By Jason Stverak
The National Credit Union Administration rarely attracts headlines outside of the financial services industry. Yet the decisions made by the NCUA board affect millions of Americans every day, including service-members, veterans, military families, and the communities they serve.
That is why the nomination of John Crews to serve on the NCUA board deserves careful consideration—and strong support.
At the Defense Credit Union Council we represent more than 200 credit unions serving over 40 million members worldwide and more than $525 billion in assets. Our member institutions support active-duty military personnel, members of the National Guard and Reserve, veterans, and their families both at home and overseas. They provide affordable financial services, support military readiness, and serve communities that often rely on credit unions as trusted financial partners.
For those reasons, DCUC is pleased to support the nomination of John Crews to serve on the NCUA board and believes he is well qualified to take on this important role.
Our support is not based on an expectation that we will agree on every issue that comes before the agency. Quite the opposite. There will undoubtedly be times when defense credit unions and Mr. Crews reach different conclusions on regulatory priorities, supervisory approaches, or policy decisions.
That is not the standard by which regulators should be judged.
The strength of a regulatory system is not measured by the absence of disagreement. It is measured by whether decision-makers are willing to engage stakeholders, listen to competing viewpoints, understand operational realities, and thoughtfully consider the consequences of their actions.
Throughout his public service career, Mr. Crews has developed a reputation for doing exactly that. He has maintained an open-door approach, welcomed engagement from stakeholders across the financial services landscape, and demonstrated a willingness to hear differing perspectives—even when those perspectives conflict with his own. These qualities make him a strong candidate to help guide the NCUA during a period of significant change.
For an agency responsible for overseeing a cooperative financial system serving millions of Americans, those qualities matter.
Credit unions benefit when regulators are willing to engage directly with institutions, understand how regulations affect members and communities, and carefully weigh both intended and unintended consequences before implementing significant policy changes.
A Reputation For Accessibility And Thoughtful Engagement
DCUC believes Mr. Crews possesses the professionalism, integrity, intellectual honesty, and commitment to stakeholder engagement necessary to serve effectively on the NCUA board. While future policy disagreements are inevitable, his reputation for accessibility and thoughtful engagement gives us confidence that the credit union system will benefit from his service.
His nomination also comes at a pivotal moment for the credit union movement.
The financial services landscape is evolving rapidly. Technological innovation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity threats, digital assets, fintech partnerships, and changing consumer expectations are reshaping how Americans access financial services. At the same time, regulators must continue fulfilling their core responsibility of protecting consumers, preserving safety and soundness, and maintaining confidence in the financial system.
The challenge for any NCUA board member is balancing innovation with responsibility.
Credit unions need regulators who understand risk. They also need regulators who understand opportunity.
They need policymakers who can identify emerging threats without unnecessarily restricting the ability of credit unions to serve members. They need leaders who recognize that regulations designed for the largest financial institutions may not always be appropriate for smaller community-based or military-focused credit unions.
That balance begins with understanding the unique nature of the credit union system.
Unlike banks, credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives. They exist to serve people rather than outside shareholders. Their mission is rooted in improving financial well-being, expanding access to affordable financial services, and strengthening communities.
That mission should remain at the center of every major regulatory decision.
One issue that illustrates the importance of sound regulatory judgment is the preservation of the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund.
The Share Insurance Fund exists to insure member accounts as authorized by Congress under the Federal Credit Union Act. Maintaining the integrity of that statutory framework is critical to preserving confidence in the system and ensuring that the NCUA operates within the authority granted to it by law.
Strong regulators understand that lasting policy changes should be built on clear statutory foundations rather than regulatory interpretation alone.
At the same time, preserving the credit union system’s foundation does not mean resisting modernization.
DCUC has long supported responsible efforts to modernize field-of-membership requirements so that more Americans can access the benefits of cooperative financial services. Veterans, military families, underserved communities, and working Americans deserve access to affordable financial products and services.
Expanding consumer access while maintaining safety and soundness is not a contradiction. It is an opportunity.
The NCUA should continue seeking ways to ensure that regulatory frameworks evolve alongside the communities credit unions serve.
Reg Burden An Issue
Another critical issue facing the system is regulatory burden.
For many credit unions—particularly smaller institutions—compliance costs continue to grow. While robust supervision remains essential, regulators should continuously evaluate whether rules remain effective, necessary, and appropriately tailored to institutional size and complexity.
A one-size-fits-all approach to regulation often creates unintended consequences.
Smaller institutions serving local communities and military populations should not be forced to divert resources away from member service simply to comply with requirements that may have limited relevance to their risk profile.
The future of supervision must be risk-focused, transparent, and proportionate.
Credit unions also deserve examination processes that are consistent, predictable, and grounded in measurable risk. Confidence in the regulatory system is strengthened when institutions understand expectations, receive clear feedback, and have meaningful opportunities to address disagreements.
Those principles are particularly important for defense credit unions.
Military financial readiness is not merely a financial services issue. It is a readiness issue.
Financial stress impacts military families, force retention, deployment readiness, and overall mission effectiveness. Defense credit unions have spent decades supporting servicemembers through deployments, relocations, government shutdowns, overseas assignments, and economic uncertainty.
The NCUA should continue recognizing the important role these institutions play in supporting those who serve our nation.
As policymakers evaluate Mr. Crews’ nomination, they should also consider broader questions regarding liquidity preparedness, modernization of the Central Liquidity Facility, cybersecurity resilience, succession planning, vendor concentration risk, innovation, and the future of the federal credit union charter.
These are not theoretical debates.
The decisions made today will shape the future of a financial system that serves more than 140 million Americans and remains one of the most trusted sectors in financial services.
Effective regulation requires more than technical expertise.
It requires judgment.
It requires balance.
And it requires a willingness to listen.
For these reasons, DCUC is proud to support the nomination of John Crews to serve on the NCUA board. At a time when the credit union system faces both significant opportunities and complex challenges, the agency needs leaders who respect the law, understand the cooperative model, appreciate the importance of stakeholder engagement, and recognize the vital role credit unions play in strengthening communities across America.
We look forward to working with Mr. Crews should he be confirmed and remain optimistic that his approach to public service will foster the type of constructive dialogue that benefits regulators, institutions, and, most importantly, the millions of Americans who rely on credit unions every day.
For defense credit unions, that mission includes those who wear the uniform, those who have worn it, and the families who stand beside them.
That mission is worth protecting.
Jason Stverak is Chief Advocacy Officer at the Defense Credit Union Council.