the payer and payee have accounts at different financial institutions). On-us checks do not require interbank clearing or settlement. Interbank checks can clear and settle through direct presentment, a correspondent bank, a clearinghouse, or other intermediaries such as the Federal Reserve Banks.

Under direct presentment, depositary financial institutions can present checks directly to the paying financial institution. The paying financial institution may settle with the depositary financial institution through a pre-arranged settlement agreement or settle by sending Fedwire® funds transfers through the Federal Reserve Banks.

Correspondent banks, acting on behalf of other depository financial institutions, can settle the checks they collect for other institutions, known as respondents, by using accounts on their books or using their Federal Reserve Bank reserve account.

Financial institutions can also clear checks through a Federal Reserve Bank or an independent clearinghouse, where they have formed voluntary associations that establish an exchange for checks drawn on those financial institutions. Typically, financial institutions participating in check clearinghouses use the Federal Reserve’s National Settlement Service to effect settlement for checks exchanged each business day. There are approximately 150 check clearinghouse associations in the United States. Smaller depository institutions typically use the check collection services of correspondent banks or the Federal Reserve Banks.

Figure 2: Check Clearing and Settlement

Figure 2 depicts the typical interbank check clearing and settlement process through a Federal Reserve Bank or clearinghouse. In step 1 the consumer uses a check to pay a merchant for goods or services. The merchant, after authorizing the check, accepts the check for payment. At the end of the day, the merchant accumulates the checks and deposits them with its financial institution for collection (steps 2 and 3). Depending on the location of the paying institution, the funds may not be immediately available. For deposited checks payable at other financial institutions, the merchant’s financial institution uses direct presentment for processing or sends the checks to a Federal Reserve Bank, clearinghouse, or correspondent bank (steps 4 and 6). The check or an electronic presentment file is sent to the consumer’s financial institution, and the financial institution’s account at the correspondent, clearinghouse, or Federal Reserve Bank is debited (steps 5 and 7).

A variety of electronic payments are available for retail use. Some are card-based, while others are electronic instructions for funds transfers. Usually, these payments link to an existing account relationship with a financial institution for both payee and payer.

Consumers may use credit, debit, or stored-value cards to initiate retail payments in face-to-face or remote transactions. The payee receives funds after the payment clears, but consumers actually pay before the transaction on a stored-value card, at the same time of the transaction for an on-line debit card, and after a transaction on a credit card. Both credit and signature-based debit card transactions are processed in batch mode at the POS, and settlement is delayed until the batches are processed at the end of the day. PIN-based debit card transactions, although processed in real time at the POS, typically settle at the end of the day using the ACH. Each of these types of card payments is described below.

Credit And Charge Cards

Financial institutions are important participants in various credit card systems. They issue and distribute cards, clear and settle the associated payments, and in some cases act as merchant acquirers. Credit cards can have revolving credit arrangements, and charge cards have a short-term, fixed-period, credit arrangement. Revolving credit arrangements allow customers to make a minimum payment in each billing cycle (e.g., two to three percent of their total balance) rather than requiring payment of the full balance. With charge cards, the consumer must fully pay the outstanding balance at the end of the one-month charge or billing period. This arrangement exposes the issuing institution to less credit risk than open-ended accounts.

This booklet groups credit or charge cards in three categories: general-purpose credit cards, co-branded/affinity cards, and private label (store) cards.

General-Purpose Credit Cards

General-purpose cards are cards that have the logo of one of the bankcard associations on the front. These cards have an associated account at a financial institution or other business with a credit line that limits the value of outstanding payments. They can be used at any location that accepts cards from the particular card association. General-purpose credit cards include bankcards and closed-loop cards. Bankcards require agreements and transaction processing arrangements among participants, while closed-loop cards may not.

 Financial institutions issue bankcards in conjunction with the two major credit card associations, Visa and MasterCard. The bankcard associations operate “open” networks in which financial institutions can compete in card issuing and merchant acquiring. The card-issuing financial institution and merchant acquirer can be different organizations.

 Firms that serve as both the card-issuing agent and the merchant acquirer issue closed-loop credit cards. They issue the cards in conjunction with specific non-bankcard brand names including American Express, Discover, and Diner’s Club.

Co-Branded/Affinity Credit Cards

Some merchants and organizations will form marketing arrangements with financial institutions that issue general-purpose cards with the merchant or organization name on the front of the card. These agreements are termed co-branded or affinity cards, and the card accounts may be part of the bankcard association networks.

Companies with which the cardholder has a relationship issue co-branded cards jointly with specific financial institutions. They typically offer consumers some kind of rewards program. Organizations such as sports teams, schools, or service organizations issue affinity cards jointly with a financial institution that offers compensation in return for marketing to the merchant’s customers or the organization’s members. The institution can base its compensation on the number of account applications, the number of accounts activated, account volume and income, or other defined benchmarks.

Private Label (Store) Credit Cards

In some cases, financial institutions might issue a card jointly with a merchant. These cards are private label or store cards. Consumers can only use them at the merchant whose name appears on the front of the card. These cards do not carry a bankcard association logo, and the merchant typically plays a limited role in the issuance of the card or managing the credit relationship.

Bankcard Associations

The two major bankcard associations, Visa and MasterCard, in conjunction with credit card issuing and acquiring financial institutions, account for the majority of credit and debit cards in use. Both associations began as bank service companies, owned by principal member financial institutions. They provided uniform operating policies, procedures, and controls for bankcard issuance, acquiring, and settlement activities. The associations own the credit card trademark, granting membership to financially sound institutions that apply. The associations only allow members to issue cards bearing the association logo. Members pay transaction and membership fees for use of the bankcard association logo and services.

Both associations have three types of membership: principal, associate (VISA)/affiliate (MasterCard), and participant (VISA)/agent (MasterCard). Each membership type conveys different privileges. Principal membership allows members to solicit cardholders and issue cards, solicit and sign merchants, and sponsor other financial institutions for membership in the association. Associate/affiliate and participant/agent members can perform all of the principal membership functions except sponsor other members.

The closed-loop credit card networks—American Express, Discover, and Diner’s Club—compete with the major bankcard associations to promote the use of their cards. However, in the case of the closed-loop credit card networks, the card issuer and merchant acquirer are the same financial institution.

Card-issuing institutions are financial institutions that have permission to issue bankcard association credit cards. Acquiring financial institutions and third parties have contracts with merchants that accept a bankcard association’s products. The financial institutions accept and process transactions from those merchants through the association’s network interchange payment system. The cost of technology infrastructure and level of transaction volume are high for bankcard-acquiring institutions. Most rely on third-party processors to perform the functions. Under the bankcard association bylaws, acquiring financial institutions are responsible for the actions of all contracted third-party processors, and therefore are expected to carefully monitor service provider compliance with the associations’ operating rules.

The bankcard associations set interchange fees, which are paid by the merchant acquirer to the issuing financial institution. The merchant acquirer typically passes this fee along with a “discount or acquirer fee” for processing services to its merchants. Bankcard issuing institutions generate their revenue from the interest charged on revolving balances, and interchange, late, over-limit, cash advance, and card fees. Merchant-acquiring institutions, which assist in clearing and settling credit card transactions, generate most of their revenue from the acquiring and other processing fees (e.g., chargeback processing and account maintenance) they charge to the merchant.

Figure 3: Credit Card Clearing and Settlement 

Figure 3 illustrates the payment and information flows for a typical credit card transaction. In this example, the consumer pays a merchant with a credit card (step 1). The merchant electronically transmits the data, at the POS, through the bankcard association’s electronic network to the card issuer for authorization (steps 2 and 3). If approved, the merchant receives the authorization to capture funds, and the cardholder accepts liability by signing the credit voucher (steps 4, 5, and 6). The merchant receives payment, net of fees, by submitting captured credit card transactions to its financial institution in batches or at the end of the day (steps 7 and 8). The merchant acquirer forwards the sales draft data to the bankcard association, who in turn forwards the data to the card issuer (steps 9 and 10). The bankcard association determines each financial institution’s net debit position. The association’s settlement financial institution coordinates issuing and acquiring settlement positions. Members with net debit positions (generally issuers) send owed funds to the association’s settlement financial institution, which transmits owed funds to merchant acquirers. The settlement process takes place using a separate payment network such as Fedwire® (step 11). The card issuer will then present the transaction on the cardholder’s next monthly statement (step 12). The cardholder makes a payment for the charges incurred in accordance with the cardholder agreement.

Debit and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cards

Debit cards are associated with an existing transaction account at a financial institution. The card enables consumers to access the account for a variety of transactions. Debit cards are either on-line (e.g., PIN-based) or off-line (e.g. signature-based). On-line debit cards have been available for several decades and have seen tremendous growth since the early 1990’s. Off-line debit cards are a more recent innovation and consumers are increasingly using them at merchant locations that accept bankcards.

 On-line debit cards use a PIN for customer authentication and on-line access to account balance information. In the future, consumer authentication could also occur through the use of some other technology, such as a biometric indicator. At present, financial institutions authenticate customers by matching the PIN with the account number directly through a merchant’s terminal. Debit card transactions use the same EFT networks that handle ATM transactions. Customers may also receive cash at the POS because messaging between the financial institution and the retailer confirms funds availability.

 Off-line debit cards authenticate consumers through a written signature or other authenticating action. Introduced in the late 1980’s by Visa and MasterCard, use of off-line debit cards has grown tremendously. The transactions process through the same bankcard networks as credit card transactions and typically settle at the end of the business day. A cardholder can generally use an off-line debit card anywhere that accepts a similarly branded credit card, although the cardholder cannot receive cash back at the POS. A hold is placed on the cardholder’s funds, effectively lowering the available balance in their transaction account, but there is no real time connection that guarantees the availability of funds. See figure 3.

As a result of a legal settlement with Wal-Mart and other retailers, beginning in 2004, merchants will no longer be required to accept Visa and MasterCard off-line debit cards as a condition for accepting bankcard associations’ branded credit cards. This is a dramatic change from the longstanding “honor all cards” policy previously established by the bankcard associations used to enhance merchant acceptance of off-line debit. How this policy change will affect the popularity and profitability of off-line debit cards with merchants and cardholders is uncertain.

ATM Cards

Financial institutions issue ATM cards to consumers to provide on-line access to account information and to allow consumers to make withdrawals and deposits at ATMs. Consumers typically enter a PIN for authentication at an ATM, although other authentication methods such as biometric technology are available. Consumers may use an ATM deployed by other financial institutions or third parties but typically will pay fees to the ATM owner and their own financial institution. Many financial institutions now offer ATM cards that can also be used as debit cards for POS transactions at participating retailers.

EFT/POS NETWORKS

EFT/POS networks process, route, clear, and settle ATM and on-line POS debit card transactions by linking financial institution card issuers and merchant acquirers, consumers, merchants, and third-party service providers through telecommunication gateways. The networks’ primary roles include routing transactions through central switching gateways, acting as clearinghouses to settle network member “on-us” transactions, and forwarding “foreign” nonmember transactions for processing.

Most financial institution and nonbank ATM networks are connected to regional and national EFT/POS networks. Most regional networks are joint ventures owned and controlled by competing financial institutions. Ownership in regional networks can either be concentrated in several financial institutions or dispersed among 100 or more member financial institutions. A few regional networks function as cooperatives, while a single firm may own and operate one as a profit-making enterprise.

Visa and MasterCard own and operate the two national EFT/POS networks: Visa’s Plus and MasterCard’s Cirrus ATM networks and Visa’s Interlink and MasterCard’s Maestro POS networks. These national networks serve as a bridge between regional networks, and permit transaction information to be routed from one regional network to another.

Membership in regional and national EFT/POS networks facilitates universal access to financial institution card-based electronic services, providing participant financial institutions with an interchange system offering authorization, clearing, and settlement services. The fees financial institutions charge consumers for “foreign” ATM usage help defray the cost of membership services. Acquirers collect interchange fees from network members (issuers) to cover the cost of operations. With ATM transactions, the issuer pays the acquirer, in contrast to credit and debit card networks. EFT/POS networks clear both ATM and debit card (PIN-based) transactions.

Financial institutions rely on third-party service providers to conduct ATM and debit card payment processing. Third-party processors provide a range of retail payment-related services, including card issuing services, merchant services, account maintenance and authorization services, transaction routing and gateway services, off-line debit processing services, and clearing and settlement services. Although merchant acquiring financial institutions may use third parties to perform many acquiring activities, the acquiring financial institution is responsible for all third-party processor and merchant activity.

Independent sales organizations (ISO) provide third-party services to install and operate ATM and POS terminals for financial institutions and merchants. Representing merchants and community financial institutions, an ISO typically contracts with third-party processors for a variety of services including ATM and POS terminal driving, transaction processing, and cash restocking. Some EFT/POS networks require an ISO to be sponsored by a financial institution member of the network.

Figure 4: Credit Card Clearing and Settlement 

Figure 4 describes a generic, on-line, PIN-based, debit card transaction. The consumer enters a PIN to authorize the transaction (step 1). The merchant’s financial institution requests authorization from the consumer’s financial institution through the EFT/POS network (steps 2 and 3). The consumer's financial institution, or in some cases the regional network, verifies funds and debits the consumer’s account (step 4). The EFT/POS network contacts the merchant and authorizes the purchase (step 5). For settlement, the regional EFT/POS networks determine the net debit and credit positions of the participating financial institutions and settle their positions using the ACH (step 6).

The acquiring financial institution typically does not credit the merchant's account with the entire amount of the transaction (similar to credit card clearing). Rather, the merchant receives the transaction amount, net of applicable fees and other expenses assessed by the acquiring financial institution and other intermediaries to the transaction (step 7). At the end of the business day, the issuing and acquiring financial institutions establish a net settlement of all the transfers between them using the ACH (step 8).

STORED VALUE CARDS

Financial institutions and nonfinancial businesses issue stored value cards. Either the consumer or the issuer funds the account for the card. Generally, the issuer does not pay interest on the card balances. When a consumer uses the card to make a purchase, the merchant deducts the amount of the purchase from the card. Once they exhaust the stored value in the card, customers may either replenish the value or acquire a new card. Transaction authorization can take place through an existing network, a chip stored on the card, or information coded on a magnetic strip. These cards are typically used for low-value purchases.

Stored value cards, mostly issued by nonfinancial businesses, have been successful in limited deployment environments such as mass transit systems and universities. In addition to cards, nonfinancial businesses have introduced a variety of other physical forms for carrying the customer account information. These physical devices are small and easily portable (e.g., key fobs, rings, etc.)

Some stored value cards may also be smart cards if they contain an integrated microchip. The integrated chip can store value and perform other functions, such as consumer authentication. The chip can be placed on a stored value card, a credit card, or a debit card. The chip might also contain consumer preferences and loyalty program information for marketing purposes.

Figure 5: Stored Value Card Clearing and Settlement 

Stored value card transactions typically follow the pattern in figure 5. The consumer purchases a stored value card (steps 1 and 2). When the consumer pays for goods or services with a “smart” stored value card, electronic notations or tokens transfer from the card to the merchant's cash register (steps 3, 4, and 5). The merchant contacts the computer network of the financial institution that issued the stored value card and presents the tokens for payment (step 6). The network notifies the consumer's financial institution to pay the appropriate sum to the merchant's financial institution and net settlement occurs at the end of the business day (step 7). The financial institutions keep a percentage of the payment (the discount) as compensation for the services provided.

If the stored value card is not a smart card, the associated account funds are kept in a separate account. When a customer uses the stored value card, the merchant sends a message to the record-keeping entity to determine whether the balance is sufficient for the transaction. The third party or financial institution then processes the transaction.

This account arrangement may also be used for smart cards, and the accounts are debited when the merchant presents tokens for payment. Although financial institutions issue stored value cards and maintain account records, third parties may also be involved in maintaining individual account records.

Other electronic payments include P2P payments, electronic cash, and electronic benefits transfer (EBT). These payment instruments are usually associated with an established consumer deposit account and facilitate consumer access to recurring and one-time debit and credit transactions and a variety of federal, state, and local government benefit programs.

On-line P2P Payments and Electronic Cash

On-line P2P payments, or e-mail payments, use existing retail payment networks to provide an electronically initiated transfer of value. An individual can send a payment to another individual by entering the desired amount and the recipient’s e-mail address. Though these payments are named for their ability to send funds among individuals on-line, the majority of P2P payments are Internet purchases at on-line auctions or small businesses. In most cases, P2P transfers use existing retail payment systems to add and withdraw funds from accounts. The transfer of value between individuals occurs using proprietary networks as “on-us” transactions.

Most P2P services charge the receiver of the funds a variable fee depending upon various factors, including payment method and the sender’s credit history. Payments made with funds that originated from an ACH transaction are less expensive than transactions made with funds originated from credit cards. P2P systems may offer the receiver an opportunity to obtain funds through a check for an additional fee.

Figure 6: On-Line P2P Payments and Electronic Cash 

On-line P2P payments typically occur using the process described in figure 6. The sender of the funds must have an account with the P2P service provider (step 1). Depending upon the service, the funds may come from an existing credit card or transaction account, or be drawn from a previous balance with the on-line P2P payment provider (steps 2 and 3). The sender can then designate the e-mail address of the intended funds recipient (step 4). The P2P network then transfers the funds to the receiver’s account as an “on-us” transaction. Once the funds reach the receiver’s account, notice of the transaction is sent through e-mail to the receiver (step 5). The receiver of the funds must join the service if it does not already have an account (step 6). The on-line P2P payment service can disburse the funds from the receiver’s P2P account through an ACH payment, a check payment, an EFT credit, or a credit to a credit card account (step 7).

Electronic Cash

Financial institutions and retailers are also developing electronic cash payment instruments. Similar to P2P payments, individuals can transfer electronic cash value to other individuals or businesses. Most electronic cash applications exist on the Internet. Consumers can use the cash payment instruments for purchases at retailers’ Web sites or they can transfer cash to other individuals through e-mail. Prefunded accounts consumers may use for on-line auction payments or with participating retailers are among the most recent applications. Individuals use a credit card or signature-based debit card number to prefund the Web certificate or electronic account, and recipients redeem the value with the issuer. There are few existing markets for electronic cash payment instruments, and merchant acceptance and consumer use is generally low.

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

EBT systems allow government benefits recipients to authorize transfers from their benefits accounts to health care providers and retailers. The federal government and several states routinely use these accounts to issue food stamps and other benefits. The government distributes nearly 80 percent of all food stamp benefits using this technology, and while the average transaction value is low, total transaction volumes are significant. The institution holding the account authenticates transactions using PIN technology.

The operating rules of the National Automated Clearinghouse Association (NACHA) govern ACH transactions. ACH transactions are payment instructions to either debit or credit a deposit account. An ACH transaction is a batch-processed, value-dated electronic funds transfer between originating and receiving financial institutions. ACH payments can either be credits, originated by the accountholder sending funds (payer), or debits, originated by the accountholder receiving funds (payee). Financial institutions may contract with third-party service providers to conduct their ACH activities, and independent third parties not affiliated with financial institutions now generate significant ACH payment activity.

ACH payments are used in a variety of payment environments. Originally, consumers primarily used the ACH for paycheck direct deposit. Now, they increasingly use the ACH for bill payments (often referred to as direct payments), corporate payments (business-to-business), and government payments (e.g., tax refunds).

In addition to the primary ACH transactions, retailers and third parties use the ACH system for other types of transactions including:

 Electronic check conversion. Electronic check conversion is the process of transmitting MICR information from the bottom of a check through the ACH. Its most common application is with checks drawn on consumer accounts. Some retailers and third-party providers have been converting checks to ACH transactions at the point of purchase. In addition, some corporations and financial institutions use it to convert check payments to ACH items at lock box locations.

 Internet-originated and telephone-initiated ACH payments. Consumers and retailers can initiate ACH transactions over the telephone and Internet. These ACH transactions are an alternative to providing a credit card or signature-based debit card number. In addition, retailers do not pay an interchange fee for ACH transactions.

The ACH Network

ACH transactions are sent in batches to ACH operators for processing one or two business days before settlement dates. The ACH operators deliver the transactions to the receiving institutions at defined times. There are two national ACH operators. The Electronic Payments Network (EPN) is a private processor with approximately 30 percent of the national market as of the end of 2002. The Federal Reserve Banks process the remaining share of the market. ACH operators charge a small per-transaction fee to both the originating and receiving depository institutions.

In all ACH transactions, instructions flow from an originating depository financial institution (ODFI) to a receiving depository financial institution (RDFI). An ODFI may request or deliver funds and transaction instructions and funds are linked using codes for record keeping. If the ODFI sends funds, it is a credit transaction. Examples of credit payment transactions include payroll direct deposit, Social Security payments, and dividend and interest payments. Corporate payments to contractors, vendors, or other third parties are also common ACH credit transactions. If the ODFI requests funds, it is a debit transaction and funds flow in the opposite direction. Examples include collection of insurance premiums, mortgage and loan payments, consumer bill payments, and corporate cash concentration transactions.

Financial institutions originating customer payments have a binding commitment for payment to the ACH operator when the ACH files are distributed. Settlement for Federal Reserve Bank ACH credit transactions is final at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the settlement day, when posted to depository financial institution accounts. Settlement is final for ACH debit transactions when posted at 11:00 a.m. ET on the settlement day.

Figure 7: ACH Credit Clearing and Settlement 

Figure 7 depicts a typical ACH credit transaction. In this example, the payer is the employer and the payee is the employee. The payee authorizes an employer to deposit his or her paycheck through direct deposit (step 1). The ODFI is the employer’s financial institution and the RDFI is the consumer’s financial institution. The employer submits its direct deposit payroll ACH files to the ODFI (step 2). The ODFI verifies the files and submits them through the corresponding ACH operator (step 3). The ACH operator routes the transaction to the payee’s financial institution. The financial institution makes the funds available to the payee by crediting his or her account and debiting the payer’s account (steps 4 and 5). The ACH operator settles the transaction between the participating financial institutions (step 6). If the ACH operator is the EPN, final settlement is done using the Federal Reserve Bank’s National Settlement Service (NSS). If the ACH operator is the Federal Reserve, final settlement is made directly to the financial institution’s reserve accounts at a Federal Reserve Bank.

Figure 8: ACH Debit Clearing and Settlement 

Figure 8 depicts a typical ACH debit transaction, in this case a recurring monthly insurance premium remittance. The payer sends the ACH payment information and authorization to the payee, in this case an insurance company (step 1). The payee submits this information to its financial institution (step 2), which routes the transaction to an ACH operator (step 3). The ACH operator routes the transaction to the receiving financial institution (step 4). Funds are made available to the payee and the payer’s account is debited (step 5). The ACH Operator settles the transactions between the participating financial institutions (step 6). Final settlement is performed as described in Figure 7.

Payments System Risk (PSR) Policy

Similar to financial institutions offering retail payment services to customers, the Federal Reserve Banks are exposed to credit risk when they process payments for financial institutions holding reserve accounts. The Federal Reserve Banks guarantee payments for financial institutions using their systems for Fedwire® Funds, NSS, and ACH credit originations. Due to this payment guarantee, the Federal Reserve Banks may incur losses when institutions fail with overdrafts in their accounts.

The Federal Reserve’s Payments System Risk (PSR) policy controls and reduces intraday credit risk to the Federal Reserve

Banks. An integral component of the PSR policy is a program to control the use of Federal Reserve daylight overdrafts. Daylight overdrafts can occur in accounts at Federal Reserve Banks as well as at financial institutions. A daylight overdraft occurs at a Federal Reserve Bank when there are insufficient funds in an institution’s Federal Reserve account to cover outgoing Fedwire® funds transfers, incoming book-entry securities transfers, or other payment activity processed by a Federal Reserve Bank.

To control daylight overdrafts, the PSR policy establishes limits, or net debit caps, on the amount of Federal Reserve Bank daylight credit that a depository institution may use during a single day and over a two-week reserve maintenance period. These limits are sufficiently flexible to reflect the overall financial condition and operational capacity of each institution using Federal Reserve Bank payment services. The policy also permits the Federal Reserve Banks to protect themselves from the risk of loss by unilaterally reducing net debit caps, imposing collateralization or clearing-balance requirements, rejecting or delaying certain transactions until sufficient balances exist, or prohibiting an institution from using Federal Reserve payment services.

The PSR policy established daylight overdraft fees to provide a financial incentive for institutions to control their use of Federal Reserve Bank intraday credit and to recognize the risks inherent in the provision of intraday credit. Daylight overdraft fees induce financial institutions to make business decisions concerning the amount of Federal Reserve Bank intraday credit they are willing to use based on the cost of using that credit. The daylight overdraft measurement method, which incorporates a set of nearly real time transaction posting rules, also supports institutions in controlling their use of Federal Reserve Bank intraday credit.

The Federal Reserve Banks use the real time Account Balance Monitoring System (ABMS) to monitor financial institution accounts intraday. For a limited number of institutions, the system is used to prevent them from incurring daylight overdrafts in their Federal Reserve Bank accounts beyond a certain threshold (often set to zero) for Fedwire® Funds, NSS, and ACH credit origination transactions. This is referred to as monitoring the account in real time.

The Federal Reserve Banks require prefunding for any ACH credit origination transactions settling to the accounts of financial institutions that are monitored in real time. ACH transactions for accounts that are monitored in real time are also required to be prefunded on behalf of the account holder and any respondents.Institution accounts that are monitored in real time must have sufficient available funds when they process ACH batches that contain forward credit items (credit or mixed batches with debit and credits). If there are insufficient funds available in the account, the batch will reject and a notice will be sent to the ACH sending point and to the settlement financial institution.

The FFIEC IT Examination Handbook (IT Handbook), “Retail Payment Systems Booklet” (booklet), provides guidance to examiners, financial institutions, and technology service providers (TSP) on identifying and controlling information technology (IT)-related risks associated with retail payment systems and related banking activities. Financial institutions, either in consortiums or acting independently, remain the core providers to businesses and consumers for most retail payment instruments and services.

Financial institutions accept, collect, and process a variety of payment instruments, and participate in clearing and settlement systems. In some cases financial institutions perform all of these tasks, but increasingly, independent third parties play an important role and financial institution risks are altered if independent third parties are involved. Federal government-affiliated providers and operators, such as the Federal Reserve Banks, also compete with numerous financial institutions and private sector firms in providing various retail payment services.

This booklet replaces chapters 20, “Retail EFT (ATM and POS),” and 21, “Automated Clearing House (ACH),” in the 1996 FFIEC Information Systems Examination Handbook. The booklet presents retail payment systems examination guidance in three parts, followed by examination procedures, a glossary, and references.

	Retail Payment Systems Overview—The booklet starts with an overview of retail payment systems, grouping retail payment instruments in three categories: checks, card-based electronic payments, and other electronic payments, including person-to-person (P2P), electronic benefits transfer (EBT), and the automated clearinghouse (ACH).
	Payment Instruments, Clearing, and Settlement—The second section of the booklet describes the retail payment system instruments typically offered by financial institutions and the roles of various payment system participants, including third parties. Generic diagrams showing the typical payment flows and clearing and settlement arrangements for each of the retail payment instruments described are also included.
	Retail Payment Systems Risk Management—The third section describes the risks associated with various retail payment systems and instruments, using the regulatory risk categories including reputation, strategic, credit, liquidity, settlement, legal/compliance, and operational/transaction risk. This section also presents the risk management practices financial institutions should have in place in order to mitigate the risks described and concludes with specific controls appropriate to a number of retail payment instruments. Management action summaries are also included in this section, providing a snapshot of the risks and risk management practices described in the text.

This booklet includes a number of references to other IT Handbook booklets, including “Information Security,” “Business Continuity Planning,” “Audit,” “Outsourcing Technology Services,” “Electronic Banking,” and “Wholesale Payment Systems.” In addition to describing the information technology risks and controls, the booklet also describes certain credit and liquidity risks that may also be present when providing retail payment services. A full review of a particular financial institution’s retail payment system environment might require the use of examiners with experience in credit, liquidity, or compliance issues and additional examination procedures.

Examiners should use the examination procedures for evaluating the risks and risk management practices at financial institutions offering retail payment system products and services. These procedures address services and products of varied complexity, and examiners should adjust the procedures, as appropriate, for the scope of the examination and the risk profile of the institution. The procedures may be used independently or in combination with procedures from other IT Handbook booklets and agency-specific handbooks and guidance documents.

This booklet references specific services and brand names trademarked by their respective companies. These references are intended solely to provide a retail payment systems overview and should not be construed as an FFIEC endorsement of any product or service noted herein.

Retail payments usually involve transactions between consumers and businesses. Although there is no definitive division between retail and wholesale payments, retail payment systems generally have higher transaction volumes and lower average dollar values than wholesale payments systems. This section provides background information on payments typically classified as retail payments. Consumers generally use retail payments in one of the following ways:

TRANSACTION/OPERATIONS RISK
Transaction/Operations risk arises from fraud, processing errors, system disruptions, or other unanticipated events resulting in the institution’s inability to deliver products or services. This risk exists in each product and service offered. The level of transaction risk is affected by the structure of the institution’s processing environment, including the types of services offered and the complexity of the processes and supporting technology.

In most instances, e-banking activities will increase the complexity of the institution’s activities and the quantity of its transaction/operations risk, especially if the institution is offering innovative services that have not been standardized. Since customers expect e-banking services to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, financial institutions should ensure their e-banking infrastructures contain sufficient capacity and redundancy to ensure reliable service availability. Even institutions that do not consider e-banking a critical financial service due to the availability of alternate processing channels, should carefully consider customer expectations and the potential impact of service disruptions on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The key to controlling transaction risk lies in adapting effective polices, procedures, and controls to meet the new risk exposures introduced by e-banking. Basic internal controls including segregation of duties, dual controls, and reconcilements remain important. Information security controls, in particular, become more significant requiring additional processes, tools, expertise, and testing. Institutions should determine the appropriate level of security controls based on their assessment of the sensitivity of the information to the customer and to the institution and on the institution’s established risk tolerance level. Security controls are discussed in this booklet’s “Risk Management of E-Banking Activities” section under the heading “Information Security Program.”

CREDIT RISK
Generally, a financial institution’s credit risk is not increased by the mere fact that a loan is originated through an e-banking channel. However, management should consider additional precautions when originating and approving loans electronically, including assuring management information systems effectively track the performance of portfolios originated through e-banking channels. The following aspects of on-line loan origination and approval tend to make risk management of the lending process more challenging. If not properly managed, these aspects can significantly increase credit risk.

	Verifying the customer’s identity for on-line credit applications and executing an enforceable contract;
	Monitoring and controlling the growth, pricing, underwriting standards, and ongoing credit quality of loans originated through e-banking channels;
	Monitoring and oversight of third-parties doing business as agents or on behalf of the financial institution (for example, an Internet loan origination site or electronic payments processor);
	Valuing collateral and perfecting liens over a potentially wider geographic area;
	Collecting loans from individuals over a potentially wider geographic area; and
	Monitoring any increased volume of, and possible concentration in, out-of-area lending.

LIQUIDITY, INTEREST RATE, PRICE/MARKET RISKS
Funding and investment-related risks could increase with an institution’s e-banking initiatives depending on the volatility and pricing of the acquired deposits. The Internet provides institutions with the ability to market their products and services globally. Internet-based advertising programs can effectively match yield-focused investors with potentially high-yielding deposits. But Internet-originated deposits have the potential to attract customers who focus exclusively on rates and may provide a funding source with risk characteristics similar to brokered deposits. An institution can control this potential volatility and expanded geographic reach through its deposit contract and account opening practices, which might involve face-to-face meetings or the exchange of paper correspondence. The institution should modify its policies as necessary to address the following e-banking funding issues:

	Potential increase in dependence on brokered funds or other highly rate-sensitive deposits;
	Potential acquisition of funds from markets where the institution is not licensed to engage in banking, particularly if the institution does not establish, disclose, and enforce geographic restrictions;
	Potential impact of loan or deposit growth from an expanded Internet market, including the impact of such growth on capital ratios; and
	Potential increase in volatility of funds should e-banking security problems negatively impact customer confidence or the market’s perception of the institution.

COMPLIANCE/LEGAL RISK
Compliance and legal issues arise out of the rapid growth in usage of e-banking and the differences between electronic and paper-based processes. E-banking is a new delivery channel where the laws and rules governing the electronic delivery of certain financial institution products or services may be ambiguous or still evolving. Specific regulatory and legal challenges include:

	Uncertainty over legal jurisdictions and which state’s or country’s laws govern a specific e-banking transaction,
	Delivery of credit and deposit-related disclosures/notices as required by law or regulation,
	Retention of required compliance documentation for on-line advertising, applications, statements, disclosures and notices; and
	Establishment of legally binding electronic agreements.

Laws and regulations governing consumer transactions require specific types of disclosures, notices, or record keeping requirements. These requirements also apply to e-banking, and federal banking agencies continue to update consumer laws and regulations to reflect the impact of e-banking and on-line customer relationships. Some of the legal requirements and regulatory guidance that frequently apply to e-banking products and services include:

	Solicitation, collection and reporting of government monitoring information on applications and loans, as required by Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (Regulation C) regulations;
	Advertising requirements, customer disclosures, or notices required by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending (Regulation Z), and Truth In Savings (Regulation DD) and Fair Housing regulations;
	Proper and conspicuous display of FDIC or NCUA insurance notices;
	Conspicuous webpage disclosures indicating that certain types of investment, brokerage, and insurance products offered have certain associated risks, including not being insured by federal deposit insurance (FDIC or NCUA);
	Customer identification programs and procedures, as well as record retention and customer notification requirements, required by the Bank Secrecy Act;
	Customer identification processes to determine whether transactions are prohibited by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and, when necessary, whether customers appear on any list of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organization provided by any government agency;
	Delivery of privacy and opt-out notices by hand, by mail, or with customer acknowledgement of electronic receipt;
	Verification of customer identification, reporting, and record keeping requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), including requirements for filing a suspicious activity report (SAR); and
	Record retention requirements of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) and Fair Credit Reporting Act regulations.

Institutions that offer e-banking services, both informational and transactional, assume a higher level of compliance risk because of the changing nature of the technology, the speed at which errors can be replicated, and the frequency of regulatory changes to address e-banking issues. The potential for violations is further heightened by the need to ensure consistency between paper and electronic advertisements, disclosures, and notices. Additional information on compliance requirements for e-banking can be found on the agencies’ websites and in references contained in appendix C.

STRATEGIC RISK
A financial institution’s board and management should understand the risks associated with e-banking services and evaluate the resulting risk management costs against the potential return on investment prior to offering e-banking services. Poor e-banking planning and investment decisions can increase a financial institution’s strategic risk. Early adopters of new e-banking services can establish themselves as innovators who anticipate the needs of their customers, but may do so by incurring higher costs and increased complexity in their operations. Conversely, late adopters may be able to avoid the higher expense and added complexity, but do so at the risk of not meeting customer demand for additional products and services. In managing the strategic risk associated with e-banking services, financial institutions should develop clearly defined e-banking objectives by which the institution can evaluate the success of its e-banking strategy. In particular, financial institutions should pay attention to the following:

	Adequacy of management information systems (MIS) to track e-banking usage and profitability;
	Costs involved in monitoring e-banking activities or costs involved in overseeing e-banking vendors and technology service providers;
	Design, delivery, and pricing of services adequate to generate sufficient customer demand;
	Retention of electronic loan agreements and other electronic contracts in a format that will be admissible and enforceable in litigation;
	Costs and availability of staff to provide technical support for interchanges involving multiple operating systems, web browsers, and communication devices;
	Competition from other e-banking providers; and
	Adequacy of technical, operational, compliance, or marketing support for e-banking products and services.

REPUTATION RISK
An institution’s decision to offer e-banking services, especially the more complex transactional services, significantly increases its level of reputation risk. Some of the ways in which e-banking can influence an institution’s reputation include:

	Loss of trust due to unauthorized activity on customer accounts,
	Disclosure or theft of confidential customer information to unauthorized parties (e.g., hackers),
	Failure to deliver on marketing claims,
	Failure to provide reliable service due to the frequency or duration of service disruptions,
	Customer complaints about the difficulty in using e-banking services and the inability of the institution’s help desk to resolve problems, and
	Confusion between services provided by the financial institution and services provided by other businesses linked from the website.

 e-banking has unique characteristics that may increase an institution’s overall risk profile and the level of risks associated with traditional financial services, particularly strategic, operational, legal, and reputation risks. These unique e-banking characteristics include:

	Speed of technological change,
	Changing customer expectations,
	Increased visibility of publicly accessible networks (e.g., the Internet),
	Less face-to-face interaction with financial institution customers,
	Need to integrate e-banking with the institution’s legacy computer systems,
	Dependence on third parties for necessary technical expertise, and
	Proliferation of threats and vulnerabilities in publicly accessible networks.

Management should review each of the processes discussed in this section to adapt and expand the institution’s risk management practices as necessary to address the risks posed by e-banking activities. While these processes mirror those discussed in other booklets of the IT Handbook, they are discussed below from an e-banking perspective. For more detailed information on each of these processes, the reader should review the corresponding booklet of the IT Handbook.

On-line banking can help you manage savings and checking accounts, apply for loans, or pay bills quickly and easily. To enjoy the full benefits of on-line banking, you should understand all that on-line banking can offer, consider some questions to ask before signing up, and know how to get help if you need it.

• What is on-line banking?
• How do I get started with on-line banking?
• Can I shop for a new bank account on-line?How quickly are my transactions processed?
  

What is on-line banking?

On-line banking is a service provided by many banks, thrifts, and credit unions that allows you to conduct banking transactions over the Internet using a personal computer, mobile telephone, or handheld computer (such as a "personal digital assistant"). You may be able to:

• access accounts round-the-clock, even on weekends;
  
• see balances on-line and find out whether checks or deposits have cleared;
  
• transfer funds between accounts;
  
• download information directly into personal finance software; or
  
• receive and pay bills on-line (without check writing, envelopes, or stamps).

If you choose an "Internet-only" bank, you may no longer have access to a local "bricks-and-mortar" branch. Some Internet-only banks, however, offer higher interest rates and fewer fees than traditional banks.

How do I get started with on-line banking?

Frequently, all you need to do is to log on to your bank's Web site and follow the instructions. Before you begin to bank on-line, however, you might take advantage of the tips in the Secure Banking on the Internet section of this Web site.

When choosing an on-line banking service, use the same good business sense you would in any transaction. Make sure that the on-line bank has a good reputation before you provide personal information or send money. Also, when purchasing banking products or services on-line, read agreements carefully before clicking your consent to them or signing the agreements electronically. The time is well spent since you may be legally bound by those agreements. It is also wise to save or print a copy of the agreement for future reference.

Can I shop for a new bank account on-line?

The Internet is a convenient place to find bargains in banking products and services. You can often view rates for savings accounts, credit cards, loans, and other financial products and services. Some Web sites also help you directly compare financial products on-line.

If you decide to shop for a bank on the Internet, check to see that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") insures your bank's deposits. Just as "bricks-and-mortar" banks display the FDIC seal at the branch, most on-line banks include information on their deposit insurance on their Web pages. You can find a list of FDIC-insured banks on the FDIC Web site at http:/www.fdic.gov. Keep in mind that the FDIC does not insure non-deposit investment products-mutual funds, money market funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks, and bonds-whether they are sold on-line or through a bank's affiliate.

Also, if you use a bank that is not licensed in the United States, your deposits may not be insured by the FDIC, and you may not benefit from other important consumer protections offered in the United States. To find out more about banking with an institution licensed overseas, read the Cross-Border Banking section of this Web site.

How quickly are my on-line transactions processed?

You may discover that on-line transfers are similar to writing a check and mailing it-transactions may not be processed instantaneously. Be sure to find out from your bank exactly when on-line or telephone account transfers take place (immediately, end of day, etc.).

If you want to pay bills on-line, you should ask when electronic payments are deducted from your account, and when they are transferred to third-party billers. To find out more about on-line bill paying services, read the Electronic Payments on the Internet section of this Web site.

ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS ON THE INTERNET

Electronic payments are made without the use of paper by way of a variety of electronic devices. There are many types of electronic payments, including direct deposit, direct debit, and electronic bill presentment and payment ("EBPP"). Electronic payments can also be made by credit, debit, or stored-value cards and on-line banking transactions.

Although credit card and direct deposit payments have been available for some time, more recent methods such as EBPP, paying bills by telephone, or using an e-banking site are growing in popularity.

• What is Direct Deposit?
• What is Direct Payment?
• How do I pay bills through my bank electronically?
• Can I use another service to pay my bills on the Internet?
• How do I select a bill payment company?
• What should I do if I discover an error?
• What should I do if my card is stolen?

What is Direct Deposit?

Direct deposit is an electronic transfer of funds directly into your checking or savings account. Many companies use direct deposit for ongoing, regularly scheduled payments, such as salary, retirement benefits, dividend and annuity payments. To enable your company to pay you by direct deposit, you must sign an authorization form to allow your company to credit your account. The authorization must include account information, such as your bank's routing number and your account number-found on the bottom of your check.

Be sure to check that the information on the authorization form is accurate before signing. Keep a copy of the authorization form for your records. The information about the transfer of funds to your account will be reflected on your monthly bank statement; check that all amounts are correct.

What is Direct Payment?

Direct payment is an electronic funds transfer out of your checking or
savings account that is initiated by the person or company being paid. You can use direct payment to pay your regular bills, such as mortgage loans, insurance premiums and utility bills. For each company that you wish to pay electronically, you will need to provide a signed authorization form. Keep a copy of the authorization form for your records. You also may be asked for a voided check from your bank for account information. The authorization will allow the company to collect the amount of the bill from your checking or savings account on a specified date. Remember that once you have signed an authorization form, the company can access your account without any further action by you, unless you ask the company to end the arrangement. Some companies may require a certain number of days of prior written notice before discontinuing direct payments.

Your monthly bank account statement will show the transfer of funds from your account; be sure to check that all amounts listed are correct.

How do I pay bills through my bank electronically?

If your bank offers this service, you can go to its Web site and authorize payments to companies that you choose. Your bank will send the payments to specified companies either electronically or by check. Unlike direct payment, paying bills through your bank over the Internet allows you, not the merchant, to initiate all the payments.

All on-line transfers of funds from your account will be reflected in your monthly bank account statement. Be sure to check the accuracy of your monthly statements. Electronic payment service may be free of charge-or there may be extra fees.

Can I use another service to pay my bills on the Internet?

An EBPP service pays bills directly from your account and e-mails a monthly statement to you. Many companies other than banks offer EBPP services. They operate in many different ways. You may receive bills and monthly statements at your bank's Web site that were sent to the bank by the EBPP company. Alternatively, you may go to an EBPP company's Web site to view and pay your bills. In some arrangements, you go to the Web site of each biller to retrieve your bill. Payment of your bills may also occur through various methods.

EBPP companies may also provide other services: sending you an e-mail reminder when a bill arrives, tracking payment status so that you know when a bill payment is sent, or filing bills electronically. EBPP companies may charge monthly or per transaction fees for their services.

How do I select a bill payment company?

When selecting an EBPP company, keep in mind that the company will have access to your personal and financial data. Therefore, make sure that your EBPP provider is reputable. Check their listing with the Better Business Bureau. Also examine the company's privacy policy and security measures. Finally, be certain that there is a way to contact the company if you experience a problem. The EBPP company's Web site should contain an e-mail address, telephone number, and mailing address.

What should I do if I discover an error?

If you discover an error with a direct deposit or direct payment, report it to the company making the direct deposit and to your bank immediately.

Check your bank account statements regularly for errors or problems. The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693, 1693m) and Regulation E also establish procedures for resolving errors on your bank account statement related to electronic funds transfers. For example, you have up to 60 days from your account statement date to notify your bank of any incorrect or unauthorized payment.

Your bank must investigate the error and quickly report the results to you. If your bank confirms the error, they should resolve the problem within one day. Procedures for the timely resolution of disputes are provided under the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation E. If the financial institution determines that an error did not occur, they must send you a written explanation of the findings within three days of concluding an investigation.

You can read more about electronic funds transfers and other consumer issues at the Board of Governors' Consumer Information Web site (www.federalreserve.gov/cosumers.htm).

What should I do if my debit or credit card is stolen?

If your debit or credit card is lost or stolen, you should notify your bank immediately. Your losses depend on how fast you report the loss or theft of the card-and on the type of card.

To find out more, contact your credit or debit card provider directly or your local Federal Reserve Bank.

PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY

Since the Internet is a public network, you will want to protect your privacy on-line. Safeguard your banking information, credit card numbers, social security number, and other personal data. Keeping your personal information private means establishing that it is kept secure; to learn more about how to do so, read the Secure Banking on the Internet section of this Web site.

Some consumers may also want to know how their personal information is used, or whether their bank shares it with affiliates or other parties. Since July 2001, banks must give their customers a copy of their privacy policy. You may receive one in the mail or you may see a copy of it posted at the bank's Web site. The privacy policy should tell you what information the bank keeps about you and what information, if any, it shares with other companies.

Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6801, et seq.), banks must give you an opportunity to "opt out" of any policy they may have to share your non-public personal financial information with a third party. If you chose to opt out by notifying the bank in ways that they specify, the bank must not share your information with unaffiliated parties, except in certain limited circumstances. They may, however, share your information with affiliates. You will usually find information about opting out in the same notice that the bank sends you about its privacy policy.

You may have heard that some banks track your Web-browsing habits while you are at their site by storing small files on your computer's hard drive called "cookies." Cookies record personal information such as your user ID and password and browsing habits, and may help banks personalize the appearance of their Web site for your future visits. If these practices concern you, your Web browser may have the ability to refuse cookies.

Banks also use cookies to get to know your interests so that they can market particular products and services to you. You may want to ask your bank whether it uses cookies or otherwise tracks your browsing habits.

• What kinds of personal information may a bank collect or store about me?
  
• What is non-public personal information?
  
• What should I do if my bank is not honoring my opt-out request?

What kinds of personal information may a bank collect or store about me?

Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, banks are required to notify you of the types of information that they may collect about you. Most banks collect financial information about their customers as a routine part of their business. When you apply for a credit card or a loan, for example, you provide personal information such as your name, address, phone number, and income information. Banks can add to this information by gathering credit reports from credit-reporting agencies and from other banks. These reports will detail your credit limits, merchants that you maintain accounts with, and the timeliness of your payments. Banks can use this information to market select products to you.

What is non-public personal information?

Non-public personal information means any personally identifiable financial information provided by a consumer to a bank resulting from any transaction or otherwise obtained by the financial institution.

This includes your name, address, account numbers, social security number, types of accounts, or account balances.

What should I do if my bank is not honoring my opt-out request?

Contact the appropriate banking supervisor and notify them of the practice. To file a complaint about a bank, please read the brochure entitled "How to File a Complaint About a Bank" available at the Board of Governors' Consumer Information Web site (www.federalreserve.gov/consumers.htm). For further information about filing a consumer complaint against a bank and for access to an on-line complaint form, please see this bank's consumer complaint information and online complaint form. (http://www.newyorkfed.org/complaints/survey/Instructions.cfm).

SECURE BANKING ON THE INTERNET

Once you are connected to the Internet, all information, encrypted or not, can be viewed by anyone else on the Internet with the right tools. There are, however, steps that you can take to protect your confidential information. They include using up-to-date virus protection and encryption software to protect your files, ensuring that your computer is physically and electronically safe from intrusion, and monitoring the security of the Web sites that you frequent.

• How can I protect my identity from theft on the Internet?
• How should I protect my computer from intrusion?
• How do I know my Internet Service Provider is secure?
• How do I know if my bank is secure?

How can I protect my identity from theft on the Internet?

Keeping your personal information confidential is your best safeguard on the Internet. Most computer network break-ins rely on commonplace deceptions or theft, not advanced technology. Simple precautions are essential:

• Tell no one your password or other confidential information unless you are sure of their identity. Hackers sometimes impersonate technical support workers or others over the phone to obtain private information.
• Keep your password out of plain sight in your work area.
• Select a password that is hard to guess; avoid social security numbers, birthdates, PINs, or other obvious choices.

Good passwords are unique. Try using capitalization, non-letter characters, and other symbols with significance only to you. Instead of "carrot," for example, use "caRrOt8." Also, be sure to change your password periodically.

Keep in mind that once someone has access to your account number and PIN, they have access to your money and personal financial information.

How should I protect my computer from intrusion?

Both at home and the office, you should be aware of all those who have access to your files. Your computer should be physically secure, where unauthorized users cannot access it without your permission.

You should also avoid keeping open connections to cable networks or phone lines-your machine could be accessed without your knowledge.

• Make sure your browser supports secure transactions using up-to-date security features like encryption.
• Take advantage of security and virus protection software that protects your computer from intrusion.
• Use log-on passwords, screen saver passwords, or other devices to prevent someone from using your computer when you are not there.
• When you walk away from your PC, turn it off, or turn on the screensaver password feature.
• If your computer is accessible to others, consider using encryption software for confidential files.

Most operating system software has built-in security features, but you may wish to consider purchasing additional virus protection, encryption, and personal firewall software to better protect your computer and data.

How do I know my Internet service provider is secure?

Most people use a modem and analog telephone line to log on to an Internet service provider. The provider then accesses the Internet. Commonly you click on a desktop icon to access the provider's Internet account, then type in your user ID and password. The software may permit you to store your user ID and password so that you do not have to type it in each time. Be aware that stored passwords and IDs can be copied from your computer.

Contact your Internet service provider to find out if they use encryption to store and transmit confirmation of your user ID and password-and if the ID and password are stored on your computer. High-bandwidth access providers like DSL and cable can place your computer in an "always on" state that is accessible to hackers.

Consider using personal firewall and anti-virus software, and turning your computer off when it is not in use.

How do I know if my bank is secure?

Most bank Web sites offer a "frequently asked questions" section that describes their security practices. Also, ask your bank if it requires special software to use its site, like Internet browsers that support encryption. Learn how to take advantage of your bank's particular security options.

AGGREGATION

Account aggregation lets you view your account information from multiple sources on one Internet Web site instead of having to visit several sites. Financial, credit card, securities, frequent flyer, and even weather forecast information can be included on an aggregation site. You may also be able to conduct transactions or obtain investment advice on an aggregator's site. Banks and other companies supplying such services must use your IDs and passwords to assemble this information.

• How does aggregation work?
• What questions should I ask before I use an aggregator?

How does aggregation work?

You provide the aggregator with account numbers, associated security codes, or other passwords issued by the companies holding your accounts.
The aggregator can then collect your financial information-even without the consent of the institution holding the consumer's account. If the account-holding institution also consents, however, that institution may relay your account information directly to the aggregator.

What questions should I ask before I use an aggregator?

• Will providing my password to the aggregator violate my agreement with my bank? Some on-line bank agreements require that your do not reveal your password to anyone.
  
• What security precautions does the aggregator take? These are often described on the aggregator's Web site or in the service agreement. The precautions may include encryption.
  
• What is the aggregator's privacy policy? Read the privacy policy on the aggregator's Web site carefully; it may include tracking your Web-browsing habits and sharing your financial information with others.
• Find out how to reach the right person with service questions; often that information is posted on the aggregator's Web site.
• Be sure to read the aggregation service contract carefully; it should specify the aggregator's liability, or yours, for unauthorized transactions. This is especially important if your aggregation service includes funds transfers. If the aggregator is a bank, your liability for unauthorized on-line funds transfers from your accounts would be limited if you informed the bank of the problem in a timely manner.
• Consider that you may have limited support from government regulators.

Consumer complaints against banks may be submitted to federal bank regulatory agencies or state banking departments. An aggregator that is not a bank is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission.

• Find out all the costs of the aggregation service.

An aggregator's services are typically bundled with other products and may be free initially. Some aggregators may present you with advertisements rather than charge for basic services. You should read the aggregation agreement carefully before you sign it for costs and all other "terms and conditions." In particular, you should find out how and when you will be notified of any changes in the terms of the agreement.

CROSS-BORDER BANKING

Customers who bank with U.S. depository institutions enjoy some of the best and strongest consumer protection laws and deposit insurance available in the world. These safeguards include laws and regulation designed to ensure that:

• interest rates charged for loans or paid on deposits are explained truthfully and clearly.
  
• bank deposits are insured.
  
• personal and confidential information is used and handled appropriately.
  
• depository institutions are managed in a safe and sound manner and in full compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

If U.S. banks and depository institutions fail to adhere to laws and regulations to protect depositors, you can file complaints with federal or state regulators.

The open nature of the Internet makes it easier for you to get information on financial products and services offered by banks and financial institutions from around the country and the world. Thus it is important to remember that if you do business with institutions outside the United States:

• Your transactions may not be protected by United States or state laws or regulations, and your deposits may not be insured.
• Instead, the laws and regulations of the foreign bank's home country may apply.

Consequently, it is wise to know a foreign bank's reputation before you decide to open an account or purchase financial products or services. This includes learning where the institution is located or chartered and what kinds of consumer protection, if any, the bank's home country offers.

Most banks provide information on their Web site about where they are located and how to contact them by telephone, in person, or by postal mail. Do not hesitate to contact them if you still have questions about consumer protections after reading on-line materials.

E-SIGN

Recent technologies make it possible to sign contracts over the Internet that formerly required handwritten signatures. E-Sign is a nickname for the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. 7001, et seq.), which establishes a general rule that in interstate transactions, electronic signatures have the same legal effect as handwritten signatures on paper. E-Sign is a voluntary statute that does not require anyone to use or accept electronic records or electronic signatures.

• What is an electronic record?
• What is an electronic signature?
• What is a digital signature?
• What does E-Sign mean for me?
• How else may E-Sign affect me?
• Which transactions are not affected by E-Sign?

What is an electronic record?

An electronic record is any record created, generated, sent, received, or stored by electronic means. Among electronic records are e-mail messages that you send, attachments to e-mail that you receive, articles from a Web site that you save on your computer, perhaps even voice mail on your answering machine.

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature includes any electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to an electronic record and performed with the intent to sign the record. Common examples are digital signatures, initials typed at the end of an e-mail message, or Web page agreements that require you to click a button to acknowledge your agreement.

Electronic signatures do not necessarily require the use of a special pen or touch screen permitting the user to place a signature on a computer file.

What is a digital signature?

Digital signatures are a subset of electronic signatures in which encryption and certification authorities are used to verify the electronic signature.

What does E-Sign mean for me?

E-Sign legally recognizes contracts made electronically. If, for example, you buy on-line at a merchant's Web site, you are often led through several computer screens before you complete your purchase. Each screen contains specific terms of the transaction (item ID, quantity, purchase price, total amount, your credit card number, etc.) and an "I agree" button. Unless you click on this button, you cannot proceed. If you complete the click-through process and the transaction, your actions may have the same legal effect as if you had signed a paper document containing all the terms you accepted electronically.

Some tips for agreeing to contract terms over the Internet:

• Print your order, confirmation screen, and any electronic notices you receive from the merchant and keep the hard copies for later reference.
  
• As with any contract, read the fine print. Do not agree to contract terms that you do not understand.
  
• If the merchant's site has a link to general terms and conditions, review these terms before submitting your credit card information. If you decide to buy from this merchant, print a copy of the terms, date it and keep it.
  
• Remember that if you do not want to enter into an on-line contract, you often have the option of calling a toll free number or using some other method for your purchase.

How else may E-Sign affect me?

Many companies, banks, utility companies, or other businesses that provide you with goods or services are required by law to send you various disclosure notices concerning your legal rights.

Companies now may send you this information electronically if you wish. Before you agree to receive notices electronically, the company must inform you:

• that you can withdraw your consent to receive notices electronically, and how to do so;
  
• whether your consent is limited to a specific transaction or covers your other dealings with the company;
  
• whether you can request a paper copy of electronic notices sent to you, how to do so, and fees involved; and
  
• what hardware and software you will need to access and retain the company's electronic notices.

Some tips for receiving electronic disclosure notices:

• To send disclosures to you electronically, the company must obtain your consent, which must be given (or confirmed) electronically.
• If you do not want to receive electronic disclosures, watch for the screen that allows you to check "yes" or "no" to accepting electronic notices in the future. Note that even though E-Sign requires an "affirmative" consent, the screen might be automatically checked "yes" unless you change it.
  
• Do not give your e-mail address to any company unless you are willing to check your e-mail regularly.
  
• Use only one e-mail address for all your personal business, and close all other e-mail addresses you may have.
  
• Keep a list of the companies with whom you have agreed to receive information electronically, and notify them if your e-mail address changes.
  
• If you cannot open an e-mail you received from a company, notify them. Do not dismiss the e-mail as junk mail-it could contain important information about your legal rights.
  
• Once you have agreed to receive information electronically, the company may send you disclosures electronically by various means.
• Your bank may send disclosures by e-mail or post them on its Web site and send you an alert notice that the information has been posted. Such a notice may be sent by e-mail or by regular mail, at the bank's option.
• An electronic disclosure must be displayed on your screen as visual text (that is, cannot be oral). It may appear on the screen automatically, or the company may provide a link to it that cannot be bypassed.

What transactions or documents are not affected by E-Sign?

E-Sign does not apply to the following transactions or documents:

• wills; family law matters;
  
• transactions governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (except parts that govern sales and leases, to which E-Sign does apply);
  
• court orders and other official court documents; and
  
• notices regarding:
  • default, acceleration, repossession, foreclosure, or eviction under a lease or a mortgage on a principal residence;
  • termination or shut-off of utility services;
  • termination or cancellation of health insurance or life insurance benefits (except annuities); and
  • product recalls or material failure of a product, endangering health and safety.

WIRELESS BANKING

Wireless Internet banking, commonly called wireless banking, allows customers to access account information and perform transactions over the Internet using a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA) instead of a personal computer. Wireless banking is relatively new and rapidly evolving; customers may wish to know the basics:

• How does wireless banking work?
• What additional services may wireless banking provide?
• Where can I find information if I am considering wireless banking?
• What if I lose my wireless telephone signal while in the middle of a banking transaction?

How does wireless banking work?

Before you sign up for wireless banking, you should find out exactly how your mobile phone connects to your bank and verify that your information is secure at all times.

Mobile phone service can connect to your bank in a variety of ways. In some cases, your mobile phone uses your Internet service provider to dial up and connect to a Web server located at your bank. Alternatively, you may be given a special access telephone number to dial, and your bank may act as the Internet service provider. In either case, once you are connected, you enter your request using the keypad of your mobile phone or PDA.

What additional services may wireless banking provide?

Wireless banking provides most of the services on-line banking provides, and may also include:

• information notification and alerts prompting you to view balances, see whether checks have cleared, and receive e-mail messages about deposits and other changes to accounts;
• on-demand transactions allowing you to transfer money from one account to another, make electronic payments, and perform transactions just as in on-line banking, but by using a mobile phone or PDA.
  

Wireless banking involves the same security and privacy issues as on-line banking with a PC. Unlike PCs, however, mobile phones and PDAs are small and easily lost or stolen, making it even more important that a password be required to access account information or perform transactions. In addition, check to ensure that the information being sent to you is encrypted.

Where can I find information if I am considering wireless banking?

Your bank's Web page is a good place to start. The Web page should provide the terms and conditions of wireless services as well as privacy, security, and other basic information. Many banks also include a "frequently asked questions" section that explains how the service works and any fees involved. You will need a Web-enabled or Web-ready mobile phone or PDA; since there are many different kinds, most banks specify the devices needed for their particular wireless services.

What if I lose my wireless telephone signal while in the middle of a banking transaction?

Contact your particular bank and wireless service provider to determine what happens if a transaction is interrupted, and check your monthly statements to ensure that all transaction amounts are correct.

Since mobile devices sometimes lose their signal, it is important to find out how transactions are completed and verified. You should receive a confirmation number for each completed transaction.

GLOSSARY

Affiliates
Any company that owns, is owned by, or is related through common ownership to another company.

Analog
The traditional method of modulating radio and telephone signals so that they can carry information.

Browser
Software that permits a user to view graphical pages over the World Wide Web. The two most popular browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Bandwidth
Generally, the information-carrying capacity of telephone or network wiring. High bandwidth allows fast or high-volume transmission.

Certificate authority
An organization responsible for certifying the identity of a particular person or merchant. Certificate authorities permit users to issue digital signatures to conduct transactions electronically.

Cookie
Cookies are small data files written to your hard drive by some Web sites when you view those sites through your browser. These data files contain information the site can use to track such things as passwords, lists of pages you have visited, and the date when you last looked at a certain page.

Encryption
Encryption is the process of mathematically changing characters into a form that can be read only by the intended receiver. To decipher the message, the receiver of the encrypted data must have the proper decryption key. In traditional encryption schemes, the sender and the receiver use the same key to encrypt and decrypt data.

Internet
The worldwide "information highway" composed of thousands of interconnected computer networks. It reaches millions of people in many different countries. The Internet was originally developed for the United States military, and then became used for government, academic, and commercial research and communications. The World Wide Web facility on the Internet makes possible almost instantaneous exchange of information by linking documents around the world.

Internet service provider (ISP)
A company that provides Internet access or Internet accounts to individuals, businesses, and other groups.

Non-deposit investment products
A non-deposit investment product is a financial asset that is not FDIC-insured and may contain investment risk. NDIPs include mutual funds, annuities, securities, and self-directed individual retirement accounts that invest in securities.

Non-public personal financial information
Section 509(4) of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act defines non-public personal information as "personally identifiable financial information" that 1) is provided by a consumer to a financial institution, 2) results from any transaction with a consumer or any service performed for a consumer, or 3) is otherwise obtained by the financial institution. "Non-public personal information" also includes any list, description, or other grouping of consumers as well as publicly available information pertaining to them.

Operating system
The main control program of a computer that schedules tasks, manages storage, and handles communication among the different parts of a computer.

PIN
Abbreviation for personal identification number. A code or password, unique to or associated with a specific user and entered into a data-processing device for the purpose of verifying the identity of a person requesting access or a transaction.

www.newyorkfed.org

نظام بانکداری در مالزی افزون بر یک دهه است که در مسیر خصوصی سازی و لیبرالیزاسیون اقتصادی گام برداشته و توانسته در جمع کشورهای آسیایی حوزه اقیانوس آرام، کسب اعتبار و وجهه کند. این توسعه روز افزون البته به لطف جمع شدن بانک های عمده زیر چتر حمایتی انجمن بانک های مالزی (Association of Banks in Malaysia، با نام اختصاری ABM) محقق شده است.
انجمن بانک های مالزی در نوامبر ۱۹۷۳ با هدف تثبیت و استقرار یک نظم عملیاتی واحد بین بانک های این کشور و با مشارکت و همکاری مستقیم بانک مرکزی مالزی تاسیس شد.
عضویت در این انجمن برای تمام بانک های دارای مجوز و حتی دفاتر نمایندگی بانک های خارجی مستقر در مالزی میسر است. در حال حاضر ۲۲ بانک تجاری شامل ۹ بانک داخلی و ۱۳ نمایندگی بانک های خارجی در این انجمن عضویت دارند. مجموعه این بانک ها در سراسر کشور مالزی یک هزار و ۷۷۹ شعبه و بیشتر از ۷۰ هزار پرسنل دارند.
ABM به ایجاد یک فضای مناسب و تسهیلاتی برای نظام بانکداری مالزی کمک می کند، در صورت لزوم قوانین بانکی را بازنگری می کند، چارچوب فعالیت را برای بانک های تجاری طراحی می کند، و علاوه بر نظارت بر نرخ سود ها و سیستم های حسابرسی، توجه به زیر ساخت های بانکداری و سیاست های نوین و توسعه منابع انسانی را نیز در دستور کار خود قرار می دهد.یکی از بزرگترین اقدام های ABM که به تازگی به دست اجرا گذارده شده، تعامل با موسسه های صادرکننده کارتهای اعتباری برای ایمن سازی این کارت هاست.
این طرح که در سطح ملی به اجرا در آمده و مبتنی بر نصب تراشه های ویژه امنیتی روی کارت های اعتباری است، پس از آن مورد بررسی و اجرا قرار گرفت که میزان کلاهبرداری و سوء استفاده از این گونه کارت ها در چند سال اخیر رو به فزونی گذاشته بود.یکی دیگر از عملکرد های مثبت ABM، پیشگامی این انجمن در مدرنیزاسیون بانک ها و معرفی شیوه های نوین بانکداری الکترونیک به مردم مالزی است.
به لطف این بستر سازی فرهنگی و آموزشی، مردم مالزی امروزه این فرصت را دارند تا از مزیت های گسترده بانکداری مدرن از جمله پرداخت و دریافت های الکترونیکی و امنیت دیجیتال بهره بگیرند.ABM با حضور و شرکت مستمر در چارچوب های استراتژیک اقتصادی از جمله «آ.سه.آن» و «اپک» رفته رفته به عنصری کلیدی در اقتصاد مالزی و حوزه کشورهای آسیایی پاسیفیک تبدیل می شود.

● بانکداری اسلامی در مالزی

نخستین نشا نه های ظهور بانکداری اسلامی در مالزی را می توان در سپتامبر ۱۹۶۳، یعنی زمان تاسیس موسسه PWSBH ردیابی کرد. این موسسه مالی در حقیقت صندوق پس اندازی بود ویژه مسلمانانی که می خواستند راهی سفر حج شوند. در سال ۶۲، این موسسه با تشکیلاتی مشابه با عنوان «پجابات اروسان حاجی» ادغام و از آن پس «لمباگا تابونگ حاجی» نام گرفت.
نخستین بانک اسلامی مالزی در سال ۸۳ افتتاح شد. در سال ۹۳ بانک های تجاری، بانک های بازرگانی و کمپانی های مالی نیز اجازه یافتند تحت برنامه بانکداری اسلامی (IBS)، به مشتریان خود خدمات بانکی اسلامی را ارائه دهند. (با تفکیک بودجه، سپرده و عملیات صورت گرفته در بخش خدمات اسلامی از بخش غیر اسلامی) در ژوئن ۲۰۰۵ شاخص جدیدی از تبادلات مالی اسلامی متشکل از ۴۵ کمپانی و شرکت اسلامی به بازار سهام مالزی معرفی شد که مطابق با احکام شریعت اسلام بود.

● بانک مرکزی

بانک مرکزی مالزی (NBM) در ۲۶ ژانویه ۱۹۵۹ در کوالالامپور تاسیس شد. پس از نشست وزیران اقتصاد و دارایی کشورهای گروه پنج (G-۵) در نیویورک (سال ۱۹۸۵) و کاهش ارزش دلار که به ضرر هنگفت بانک مرکزی مالزی انجامید، جعفر حسین، مدیر وقت این بانک، استراتژی ویژه ای را با هدف جبران خسارت طراحی کرد که مبتنی بر حضور فعال بانک مرکزی در بازارهای اقتصادی جهان از جمله بازار «فورکس» بود.
به لطف این فعالیت های اقتصادی، BNM تا سپتامبر ۱۹۹۰، ۵۰۰ میلیون دلار آمریکا درآمد کسب کرد. در جولای ۲۰۰۵ و به دنبال شناور شدن ارز چین، بانک مرکزی مالزی نیز ارز کشور را شناور کرد که این روند تا به امروز ادامه دارد.


● بانک های عمده تجاری

۹ بانک عمده تجاری در مالزی عبارتند از:
آفین بانک برهاد (با ۸۲ شعبه در سراسر کشور، دولتی)، ALIANSE بانک برهاد، AM بانک برهاد (دولتی با ۲۰۰ شعبه)، CIMB بانک برهاد، EON بانک برهاد، هونگ لئونگ بانک برهاد، مالایان بنکینگ برهاد، (دولتی، بزرگ ترین بانک مالزی، با ۳۳۴ شعبه داخلی و ۳۴ شعبه بین المللی)، پابلیک بانک برهاد (دولتی)، RHB بانک برهاد (دولتی با ۲۰۰ شعبه) ۱۳ بانک خارجی که زیر پوشش انجمن بانک های مالزی در این کشور فعالیت می کنند نیز عبارتند از؛ بانک ABM-AMRO، بانک بانگوک، بانک آمریکا، بانک چین، بانک توکیو، سیتی بانک، دوویچه بانک (بانک آلمان)، بانک HSBC مالزی، موسسه بانکداری خارجی چین، بانک استاندارد چارترد، بانک نوا اسکایتا، بانک JPMorgan&co و در نهایت، بانک یونایتد اورسیز.

http://www.banknegar.com/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=6&thread_id=299

بینا-ایران قصد دارد 4 بانک بزرگ دولتی خود را به بخش خصوصی واگذار نماید، اما سؤال مهم آن است که ایران چگونه می‌تواند در بحبوحه محدودیت‌های بانکی آمریکا، بانک‌های دولتی را به بخش خصوصی واگذار نماید؟

این چالشی است که دولت ایران برای خصوصی‌سازی 4 بانک صادرات، ملت، رفاه و تجارت در پیش‌رو دارد.

دولت ایران برنامه عظیم خصوصی‌سازی را با هدف بالا بردن رشد اقتصادی از سطح 5/5 درصد فعلی و کاهش نرخ بیکاری که اقتصاددانان آن را 20 درصد تخمین می‌زنند، دنبال می‌کند و چالاک‌تر کردن بخش خدمات مالی بخشی از راهبرد اقتصادی دولت محسوب می‌شود.

بانک صادرات نخستین بانک از 4 بانکی است که قرار است در سال مالی 2008 به بخش خصوصی واگذار شود و پس از آن بانک‌های ملت، رفاه و تجارت نیز در نوبت واگذاری قرار دارند.

بانک صادرات به طور سنتی بیشترین فعالیت‌های بین‌المللی را در میان سایر بانک‌ها داشته و اکنون با 20 شعبه خارجی، بزرگترین شبکه بانکی بین‌المللی را در اختیار دارد. این بانک از بزرگترین بانک‌های این کشور با مجموع دارایی 28 میلیارد دلار، 3400 شعبه و 42 میلیون حساب بانکی است.

از آنجا که 4 بانک فوق، مجموعاً 30 میلیارد دلار دارایی قابل واگذاری دارند و توان مالی کافی در داخل ایران برای خرید این بانک‌ها وجود ندارد، دولت نیازمند حضور سرمایه‌گذاران بین‌المللی برای خرید بخشی از سهام این بانک‌هاست. البته این هدف، با توجه به موقعیت و شرایط سیاسی بین‌المللی در کوتاه‌مدت کار آسانی نخواهد بود.

سازمان ملل تحت تأثیر آمریکا برای اعمال فشار بر ایران درباره برنامه هسته‌ای این کشور، اعمال محدودیت‌های بانکی علیه ایران را دنبال می‌کند؛ اما برای سرمایه‌گذاران خارجی ایران جذابیت‌های خودش را دارد: ایران یکی از تازه‌ترین بازارهای نوظهور دنیا محسوب می‌شود و برای بانک‌های خارجی حتماً فرصت‌های تجاری کافی در کشوری نفت‌خیز با جمعیت 70 میلیون نفری که از خدمات کافی بانک‌های داخلی برخوردار نیستند، وجود دارد. بانک‌های خصوصی کنونی در ایران که از سال 2000 مجوز فعالیت گرفتند، از لحاظ رقابتی، هنوز کوچک هستند.

به گفته مقامات ایرانی، بانک‌های بین‌المللی مختلفی برای خرید سهام بانک‌های ایرانی ابراز تمایل کرده‌اند و دولت قصد دارد مجوزهای قانونی برای حضور سرمایه‌گذاران خارجی به منظور خرید سهام بانک‌های داخلی را فراهم کند. البته در حالی که مدیران بانکی جواز خرید 40 درصد سهام 4 بانک فوق توسط بانک‌های خارجی را مطلوب می‌دانند، مقامات وزارت اقتصاد و بانک مرکزی ایران رقم پایین‌تری را مدنظر دارند.

البته بانک‌های خارجی که قصد خرید سهام بانک صادرات را داشته باشند، با یک چالش بزرگ مواجهند و آن در لیست سیاه قرار گرفتن این بانک از سوی اداره کنترل دارایی‌های خارجی خزانه‌داری آمریکاست. بانک صادرات ایران اخیراً سومین نامه مستند خود را در ردّ اتهامات استورات لوی معاون وزارت خزانه‌داری آمریکا به این بانک در حمایت از تروریسم، تهیه و به مراجع مالی بین‌المللی فرستاده است.

بانک‌هایی همچون اچ.اس.بی.سی که در فاینانس اسلامی متبحرند و حضور گسترده‌ای در منطقه خاورمیانه دارند، از نامزدهای بارز سرمایه‌گذاری در نظام بانکی ایران محسوب می‌شوند.

این بانک قصد دارد به همین منظور به زودی دفتر نمایندگی در تهران افتتاح کند. این در حالی است که بانک‌های معتبری همچون کردیت سوئیس از سال 2005 اکثر مراودات بانکی خود با ایران را قطع کرده‌اند.

با وجود بحث‌های سیاسی، به دنبال قوانین جدیدی که قرار است درهای نظام بانکی ایران را به روی بانک‌های خارجی باز کند، تاکنون 12 بانک اروپایی، آسیایی و عربی درخواست تاسیس شعبه نمایندگی در ایران را ارائه کرده‌اند.

VPN چيست؟

همزمان با عموميت يافتن اينترنت، اغلب سازمانها و موسسات ضرورت توسعه شبکه اختصاصی خود را به درستی احساس کردند. در ابتدا شبکه های اينترا نت مطرح گرديدند. اين نوع شبکه بصورت کاملاً اختصاصی بوده و کارمندان يک سازمان با استفاده از رمز عبور تعريف شده، قادر به ورود به شبکه و استفاده از منابع موجود می باشند. ولی اخيراً، موسسات و سازمانها با توجه به مطرح شدن خواسته های جديد (کارمندان از راه دور، ادارات از راه دور) اقدام به ايجاد شبکه های اختصاصی مجازی Virtual Private Network نموده اند.

يک VPN ، شبکه ای اختصاصی بوده که از اينترنت برای ارتباط با سايت های از راه دور و ارتباط کاربران با يکديگر استفاده می نمايد. اين نوع شبکه ها بجای استفاده از خطوط واقعی نظير خطوط Leased ، از يک ارتباط مجازی به کمک اينترنت برای ايجاد شبکه اختصاصی استفاده می کنند.

دو نوع شبکه VPN وجود دارد:
● دستيابی از راه دور (Remote-Access)
در شبکه های فوق از مدل ارتباطی User-to-LAN (ارتباط کاربر به يک شبکه محلی) استفاده می گردد. سازمانهائی که از مدل فوق استفاده می نمايند، بدنبال ايجاد تسهيلات لازم برای ارتباط پرسنل (عموما کاربران از راه دور که در هر مکانی می توانند حضور داشته باشند) به شبکه سازمان می باشند.

● سايت به سايت (Site-to-Site)
در مدل فوق يک سازمان با توجه به سياست های موجود، قادر به اتصال چندين سايت ثابت از طريق اينترنت است.

استفاده از VPN برای يک سازمان دارای مزايای متعددی نظير: گسترش محدوه جغرافيائی ارتباطی، بهبود وضعيت امنيت، کاهش هزينه های عملياتی در مقايسه با روش های سنتی WAN، کاهش زمان ارسال و حمل اطلاعات برای کاربران از راه دور و در نتيجه بهبود بهره وری می باشد.


مزايا و امكانات VPN

* مبارزه با تحریماتی که برای کاربران ایرانی در اینترنت اعمال شده ...

* تماس رایگان با کشور آمریکا و کانادا از طریق سرویس شرکت Skype

* تبادل مالی و سازگار با تمام سایتهای تجارت الکترونیک مانند » E-Gold , Paypal , ...

* سازگار با تمامی سایتهای ارتباط جمعی مانند » Orkut ,Gazzag

* بدون محدودیت در سرعت ، زمان و پهنای باند ...

* تغییر هویت شما از ایرانی به آمریکایی IP Daynamic

* امنیت بالا برای انجام معاملات آنلاین

* کد کردن اطلاعات ورودی و خروجی تبادل شده در اینترنت

* جلوگیری از شنود و پیگیری اطلاعات محرمانه شما

* بروز رسانی ویندوز ، آنتی ویروس مانند » MacAfee , ...

* دسترسی به سایتهای اینترنتی بدون محدودیت

* سازگار با تمام ارتباطات و اتصالات اینترنتی