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

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...

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...

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 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...

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 ...

White Paper from WOCCU Examines How Stablecoins are Reshaping Financial Infrastructure

WASHINGTON– World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has released a new white paper that examines how stablecoins are reshaping the financial infrastructure that credit unions and other cooperative financial institutions rely on to serve their members.  According to WOCCU, the white paper, How Digital Money Is Impacting Credit Unions, Part 1: Focus on Stablecoins , is the first in a planned three-part series exploring how emerging forms of digital money are affecting the global credit union movement.  “The report begins by noting that stablecoins are no longer a niche fintech development, but part of a broader structural shift in how money is stored, moved and regulated,” WOCCU explained. “As commercial banks, payment networks, technology firms and retailers build stablecoin offerings or integrate stablecoin rails into their platforms, credit unions must consider how these changes could affect deposits, payments, member relationships and long-term institutional relevance.” For ...

The Federal Reserve decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4

  Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement For release at 2:00 p.m. EDT Share The Federal Open Market Committee approved the following statement for release by a 9 – 3 vote: The Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3-1/2 to 3-3/4 percent, in support of the Federal Reserve's dual mandate. The Committee is continuing its policy of maintaining ample reserves in the banking system. Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East. Productivity growth and capital investment are strong. Job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little. Inflation remains elevated relative to the Committee's 2 percent goal, in part reflecting supply shocks that have driven price increases in certain sectors, including energy. The Committee will deliver price stability.   Voting against the monetary policy action were Beth M. Hammack, Neel Kashk...

Fed Keeps Interest Rates on Hold in Split Decision at Final Meeting of Powell Era

  By  Keith Griffith April 29, 2026 In an unexpectedly close split decision,  Federal Reserve policymakers  have decided to keep interest rates on pause in what is likely to be the final meeting under the supervision of Fed Chair  Jerome Powell . Powell joined the 8-4 majority on the  Federal Open Market Committee  to vote in favor of leaving the  federal funds rate unchanged  at Wednesday's meeting in Washington, DC, judging inflation as running too hot to justify a rate cut. At a press conference after the vote, Powell revealed that he will remain on the board of governors as a regular member after his term as chairman ends, saying: "After my term as chair ends on May 15, I will continue to serve as a governor for a period of time to be determined. I plan to keep a low profile as a governor. There is only ever one chair of the Federal Reserve Board." Read the complete story here.

Report Probes Just How Sophisticated and Pervasive Fraud Has Become

BOSTON–Fraud threats facing credit unions are becoming more sophisticated and pervasive as digital banking expands and artificial intelligence tools enable increasingly complex attacks, according to new research and analysis from PYMNTS Intelligence .  The report said fraud has evolved from isolated incidents into a “persistent, systemwide threat” that affects every stage of the member journey, from onboarding and authentication to transactions and account servicing.  According to the report, fraudsters are increasingly using coordinated, multichannel schemes that challenge traditional fraud detection and response systems. PYMNTS Intelligence said attackers are no longer exploiting single vulnerabilities but are instead orchestrating broader campaigns involving impersonation, credential theft and unauthorized transfers.  The Findings Among the report’s findings, according to PYMNTS: One in 10 consumers encountered card fraud during the past year. Most fraud incidents occu...

Supreme Court Won't Hear FOM Appeal ABA Rendering Case Void

On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States denied an appeal from the American Bankers Association to review the NCUA’s field of membership (FOM) rules. This decision by the Supreme Court brings to an end an almost four-year legal battle by the AMA against the NCUA. Shortly after the Supreme Court’s decision, CUNA, NAFCU and CUNA Mutual Group released a joint announcement stating the groups “have long supported the rule and the NCUA’s authority to provide oversight for the credit union industry.” “Today is a great day for anyone hoping to access the financial well-being afforded by credit unions,” said CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle. In denying the bankers’ lawsuit, the Court has established credit unions’ mission and structure as part of the fabric of America. In recognizing the NCUA’s right to oversee our system, the Court has also established a much-needed firewall from spurious attacks by the bankers. CUNA looks forward to working with the NCUA and credit unions to find new ...