DENVER – A consumer and credit union-based group started four years ago to provide financial education is making its first big splash this month with an all day “Consumer Expo” at the Colorado History Museum. The “Consumer Expo,” said Consumers United Association, which has Colorado CUs as well as AARP as members, is designed to provide a complete educational forum for consumers on everything from credit card management and identity theft to Internet shopping and estate planning. The free event, slated for Oct. 18, is being billed as “extraordinary” in Colorado and a place where consumers can get “all the financial information you need under one roof.” “We're very excited about having a booth to provide information to Denver consumers on fees, the structure and services of credit unions and how they differ from banks,” explained Jerdean Jandro, retail support director of $180 million Eagle Legacy CU, of Arvada, Eagle Legacy is one of 18 Denver area CUs contributing time and talent in helping sponsor “Consumer Expo” and joined by the Colorado Credit Union League. Also listed as a sponsor is UPN cable TV station KTVD Among the speakers for Consumer Expo are representatives from a wide assortment of groups ranging from Consumer Credit Counseling to United Way and the Better Business Bureau. A Colorado League spokesman said Consumer United was put together by sponsoring organizations as state lawmakers “kept looking to credit unions for financial information and so we felt an organization like this might serve the purpose of helping educate the public and fill a void.” Consumers United has 10,000 members each of whom pays $5 to belong and in return can receive advice and assistance on consumer issues as well as referral help in filing complaints with federal and state agencies. Members also receive a newsletter on consumer topics and can participate “in live internet chats.” The organization was set up, according to its Web site, “to provide a united voice for consumers in the legislative arena.” A spokesman for Consumers United said more CU booths would have been part of “Consumer Expo” had it not been for a series of previously scheduled CU car sales slated over the Oct. 18-19 weekend. However, several CUs are sending volunteers to help staff the Expo and assist with door prizes, said the spokesman. -

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