WASHINGTON-Wayne Abernathy, Treasury's assistant secretary for financial institutions, told credit unions in Washington last week that the administration's backing of the credit union tax-exempt status is not waning. Abernathy was also quick to list out a number of programs he had learned about that credit unions are creating and participating in, during his address to NAFCU's Congressional Caucus, from financial literacy to giving those with less-than-perfect credit a second chance. He added that credit unions also help bring the unbanked into the financial mainstream. "Particularly, I'm enthused about what credit unions are doing to promote financial education and financial literacy," Abernathy stated. Programs span from those for young people to retirees to recent immigrants who may not be accustomed to a relationship with a financial institution. Credit unions are "helping people discover who they are," he added.