ALEXANDRIA, Va. — NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson has added the Hope Now hotline to the MyMoney.gov Web site. The hotline gives consumers access to HUD-approved credit counselors who provide important resources for struggling homeowners, Johnson explained when making the announcement.

The hotline came to be as one of the measures to help homeowners in America, Johnson explained. President Bush, in August 2007, directed Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson to establish the Hope Now hotline, a cooperative effort of counselors, investors, and lenders who are working to maximize outreach efforts to homeowners in distress.

"I commend President Bush for putting forth pro-active efforts that focus on empowering homeowners with the information and resources they need to help them stay in their homes," said Chairman Johnson. "It is critical that credit unions continue to protect their members by providing them with responsible lending products," she added. "Financial literacy serves as an important preventive measure for credit union members to avoid financial setbacks. The MyMoney.gov website is an excellent resource for credit unions and their members to remain equipped for this ever changing financial landscape."