The Treasury Department has recently released guidelines for all financial institutions to follow when a garnishment order is received for an account into which Federal benefit payments have been directly deposited.  The interim rule and guidelines are effective May 1, 2011.  Click the links below to download the guidelines and rules and regulations.

Guidelines for Garnishment of Accounts Containing Federal Benefit Payments
Rules Governing Garnishment of Accounts Containing Federal Benefit Payments

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2010 Federal Reserve Payments Study:  On April 5, 2011 the 2010 Federal Reserve Payments Study was released revealing in greater detail the increased adoption of electronic payments used by consumers, businesses and governments in the United States. This latest study by the Federal Reserve Bank examined payments made between 2006 and 2009. Trends from the study show an increased usage of payment cards and the electronification of checks. For example, the study shows that debit card usage now exceeds all other forms of noncash payments......

2010 Federal Reserve Payments Study

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IAT Resources:

FED IAT Resource Center
NACHA IAT Resource Page
Order the IAT Survival Guide

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ACH Rules On-line www.achrulesonline.org
Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/
Direct Deposit/Direct Payments www.electronicpayments.org
ECCHO - Electronic Check Clearing House Organization  www.eccho.org/about_overview.php
EFTPS www.eftps.gov
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation www.fdic.gov 
Federal Regulations http://www.federalreserve.gov/
Federal Reserve Bank www.frbservices.org
Federal Reserve Bank's E-Payments Routing Directory www.fededirectory.frb.org
Financial Services-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) www.fsisac.com
Green Book www.fms.treas.gov/greenbook
Mid Atlantic Association for Financial Professionals (MAAFP) www.maafp.org
NACHA www.nacha.org
NCUA www.ncua.gov
OFAC www.treas.gov/ofac
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency www.occ.treas.gov
Office of Thrift Supervision www.ots.treas.gov
Payments Industry White Papers
Retail Payments Risk Forum
Social Security Administration www.ssa.gov
US Treasury Department Paper Check www.pccotc.gov