Automated Teller Machine. An unmanned electronic device that performs basic teller functions, such as accepting deposits, cash withdrawals, and account balance inquiries.

Checks available to a cardholder to access the line of credit on the cardholder's credit card account. For example, cardholders can use access checks for home improvement projects, to pay taxes, or for holiday shopping.

Insurance providing payment if the insured's death results from an accident or if the insured accidentally severs a limb above the wrist or ankle joints, or totally and irreversibly loses his or her eyesight. An accidental death benefit rider is a policy rider that provides for an additional benefit related to this form of accidental death.

The Routing and Transit Number (ABA) Number is the nine-digit number found between the : symbols on the bottom of a check or deposit slip.

The phase of a tax-deferred annuity during which the earnings are allowed to accumulate on a tax-deferred basis, prior to annuitization or distribution.

A mutual fund management style in which the fund manager uses analytic or forecasting tools to buy and sell individual securities for the fund portfolio.

The export format for Microsoft Money^®. From the Payment List page, you can export payment information into an active statement file. Then you can run Microsoft Money software to import the file.

The amount charged by the insurer to compensate for administrative expenses, such as record maintenance, accounting, and statement generation.

Persons or legal entities related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control.

Mutual funds that invest in companies with the potential for rapid growth, such as companies in developing industries, small but fast-moving companies, or companies that have fallen on hard times but appear due for a turnaround.

A method of retiring or liquidating a debt by making periodic and regular installment payments.

A fee charged on an annual basis by the credit card issuer to the cardholder to help cover the cost of maintaining the cardholder's account.

The total amount of cash, securities, or other assets that a person is allowed to give another person without incurring federal gift tax. The current annual exclusion is $11,000 per year, per recipient, or $22,000 for married couples. This amount will be adjusted periodically to reflect changes in inflation.

Credit Card

The percentage rate applied to outstanding balances on a credit card on an annual basis. The APR can be fixed or variable.

Mortgage

The actual cost of your loan disclosed in a rate of interest including all of the associated costs such as fees.

A form of renewable term insurance that provides coverage for one year and allows the policy owner to renew his or her coverage each year, without evidence of insurability. Also called Yearly Renewable Term (YRT).

The individual on whose life the annuity is based and the individual who may receive the annuity payments if the contract is annuitized. Generally, the annuitant and annuity owner is the same individual.

A contractual agreement in which the annuitant receives equal periodic payments (typically monthly) over a specified period of time.

A contract between an insurance company and the annuity purchaser. An annuity allows for tax-deferred accumulation of the premium amount during the accumulation phase, and a variety of payout options during the annuitization phase.

The amount of an individual's assets that can be excluded from the federal estate tax. For 2002, the applicable exclusion amount is $1,000,000 per individual. However, it will gradually increase over the next several years until it reaches $3,500,000 in 2009. In 2010, estate taxes will be repealed. Thereafter, congressional action will be needed to uphold the repeal of estate taxes.

Charges required by some banks to process an application.

The assessed value of a property.

The value of collateral determined by the lender and current market conditions.

An increase in the value of an asset due to changes in market conditions or other causes.

The legal transfer of one person's interest in an annuity to another. This may not be done if a tax-deferred annuity is used to fund an IRA or a pension account. There may be tax consequences associated with an assignment.

The amount of the cardholder's credit line after the current balance, plus any outstanding authorizations for transactions that have not yet been posted.

An amount calculated by adding together all the daily balances of the billing cycle and dividing the sum total by the number of days within that cycle.