Playing the float. Clay Travel, Inc. routinely funds its checking account to cover all checks when written. A thorough analysis of its checking account discloses that the firm could maintain an average account balance that is 25% below the current level and adequately cover all checks presented. The average account balance is currently $900,000. If the firm can earn 10% on short-terms investments, what, if any, annual savings would result form maintaining the lower average account balance?

Direct send-Single. Ocean Research of San Diego, California, just received a check in the amount of $800,000 from a customer in Bangor, Maine. If the firm processes the check in the normal manner, the funds will become available in 6 days. To speed up this process, the firm could send an employee to the bank in Bangor in which the check is drawn to present it for payment. Such action will cause the funds to become available after 2 days. If the cost of the direct send is $650 and the firm can earn 11% on these funds, what recommendation would you make? Explain.