IDAs and Financial Institution Partners

Financial partners are at the heart of all Assets for Independence (AFI) projects. Banks and credit unions manage the bulk of grantees' financial awards in the Project Reserve Funds. And of course, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) could not exist without financial institutions overseeing them. AFI grantees should see financial institutions as partners, and reach agreements on terms that will ensure the success of their IDA projects.

Role of Banks and Credit Unions in IDA Projects

AFI requires grantees to hold their Project Reserve Funds and IDAs in Qualified Financial Institutions (QFIs). Usually a grantee's application and Federal award documents will name this financial institution. Grantees must report on Project Reserve Funds regularly. If there is a change at a financial institution that holds a Reserve Fund, the grantee must notify each AFI HHS office (OCS, OGM, and DPM) of the change.

Once a grantee deposits its Federal and non-Federal dollars into its Project Reserve Fund (in full or part), it has an option to distribute those funds into one or more subaccounts, at the same or different institutions. Grantees with network projects or large Reserve Funds often go this route. In these cases, grantees should include all subaccount activity in their regular financial reports on their Project Reserve Funds.

Financial Institution Agreement

Grantees should be clear on the roles and responsibilities of their financial institution partners, and lay out those responsibilities clearly in formal Financial Institution Agreements. Usually these agreements are included in the applications for Federal funds, but sometimes grantees develop them after receiving awards. Agreements may apply to Project Reserve Funds or IDAs, or to both (depending on whether the grantee splits up these accounts among institutions).

Project Reserve Fund

Banks or credit unions hold grantees' Project Reserve Funds under specific terms. All Reserve Fund agreements should include at least the information below:

• The financial institution maintaining the AFI Project Reserve Fund on deposit
• Assurance that the financial institution is federally (preferable) or State-insured
• The rate and frequency of interest payments, if any, on the Project Reserve Fund
• Whether there will be any fees or charges to the grantee for holding the Reserve Fund (usually financial partners waive the fees because the fund can be quite large and stable)
• Statement that the accounting procedures will conform to OCS guidelines
• How and when matching contributions will be allocated for individual participants and subsequently tracked in the Project Reserve Fund
• Details on the reports and other account information the grantee will receive concerning the Reserve Fund, including monthly balances and distribution of interest
• Explanation of the non-Federal cash contribution or other financial commitment, if any, the financial institution will contribute to the Reserve Fund or elsewhere, and the schedule for these deposits
• Explanation of other services the financial institution(s) will contribute to the project, such as financial education, waiving or favorably pricing customary fees, location of financial institution personnel or services in community facilities, or assistance recruiting and supporting AFI project participants
• The name of the primary financial institution representative who will support the grantee with any future challenges or changes
• A timeframe for the financial agreement and process for making changes if needed
• Agreement to provide certification of any non-Federal funds the grantee might deposit
• The date for implementing the agreement

Individual Development Accounts

Whether or not the financial institution holding the IDAs is the same as the one holding the Project Reserve Fund, the financial agreement should include some of these key points on management of the IDAs:

• How the financial institution will establish the IDAs, including requirements for deposits (by cash, check, money order, or electronic transfer) and withdrawals (require signatures of the account holder and an authorized grantee representative)
• Whether the IDAs earn interest and at what rate
• Frequency of interest payments on the IDAs
• Details on the type, frequency, and format of data and reports that will be furnished to the AFI project concerning the IDAs, such as monthly balances and distribution of interest

When putting the contract together, start with the financial institution agreement template (keeping in mind it is only an example that covers general points).

Grantees will need their financial partner holding the Project Reserve Fund to complete portions of the direct deposit form (1199A), which is the first step required in accessing Federal AFI funds. To draw down funds, grantees with awards prior to July 1, 2007, will also need their financial partners to certify when non-Federal funds are deposited.