Ever since it was announced the economic stimulus checks would be arriving a week earlier than expected, it's been non-stop phone calls to local banks and credit unions.

Meghan Robateau is a teller at the Metro Community Federal Credit Union in Huntington, WV. She says, "It's been crazy, phone call after phone call after phone call. People want to know if their deposit's in yet. It's unexpected, it's free money!

A new poll shows six (6) out of ten (10) Americans plan to sock the money away or use it to pay bills. Retails are scrambling to try and lure folks to spend, spend, spend. Big Sandy Superstore, which has been in business for 55 years, plans to offer gift cards to people who spend the check in it's store. But the competition for your dollar is tough. Nettie Scott is a sales manage at Big Sandy. She says, "I hope it will (be a boom for business), but I'm a little concerned with the gas prices and grocery prices. People may now use it for that."