June 7, 2007
OTTAWA, June 7, 2007 The Financial
Consumer
Agency of Canada (FCAC) has improved its Web site
www.fcac.gc.ca to
make it easier for Canadians to find essential information about financial
products
and services.
"Since the creation of the Agency five years ago, our collection of
educational
materials, publications and interactive tools has grown tremendously. With
new information being added to our Web site on a regular basis, we had to re-think
how we could better organize our material to make it easier for consumers to
quickly
find what they need," said FCAC's Acting Commissioner Jim
Callon.
FCAC's revamped Web site features a cleaner, simpler look with
graphic
elements that make it easier for visitors to navigate. Separate entry points for
key audiences consumers, the financial industry and the media are
designed to help visitors quickly find information that is relevant to their
needs.
All of FCAC's on-line resources on a particular financial product or
service
are now located in one place. Consumers can click on the category that interests
them such as bank accounts, credit cards or mortgages and
instantly
gain access to a wealth of relevant, up-to-date information.
On each topic, consumers can learn more with the help of interactive tools,
quizzes,
publications, frequently asked questions, information on consumers' rights
and responsibilities, and other related resources.
"We also have a whole new section, called Your Rights and
Responsibilities,
that draws together in a single location important information
about the laws, voluntary codes of conduct and public commitments that help
protect
Canadians in their dealings with financial institutions," added Callon.
In addition to these changes, a "breadcrumb trail" located at top
of each page will make it easier for consumers to navigate through the site, since
they will now be able to "track" the path they've taken during
their visit.
Since the creation of the Agency in 2001, the popularity of FCAC's Web site
has grown by leaps and bounds, with a steady increase each year. The Web site now
averages 4,000 visitors a day.
Consumers can also visit moneytools.ca FCAC's new
consumer portal introduced in March 2007. It provides a quick link to the
Agency's interactive Credit Cards and You and Cost of Banking
Guide,
as well as to several other useful tools and publications.
FCAC ensures compliance with the consumer protection laws and monitors codes of
conduct and public commitments that apply to banks and federally incorporated
trust,
loan and insurance companies. FCAC also provides consumers
with accurate, objective information about financial products and services, and
informs Canadians of their rights and responsibilities when dealing with
federally
regulated financial institutions.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Anna Arneson
Martine Bélanger
Communications Officer
Communications Officer
613-948-2707
613-941-8982
arneson.anna@fcac.gc.ca
belanger.martine@fcac.gc.ca
