Bank of America's School Supply Purchasing Product for Teachers

Issuance of Supply Shelf cards to individual teachers is managed by school districts or other educational organizations. Administering the program is far simpler for both teachers and administrators than the current typical processes involving purchase orders and the execution of paper checks. Administrators also benefit from improved visibility of available balances through daily or monthly reports.

Administrators can exercise control by pre-authorizing only certain merchants or by blocking purchases from certain merchant types, such as gas stations and restaurants.

"After careful study of cash and check disbursement practices for school supply purchases, we created this innovative product that significantly minimizes delays, provides greater transparency and streamlines the school supply purchasing process," said Cathy Bessant, President of Bank of America's Global Product Solutions business. "The Supply Shelf card empowers teachers to buy the supplies their students need when they need them, and at the same time enables school administrators to improve the monitoring and control of these expenses."

Over the past year, the Supply Shelf cards have been piloted successfully at several school districts across the country. Pocatello Chubbuck School District in Idaho implemented the card to allow greater flexibility and convenience for teachers making purchases for classroom supplies. "The Bank of America Supply Shelf cards have been a vast improvement in our purchasing process. Our teachers are pleased with the speed, flexibility and convenience, while administratively we are able to monitor card activity and account balances," said Bart Reed, Director of Business of Pocatello Chubbuck School District.

Clark County School District in Nevada implemented the cards in 2007 and more than 18,000 were distributed, with each card valued at $200. The school district reports the cards have been a success -- and that teachers have been delighted with the flexibility, accountability and ease of use of the Bank of America Visa Supply Shelf cards.

For information on how school districts can enroll in this program, including the terms and conditions that may apply, please contact - 1.866.709.8014 ext. 200. Additional program information is also available online at: http://www.bankofamerica.com/supplyshelf.