Skip to main content

Mike Richards CPA Industry Trends

Weekly News Summary
Here are some things that were in the news last week. Please share these articles with your Supervisory Committee and Board of Directors. If you missed previous editions of the weekly news, summaries of those can be viewed at our archive.   

Happy Holidays!
Mike Richards, CPA

    

Economic and Industry Issues

Knowledge is the key to effective corporate governance. Staying abreast of economic and industry issues affecting your credit union will prepare you for those responsibilities.

Facing year-end cut off, U.S. banks scramble to extend COVID accounting relief Read More

 NCUA Quarterly U.S. Map Review – Third Quarter 2020 Read More

 Payments Trends In The Age of Coronavirus Read More

 The lasting impact of COVID-era audits Read More

 

Regulatory and Accounting Issues

 

Regulatory and accounting issues are changing all the time. Staying abreast of those changes is an important part of the corporate governance.

Congress agrees to $900 billion Covid stimulus deal after months of failed negotiations Read More

 NCUA extends COVID relief, approves subordinated debt rule Read More

Fraud Awareness

As you will see from reviewing these articles, fraud can happen in any credit union. Staying vigilant is the key to preventing your credit union from being the next victim.

 Grand jury indicts pair for stealing money from three St. Louis-area credit unions Read More

 Ex-manager of Denison credit union pleads not guilty to $1.5 million embezzlement  Read More

 


 

If this email was forwarded to you by another subscriber, you can join our mailing list and have the free Weekly News Summary sent directly to you. Subscribe now

 

Visit us at richardscpas.com



 





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NCUA Board Approves 11 Final Rules for Deregulation Project

Alexandria, VA (August 5, 2026) ― The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) today finalized eleven rules that were proposed for changes through the Deregulation Project. This is the first round of final rules from the ongoing Deregulation Project which is an initiative to review NCUA’s regulations and ensure they are focused on credit unions’ safety, soundness, and resilience. The final rules include: This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. Surety and Guarantor Requirements – 12 CFR 701.20(c)(3) and 701.20(d) (Opens new window) This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. Limits on Loan to Other Credit Unions – 12 CFR 701.25(b) (Opens new window) This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. Service to Underserved Areas – IRPS 08-2 (Opens new window) This is...

Making the Most of the Final Five Years Before Retirement

  NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FIRST RESPONDER CREDIT UNIONS RETIREMENT READINESS Making the Most of the Final Five Years Before Retirement A practical planning guide for first responders, credit union volunteers, employees, and their families Five years before retirement is an important checkpoint. It is the time to confirm what you have saved, understand the income you can expect, and decide whether your retirement plans match the life you want to lead.   1. Review Your Retirement Savings Start by taking a fresh look at your retirement accounts, personal savings, investments, and other assets. A retirement calculator can help estimate whether you are on track and show how additional saving during the next five years may strengthen your plan.   2. Identify Every Source of Retirement Income List the income you may receive in retirement, including pensions, Social Security, retirement-plan withdrawals, invest...

Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board, clearing the way for him to succeed Kyle Hauptman and return the agency to a single-member board following the Trump Administration's removal of Democratic board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka earlier this year. Maintaining the foundational stability of the credit union system Supporting efficient, risk-based regulation that accounts for institutional size and operational differences Preparing for technological advancement while safeguarding member assets Encouraging the growth of new credit unions to serve underbanked and military communities Preserving an open, accessible, and collaborative dialogue between the NCUA and the credit union movement Crews, who most recently served in the Treasury Department, has said his priorities include reducing regulatory burden for smaller credit unions, encouraging innovation and supporting the chartering of new credit unions, while maintaining the safety and s...

What’s Ahead for U.S. Economy? Here’s What One Former Fed Chair is Saying

 WASHINGTON–Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who headed the central bank during the 2008 financial crisis, is now warning that the United States is headed for a situation similar to that of the 1970s, when Americans were losing their jobs but still facing higher prices at the grocery store and at the pump. Ben Bernanke “Even under the benign scenario, we should have a slowing economy,” Bernanke told the New York Times in an interview in conjunction with his new book, “ 21st Century Monetary Policy: The Federal Reserve From the Great Inflation to Covid-19 ,” which is scheduled to publish today. “So, there should be a period in the next year...

New CEO Named at SF Fire CU

  In San Francisco, – SF Fire Credit Union has appointed Robert Kassab as its president and chief executive Officer. Kassab, who has served as the $1.6-billion credit union’s CFO and most recently as Interim CEO, will lead the organization as it builds on 75 years of community service and pursues an ambitious strategy for growth and member impact, the credit union said in a statement. Robert Kassab “SF Fire Credit Union has a 75-year legacy of doing right by its members, and I take that responsibility seriously,” Kassab stated. Kassab joined SF Fire Credit Union in 2022 as CFO, where he played a central role in strengthening the institution’s financial foundation and positioning the credit union for long-term growth. His appointment as CEO follows a period of interim leadership, during which he worked closely with the board to develop a strategic vision for the credit union’s future, according to SF Fire. An Institution That ‘Deserves Them Back’ “SF Fire Credit Union was built on ...

Fed Governors Signal Smaller Rate Increases Coming

WASHINGTON–There is a growing chorus among Federal Reserve governors that the central bank will be slowing it pace of rate increases when the Federal Open Markets Committee meets next on Feb. 1. Christopher Waller Among those who have signaled the days of 50 - and 75-basis point increases are over is Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, who said he believes it’s time to slow the pace of increases—but not eliminate them. If the forecast proves true, it will mark the end of the rapid increases that took place during 2022 as the Fed sought to tamp down high inflation. Central bankers are now “entering a new phase that is focused more on how high-inter...

New Consumer Due-diligence Requirements Mean Credit Unions Have to Change Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Procedures

Starting May 11, 2018, credit unions and other financial institutions are required to have new procedures in place when it comes to customer/member due-diligence, primarily involving “beneficial owners” and “legal entity” members, reminded CUNA. But the trade association reported that the new requirements do not mean credit unions have to update member information on a continuous or periodic basis. “The rule does not require credit unions to update member information on a continuous or periodic basis. The updating requirement is event-driven and only occurs as a result of detecting unusual activity through normal monitoring,” CUNA stated. The new procedures required by May 11, 2018, are: Procedures to identify and verify beneficial owners of legal entity members.  Procedures for making and maintaining a record of all the identification and verification information collected for beneficial owners of legal entity members.  Appropriate risk-based procedures for...

NCUA Webinar on Changes to Military Lending Act Regulations

Webinar on Changes to Military Lending Act Regulations Learn More about Enhanced Protections for Service Members and Their Families ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 2, 2016) – The National Credit Union Administration will host a webinar, “Preparing to Comply with Regulatory Changes to the Military Lending Act,” on Wednesday, June 29, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern. During this webinar, staff from NCUA’s Office of Consumer Protection will provide a high-level overview of the significant changes to the regulation implementing the Military Lending Act, most of which go into effect by Oct. 3. The law now covers most non-mortgage-related consumer credit extended to active duty service members and certain dependents. View the entire press release here ​

Sunday Reading - We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident .  The Declaration of Independence is the founding document that formally announced the American Colonies' break from British rule. Adopted on July 4, 1776, it laid the philosophical and moral foundation for American self-governance, asserting that individuals possess inherent rights and that governments must be accountable to the people. While it didn't create a government or legal framework, the Declaration marked the birth of the United States as a sovereign nation. >  Hear why the Continental Congress decided to declare independence, how the text took shape...

CU*South Reports 13 Core Conversions

Be sure to stop by their booth in Seattle to congratulate them! FAIRHOPE, Ala.– CU*SOUTH , a CUSO, announced it closed its conversion calendar for 2018 with a record-setting 13 core conversions. “More and more credit unions are opting for the agility and security of a cloud-based core platform,” said Starla Honea, VP of operations at CU*SOUTH. “They’re leaving the old legacy systems operated by the ‘Big-4’ banking software vendors and taking control of their future through ownership and collaboration with their peers. “If you look at the Core Data Processing Guide published by Callahan,” added Honea, “you’ll see a total of 53 core vendors listed. Forty-six of those 53 lost market share and a couple held even. Only five core providers increased the number of credit unions served – and of those five, three offered the CU*BASE solution.” Derrick Smith, COO of CU*South, said the CUSO offers its CU*Base platform to credit unions throughout the Southeastern U.S. He...