ABA Banking Journal
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
SUBSCRIBE
ABA Banking Journal
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Community Banking

NCUA Response to Hatch Letter Reveals Permissive Approach to Credit Union Expansion

April 24, 2018
Reading Time: 2 mins read

When considering applications for new associational common bonds since its 2015 rule permitting expansive new fields of membership, the National Credit Union Administration has denied or deferred less than 10 percent of them, NCUA Chairman Mark McWatters said in a March 28 letter released yesterday. The agency has approved nearly 80 percent, with another one in 10 applications pending. McWatters was responding to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch’s January letter querying NCUA’s response to boundary-pushing by tax-exempt credit unions.

“Instead of outright denial, the NCUA typically defers action on requests the agency cannot approve and, to the extent reasonably possible, offers alternative solutions consistent with the FCUA and the agency’s regulatory framework,” McWatters noted — while adding that the 2015 rule had already provided automatic recognition for 12 association types.

Meanwhile, in response to a question from Hatch about the proposed community charter expansions that NCUA rejects, McWatters said that “NCUA’s tracking system does not distinguish between denials based on the geographic area requested as opposed to other reasons, such as safety and soundness,” thus limiting the agency’s ability to discern where credit unions are pushing field of membership boundaries.

McWatters spent much of the letter stating that eliminating the credit union tax exemption without also addressing the remaining regulatory differences between banks and credit unions “would almost certainly have a detrimental effect on the credit union system and increase losses to the Share Insurance Fund, which could ultimately fall to U.S. taxpayers.” However, American Bankers Association spokesman Jeff Sigmund dismissed these concerns as a red herring from the other issues Hatch had raised in his letter.

“No one wants to eliminate the federal tax exemption for all credit unions — just for the five percent of institutions that enjoy 75 percent of the tax exemption,” said Sigmund. “The fact that NCUA claims that credit unions would need a taxpayer bailout without the tax exemption is extremely troubling and raises more questions than it answers. Maybe if they spent less on stadium naming rights deals and exorbitant executive compensation packages they wouldn’t be in this situation.” For more information, contact ABA’s Brittany Kleinpaste.

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: Credit unions
ShareTweetPin

Related Posts

Budget bill narrowly passes Senate, moves back to House

Breaking down the bank-related provisions in the big budget bill

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
July 10, 2025

Following the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, hear from ABA experts on how key ABA-supported provisions on tax policy, rural real estate and health savings accounts in the budget reconciliation law will affect banks.

Fed releases agenda for upcoming conference on large bank capital requirements

Fed seeks public input on large bank rating system revision

Compliance and Risk
July 10, 2025

The Federal Reserve requested comment on a proposal to revise its supervisory rating framework for large bank holding companies to address the "well managed" status of the firms.

Senate Banking Committee advances OCC, SEC nominations

Senate confirms Gould as comptroller of the currency

Newsbytes
July 10, 2025

The Senate voted to confirm Jonathan Gould as comptroller of the currency. He succeeds Rodney Hood, who is acting comptroller.

FinCEN, IRS-CI launch series to help banks combat fentanyl trafficking

FinCEN extends compliance dates for fentanyl orders

Compliance and Risk
July 9, 2025

FinCEN has extended by more than a month the effective dates for orders involving three Mexico-based financial institutions with alleged ties to fentanyl trafficking, according to an agency statement.

FDIC issues final special assessment to recover Deposit Insurance Fund losses

FDIC board to consider proposals on CRA, bank branches

Newsbytes
July 9, 2025

The FDIC board will hold an open meeting next week to consider several agenda items, including proposals on regulatory thresholds, the Community Reinvestment Act and bank branches.

FOMC minutes: Persistent inflation clouds path forward

FOMC minutes show divergence in opinion on tariff effects

Economy
July 9, 2025

Federal Open Market Committee members remain somewhat split on the long-term effects of the Trump administration’s tariff policy on inflation, according to the minutes.

NEWSBYTES

Fed seeks public input on large bank rating system revision

July 10, 2025

Senate confirms Gould as comptroller of the currency

July 10, 2025

FinCEN extends compliance dates for fentanyl orders

July 9, 2025

SPONSORED CONTENT

Navigating Disruption in Ag Lending – Why Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Navigating Disruption in Ag Lending – Why Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

July 1, 2025
AI Compliance and Regulation: What Financial Institutions Need to Know

Unlocking Deposit Growth: How Financial Institutions Can Activate Data for Precision Cross-Sell

June 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

April 25, 2025
Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

April 5, 2025

PODCASTS

Breaking down the bank-related provisions in the big budget bill

July 10, 2025

Podcast: Inside ABA’s new Treasury Check Verification System API

June 25, 2025

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

June 18, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-BANKERS (800-226-5377)
www.aba.com
About ABA
Privacy Policy
Contact ABA

ABA Banking Journal
About ABA Banking Journal
Media Kit
Advertising
Subscribe

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.