MUD Diary Study Screener
4/6/2021
Background
Project objectives:
Design and execute customer research that will deliver actionable insights about what steps can be taken to get MUD bondholders to redeem their bonds and improve the redemption process
At a minimum, Fiscal Service expects questions related to:
The redemption process as it relates to what can be done to encourage bondholder redemption -- i.e., “what would motivate you”? -- as well as perceived process barriers/restrictions.
The awareness of Treasury Hunt, Fiscal Service’s tool for customers to search if they have MUD bonds; and
Additional themes as identified by initial research results necessary to inform an actionable implementation plan
Survey objectives:
Understand MUD customers’ understanding, motivations, and (perceived) barriers around bond redemptions in order to identify opportunities to improve bond redemption strategies, processes, and communications.
This study will also give us insights into where individuals fall into the redemption process flow (unaware, aware, acting, redeemed), key information about the bonds they hold, and additional descriptive classifications to help us understand the profile of various MUD bondholders.
Target audience:
20 – 30 individuals who are motivated to take action & are willing to participate in a 30-day diary study in which they redeem their bonds.
Sample Composition / Important Quotas:
Individuals must be willing to cash-in their bonds.
No more than 5 have “lost bonds”
No more than 3 only have bonds from after 1992 [confirm on 1:1 validation call]
No more than 3 have tried to redeem or recover (if bonds were lost)
3-5 cases where the respondent is not named on any of their bonds [confirm during 1:1 validation call]
Recruiter notes
Unless a respondent falls into the “lost bond” pool, he or she must have at least one bond in hand at start of study. Please confirm that the respondents have their bond(s) during 1:1 validation calls
During the 1:1 validation calls, please ensure that the bonds are valid by:
Collecting a photo of up to 5 of the participant’s bond(s). In requesting these photos, please ask for a photo of the oldest bond (if they have multiple) and any bonds where the participant is not named on it in either the TO, FOR, or POD fields [NOTE: not all bonds have all of these sections]
Ensure that the photos captures the bond serial number, series and issue date.
Because bonds can have social security numbers, names and addresses on them, please ensure that this sensitive information is not captured in the photo. If you see it, please ask the participant to cover that information and send a new photo, and also promptly delete the original.
Please let our team review these submissions.
Continue to confirm each respondent’s willingness to redeem their bond as a part of this study. Should the respondent have second thoughts or share any more emotional reasons as hesitations to cash (any of) their bond(s), please classify those respondents as holds.
Please let our team review the holds.
Screening & Initial Respondent Routing
Purpose: Identify individuals who qualify to participate in the study. Qualified individuals must meet the following criteria: older than 18; aware of United States Savings Bonds; own or recently redeemed paper savings bonds.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice: For Fiscal Service to speak with the public, we are required to have approval from the Office of Management and Budget. You are not required to respond unless a currently valid OMB approval number is provided. The approval number for this project is 1530-XXXX. This study is estimated to average 2 hours. If you have any comments regarding this study, please write to: Bureau of the Fiscal Service, Bruce Sharp, Parkersburg, WV 26106-1328.
How old are you (in years)? [TERMINATE IF < 18]
Which of the following financial products have you heard of? Select all that apply
529 savings plan
Annuities
CDs
Coverdell ESA
IRA
Treasury Securities (e.g., T-bills, T-bonds, etc...)
United States Savings Bonds [If not selected, Skip to Q5]
Which of the following financial products do you currently own? Select all that apply
[Carry forward selected responses in Q2]
Question Set if “United States Savings Bonds” is selected in Q3
Do you currently own electronic or paper United States Savings Bonds?
Electronic [TERMINATE]
Paper [Skip to Q11]
Both [Skip to Q11]
Approximately how many paper Savings Bonds do you currently have?
1
2
3 to 5
5 to 9
10 to 14
15 to 19
20 to 49
50 to 99
Over 100
I don’t know [TERMINATE]
I don’t remember [TERMINATE]
Where are you currently keeping your paper Savings Bonds?
In my home
In a safety deposit box at the bank
At someone else’s home
Other (please describe)
They’re lost / are no longer in my possession [Skip to next block of questions]
[If Q6 is not “In my home” or “They’re lost”] To proceed with this study, you need to have your bonds. Approximately how many days would it take for you to get your bonds?
0
1-5
More than 5
I don’t know
Are you willing to get your bond(s) prior to the start of this study on [study start dates]?
Yes
No [TERMINATE]
I don’t know [TERMINATE]
How did you get your paper Savings Bonds? (Check all that apply)
Bought them myself
Received them as a gift
Received them from my employer
Inherited them
Found them after a relative passed away
Other (please describe)
I don’t remember
I don’t know
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
[Display if Q18 = “Bought them myself”] For paper Savings Bonds that you bought yourself, approximately how long ago did you buy them? Check all that apply
Less than a year ago
1-5 years ago
6-10 years ago
11-15 years ago
16-20 years ago
21-25 years ago
26-30 years ago
More than 30 years ago
I don’t remember
I don’t know
[TERMINATE IF THEY DO NOT SELECT “21-25” “26-30” or “More than 30”]
[Display if Q18 IS NOT “Bought them myself”] For paper Savings Bonds you did not buy yourself, approximately how long ago did you come into possession of them? Check all that apply
Less than a year ago
1-5 years ago
6-10 years ago
11-15 years ago
16-20 years ago
21-25 years ago
26-30 years ago
More than 30 years ago
I don’t remember
I don’t know
What series are the bonds you have? (Check all that apply)
A-J
E/EE
H/HH
I
IRB/RB
Savings Notes
I don’t know
I don’t remember
When were your paper bonds issued? (Check all that apply)
1991 or earlier
Between 1992 and 2001
Between 2002 and 2011
2012 or later
I don’t know
I don’t remember
[QUOTA: No more than 3 respondents that do not select “1991 or earlier”, “Between 1992 & 2001”, “I don’t know”, “I don’t remember”]
What is the total (face) value of your bonds?
Less than $100
Between $100 and $499
Between $1000 and $4999
Between $5000 and $9999
Over $10,000
I don’t know
I don’t remember
How is your name listed on the bonds? Check all that apply
As an owner (your name is alone on the bond)
As a co-owner (next to the “OR”)
As a beneficiary (next to the “POD”)
My name isn’t listed on the bond
There are no names listed on the bond
I don’t know
I don’t remember
Question Set if “United States Savings Bonds” is NOT selected in Q3 OR if “They’re lost” is selected in Q6]
[If Q3 is Yes and they did not answer Q6] What happened to your Savings Bonds? Check all that apply
I cashed them in [Terminate]
I lost them
They were destroyed
They were stolen
Other (please describe)
I have no idea
[Quota: No more than 5 of respondents can only select these options]
[If Q6 is “I lost them” or “they were destroyed” or “they were stolen”] Have you ever tried to recover or otherwise re-issue your lost/stolen/destroyed bonds?
Yes [No more than 3]
No
I don’t know
Is there a way to do that?
[IF Q5 is “Paper” or “Both”] Have you ever tried to cash in a paper Savings Bond?
Yes
No
I don’t know
[If Q18 = Yes] Approximately how long ago did you try to cash in a paper Savings Bond?
Less than 3 months ago
Between 3 and 6 months ago
Between 6 and 12 months ago
Between 1 and 2 years ago
More than 2 years ago
[If Q13 = Yes] Did you successfully cash in your paper bond?
Yes [No more than 3 respondents]
No
I don’t know [TERMINATE]
Redemption Consideration [IF Q11 = “No” or “I don’t know”]
Purpose: To evaluate motivations and barriers in beginning the redemption process
How motivated are you to try to cash in your bond(s)? [0-10 scale]
Please explain your score [open end]
Would you be willing to participate in a study that would give you additional money if you cash in your bond(s)?
For what, if any, reasons are you hesitant to cash in your bond(s)?
[Terminate if they mention any sort of emotional “family” related reasons for why e.g., my great grandmother gave them to me, etc…]
How much time would you be willing to spend cashing in your bond(s)?
No time [TERMINATE]
Less than an hour [TERMINATE]
1-4 hours
5-8 hours
More than 8 hours
Lost/Destroyed Bond Process Awareness [Display if Q6 is not “I cashed them in” AND Q8 IS NOT “Yes”]
Purpose: To assess awareness and understanding of opportunities to help people recover lost/stolen/destroyed bonds
How motivated are you to try to recover or otherwise re-issue your lost/stolen/destroyed bonds? [0-10 scale]
Please explain your score
Would you be willing to participate in a study that would give you additional money if you re-cover, reissue, and cash-in your bond?
For what, if any, reasons are you hesitant to re-cover, reissue, and/or cash-in in your bond(s)?
Technographics / Financial Management Preferences
Purpose: To evaluate preferences towards different technological solutions to improve the redemption process
Do you have access to any of the following? (Check all that apply)
Smartphone
Tablet
PC/desktop computer
Printer
Bank branch
How comfortable are you with the following? [0-10 scale]
Managing my finances online
Managing my finances using a mobile app
Depositing a check online
Going to my bank branch to manage my finances
Using online chat to talk about my finances with a banker or financial advisor
Filing taxes online
Filling out financial forms online
Submitting my SSN in forms online
Sending forms with my bank account numbers through the mail
Sending forms with my SSN through the mail
Demographics & Personal Attitudes (All Respondents)
How would you assess your overall financial knowledge on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high)? (1 to 5 scale)
In what year were you born? [year drop down]
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
What was your annual total family income before taxes in 2020?
Less than $19,999
$20,000 to $29,999
$30,000 to $39,999
$40,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $59,999
$60,000 to $69,999
$70,000 to $79,999
$80,000 to $89,999
$90,000 to $99,999
$100,000 to $110,999
$110,000 to $119,999
$120,000 to $129,999
$130,000 to $139,999
$140,000 to $149,999
$150,000 to $159,999
$160,000 to $169,999
$170,000 to $179,999
$180,000 to $189,999
$190,000 to $199,999
Above $200,000
Prefer not to say
I don’t know
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
What is your marital status?
Single
Engaged, Cohabitating with Partner, or other non-married Committed Relationship
Domestic Partnership
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
What is your highest level of education?
Less than high school
Some high school
High school graduate or GED
Some college credit, no degree
Associate degree (e.g., AA, AS)
Bachelor’s degree (e.g., BA, AB, BS)
Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MENg, Med, MSW, MBA)
Professional degree (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)
Doctorate degree (e.g., PhD, EdD)
Prefer not to say
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Prefer not to say
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
What is your race/ethnicity?
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Caucasian or White
Multiracial
Other
Prefer not to say
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
Are you Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
Which of the following best describes your employment status?
Full-time employee
Part-time employee
Unemployed
Self-employed
Homemaker
Student
Retired
Military
Prefer not to say
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
Have you ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard?
Never served in the military
Only on active duty for training in the Reserve or National Guard
Now on active duty
On active duty in the past, but not now
Which of these best describes the general area where you live?
Urban
Suburban
Rural
Remote
Prefer not to say
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
In which state do you currently live? [state & us territory drop down, include prefer not to say option]
[Recruiter Note: Looking for a good mix here]
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Kate Vermann |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-04-09 |