WASHINGTON — A wide range of consumer finance topics from teen budgeting to retirement savings is the focus of a new, weekly, national one-hour radio program from CUNA.

The radio show was scheduled to air its first broadcast at 3 p.m. EST Sept. 10 on the Radio America network. The program, “Home and Family Finance,” builds on the name recognition established by CUNA's quarterly newsletter of the same name aimed at credit union members, according to the trade group. Host Paul Berry, known as master of ceremonies of CUNA's annual Governmental Affairs Conference, is a veteran broadcast journalist and former Washington, D.C.-area local TV news anchor with more than 30 years of experience. Subsequent shows will air at 3 p.m. on Sundays.

“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,” said 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.”

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, CUNA said. Radio America is a 20-year-old Washington-based network with more than 500 affiliated stations.

Wolff said 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.

Berry typically will interview three or four guests over the course of the hour and answer questions that listeners send in by e-mail.

“Paul Berry has the talent and experience to really make this show come alive,” Wolff said. “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 included CUNA President 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 versus 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. 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, CUNA said. After airing each Sunday, the show will 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, the trade group said.

Support from national presenting sponsor CO-OP Financial Services and national sponsors Accel, Visa and CUNA Strategic Services have helped to make the radio show possible, CUNA said. –msamaad@cutimes.com

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CUNA Brings Consumer Finance Issues to Airwaves with National, Weekly Radio Show

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