ALEXANDRIA, Va.—NCUA has launched the online Examiner’s Guide, a new, interactive tool on www.ncua.gov for examiners that provides up-to-date, comprehensive supervisory guidance on key regulatory and supervisory issues affecting the credit union system.
“Providing greater clarity on how NCUA evaluates credit union operations will reduce potential conflicts that may arise in the examination process and improve overall safety and soundness,” NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger said in a statement. “Making NCUA’s operations more effective and efficient is the goal of my Continual Quality Improvement initiative, and the online Examiner’s Guideis another example of how the agency can use technology to achieve this goal. I encourage credit union managers, compliance experts and staff to review the new material and format.”
The guide’s new online format allows readers to easily navigate to topics of interest, search for content using keywords and connect more easily to resources provided by NCUA and other regulatory agencies. The guide also includes a feedback button, allowing stakeholders to provide input and suggestions for additional clarification. Additionally, the new format allows NCUA to update the Examiner’s Guide continuously, such as in the event of a new law or regulation, changes in agency policy, new products and services or changes in the broader economy.
With the launch of the online Examiner’s Guide NCUA said it is issuing updated guidance on four topics: interest rate risk, risk-focused examinations, total analysis process and fidelity bond coverage.
NCUA said updating the content of the Examiner’s Guide has been an agency-wide effort, involving NCUA field staff and subject matter experts from across the country, as well as input from state regulators.
NCUA explained that over the course of the next year the agency will issue updated guidance on other topics. Eventually, the online Examiner’s Guide will include updated guidance on such supervisory areas as member business lending, consumer and real estate lending, internal controls, asset-liability management, investments and fraud, among others. Until that time, existing guidance found in the previous version of the Examiner’s Guide—also available on the agency’s public website here—remains in effect.
NCUA said the Examiner’s Guide provides relevant, accurate guidance that examiners can refer to during an examination. “The guide itself does not impose requirements on credit unions, though it does discuss requirements related to a law or regulation,” the agency said.
NAFCU applauded the agency’s new guide, noting that the trade association has long sought the online tool.
“Everyone benefits from being on the same page,” said Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel Carrie Hunt. “We appreciate the new format to allow the dissemination of up-to-date guidance.”