CUNA launches weekly consumer finance radio show

by Center for Personal Finance editors

WASHINGTON (9/6/06)--A weekly, national one-hour radio program devoted to a wide range of consumer finance issues--running the gamut from teen budgeting to retirement savings--will be launched this Sunday (Sept. 10) by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

class="nn_mug" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="2"> The program, Home and Family Finance, represents a major consumer education and brand awareness initiative for the trade group and for credit unions. The program will be introduced as "presented by America's Credit Unions."

Home and Family Finance will air Sundays at 3 p.m., ET, on the Radio America network. Home and Family Finance builds on the name recognition established by CUNA's credit union-member quarterly newsletter of the same name.

The show's host is Paul Berry, who aside from being known to credit unions as master of ceremonies of CUNA's annual Governmental Affairs Conference, is a veteran broadcast journalist and former Washington, D.C.-area local television news anchor with more than 30 years of experience, including as host of his own talk radio program that aired from 2003 to 2005 on WTNT in Washington.

"A natural audience for this show is the nation's 88 million credit union members, but the program will not be a promotional program about credit unions," explained Mark Wolff, CUNA senior vice president, communications. "Rather, it will be devoted to giving consumers wide-ranging, objective information and advice on the personal finance issues that matter most in their daily lives."

Wolff added that delivering useful, practical and objective information on consumer finance issues, in a show presented by America's credit unions, reinforces the brand that not-for-profit, member-owned credit unions have established as a trusted consumer resource. "Surveys and focus group research have consistently shown consumers have a level of affinity and trust with credit unions simply not found at other financial institutions," Wolff said.

Initially the program will air on 30 Radio America-affiliated stations around the country, and then proceed to build its listening audience in the coming months as the base of subscribing stations grows. Radio America is a 20-year-old Washington-based network with more than 500 affiliated stations. Since its founding in 1985, Radio America has won a host of awards, both locally and nationally.

Home and Family Finance will join Radio America's weekend line-up of "lifestyle" programming, supplementing current shows on such issues as home maintenance, auto care and gardening. After airing each Sunday, the show will continue to be available on CUNA's web site for listening at a later time as well as on the sites of state credit union leagues and credit unions that choose to add the link. Podcasting capability is also in the works, said Wolff.

On each program, host Paul Berry typically will interview three or four guests over the course of the hour and answer questions that listeners send in by email.

"Paul Berry has the talent and experience to really make this show come alive," said Wolff. "We'll also draw on the expertise of CUNA Center for Personal Finance staff for recommendations on relevant topics and potential guests, and look to the Washington establishment as well."

Scheduled guests for the first show include:

CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica on why CUNA has launched this new initiative;

University of Wisconsin Professor Karen Goebel on disaster-proofing your important documents;

Jeanne Hogarth, manager of consumer education at the Federal Reserve Board, on leasing vs. buying vehicles; and

Jack Gillis, author and director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America with auto buying tips in this period of high gas prices.

CO-OP Financial Services is the national presenting sponsor. Accel, VISA and CUNA Strategic Services are national sponsors.