CURRENT Newsletter | 14 March 2022
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Headline News
- Landmark FOM Bill Introduced in Wake of CUNA GAC
- Omnibus Bill with CU Governance Measure Signed by President
- League Hosting Compliance Roundtable March 16; Register Now!
- Pressing Issues to Take Center Stage at Ignite 2022
- VACUPAC Golf Tournament Tees Off April 20
- NCUA Board to Vote March 17 on Strategic, Annual Performance Plans
- Bill Would Provide NCUA, FHFA with Additional Vendor Authority
- NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood Discusses Regulatory Priorities at Tidewater Chapter Meeting
- Registration Now Open for 2022 Southeast CUNA Management School
- Credit Unions Fueling Growth with 106% Jump in Subordinated Debt YOY
- Biden Issues Executive Order on Digital Asset Innovation
Compliance / Regulatory Affairs
- NCUA Issues Letter Regarding CAMELS
- March 16 Webinar: Vendor Due Diligence
- Registration Open for March 23 NCUA Overdraft Protection Programs Webinar
- FinCEN Advises Increased Vigilance for Potential Russian Sanctions Evasion Attempts
News About Credit Unions
- CUNA Releases Talent Strategy Guide for Small Credit Unions
- Credit Quality Improves at US Credit Unions YOY in 4Q2021
- Initial Donations to Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund to go Primarily Toward Humanitarian Aid
Headline News
Landmark FOM Bill Introduced in Wake of CUNA GAC
The CUNA/League-supported Expanding Financial Access for Underserved Communities Act was introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chair Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., Wednesday. The bill would be the first significant overhaul of the Federal Credit Union Act since 1998 and would make several updates to credit union field-of-membership and member business lending requirements, including addressing credit unions’ ability to serve underserved and marginalized communities.
“Thank you to Chairwoman Waters for introducing this bill that would help increase access to safe and affordable credit union services to underserved communities across the country,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle. “This bill will allow credit unions to further fulfill their congressional mandate by being there for consumers left un- and underbanked by companies putting profit ahead of people.”
Specifically, the bill would:
- Allow all federal credit unions to add underserved areas to their field of membership
- Exempt business loans made by credit unions in underserved areas from the credit union member business lending cap.
- Expand the definition of an underserved area to include any area that is more than 10 miles from the nearest branch of a financial institution.
The landmark legislation was introduced on the heels of the 2022 CUNA GAC, where nearly 4,500 credit union advocates shared how they improve their members’ financial well-being and advance their communities with lawmakers, and is the product of continued CUNA, League, and credit union advocacy.
Omnibus Bill with CU Governance Modernization Measure Signed By President
On Friday, President Biden signed the omnibus funding package, which includes the CUNA-League-supported Credit Union Governance Modernization Act. The Credit Union Governance Modernization Act, introduced by Reps. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo, with a Senate companion led by Sens. Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Ben Sasse, R-Neb., amends the Federal Credit Union Act to allow credit unions to enhance branch safety.
“This common-sense bill will allow credit unions to ensure the safety of their branches, employees, and members, keeping resources focused on improving consumers’ financial well-being,” said Jim Nussle, CUNA president/CEO. “We thank Reps. Emmer and Perlmutter, as well as Sens. Tina Smith and Ben Sasse, for working with CUNA and the Leagues on this important issue.”
Related: Bipartisan bill would exempt loans to veteran businesses from MBL cap
League Hosting Compliance Roundtable March 16; Register Now!
Count on your League to help you manage today's complex regulatory compliance environment. We've scheduled our next quarterly compliance roundtable for March 16 at 10 a.m. Each webinar is designed to aid your team in building its compliance resources, boosting its regulatory expertise and you saving time.
Our March 16 session will feature the following topics:
- Cybersecurity: How to protect your credit union
- Bank Secrecy Act/Know-Your-Customer developments
- Digital banking developments
- Member Fraud Issues: Identifying and preventing potential losses
- 2022 Virginia General Assembly Session: Legislation of interest to credit unions
- Q&A Session! Have a question for our compliance attorney? Please forward questions to your League's Mary Amyx - mamyx@vacul.org!
Pressing Issues to Take Center Stage at Ignite 2022
Creating an environment for credit unions to thrive will take center stage at Ignite 2022 | the League Annual Meeting, with League President/CEO Carrie Hunt leading an open discussion with elected and appointed officials on our most-pressing legislative and regulatory issues.
“Your League exists to meet our members’ needs," notes Carrie. "From an advocacy perspective, we need to use our collective voices to focus on the issues that help credit unions thrive. Please join me at our Annual Meeting to learn from policymakers and peers."
This year’s event will also feature a session with Carrie and National Credit Union Administration Eastern Region Director John Kutchey for a discussion of the latest regulatory hot topics, supervisory priorities and examination issues, with a particular focus on subordinated debt.
Early bird discount ends March 18! Register today and save $50!
Learn more
View and share our Ignite 2022 promo flyer!
VACUPAC Golf Tournament Tees Off April 20
Calling all golfers: the 33rd Annual VACUPAC Golf Classic tees off April 20 at Roanoke Country Club.
Your participation aids our advocacy efforts by supporting the Virginia Credit Union Political Action Committee, the state-level, non-profit, non-partisan political action committee of the Virginia Credit Union League and its affiliated credit unions.
We need sponsors, as well! Sponsorships start at only $200 and your support ensures the tournament's success!
NCUA Board to Vote March 17 on Strategic, Annual Performance Plans
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board will vote on its 2022-2026 strategic plan and its 2022 annual performance plan at its March 17 meeting this week. The meeting will be streamed via webcast starting at 10 a.m. available on NCUA.gov.
Your League filed comments on the NCUA's draft strategic plan.
Bill Would Provide NCUA, FHFA with Additional Vendor Authority
Rep. Bill Foster D-Ill., Wednesday introduced the Strengthening Cybersecurity for the Financial Sector Act. The bill gives both the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the NCUA additional third-party vendor examination authority.
Credit unions have fiercely opposed such legislation in the past, noting concerns about the wide authority it would give the NCUA and potential costs to credit unions.
NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood Discusses Regulatory Priorities at Tidewater Chapter Meeting
70 representatives from Tidewater Chapter credit unions welcomed NCUA Board Member Rodney Hood to the Commonwealth yesterday.
In an address to the Chapter in Newport News, Board Member Hood noted several priorities he and the agency are pursuing, including financial inclusion and access; leveraging fintech partnerships and technology; CECL; Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering issues; and cybersecurity.
Registration Now Open for 2022 Southeast CUNA Management School
Registration for the 2022 session of the Southeast CUNA Management School is now open! The school, which is hosted by Southeast Regional Credit Union Schools (SRCUS), is being held from Sunday, June 12, 2022 through Friday, June 17, 2022 at the University of Georgia Hotel & Conference Center in Athens, Ga. Over the course of the three-year Southeast CUNA Management School, students receive advanced academic instruction on a variety of topics including management, leadership, and financial analysis.
Please click here to register online.
Credit Unions Fueling Growth with 106% Jump in Subordinated Debt YOY
Credit unions stockpiled an additional $379.05 million in subordinated debt in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Total outstanding uninsured secondary capital levels for U.S. credit unions stood at $947.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, up 66.7% from $568.5 million in the linked quarter and 106.3% from $459.2 million in the year-ago period.
Biden Issues Executive Order on Digital Asset Innovation
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday on innovation in digital assets. The order outlines a “whole-of-government” approach to addressing the risks and harnessing the potential benefits of digital assets and their underlying technology.
Digital assets, including cryptocurrencies surpassed a $3 trillion market cap last November, and surveys suggest around 16% of adult Americans – approximately 40 million people – have invested in, traded, or used cryptocurrencies, according to the White House.
Compliance / Regulatory Affairs
NCUA Issues Letter Regarding CAMELS
The NCUA Board approved a final rule that added the Sensitivity to Market Risk, or “S,” component to the existing CAMEL rating system and redefined the Liquidity Risk, or “L,” component. The effective date of the CAMELS final rule is April 1, 2022.
Federally insured corporate and natural person credit unions will receive CAMELS component and composite ratings from the NCUA based on the new CAMELS rating system, beginning with examinations and supervision contacts started on or after April 1, 2022.
Read the Letter to Credit Unions.
March 16 Webinar: Vendor Due Diligence
Third-party vendors play an important role as you strive to become more competitive and expand member services. Managing risks associated with these relationships is a critical aspect of maintaining a successful operation. Join CUNA Mutual Group's expert risk management panelists and hundreds of your credit union peers during this live March 16 webinar session (2 p.m.) as they share insights, perspectives, and mitigation tips related to vendor due diligence.
Registration Open for March 23 NCUA Overdraft Protection Programs Webinar
Overdraft protection programs are important to credit unions and their members, and the market landscape is changing. Credit unions can learn more about these programs and what market changes can mean on a March 23 webinar hosted by the National Credit Union Administration.
FinCEN Advises Increased Vigilance for Potential Russian Sanctions Evasion Attempts
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is alerting all financial institutions1 to be vigilant against efforts to evade the expansive sanctions and other U.S.-imposed restrictions implemented in connection with the Russian Federation’s further invasion of Ukraine.
News About Credit Unions
CUNA Releases Talent Strategy Guide for Small Credit Unions
CUNA’s Small Credit Union Committee released the Small Credit Union Talent Strategy Guide to address the challenges and opportunities for talent acquisition. Created in partnership with CUNA Mutual Group (CMG), the strategy guide leverages small credit unions’ unique position in the marketplace to find, attract, and retain talent.
Credit Quality Improves at US Credit Unions YOY in 4Q2021
Credit quality improved year over year at U.S. credit unions in the fourth quarter of 2021 as net charge-offs and nonperforming assets both fell, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
The credit union industry's nonperforming assets ratio and net charge-off ratio both dropped 9 basis points year over year to 0.32% and 0.26%, respectively, but were up slightly quarter over quarter following normal seasonal patterns.
Aggregate nonperforming assets at U.S. credit unions dropped 13.1% year over year to $6.59 billion, while net charge-offs fell 21.2% to $816.9 million in the fourth quarter.
Initial Donations to Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund to go Primarily Toward Humanitarian Aid
Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) will utilize donations raised in the first several weeks of its Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund campaign to address immediate humanitarian needs triggered by Russia’s continued targeting of civilians, which has caused a crisis for those still in Ukraine and for more than two million Ukrainian refugees who have fled the country.
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