Skip to main content

Operation Choke Point Accuser Speaks Out

Is your credit union being pressured by auditors to close or not open certain accounts because they feel they are too risky.

Not sure if you know about Operation Choke Point so I have included these 2 article's,

When Mike Schuetz, owner of Hawkins Guns LLC in Hawkins, Wis., asked the branch manager for an explanation, he was told the credit union had received pressure from regulators. He recorded his conversation with the manager, who also explained the credit union did not serve businesses associated with guns and ammunition.

Schuetz is convinced the situation occurred as a result of Operation Choke Point, which the U.S. Department of Justice established to reduce fraud and reputational risk to financial institutions by pressuring them to refuse business from risky sectors.

“They told me I had to close it because I was a high-risk industry and they were not able to service me,” Schuetz told CU Times. “The local manager had a clip board from which she read off of with certain industries listed.”  Operation Choke Point Accuser Speaks Out

 

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling and other committee leaders have asked the NCUA and the CFPB to cease any enforcement of Operation Choke Point.

The lawmakers requested that the agencies publicly disclaim their past, present and future involvement in Operation Choke Point or any similar operation. The agencies were asked to clarify their policy for documenting and reporting orders to financial institutions regarding the termination of deposit account relationships. Lawmakers also requested a notice in writing from each agency to confirm that employees have been notified about the policy.  Lawmakers to NCUA: Abandon Operation Choke Point

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New York Stock Exchange building venue for 24/7 tokenized stock and ETF exchange

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), via its owner   Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) , is building a new digital trading venue for 24/7 trading of tokenized stocks and ETFs, using blockchain and stablecoin-based funding for instant settlement, aiming to modernize markets by running parallel to the traditional exchange. This platform will support native digital securities and traditional shares as tokens, allowing for continuous liquidity and integrating digital assets into mainstream finance, with plans to launch later in 2026 after regulatory approval.   Key Features of the New NYSE Platform: 24/7 Trading:  Operates continuously, unlike the traditional exchange's weekday hours. Instant Settlement:  Transactions settle immediately, moving away from the current T+1 (trade date plus one day) model. Stablecoin-Based Funding :  Uses stablecoins (digital tokens pegged to fiat currency like the USD) for funding and collateral, streamlining processes outside banking hou...

Breaking: NCUA Moves to Remove a Major Barrier to Board Service

NCUA just proposed a rule that would allow federal credit unions to reimburse or directly pay reasonable dependent care costs for volunteer officials when those costs are incurred while attending board meetings or performing official duties. Childcare and eldercare costs are real barriers to serving on a board — especially for working professionals, single parents, and caregivers. At the same time, expectations for board engagement, training, and oversight continue to rise. A few important guardrails remain: ✔️ Applies only to federal credit unions ✔️ Covers dependent care only — not lost wages or compensation ✔️ Requires written board policy and reasonable controls ✔️ IRS tax treatment still applies (talk to your CPA) Bottom line: this won't fix board recruitment challenges by itself, but it removes a real friction point for people who want to serve and simply can't absorb the added costs. NCUA is also asking for comments — including whether training and conferences...

Sunday Reading - How pensions work

  The Pension Promise   How pensions work Colloquially speaking, pensions are retirement plans that result in employees receiving a fixed amount of money from their former employers during retirement, often for life (although the technical legal definition of pensions is significantly more nuanced ). Unlike “defined contribution plans” like 401(k) plans, “defined benefit plans” like pensions make it so the employer , rather than the employee, determines how much money is set aside for the plan and how it’s invested (often in stocks, bonds, and other assets). In retirement, monthly payouts include both the principal and investment earnings. Employers often use fact...

Small credit union closures and mergers.

NCOFCU Podcast on the loss of small creditunions. Grant Sheehan CCUE | CEO-NCOFCU examines the rapid decline of small credit unions, why each closure matters to communities, and the threat this trend poses to the cooperative identity and tax protections of the movement. The episode explores practical solutions: larger credit unions acting as stewards, collaboration through shared resources and technology, and the advocacy work of the National Council of Firefighter Credit Unions to amplify every credit union's voice. Listen for a call to action on preserving community-focused financial cooperatives and strengthening the future of the credit union movement. Be sure to visit NCOFCU's "First Responders Credit Unions Academy" for your continued credit union education and certification in meeting N C U A’s requirements.  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional f...

New FRCUA Manuals Alert!

New & Updated Manuals Now in the First Responder Credit Union Academy! NCUA "What you Need to Know." Building a Budget Policies & Procedures CEO Strategic Planning Checklist Board Strategic Priorities Directors'  Strategic Planning Checklist We’re always improving the First Responder Credit Union Academy to give you the tools you need to succeed. Our manuals are regularly updated with the latest insights, best practices, and industry guidance — so you can stay informed, confident, and ready to serve your members. Check out the latest updates and keep your skills sharp:  https://www.ncofcu.org/first-responder-credit-union-academy  ================================================= Remember, you're not alone with  NCOFCU.org Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Financial Literacy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board  

Advice On Winning Over Gen Z In ’25

NEW YORK—As 2025 approaches the close of Q1, how can credit unions win over Gen Z? By tailoring credit rewards for a digital-first generation, a new report recommends. Gen Z is reshaping the workforce and redefining financial behaviors. As of 2024, this generation is poised to surpass Baby Boomers in workforce size and will make up 30% of the workforce by 2030. This rapid growth presents a major opportunity for financial institutions to tap into a younger, digitally native audience with distinct spending habits and financial needs, emphasized a GlobalData report authored by Zachary Johnson, specialist, campaign execution & strategy, financial services at VDX.tv. “Unlike previous generations, Gen Z’s economic journey has been shaped by inflation and delayed career starts due to the pandemic and skyrocketing living costs. These factors have made them highly dependent on credit, with Gen Zers being 23% more likely to own a credit card than Millennials at the same age, and carrying...

‘No One Wants a New Car Now.’ WSJ Columnist Offers His Take on Why

NEW YORK–That new car smell isn’t quite the intoxicating perfume it has been for a long time, according to one automotive analyst. Under the headline, “No One Wants a New Car Now. Here’s Why,” the Wall Street Journal’s well-regarded automotive columnist, Dan Neal, observed that “America’s fleet of cars and trucks is also getting long in the tooth.” Neal’s reference was to a study by S&P Global Mobility that found the average age of vehicles in the U.S. is now 12.6 years, up more than 14 months since 2014, with the average age of passenger cars hitting14 years. All-Time High Burden “In the past, the average-age statistic was taken as a sign of transportation’s burden on household budgets,” Neal wrote. “Those burdens remain near all-time hig...

Long-Stalled Credit Card Competition Act Moves Forward In Senate Clarity Act Markup

WASHINGTON—A long-stalled bipartisan push to boost competition in the credit card market moved closer to becoming law late Friday, as Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) advanced a new amendment attached to the Senate Agriculture Committee’s markup of the Digital Asset Market Structure and Investor Protection Act, commonly known as the Clarity Act. Dick Durbin The amendment, a core component of the long-debated Credit Card Competition Act, would prohibit major credit-card networks and large issuing banks from enforcing network exclusivity on credit cards. Supporters argue the measure would expand transaction-routing competition, weaken the dominance of the largest payment networks, and reduce swipe fees that merchants say inflate consumer prices. The renewed momentum reflects President Trump’s recent backing of efforts to rein in credit card costs, a shift that has altered the political trajectory of legislation that has struggled to advance in prior Congresses. With Tru...

Retail sales in the United States jumped nearly 11% this holiday season

PURCHASE, N.Y.–Retail sales in the United States jumped nearly 11% this holiday season compared with the holiday period in 2019, the year before the pandemic upended the global economy, according to a new Mastercard analysis. The report, Mastercard SpendingPulse , showed an 8.5% increase in retail sales over the holiday season, defined as Nov. 1 to Dec. 24, compared with last year. The figures exclude automobile sales. According to Mastercard, sales in stores were up 8.1% compared with last year, while e-commerce sales were up 11%. Compared with 2019, before the pandemic brought about an explosion of online ordering, e-commerce sales jumped over 61%. Online sales made up 20.9% of all retail sales this year, the Mastercard SpendingPulse reported. In 2019, online sales accounted for just 14.6% of all retail sales, underscoring how the pandemic has accelerated the shift to e-commerce. Beating the Rush In a statement cited by the Times, Steve Sadove, senior adviser for Mastercard, sai...