Skip to main content

NCUA suspends onsite exams indefinitely.

Dear Boards of Directors and Chief Executive Officers:

The NCUA is monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to update its examination and supervision approach to help ensure the safety of personnel and the safety and soundness of the credit union system.

In March 2020, the NCUA provided information on our examination and supervisory priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in Letter to Credit Unions 20-CU-05, Offsite Examination and Supervision Approach. While our priorities remain the same as outlined in that guidance letter, the agency has updated its approach for conducting examinations offsite. This letter provides information on changes to the NCUA’s examination and supervision approach, effective June 1, 2020.

The key components of our updated approach include continuing offsite work and a return to issuing examination reports.


Conducting Work Offsite

The NCUA’s offsite policy for all employees and contracted support staff will remain in effect until further notice.1 Generally, NCUA staff will not schedule onsite examination work until further notice. However, the NCUA may conduct onsite work at a credit union if necessary to address serious or time-sensitive matters.

Since the implementation of our offsite policy, we have been conducting examination work offsite when credit unions are able to provide documentation. The response and cooperation from credit unions has been positive. While we understand that not all credit unions are able to accommodate offsite work, we appreciate those that have facilitated offsite examinations and supported NCUA’s efforts to ensure a safe and sound credit union system.

Since March 16, 2020, examiners have conducted offsite examination work at over 100 credit unions, with a median asset size of $56 million. At most of these credit unions, NCUA staff were able to perform substantial examination procedures and complete the examination. While the NCUA can conduct the majority of examination work offsite, there remain a few areas that are difficult to complete offsite. Credit union staff and examiners have also noted that completing an examination offsite may take longer than an onsite examination.

Examiners will continue to work with credit unions to conduct examination work offsite if the credit union is able to accommodate offsite reviews. Examiners will also be mindful of the impact information requests may have on a credit union experiencing operational and staffing challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, credit unions will not be required to provide information to conduct offsite work.2 The more information a credit union can provide for offsite reviews, the more likely the NCUA will not have to return to the credit union until the next examination cycle.

Regional offices will continue to coordinate with the state supervisory authorities on examination and supervision efforts for federally insured, state-chartered credit unions.


Issuing Examination Reports

The NCUA will issue examination reports for examinations completed offsite. However, the NCUA understands that credit unions need to focus on providing uninterrupted service to their members. Any corrective actions issued to a credit union will consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the credit union’s operations and financial condition and will be prioritized appropriately.

Consistent with long-standing practices, examiners will consider the extraordinary circumstances credit unions are facing when reviewing a credit union’s financial and operational condition and assigning CAMEL and risk ratings. An examination report may acknowledge that the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on a credit union’s financial condition and operations remain unknown.

NCUA examiners will not criticize a credit union’s efforts to provide prudent relief for members when such efforts are conducted in a reasonable manner with proper controls and management oversight. However, examiners will consider whether such efforts elevate, or reduce a credit union’s risk exposure. If a credit union has taken on additional risk, even if done prudently, this may be reflected in the credit union’s applicable CAMEL and risk ratings.3

Examiners will continue to be flexible and reasonable when working with credit unions that have outstanding corrective action items (including Document of Resolution items, Letters of Understanding and Agreement, and Preliminary Warning Letters). To ensure our approach to addressing COVID-19 related matters remains consistent, the NCUA has instituted an enhanced internal review process for all examination reports. A credit union should work with its examiner and supervisory examiner if it requires flexibility in meeting deadlines or has concerns about its examination report.

The NCUA will continue to reevaluate our offsite posture through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and as national, state, and local guidance is updated. We will notify credit unions of changes to procedures or examination expectations as our examination and supervision approach continues to evolve. If you have questions or would like more information about the NCUA’s offsite examination and supervision approach, please contact your NCUA regional office.


Sincerely,
/s/
Rodney E. Hood
Chairman

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NCOFCU Newsletter

The Bucket Coach is a financial advice book designed by Fire Services Credit Union, Tronto, Canada. and written exclusively for Fire Fighters It's a practical guide for household financial management, including investments, credit and mortgages, and retirement. Developed with contributions from Fire Fighters," NCOFCU Newsletter : " Kevin Connolly Chief Executive Officer    Fire Services Credit Union Phone: 416-440-1294 ext 301  Toll Free: 1-866-833-3285 E-mail:  kevin@firecreditunion.ca 1997 Avenue Rd Toronto, ON M5M 4A3 

CUNorthwest Todd A. Powell Award is SFCU CEO Gayle Furness.

Spokane Firefighters Credit Union Big Enough to Serve. Small Enough to Care. This year’s recipient of the CUNorthwest Todd A. Powell Award is SFCU CEO Gayle Furness. Like Todd, Gayle has been instrumental in the growth, as well as the safety and soundness, of the credit union. Congrats to Gayle for living up to the standard that Todd created for our organization and the greater credit union community. __ ________________________________ Check out NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board

The Shrinking Pool of Small Credit Unions: Why It Matters & What We Can Do About It. - Henry Meier, Esq.

  Henry Meier, Esq. Henry Meier is the former General Counsel of the New York Credit Union Association, where he authored the popular New York State of Mind blog. He now provides legal advice to credit unions on a broad range of legal, regulatory and legislative issues. He can be reached at (518) 223-5126 or via email at  henrymeieresq@outlook.com . For as long as I’ve been around the industry, I’ve heard concerns about the demise of the small credit union. But I’ve come to realize it’s a lot like the weather: Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. This is unfortunate. We need credit unions of all shapes and sizes to survive, and if we don’t take action soon, it will be too late.  Fortunately, there are steps the industry can take to potentially decrease the rate at which small credit unions are disappearing by making it viable for credit unions to survive by getting larger credit unions interested in making the necessary investments to keep the sma...

What Are Your Plans -As Government Shutdown Continues, Credit Unions Expand Offers of Assistance

BILOXI, Miss.— With the federal government shutdown now entering its second week, an increasing number of credit unions across the country are offering relief and financial assistance. All indications are the shutdown is no closer to ending than it has been since it began on Oct. 1. While the House has passsed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund government operations in the short term, the Senate remains at an impasse, even as it has scheduled a vote for today. In addition to the earlier assistance reported by the CU Daily  here , the latest pledges to support members include: • In Biloxi, Miss., Keesler FCU said it is offering paycheck relief for all eligible federal employees affected by the shutdown and will advance the amount of direct deposit paychecks for eligible members during the shutdown for up to 90 days. There is no cost or fee to enroll in the program. • In Nebraska, Cobalt Credit Union is offering furloughed members loans of up to $5,000 with no fees or interest...

Sunday Reading - FIRE, 101 - “financial independence, retire early,”

  Retiring at 30     FIRE, 101 Most US workers aim to retire around age 65—but for many followers of the FIRE movement, which stands for “ financial independence, retire early ,” that’s not the case. FIRE followers, who range from low- to high-income workers, typically prioritize high savings rates, relatively frugal living, and aggressive investing strategies in an effort to work less and enjoy life more in the long-term ( see five distinct approaches ). While many proponents argue that the movement is more of a mindset about achieving financial freedom than any ...