Skip to main content

Credit Union Conserved to Protect Public’s Interest Without Explanation

Although the Texas Credit Union Department said conservatorship for the $106 million Edinburg Teachers Credit Union was necessary to protect the public interest, the regulator cited no specific reason – not even the usual unsafe or unsound practices – for taking over the credit union.

The Texas regulator appointed the NCUA as the conservator to the Edinburg, Texas-based credit union. The announcement from the independent federal agency that it was appointed conservator was released shortly before 6 p.m. EST on Friday.

While ETCU’s financial performance reports showed the credit union was not struggling financially or losing money, the credit union’s 2019 IRS 990 return showed that its former President/CEO Jeffrey B. Moats was paid a total compensation of $1,611,821, which was four times the median base salary and bonus pay for CEOs across all asset sizes in 2019.

According to the 2020 CUES Executive Compensation Survey, the median base salary and bonus compensation package totaled $412,713 for credit union CEOs across all asset sizes in 2019. Among credit unions that managed assets of $100 million to $199 million, the total CEO compensation amounted to $196,178 in 2020, according to the CUES survey.

In 2019, Moats received a base pay of $467,600; bonus and incentive pay of $102,960 and other reportable compensation of $1,004,589. He also received $25,000 in retirement and other deferred compensation and $11,672 in nontaxable benefits, according to ETCU’s 2019 IRS 990 filing.

What’s more, in 2016 the former executive received a total compensation of $1,534,582; $1,315,705 in 2012 and $937,390 in 2014, ETCU’s IRS 990 returns showed.

Additionally, Moats was paid more than $550,000 annually in total compensation in 2008, 2017 and 2018, according to the credit union’s IRS 990 returns. And in 2015, he received a total compensation of $461,446.

In 2009 and 2010, Moats was paid more than $260,000 in each year, while in 2011 and 2013, he received more than $300,000 in each year, ETCU’s IRS 990 returns showed.

From 2008 to 2019, Moats received $8,799,709 in total compensation.

Efforts by CU Times to reach Moats on a listed number were not successful.

In all of the credit union’s IRS 990 returns from 2008 to 2019, it stated or affirmed that the process of determining compensation of the CEO included a review and approval by independent persons, comparability data and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision.

From 2016 to 2019, ETCU’s total compensation and benefits for all employees increased from $1.6 million to $1.9 million, while its compensation and benefits total declined slightly to $1.8 million last year, according to NCUA financial performance reports. From 2016 to 2020, the credit union employed about eight full-time employees and three to six part-time employees, according to ETCU’s Call Reports.

The average salary and benefits for seven full-time ETCU employees at the end of 2020 was $223,371, compared to its peer average of $73,832, according to NCUA financial performance reports.

The credit union’s current profile report filed with the NCUA in December 2020 listed Moats as the CEO and as a board member, along with four other board members. They were Richard K. Kanipe, board chair; Joe L. Cantu Jr., vice board chair; Brian Warren, board secretary and treasurer; and board member Dale M. Ramos. The two supervisory committee members were Donald G. Strong and Daniel Roma.

While under conservatorship, ETCU will continue normal operations at its one branch for its 12,572 members, the NCUA said in its prepared statement.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Loan Growth Part 3

MADISON, Wis.–Credit union loan balances rose 1.1% in February, faster than the 0.2% reported in February 2021, even as membership growth slowed significantly during the first two months of 2022, according to data released as part of CUNA Mutual’s April Trends Report. The Report, which is based on data through February, showed overall loan growth was 9.6% during the last 12 months. What is actually happening below the surface? According to the Trends Report, consistent with the trend line the analysis shows large credit unions reported significantly faster loan growth in 2021 as compared to smaller credit unions. Credit unions with assets greater than $1 billion reported loan growth of 8.4% compared to credit unions with assets less than $20 million, reporting loan growth of 0.9%. Here's a look at how credit unions performed by category, according to the newest Trends Report” ...

Banking During and After COVID-19

Before COVID-19, the banking industry was experiencing an unprecedented period of growth and prosperity. Despite increasing consumer expectations and increased competition from non-traditional financial institutions, most banks and credit unions were stronger than at any period since the financial crisis of 2008. In a matter of only a few weeks, the world of banking has experienced a level of disruption that will change everything that had been the norm in financial services. There has not only been a major change in the way financial institutions conduct business but in the way, employees do their work and the way consumers manage their finances. Banks and credit unions must use this time of disruption to consider reinventing themselves from the inside out. It is a time when we need to better understand the way consumers expect their financial institution to support their financial needs. This includes the way banks and credit unions use data, AI, technology and human resources t...

Not Your Mother’s Credit Union

“Stablecoins aren’t a speculative play. They’re the next evolution of payments — and a chance for credit unions to lead, not lag. It starts with connecting members to DLT rails - the digital wallet. Without that, nothing else can happen. It’s just a new payment rail - embrace it or lose the relationship. It’s that simple.” While ‘ stablecoins ’ were the prevailing buzzword across Money20/20 this year, the credit union industry had a significant presence. Small financial institutions have staked a place in the future of payments. Credit unions  received a significant boost this summer with the enactment of the stablecoin bill into law. The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act authorizes subsidiaries of federally insured credit unions, such as credit union service organizations, to become issuers. Not Your Mother’s Credit Union A Money20/20  fireside chat  with the regulator for credit unions that I moderated focused on the rulemaking task a...

Fed cuts interest rates for the second time this year

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the second time this year in a continued bid to prevent unemployment from surging. Fed officials voted for another quarter-point rate cut, lowering their benchmark lending rate to a range between 3.75% and 4%, the lowest in three years. It is the first time since the Fed’s rate-setting committee was established in the 1930s that officials have set monetary policy while lacking an entire month of crucial government employment data due to a government shutdown. ____________________________________ Check out NCOFCU's additional features: First Responder Credit Union Academy Podcasts YouTube Mini's Blog Job Board

Two Members of FOMC Indicate December Rate Cut Not a Sure Thing

  WASHINGTON–Two members of the Fed’s Open Market Committee have indicated they are in no hurry to further cut rates, despite market expectations. “I’m not decided going into the December meeting” and “my threshold for cutting is a little bit higher than it was at the last two meetings,” Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said in a Yahoo Finance interview. “I am nervous about the inflation side of the ledger, where you’ve seen inflation above the target for four and a half years, and it’s trending the wrong way.” Goolsbee was interviewed after last week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting that saw policymakers cut their interest rate target by a quarter percentage point, to between 3.75% and 4%, as officials sought to offset rising risks to the job market while still keeping interest rates in a position where they’ll help lower inflation pressures, noted Yahoo Finance. As the report also noted, Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned last week that “a further r...

CUs Encouraged to Promote Automatic Savings Plans

America Saves Week and Military Saves Week kick off this weekend. The week-long, national campaigns will begin Feb. 19 with events that aim to unite government, nonprofit and corporate groups to encourage individuals and families to save and build personal wealth. This year’s campaign theme – “Set Goals, Make a Plan, Save Automatically” – promotes the need for families to get aggressive with automatic savings.****READ MORE: CUs Encouraged to Promote Automatic Savings Plans :

Lifesaving Companion Dog Takes On New Role With Injured Firefighter « CBS New York

Lifesaving Companion Dog Takes On New Role With Injured Firefighter « CBS New York : "NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A badly injured New York firefighter received a companion dog whose already saved people’s lives from fire. As CBS2’s Dave Carlin reported, disabled firefighter Tom Prin beamed as he was officially presented with his new canine companion Halona inside of a packed ceremony in Suffolk County. The former firefighter was one of 15 people receiving their canine companions. Prin was chosen because of what he’s been through — after fracturing his neck and back while responding to a Brooklyn fire. “When I was going from the third to fourth floor, the steps gave out and I fell through the fire escape,” he said. Prin has endured five spinal surgeries, but the Holtsville man will now be comforted by Halona who has quite the lifesaving resume herself." Click HERE to read full story and see video 'via Blog this'

Zelle Says It Will Allow Users to Make International Payments Using Stablecoins

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz .–   Zelle  has announced plans to allow users to start making international payments using stablecoins. The move by Early Warning Services, which operates the P2P payments network Zelle and which is owned by a consortium of large banks, comes in the wake of the passage of the GENIUS Act, which is designed to usher stablecoins into the regulated financial system. Stablecoins are a digital currency that is pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar. As the CU Daily reported  here , credit unions were strongly urged during an event last week to not just start paying attention to stablecoins but to begin taking action as interchange income is threatened. Similarly, analysts said the move by Zelle to help users move money across borders is a defensive move in response to what is expected to be the growing use of stablecoins by consumers and businesses. Early Warning Services did not indicate how it would work or when it would launch, according to sever...

Housing Forecast 2026: Mortgage Rates Remain Above 6%, but Affordability Improves Modestly

  Mortgage rates will continue to average above 6% next year, but affordability will improve modestly as the typical monthly payment falls below 30% of a household's income for the first time since 2022, the  Realtor.com®  economic research team predicts in its  2026 housing forecast . The forecast predicts  mortgage rates  will average 6.3% across 2026, a slight improvement from the 6.6% full-year average expected for 2025, but still well above the 4% historic average recorded from 2013 to 2019. Nationally, home prices will continue to grow 2.2% through the end of next year, after rising by 2% in 2025, the forecast indicates. However,  incomes  and overall inflation are expected to continue rising faster than growth in home prices, delivering a slight boost to affordability. Read the complete story and review graphs;  HERE    _______________________________________ Join/Upgrade Check out some of NCOFCU's additional features: First ...