April is Financial Literacy Month but year-round programs are under way by credit unions in their membership areas across the country, according to NAFCU.

A survey of its membership found that 58.9% of the respondents take part in a financial education program at a local high school. The average respondent said it participates at more than 10 schools and has been operating the program for more than eight years.

Credit counseling is the focus in 63.6% of the programs, with retirement planning (48.5%), encouraging savings (42.4%) and mortgage counseling (39.4%) also emphasized, the respondents said.

NAFCU said 22.2% of the respondents are involved in a local “Bank On” program that focuses on basic banking services, and 18.2% host or take part at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site.

“Credit unions educate their members in order to help them navigate the ever-changing and, at times, confusing financial services arena,” said NAFCU President/CEO Fred R. Becker. “Credit unions are especially aware of the need to reach out to the unbanked and underbanked in their communities.”