Skip to main content

NCUA Worries About Rising Delinquencies

Economist says credit card delinquency rates have now topped levels of the Great Recession.

By Jim DuPlessis | June 05, 2024 at 06:00 PMNCUA official seal NCUA official seal. Credit/NCUA

Results for the first quarter show credit unions remain in sound financial condition, but rising delinquency rates are a top concern, NCUA officials said Wednesday.

Also, credit unions charged off a net $12.9 billion in loans in the three months ending March 31, up 63% from a year earlier and up 36% from the fourth quarter.

That translates into a net charge-off ratio of 0.80% for the first quarter, up from 0.52% a year earlier and 0.61% in the fourth quarter.

NCUA Deputy Chief Economist Rachel Cononi said rising delinquencies have become the biggest concern of agency officials, especially the delinquency rate on credit cards, which has now exceeded rates during the Great Recession.

NCUA data released Wednesday showed 0.78% of the balance of all types of loans was at least 60 days late as of March 31, up from 0.53% a year earlier, but down from 0.83% on Dec. 31.

While the overall delinquency rate fell 5 basis points from Dec. 31, Cononi said the main reason was the seasonal winter boost in savings and loan payoffs as households get tax refunds.

Without the background financial struggles among households, she estimated the delinquency rate would have retreated about twice as much over the three months.

Delinquency rates by loan type on March 31 were:

  • 2.02% for credit cards, up from 1.48% a year earlier and down from 2.11% on Dec. 31.
  • 0.79% for auto loans, up from 0.58% a year earlier and 0.90% on Dec. 31.
  • 0.47% for first mortgages, up from 0.29% a year earlier and 0.56% on Dec. 31.

The 4,572 federally insured credit unions had $1.60 trillion in loans on March 31, up 4.6% from a year earlier, but down 0.1% from Dec. 31. Deposits were $1.93 trillion, up 2.4% from a year earlier and up 2.8% from Dec. 31.

Cononi said most of the growth in savings is coming from share certificates, which were up 43% from a year earlier.

Still, she said credit unions are financially sound with a net worth ratio of 10.62%, up from 10.478% a year earlier. As CU Times previously reported, annualized returns on average assets were 0.66% in the first quarter, down from 1.05% a year earlier, but up from 0.48% in the fourth quarter.

For the first time, NCUA data revealed the amounts of overdraft and non-sufficient fund (NSF) fees collected by credit unions with at least $1 billion in assets. The data showed 433 of the 443 credit unions charged $915.6 million in overdraft and NSF fees in the first quarter, or about 18% of non-interest income.

Ten credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets did not charge overdraft or NSF fees.

On Wednesday, Board member Tanya Outsuka said overdraft and non-sufficient funds fees need to be disclosed because they can impact credit unions, the credit union system and credit union member-owners, many of whom are of modest means.

Tanya Outsuka Tanya Outsuka

"NCUA needs to make sure the fees are not extractive, reasonable and beneficial to members," she said. "The most vulnerable members are paying the bulk of the fees."

Comments

Post a Comment

Please no profanity or political comments.

Popular posts from this blog

NCUA Board Approves Final Rule on Dependent Care and Board Member Reimbursement

Alexandria, VA (June 8, 2026) ― The National Credit Union Administration today issued a final rule for Dependent Care and Board Member Reimbursement. The NCUA Board amended its regulations concerning the reimbursement of reasonable expenses for federal credit union officials to remove potential barriers to volunteer service. This final rule provides flexibility for a federal credit union’s board to adopt more family-friendly policies tailored to its size, region, and operations. Previously, dependent care costs had not been considered reasonable expenses under NCUA regulation 12 C.F.R. 701.33.  The final rule applies to all federal credit unions, including corporate federal credit unions. It will not apply to federally insured, state-chartered credit unions, which remain subject to state law. The final rule is effective 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register and takes into consideration public comments received from the proposed rule that was issued on Januar...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Update from TruStage - Forecast for CU, Economic Performance for Remainder of 2026, 2027

MADISON, Wis. — Credit unions are expected to post stronger loan, deposit , and asset growth in 2026 despite a slowing economy, persistent inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and continued pressure on consumers, according to TruStage’s latest  Credit Union Trends Report . The report, prepared by TruStage Chief Economist Steve Rick and based on December 2025 data, forecasts credit union loan growth will accelerate to 5.5% in 2026 from 4.6% in 2025, while savings growth is projected to increase to 6.5% from 5.5%. Asset growth is expected to improve to 6.2% in 2026 from 5.4% in 2025. Credit union membership growth is forecast to reach 1.8% in 2026 and 2.0% in 2027. The CU Daily has separate reporting on credit union performance by category here .  According to TruStage, a changing global economic environment has altered its outlook for both the U.S. economy and the credit union system. The report noted disruptions stemming from the closing of the Strait of Hormuz have created su...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

The Widely Cited Mortgage Lending Benchmark 45% DTI May No Longer Reflect How Lenders Evaluate Borrowers, Says Fed Bank

In an analysis of more than 30 million home-purchase mortgage applications filed between 2018 and 2024, researchers found that the long-discussed 43% debt-to-income ratio threshold has little apparent impact on mortgage approval decisions. Instead, denial rates begin to rise sharply once applicants exceed a debt-to-income ratio of 50%. The findings were published as part of a four-part series examining barriers facing prospective homebuyers. ‘Practical Lesson is Clear’ “For borrowers, the practical lesson is clear: A debt-to-income ratio of 45% is treated by lenders much like a ratio of 35%,” the researchers wrote. “But crossing 50% changes the game entirely.” The 43% debt-to-income ratio gained prominence under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which established it as a key threshold for so-called qualified mortgages. Loans meeting that standard provided lenders with legal protections against ability-to-repay lawsuits. However, in 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau replaced the rat...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

The FedNow Service will launch in 2023 "Are you ready?"

The FedNow Service is a new instant payment service that the Federal Reserve Banks are developing to enable financial institutions of every size, and in every community across the U.S., to provide safe and efficient instant payment services in real-time, around the clock, every day of the year. Through financial institutions participating in the FedNow Service, businesses and individuals will be able to send and receive instant payments conveniently, and recipients will have full access to funds immediately, giving them greater flexibility to manage their money and make time-sensitive payments. Consistent with the Federal Reserve’s historical role of providing payment services alongside private-sector providers, the FedNow Service will provide choice in the market for clearing and settling instant payments as well as promote resiliency through redundancy. Financial institutions and their service providers will be able to use the service as a springboard to provide innovative instant p...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Admit It, You’re Curious: Learn These Strategies to Write Better Headlines

Headlines have become increasingly important in the online era, and associations have to write a lot of them. Here are a few tips to leverage to maximize your content’s reach. By Ernie Smith Apr 20, 2022 Associations may not be newspapers, but like publications and other media outlets, they have to write a lot of headlines, whether for blog posts, emails, white papers, or other communications. Here are some headline-writing tips to help you draw in your audience, and move the needle on your messaging. Focus on the Power of SEO Writers and search engine optimization don’t always fit together comfortably, but the fact of the matter is, many people are going to find your articles through methods such as search engines. If your headlines are written to be cute or funny rather than relevant, it could threaten the reach of the stories you write. As Poynter noted , it’s important to embrace things that in a prior era of headline writing would be considered a no-no, such as us...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

The 10-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Worth Bragging About

Sound like anyone we know? “Approximately half of its membership is 50 years old or older, says Star One marketing manager Susanna Fong. The 10-year mortgage is meant to entice those members close to retirement to bring their loans — including the remainder of a 30-year-mortgage — to the credit union.” How Star One’s 14-month-old mortgage product attracts both young professionals and soon-to-be retirees. By Erik Payne creditunions.com For borrowers nearing retirement, desirable mortgage options are limited. Long-term loans can extend into retirement years and cut into savings earmarked for food, travel, and other expenses. Short-term loans can make budgeting difficult for the remaining working years. Star One Credit Union ($7.2B, Sunnyvale, CA) understands that borrowers want to be free of loan obligations before they leave the workforce without breaking the bank to do so. So in January of 2014, the credit union introduced a promotional 10-year fixed-rate mortgage that charges no...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Reactions To Historic NAFCU/CUNA Merger

By Ray Birch CUToday WASHINGTON–Just what will the proposed merger between CUNA and NAFCU mean to individual credit unions? A survey of CUToday.info of CEOs across the country has found generally neutral to positive reactions, with many taking a wait-and-see approach, but others having concerns over a lack of “checks and balances,” compensation paid to association executives, and fewer resources for smaller credit unions. The CUToday.info poll of CEOs on the question of having just one national trade association representing the nation’s 4,800 credit unions also found many see benefits from the consolidation, such as a stronger and more unified voice in Washington, greater efficiencies and potentially lower overall costs for membership. CUToday.info has made multiple attempts to get additional comment from CUNA and NAFCU beyond the statements issued earlier this week and asking for more details on the merger and what lies ahead, but both trade groups have declined comment...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Emerging Risks and How to Mitigate Them

5 Emerging Risks and How to Mitigate Them With each technological advance emerges new risk. Think about it: Every technology upgrade, new mobile device and new payment method brings exposure that wasn’t identified previously. The real threat occurs when these risks aren’t anticipated or communicated within your organization. Here are five emerging risks every credit union should have on their radar right now: Social media. Employees posting comments on social media that are inaccurate or appear incomplete or disparaging can threaten your organization’s reputation. Be careful when taking disciplinary action, as the National Labor Relations Board can classify social media activity as “protected concerted activity.” Mistakes here can lead to retaliation, wrongful termination claims and expensive litigation. Internet of Things (IoT) era . The IoT offers new tools and technologies that provide constant connectivity. It also creates new opportunities for data compromises. Workplace ...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Cutting Through The Stablecoin Noise—What Credit Unions Actually Need To Know Now

By Ray Birch DOVER, Del.—By any measure, stablecoins have quickly become one of the most talked-about—and least understood—topics in credit union boardrooms. The pressure to “do something” is building, fueled by headlines, fintech momentum and a growing fear of being left behind. But according to InvestiFi CEO Kian Sarreshteh, that urgency may be misplaced. “There’s a lot of FOMO right now,” Sarreshteh said. “If I don’t adopt a stablecoin solution this year, I’m going to be left behind. I would argue pretty strongly that’s very far from the truth.” Instead of rushing to sign up for a Stablecoin pilot, Sarreshteh said credit unions should begin with a more fundamental question: what problem are you actually trying to solve? While stablecoins are often discussed as a potential challenger to traditional payment rails dominated by Visa and Mastercard, he believes that kind of mass-market disruption remains years away—especially in the U.S., where consumers already have fast, convenient opt...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»

Court Rules Bank’s Extended Overdraft Fee is Not ‘Interest’

CUT0day DENVER–A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10 th Circuit has ruled that one national bank’s extended overdraft fee is not “interest” under the National Bank Act (NBA). The court ruled in  Walker v. BOKF, National Association  that the extended overdraft fees charged by BOKF were not “interest” under the National Bank Act (NBA).  The Tenth Circuit’s ruling on what it called “an issue of first impression in this circuit” follows similar rulings by the First and Fifth Circuits, Consumer Finance Monitor reported. “The plaintiff had a checking account with BOKF.  When presented with an item that overdrew the plaintiff’s account, BOKF elected to pay the item and charged the plaintiff an initial overdraft fe...
Post a Comment
Read Complete Article HERE>»