ST. PAUL, Minn. — In what it calls an enhanced and “innovative approach” to consumer counseling, the $705 million Hiway Federal Credit Union said Monday its year-old program with a Minnesota agency to offer free sessions and services including at home phoning has doubled participation and cut costs 40%.

“We do take a proactive position, referring our members to counseling early, before they are in over their heads,” explained Jeff Schwalen, president/CEO in detailing a hookup with the non-profit Lutheran Social Service Financial Counseling of Minneapolis.

LSS, a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, said as a result of its Hiway venture involving extensive workshops, seminars and home calling, the agency expects to sign up more Minnesota CUs during the coming months for its “Financial Choice” program. A second CU and early partner in the LSS program along with Hiway is USFCU of Burnsville.

In adopting LSS, officials of Hiway emphasized that the “local relationship” providing comfort levels to employees and members in budget counseling is one key to the program's success. Hiway previously used San Francisco's Balance service which required members to be connected to long distance counselors.

With its members, Hiway said it uses LSS budget counseling “as a requirement to modify their car loan or other products.”