Your Money

BANKING ON PRIVACY Don't worry if a bank teller asks how your day is going--odds are he's not a government spy. After a huge public outcry over privacy, banking regulators last week dropped proposed "know your customer," anti-money-laundering rules that would have kept a closer eye on every customer transaction. But be aware that under the existing rules, if you deposit or withdraw more than $10,000 in cash, you'll still be reported to the feds.

DRIVE ON Now that gasoline prices are on the rise, you might want to consider trading in that gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicle for a more fuel-efficient model--perhaps the 1999 Honda Civic, which gets around 35 m.p.g. and was cited as the best "green" vehicle in the new Consumer Reports annual automotive survey. As an alternative, you could choose the Volkswagen Passat, named the best family sedan; the Mazda Protege, the favorite small sedan; or the Subaru Forester, the best small SUV.

MORE MORTGAGE SAVINGS Low interest rates aren't the only reason for cash-strapped house hunters to celebrate. Now, thanks to a program just introduced by Fannie Mae, millions of borrowers can save $1,000 to $2,800 over 9.6 years in private mortgage insurance (PMI). On a $100,000 mortgage, with only 10% down, you can save $20 a month in premiums from lenders that use the automated loan-evaluation system from Fannie Mae, the government-chartered mortgage financier. To locate participating lenders, call 800-732-6643.