Home >Financials > 2009 Annual Report - The Challenge to Deliver > NOTES TO THE FINANCIALSTATEMENTS > NOTE 3—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTINGPOLICIES > Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider securities that mature within 90 days or less from the date that we buy them to be cash equivalents.
Included in cash and cash equivalents are funds designated to be used for law enforcement purposes and consumer awareness for fraud prevention. The amounts designated at the end of 2009 and 2008 were $126 million and $122 million, respectively.