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9A STRICTLY BUSINESS/ The Charlotte Post Thursday, May 29, 1997 Bank accounts offer options Continued from page 8A primary selling point of these accounts. If you're able to tie up your money for a specific period of time, Certificates of Deposits (CDs) pay a fixed rate of interest that is generally higher than that paid on either a savings accoimt or a money market deposit account before the CD matures. While interest rates on savings accounts and CDs were once fed erally regulated, banks are now free to set their own rates - so, be sure to shop around for a compar ative rate. More and more banks are charging for ATM transactions. In some situations, you can be charged twice for the same trans action. That happens when your bank charges you a fee for using another bank’s ATM and the other bank assesses you a non customer user fee. Tb save money on ATM fees, keep your checking account at a bank that maintains a large network of ATMs in the area in which you live and work; that makes it less likely you would need to use another bank’s ATM. When using the ATM, be realistic about how much cash you need to withdraw. Remember, it’s often cheaper to make one larger withdrawal than to make three smaller ones. Often, the more money you keep on deposit in the same bank, the less it costs you to bank there. In an effort to get more of your banking business, many banks will offer special fees or services if you have multiple accounts and keep a minimum balance in some combination of these accounts. These “relationship” accounts, as they are often called, may provide no-fee checking, discounted loan rates, preferential CD rates, a free safe deposit box, and various other inducements to encourage you to consolidate your accounts at one bank. Tbday many banks seU mutual funds and other investments such as aimuities. You should be aware that mutual funds, even those sold in banks, are not pro tected by federal deposit insur ance. When it comes to non-bank investments, CPAs recommend that you carefully research aU investment opportunities before making a decision. Moore 1 of a kind Continued from page 8A ticket sales to promotions to flight schedules. One day, Moore may be arranging for diapers and baby food for young players and their families unfamiliar with the Charlotte area. On another, he’s calling the airport to make sure Knights pitcher Rob Stanifer won’t miss his first game with the Florida Marlins, the Knights’ major league affiliate. “There are (minority) people in the baseball community now who would like to do it,” he said. “Everybody deserves a chance. You say, “Where do we find themT I was found. It’s not like we don’t exist.” Your home for your sports Denny’s welcomes African American diners Cljarlotte ^o£!t THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Deimys is using new ads to say “welcome back” to black cus tomers after complaints of racial discrimination. The restaurant chain launched a $5 million television and radio advertising campaign earlier this week. It is designed to ease lin gering resentments that may have kept many black customers away. Company-sponsored research showed many blacks believe Dermy's managers and servers provide lower-quality service to black customers, said Herb Kemp of Chisolm-Mingo, the New York advertising firm that developed the ads. The ads aim “to let African- Americans know that Denny’s was a changed place” where blacks are “respected and want ed,” Kemp said. Three 30-second spots feature black professionals going to Denny’s with cUents or family members. One ad opens with a black arcliitect walking around a con struction site with a white client. In the next scene he arrives at a Denny's restaurant, where the greeter says, “Hi, welcome to Denny’s.” Denny’s, which is owned by Spartanburg-based Flagstar Cos. Inc., gave more than $1.5 million to civil rights groups and the United Negro College Fund in January. The payments were part of a 1994 settlement of two class- action discrimination suits ageunst the company. By December 1995, the company had paid $54 million to nearly 300,000 customers who said they were subjected to racially dis criminatory behavior at at least one of the 1,600 Denny’s restau rants in the United States. "Where Changed Philosophies Lead To Changed Behavior" Creative Interchange 01 • Diversity Facilitating • Motivational Speaking • Self-esteem Building for Youth & Adults • Wellness • African, African American History lectures • Rites of Passage Training Ahmad Daniels, M.Ed Educator & Facilitator 1321 Enderly Road • Charlotte, NC 28208 * (704) 393-5474 Black Disney employees charge race bias THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TAMPA, Florida - Three employees of Walt Disney World have filed a discrimination law suit, accusing the giant amuse ment park of passing over minorities for management jobs and using a computer program to target white employees’ resumes. The lawsuit filed in federal dis trict court in Tampa claims Disney discriminates in how it hires, promotes and sets wages. It seeks unspecified compensato ry and punitive damages. An analysis of Disney's employ ee pool, which was prepared for the company, shows that most minorities perform “menial jobs” in laundry, custodial and house keeping areas, the lawsuit charges. The lawsuit by three black workers also accuses Disney of using a computer program called Resumix System, which is designed to search out “key words” in resumes that are par ticular to whites. “Since the Resumix System is based on a majority white culture and it searches for key words widely used within that culture, it discriminates against Afiican Americans,” the lawsuit said. Disney spokesman Bill Warren declined comment on the law suit. “But generally, Walt Disney World is committed to providing equal opportunity to its employ ees, which we feel is reflected in both our policies and our prac tices,” he said. 'The plaintiffs are Mary Hightower, Patrice Palmer and Frankhn Aden. Hightower, a consultant in the Human Resources Department, alleges she has been passed over for managerial positions. Palmer, a secretary with Disney Worldwide Services, edleges she has not had the seune opportuni ties for pay raises, bonuses, pro motions and advancement as white employees in the same positions. Allen, an audio-visual employ ee, says he doesn’t earn as much as white workers in similar jobs. Nationwide settles for $20M Advertise in the ‘97 Black Guide THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBUS, Ohio Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. said it will give two national housing organizations a total of $20 miUion to help minorities, low-income home buyers and renters obtain housing in urban areas. 'The money is not part of the $13.2 million in grants Nationwide made as the result of a Justice Department inquiry into allegations the company engaged in “redlining” the prac tice of refusing to seU homeown ers insurance in neighborhoods based on racial makeup. The Columbus-based insurer. the sixth-largest home insurer in the coimtry, has said it did noth ing wrong. Nationwide said it wUl give $10 miUion each to Neighborhood Housing Services of America and National Equity Fund. The company considers the extra money an investment that demonstrates “our commitment to doing business in urban areas throughout the country,” spokesman John Millen said Tiiesday. The money wiU provide mort gages to famiUes that may not qualify for bank loans, technical help in obtaining home mort gages and secondary markets for loans, and to rehabUitate urban apartment complexes. The cities that wiU receive money were not immediately annoimced. The federal Fair Housing Act bars redlining - the Justice Department has been discussing allegations of redlining with Nationwide since October. In January, Nationwide said it would aUocate $13.2 miUion in grants in up to 10 cities to help minority homebuyers with down- payments, closing costs and below-market loans. Nationwide also agreed to change underwriting guidelines so it can write more insurance poUcies on older and less expen sive homes. AU last! A Certified MBE Company That Can Handle Your Office Needs! • Copy Paper • Computer Paixjr • 'I'oner Ink Cartridges, Etc.... And We Deliver Call or Fax Today! (704) 522-9411 Ftix (704) 522-9413 822 7-E At rowriclge filed. Charlotte, NC 2821'', • Coii Block, Pres. ^OUCH, INC, church A Motivational Training Consultant Service -providing workshops for: • home* school • workplace • community Senior Consultant, Glenda Horton Manning New . 6316 Montieth Drive • 561-3731 or5!X>-6036 Address • Fax 596-6276 'Touching Tomorrow Today" BUSINESS BANKJNG SERVICES Free speech out in the workplace By Emery P. Dalesio THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RALEIGH - Employees of pri vate companies lose some protec tion of their right to fi'ee speech when they enter the workplace, the state Court of Appeals has ruled. 'The Court of Appeals on Tiesday rejected an appeal by a Bladenboro man fired by Mayo Yams after refusing to remove a Confederate flag decal from his tool box. “We conclude that the plain tiffs conduct carried out in pri vate employment is not constitu- tionaUy protected activity,” the court said in upholding the dis missal of a lawsuit filed by 'Ibny Jeimings Johnson. Johnson sued for lost wages and damages after he was fired in 1994. He refused to remove a 2-inch-by-3-inch decal of a Confederate naval flag fi'om his toolbox, saying the flag was a symbol of his Southern heritage. The company cited its anti harassment policy in firing Johnson. The poUcy said it was the company’s goal to provide a workplace fi'ee of racial and other animosity. The appeals court ruled unani mously that an individual’s free speech rights in the workplace do not qualify for the same level of legal protection as speech that protects public policy goals. “A definition of “public policy’ has evolved which connotes the principle of law that holds no cit izen can lawfully do that which has a tendency to be injurious to the pubhc or against the public good,” Judge Ralph Walker wrote for the court. Johnson’s case does not qualify “because the North Carolina Constitution does not secure rights to individuals against other individuals,” Judge K. Edward Greene wrote in a con curring opinion. Johnson said he had never received a complaint about his flag decal in the six years he worked at the plant until plant manager Ed Harris told him to remove it. Johnson’s attorney, Carl Barrington Jr. of Fayetteville, said he had not read the court’s ruling and could not comment. Media poor source of advice Continued from page 8A This manager’s fund was per forming in a less-than-spectacu- lar fashion. It had a history of double-digit losses. Its sales load was 8 percent. The fund’s annual expense ratio was more than 7 percent (down fiom 25 percent). What little money the fund made was eaten up by expenses and sales charges. With a strai^t face and the usual disclaimers, the manager highly recommended his fund to aggressive investors. Unfortunately, there were proba bly some folks who took him up on his offer, proving that basing your investment decisions on unchecked media information can be hazardous to your finan cial health. There is a moimtain of financial information provided by newspa pers, radio, television and other media outlets. Much of it (hke this column, for instance) can be helpful, but treat it aU as supple mental. See a professional investi ment representative from a rep utable firm for solid advice that will help when it counts - in the long run. OMAR DILLARD is an invest ment counselor at Edward Jones investments in Charlotte. .-S’' SELF DETERMINATION A one-room office, a personal computer, As you grow, we'll be here with essentials. and a hard-working dream. That’s often the modest beginnings for millions of men and women who are becoming their own bosses. At First Citizens, we’re supporting this new breed of American entrepreneurs with simple, flexible, affordable Business Banking Services that grow with you - like three different checking accounts tailored to small business. Cs EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Like retirement plans. Services like credit card transaction processing. Loans to help you expand. Call or visit your nearest First Citizens today. When your two employees have become 200 and your dream has become a shining example for others, we’ll be proud to have been there from the very start. W Citizens RANK You're Always First, a Mdb ucuji
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 29, 1997, edition 1
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