Banks find opportunity in Postal Service woes

(Reuters) - The bank industry, struggling to make the profits it used to, is using the struggles of another industry for its marketing: The Postal Service.

JPMorgan Chase & Co , Bank of America Corp , Citigroup Inc and Wells Fargo & Co are all using the looming threat of postal service cuts to sell bank services such as electronic payments and remittance pickups that can speed payments likely to be slowed by diminished mail service.

"It is a conversation starter," said Daniel Peltz, head of Wells Fargo's Treasury Management division.

For banks, electronic transactions save as much as one-third of the cost of processing checks, according to industry estimates. The potential savings are greatest for bigger banks, which reap additional economies of scale by running more transactions through the computer systems they have built.

Banks are looking for any chance to save money these days, as tough markets and a weak economy hit their profits, and traditional revenue streams dry up due to stricter regulations.

For bank customers, the new electronic payments and other services offer savings, too.

Greg Kerwick, a managing director in JPMorgan's Treasury Services unit, said his team is telling customers they might have to wait one to four days longer for invoices to reach customers and payments to return by mail, if Saturday postal delivery is eliminated.

His division, which helps 25,000 businesses with cash management, estimates that waiting an extra two days for payment would require a company that receives $5 billion of mail payments a year to come up with an extra $27 million of working capital.

To save that money, of course, customers must pay. For example, using lockbox services - where the bank picks up checks for businesses from postal plants seven days a week - can mean as much as $2 per check for the bank, which also can earn interest income during the maximum of three to four days they hold a payer's money before some checks are cleared, said Nancy Atkinson, a senior analyst with consulting firm Aite Group.

This "float period" could become even more valuable as interest rates rise in the future, she said.

Banks, however, may find it challenging to win more payment business because a delay in mail service is advantageous to bill payers who want to hold onto their funds as long as possible, Atkinson said. Payers typically drive the decision making around how they pay a supplier, surveys by Aite Group have found.

If more business turns to electronic payments, that could further hurt the Postal Service, which lost $5.1 billion in fiscal year 2011 and could see annual losses upward of $21 billion by 2016 if major changes are not made, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has said.

President Obama, in his budget proposal in February, called for an end to Saturday mail delivery and other cost-cutting by the Postal Service. The Senate is to consider a bill this week that would allow the Postal Service to consider ending Saturday mail after two years.

The service also has plans to close more than 200 mail processing plants, which would end next-day delivery of First Class Mail.

"Everybody has a desire to get away from checks and move more electronic," JPMorgan's Kerwick said. "This is placing greater urgency around making that happen."

"The mail will take longer to cycle through," Kerwick said.

To be sure, many mid-sized businesses use check-writing software and are in no rush to install new systems, said Lex Litton, a consultant with Phoenix-Hecht, which specializes in collecting paper checks at third-party processing centers.

A little more than half of payments received by larger companies still arrive by check, said Litton. For smaller companies about three-quarters are on paper.

Overall, paper payments to businesses are decreasing by a couple of percentage points a year, Litton said, citing surveys by his firm.

One reason for slow adoption is convenience. Sending checks in envelopes can allow businesses to easily add information that clarifies what they are paying and what discounts they might be applying.

"I'm an advocate of both" paper and electronic payments, said Ron Tauscher, a senior product manager in Citigroup's Global Transaction Services business.

Tauscher said he is discussing the Postal Service issues with Citigroup's customers. "It is clearly an opportunity to talk about their receivables," he said.

For payments still sent by check, some banks offer lockbox processing centers across the United States. Citigroup, JPMorgan and Wells Fargo together account for 35 of them. Crews from the centers go to nearby Postal Service sorting facilities around the clock to pick up envelopes with checks to be deposited quickly.

Known as remittance mail, the envelopes would get special treatment under the Postal Service's plans to cut costs, noted Litton. Banks would be able to continue to pick up those envelopes seven days a week even as first-class deliveries to businesses would become less frequent.

As a result, businesses may sign up for the lockbox services, Wells Fargo's Peltz said.

Litton said remittance mail would still likely move more slowly than today, though that is not certain. Regardless, the threat of delays is useful to the banks. "This looks like an opportunity to say there is one more advantage to electronic payments," said Litton.

At Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Paul Simpson, head of global transaction services, said the bank is talking to clients about electronic payment options as well as looking at new ways to enhance and speed up deposit and lockbox services. Depending on the postal service's consolidation plans, the bank could look at partnership opportunities at post office locations, where the bank could process checks and immediately capture electronic images of these payments.

A partnership with the U.S. Postal Service could help "create revenue streams that benefit both parties," Simpson said.

(Reporting by David Henry in New York and Rick Rothacker in Charlotte, N.C.; Additional reporting by Emily Stephenson in Washington; Editing by Paritosh Bansal, Alwyn Scott, Gary Hill)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/banks-opportunity-postal-woes-110226532.html

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Daily Tips for Business: Architecture-and-Interior-Design

Commercial Interior Design: 6 Unique Ways to Enliven Your Office

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 03:56 PM PDT

Why are residential design clients often brimming with new ideas for their home, yet commercial clients seem to become stuck in the earliest phases of design? We think it's because there's so much you can do with a commercial space, people don't know where to start! Clients are usually more familiar with home decor, and they may be unaware of the potential for individuality in the workplace. Following are six great areas to think about when designing a unique commercial space.

Geothermal Heat Pump Design

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 03:41 PM PDT

Geothermal heat pumps are considered ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) and they are electrically powered systems that tap the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in existence, the earth. These systems use the earth's relatively constant temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water for homes and for commercial buildings.

What Is a Chiller Plant Design and How Do They Work?

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 03:37 PM PDT

A chiller plant design consists of many pieces of HVAC equipment that are all interconnected by piping to form a chiller plant. A chiller produces cold water that is typically circulated (pumped) to cooling coils that are inside air conditioning units.

Creating Architectural Form In Response to the Solar and Seasonal Cycles

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 12:52 PM PDT

Introduction: There are many factors and influences which can contribute to a building being considered Green-that is a building which minimizes its impact on the environment. A building that uses its site well, uses appropriate material resources, construction and mechanical systems, and preferably makes use of natural energy flow, daylight and air movement are all possible attributes of green buildings. Ultimately it comes down to a client's eagerness to execute a Green project.

Composite Timber Cladding Installation Guide

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 12:27 PM PDT

Composite Timber Cladding is an attractive and practical addition to any building. The long lasting and low maintenance properties make it a very popular choice. Here is a guide to successfully installing composite timber cladding.

Source: http://dailytipsforbusiness.blogspot.com/2012/03/architecture-and-interior-design_27.html

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Little Company Loans ? Allow Your Company Grow With ...

Being an entrepreneur just isn?t uncomplicated job, you have to experience quite a few issues in day these days life. Issues is often something related with finance, employees, office making, machinery, raw supplies, technical etc. But as far as enterprise module is concerned, the majority of the complications come up on account of finance. It?s quite hard to raise money for enterprise in particular when you are little enterprise proprietors. Loan companies don?t feel comfy investing the income in little enterprise. A financial loan has long been developed to help little entrepreneur that is called little enterprise loans. This fund has long been released by loan providers for the reason that they don?t wish to lose any opportunity and may not find the money for to lose any client.

These loans are quite helpful for entrepreneur; it can be employed for several purposes by way of example: growth of enterprise, new machinery, wage of employees, new equipment or gear, buying newest technologies etc. Banking institutions only offer a particular quantity to little enterprise proprietors and charge substantial interest rate on account of a lot more danger involved in it. These finances offer remarkable benefits for month-to-month payments. Monthly payments pay with the entrepreneur around the basis of revenue, financial institutions can?t charge installments according to terms or interest rate.

Not all loan providers are prepared to offer this type of financial loan, but when you do suitable research you could uncover number of fantastic solutions out there in market place. With the aid of internet enterprise man can uncover out there loan providers. You?ll find two kinds of little enterprise loans, long term and brief phrase. Long term enterprise loans is often landed for 25 many years and brief enterprise loans carry length between few months to one year. It?s normally recommended to complete suitable research ahead of producing last choice, and don?t neglect that reputed loan providers normally offer you very best offers. Article Source and related Links: aiwa, ajc and alienware laptop.

Source: http://travelvolume.com/2502/little-company-loans-allow-your-company-grow-with-straightforward-finance/

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Bathroom Remodeling Classes: Are They Worth the Funds ...

Are you considering getting your bathroom undergo remodeling? Better however, are you currently interested in carrying out that remodeling your self? In case you are, do you?ve got any prior bathroom remodeling or house improvement encounter? Even though it?s feasible to effectively total a bathroom remodeling project without having any prior expertise, you could find it just a little bit challenging to do so. Which is why if you?re seeking to carry out your own bathroom remodeling, but you don?t necessarily know what you?re performing, you should sign as much as take a bathroom remodeling class.

In terms of bathroom remodeling classes, among the most asked questions is why. Honestly, you?ll find a number of different reasons why you should take a bathroom remodeling class, which is also typically referred to a course or a coaching seminar. Possibly, the greatest cause why you should take certainly one of these instruction classes is as a result of everything which you will learn. What you are going to understand will all rely on what class you might be taking and how it really is being taught. In spite of the fact that different bathroom remodeling classes are taught different ways, you need to learn ideas and instructions on how to safely remodel a bathroom.

Now that you simply know what a bathroom remodeling class, course, or training seminar is, you could want to commence searching for one to attend. Regardless of exactly where you live, you ought to have access to at least one particular bathroom remodeling course, but probabilities are that you simply will have over 1 to select from. One of the greatest methods to locate a local bathroom remodeling course is by contacting certainly one of your nearby career centers. Profession centers frequently provided training courses to people who are in want of a job. Although you might not necessarily be trying to find a job, you need to still have the ability to attend one of these classes, to get a tiny fee obviously. In spite of needing to spend a little fee, which can be nearly usually less than 1 hundred dollars, you?ll be able to significantly benefit from what you discover at certainly one of these classes.

Furthermore to contacting certainly one of your neighborhood profession instruction centers, you could also want to make contact with one of your neighborhood house improvement stores. In the United states, a sizable quantity of house improvement stores, particularly those that operate on a national level, have began hosting do it your self instruction courses. These courses typically encompass numerous various residence improvement projects, however it is fairly common to find a kitchen remodeling class being held at one of your local home improvement shops. In most circumstances, you are going to discover that these courses only final a couple of hours and have a tendency to concentrate on one remodeling task at a time; therefore, in the event you had been looking to understand the way to remodel your whole kitchen, you might need to take multiple classes. The good news is the fact that the majority of the classes offered are free or comparatively inexpensive to attend.

It?s also a great thought to help keep an eye on your local newspaper, your neighborhood tv stations, in addition to your neighborhood radio stations. Additionally to regularly scheduled kitchen remodeling classes, you might also discover a remodeling class that is regarded as a specific occasion. This most often happens when someone famous, like a well-known contractor, comes into your region. These types of classes are frequently well-known because of who they involve and what they teach you. The only downside to specific house improvement classes, specifically the ones which are taught by celebrities or an expert within the filed, is their price. In spite of the potentially high price, you may discover it more than worth it to attend certainly one of these residence improvement classes, specifically if they?ve a focus on bathroom remodeling.

As nice as it would be to take part in a bathroom remodeling coaching seminar, course, or class, you may not have the time to do so. If that is the case, you are nevertheless advised to take the time to understand about bathroom remodeling before you visit function. A nice alternative to a kitchen remodeling coaching course can be a kitchen remodeling book or possibly a how-to guide. These resources can be purchased from most home improvement stores and book stores, for a relatively cost-effective cost.

Source: http://www.bathroomremodelcost.info/bathroom-remodeling-classes-are-they-worth-the-funds.html

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notice of intent to charge with possession of marijuana - Legal Help

WHAT IS THE PLAIN VIEW EXCEPTION UNDER THE 4TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION?

I seem to find that most folks, including law school students and even lawyers do not understand the essential ellements of this exception. Let's review it practically.

1. First and foremost, the officer must have a legitimate right to not only be on the premises BUT be in a position to have the view. Thus, if the officer has a legitimate warrant to search the garage then walks into the D's bedroom and sees pot in plain view, the pot will be excluded from evidence. THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF THE PLAIN VIEW EXCEPTION.

2. "The Officer must have legal access to that item from the ligitimate vantage point" - A COP STANDING LEGITIMATELY ON THE SIDEWALK AND VIEWING WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE FRUITS OF A CRIME OR CONTRABAND THROUGH A PRIVATE WINDOW OR PRIVATE OPEN DOOR DOES NOT HAVE LEGITIMATE ACCESS TO THAT PRIVATE DWELLING TO SEIZE.

3. iN Court, the officer can testify as to what he/she saw from the legitimate angle e.g. public street or sidewalk BUT if the officer enters the home, he/she CANNOT TESTIFY about what they saw.

4. TOUCH - Additional to plain view (simply observing), where the officer attempts seizure. The officer must be legitimately soo close to the object that he can TOUCH IT. For instance, an officer sees a man strangle his "wife" with a stocking from the viewpoint of a public sidewalk through an open door. The perp runs. The officer cannot enter the house to seize the stocking. He must get a search warrant.

5. OTHER ISSUES INVOLVING PLAIN VIEW - A) Use of a flashlight to bring an object into plain view is OK. B) Hight tech devices NOT IN GENERAL PUBLIC USE (heat seaking and such) requires a warrent (no good under plain view exception).

6. Arial observation is allowed only with the NAKED EYE in PUBLIC navigable air space.

7. A sniffing dog in a public place smells your suit case for pot - this is plain view.

8. If an officer is in D's home for a legitimate purpose to arrest, plain view applies.

9. FINER POINTS - For instance, an illegal drug resting on a kitchen table is in plain view where an officer is on the premises for a legitimate reason BUT the officer CANNOT OPEN A CLOSED CONTAINER IN PLAIN VIEW OR EVEN MOVE AN ITEM TO GET A BETTER LOOK.

LASTLY THERE IS AN ANSCILLARY TO PLAIN VIEW CALLED "PLAIN TOUCH" - I bring this up because 'STOP AND FRISK" aka a Terry Search IS SO MUCH IN THE NEWS THESE PAST FEW WEEKS. Most folks know this type of stop as falling under the phrase "REASONABLE SUSPICION THAT CRIME IS AFOOT".

New Criminal Attorneys should remember this minor fact: If an officer performing a stop and frisk pats down a suspect and feels contraband they may seize it. However, if the officer is continues a pat down then goes back to the area of contraband, he/she has violated the plain view/touch exception and such seized evidence is fruit of the poisonous tree (not admissible).

Source: http://legalhelp.org/criminal-law-criminal-procedure/2058-notice-intent-charge-possession-marijuana.html

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Currency Trading And Forex Market Primer For Beginners | Forex ...

Browse > Home / Finance / Currency Trading And Forex Market Primer For Beginners

Across the counter exchange of currencies on a global level is given the label of a forex market. It is operational 5 days a week, 24 hours of each working day so that traders can deal with others across all the different time-zones. Under this broad and single global definition, it is the largest financial market with a $4 trillion daily currency exchange turnover.

The trading is largely decentralized, but traders do have to stick to certain common rules and trading methods. New traders would be well advised to do some study and brush up on basic concepts like the value of currency pairs, and how pips and spreads are used here. The variations in currency pair values are tiny and so are the profit margins, and this results in larger trade volumes. Trades are also heavily leveraged, as compared to stocks or other markets.

Another notable difference is that traders are separated into different access levels. The top-level is occupied by the inter-bank trades between the largest banks. These trades have extremely small spreads (the ask & bid price difference) which are not disclosed to those not a part of these trades. The spreads go up as the trade volume decreases down the access levels.

The next level of access belongs to smaller banks, multi national corporations, and institutional investors. The corporations need the FX to pay employees and suppliers in their own local currency. The hedge funds, insurance companies, pension funds, etc take positions in foreign exchange to hedge their risks and diversify portfolios.

The next level is occupied by the massive money transfer companies. Each of these firms racks up tens of billions of dollars worth of currency exchange. However, it is the retail FX trader aka individual traders who are currently the biggest engine of growth for the forex market.

The main driver for this growth is online trading and the low entry bar. All that?s really required is a fast broadband connected computer and a minimum balance trading account with a broker. The broker offers the platform and tools and data required for technical analysis and executing trades based on a specific strategy.

There are trading systems built using indicators and signals, and traders are expected to know how to build such a system. At the very least, the trader should be able to make use of one of the many systems available for purchase or download. Trading philosophies and styles differ, ranging from technical analysis to study of macro-economic and political trends for each currency.

Thankfully, very informative and direct to the point trading news can be accessed anytime online. The fast uprise of forex brokers review sites in numbers helps a lot in determining reputable ones.

Tags: business, currency, currency exchange, currency exchange trading, currency trading, finance, foreign exchange, foreign exchange trading, forex trading, investing, Investment, PIPS, trading

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Source: http://eforexsignals.org/finance/currency-trading-and-forex-market-primer-for-beginners-2/

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Saints penalty: Since when NFL stand for 'No Fun League'?

2:15 p.m. EDT

, March 23, 2012

Now that it's cracked down on the "Sins of the Saints" (March 22), petty soon the No Fun League will be a flag football or two hand touch league.

T. McDonough, Towson


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/baltimoresun/news/opinion/letters/rss2/~3/whUPcWkb5Ec/bs-ed-saints-penalty-20120323,0,3297565.story

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RFP - Communications Consultant - WV

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dacvb.info ? Ideas To Assist You In Your Home Improvement Demands

Ideas For Your House Improvement Venture!

A great part of your life is at home or work. As a result, how your house looks affects your daily life and emotional well being. Your home should feel like a safe place. By making some simple changes, you can transform your house into a home.

Think of your own level of comfort with your home. There is no perfect home, but things that require a major fix-up can make you feel unhappy every time you look at them. Even small adjustments can improve your home?s comfort, ultimately making you happier. Make simple changes, like getting a new kitchen table or a better sofa.

Add on to your home. You should expand if you feel that you do not have adequate space. Adding just a few feet onto your home can make a huge difference, giving you more breathing room, and helping to reduce clutter and stress.

Make your home a fun and enjoyable place to be. Installing a pool, hot tub or sauna can make your time at home enjoyable. There are less expensive features that can provide entertainment as well, such as a basketball hoop or an area for workout and fitness.

Consider the lighting in your home. You can change lighting easily and it can really bring a room to life. By updating light bulbs in your home, you can brighten your home and increase energy efficiency, as well as save money in one of the simplest ways possible. Ratcheting up the complexity a bit, you could alter the light fixtures themselves, giving your home a fresh look.

All right, we have reviewed the first couple of points regarding air mattress reviews, of course you recognize they play a significant role. Of course we strongly recommend you learn more about them. We know they are terrific and will aid you in your pursuit for solutions. It really should not need to be said that you must conduct closer examination of all pertinent points. So we will give you a few more important ideas to think about.Plants and flowers simply make a space feel more inviting, warm and happier. It is possible to turn your yard into a haven that you will want to spend time in. Hiring a gardener is a good idea if you?re not exactly the green-thumbed type. Consider planting shrubs, trees, or flowers that beautify the area, and increase your enjoyment of the space. You can grow veggies, herbs or flowers to improve your mood.

A few simple changes can really increase the value of your home. Many improvements, such as new windows, or a new roof can add beauty, value and energy efficiency to your house.

Having a home that you enjoy being in is important, considering how much time you spend there. You should continually make improvements to your home, as it will make it more valuable.

Source: http://dacvb.info/ideas-to-assist-you-in-your-home-improvement-demands/

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