Bylaws; Bank Conversions and Mergers; and Voluntary Mergers of Federally Insured Credit Unions, 26605-26615 [2017-11331]

Agencies

• National Credit Union Administration

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 109 (Thursday, June 8, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26605-26615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11331]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 109 / Thursday, June 8, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 26605]]



NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Parts 701, 708a, and 708b

RIN 3133-AE73


Bylaws; Bank Conversions and Mergers; and Voluntary Mergers of 
Federally Insured Credit Unions

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to revise the procedures a 
federal credit union (FCU) must follow to merge voluntarily with 
another credit union. The proposed changes: Revise and clarify the 
contents and format of the member notice; require merging FCUs to 
disclose all merger-related financial arrangements for covered persons; 
increase the minimum member notice period; and provide procedures to 
allow reasonable member-to-member communications regarding the proposed 
merger. The proposed changes also make conforming amendments to NCUA 
regulations governing termination of federal share insurance when the 
continuing credit union is not an FCU.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(Please send comments by one method only):
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     NCUA Web site: https://www.ncua.gov/Legal/Regs/Pages/PropRegs.aspx. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: Address to regcomments@ncua.gov. Include ``[Your 
name]--Comments on Voluntary Mergers of Federally Insured Credit 
Unions'' in the email subject line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public Inspection: You can view all public comments on NCUA's Web 
site at https://www.ncua.gov/Legal/Regs/Pages/PropRegs.aspx as 
submitted, except for those we cannot post for technical reasons. NCUA 
will not edit or remove any identifying or contact information from the 
public comments submitted. You may inspect paper copies of comments in 
NCUA's law library at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-
3428, by appointment weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To make an 
appointment, call (703) 518-6546 or send an email to OGCMail@ncua.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Wirick, Senior Staff 
Attorney, or Benjamin M. Litchfield, Staff Attorney, Office of General 
Counsel, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428 or telephone (703) 
518-6540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background
II. Section-by-Section Analysis
III. Conforming and Clarifying Amendments to Other NCUA Regulations
IV. Regulatory Procedures

I. Background

    Section 205 of the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) prohibits a 
federally insured credit union (FICU) from merging or consolidating 
with any other FICU without prior written approval of the Board.\1\ 
This includes the acquisition, either directly or indirectly, of the 
assets or liabilities of any other FICU. In granting or withholding 
approval for a merger, the Board is required to consider the following 
statutory factors: The history, financial condition, and management 
policies of the FICU; the adequacy of the FICU's reserves; the economic 
advisability of the transaction; the general character and fitness of 
the FICU's management; the convenience and needs of the members to be 
served by the FICU; and whether the FICU is a cooperative association 
organized for the purpose of promoting thrift among its members and 
creating a source of credit for provident or productive purposes.\2\
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    \1\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(b)(3).
    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(c).
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    The Board adopted a voluntary merger rule pursuant to its authority 
to administer the FCU Act.\3\ The voluntary merger rule requires credit 
unions proposing to merge to submit a merger package that includes a 
plan summarizing the details of the merger, including any ``merger-
related financial arrangements,'' and, for FCUs, proposed disclosures 
to members.\4\ NCUA regional offices or, for corporate credit unions or 
natural person credit unions with greater than $10 billion in assets, 
the Office of National Examinations and Supervision (ONES), review the 
merger package and, if the proposed merger meets the field of 
membership and safety and soundness requirements, approve the 
merger.\5\ The voluntary merger rule also requires merging FCUs to 
inform their members about particular aspects of the merger plan and 
give members the opportunity to vote on the merger.\6\
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    \3\ 12 CFR 708b.
    \4\ 12 CFR 708b.104.
    \5\ 12 CFR 708b.105.
    \6\ 12 CFR 708b.106.
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    As with any maturing industry, the Board recognizes that credit 
unions are experiencing a period of significant consolidation. Much of 
this consolidation is occurring through voluntary mergers. This 
increase in merger activity is a natural part of the business lifecycle 
and can be driven by one or more of several factors including the 
desire to provide members with additional products or services, the 
difficulty in identifying successors for long-serving senior management 
or volunteers, or the need for additional staff resources. As credit 
unions seek to increase operating efficiencies through enhanced 
economies of scale and scope, the Board expects this trend to continue.
    Some credit unions may find themselves in the position of being a 
potential merger partner with more than one credit union. In this 
position, management must appropriately evaluate competing 
opportunities and consider which merger partner would be in their 
members' best interests in terms of member philosophy and continued or 
expanded products or

[[Page 26606]]

services.\7\ Recent merger trends in the credit union industry, 
however, suggest that some prospective merger partners may be seeking 
to influence the merging credit union by offering financial incentives 
to management and certain highly compensated employees to support the 
merger that the Board believes should be disclosed to members.
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    \7\ See 71 FR 77150, 77155 (Dec. 22, 2006). NCUA has previously 
provided guidance on general duties of FCU directors in Letter to 
Federal Credit Unions 11-FCU-02 (Feb. 2011).
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    NCUA has analyzed recent voluntary merger transactions and is 
seeking comments on revisions to the voluntary merger rule to address 
these potential conflicts of interest. The proposed revisions address 
the timing and contents of the notice provided to members of the 
merging FCU, provide dissenting members with an opportunity to make 
their views known to the general membership, address the material that 
must be submitted to NCUA for review, and revise definitions. In 
addition, the proposed rule reorganizes the current rule to improve 
readability and clarity. These revisions will help ensure that a 
merging FCU's member-owners have more complete and accurate information 
regarding a proposed merger, including disclosure of financial 
arrangements that could create conflicts of interest for credit union 
management. The Board is asking for comment on all aspects of the 
proposed rule.
    The Board recognizes that the concerns addressed in the proposed 
rule may not be limited to mergers where the merging credit union is an 
FCU. Offering financial incentives to management and certain highly 
compensated employees of a merging credit union to support a merger may 
present safety and soundness risks, as well as member protection 
issues, which endanger the continuing credit union regardless of 
whether the merging credit union is an FCU or a federally insured, 
state-chartered credit union (FISCU). Accordingly, the Board requests 
specific comments on whether the proposed rule should also apply to 
merging FISCUs.

II. Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 708b.2 Definitions

    The Board proposes to require merging FCUs to disclose to members 
any increase in compensation or benefits that any ``covered person'' 
will receive because of a merger. Accordingly, the proposed rule amends 
Sec.  708b.2 by adding a definition for ``covered person,'' amending 
the definition of ``merger-related financial arrangement,'' and 
removing the definition of ``senior management official.'' In addition, 
the proposed rule adds a definition of ``record date'' to clarify which 
members are eligible to vote on a proposed merger.
Covered Person
    The Board is proposing to expand the scope of the definition of 
``merger-related financial arrangement'' to include compensation 
arrangements with management and certain highly compensated employees 
rather than just senior management officials or directors. In some 
recent voluntary mergers involving smaller credit unions, the Board has 
observed that the current definition of ``senior management official'' 
is under-inclusive, failing to capture some individuals who perform 
significant managerial duties or exert substantial influence on credit 
union decisions but do not have the title of chief executive officer, 
assistant chief executive officer, or chief financial officer.
    Often, a staff member with another title who is responsible for 
functional areas such as lending or investments will play a similar 
role as staff with titles covered under the current rule. The Board 
believes that members have the right to know about all staff with 
leadership roles and functions, regardless of title, who receive 
increased compensation as a result of a merger transaction. 
Accordingly, the Board is proposing to revise the definition of 
``merger related financial arrangement'' to include payments made to 
these individuals.
    As a result, the Board is proposing to remove the definition of 
``senior management official'' from Sec.  708b.2 and add a definition 
for ``covered person.'' The term ``covered person'' would include the 
credit union's chief executive officer or manager; the four most highly 
compensated employees other than the chief executive officer or 
manager; and any member of the board of directors or supervisory 
committee.
    The Board seeks specific comments on this approach including 
whether the number of covered persons should be expanded to include 
additional employees with management responsibility or who are in a 
position of influence. For example, NCUA could require disclosure 
regarding the ten most highly compensated employees to adequately 
capture merger-related financial arrangements that may occur in mergers 
involving large, sophisticated credit unions or lower the number to one 
or two employees for smaller institutions. Alternatively, the Board 
seeks specific comments on whether credit unions should be required to 
disclose merger-related financial arrangements for all employees 
regardless of management responsibility or level of influence. The 
Board may adjust the definition of ``covered person'' in the final rule 
based on the persuasiveness of the comments.
Merger-Related Financial Arrangement
    The Board adopted a definition for ``merger-related financial 
arrangement'' in 2010 as part of a rulemaking addressing, among other 
things, conflicts of interest for senior management officials or 
directors involved in bank conversions and voluntary mergers.\8\ The 
definition is part of a disclosure regime designed to ensure that 
members of a converting or merging credit union are aware of any 
compensation or other benefits that senior management and directors may 
receive as a result of a proposed conversion or merger.\9\
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    \8\ 75 FR 81378 (Dec. 28, 2010).
    \9\ 75 FR at 81384.
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    The term ``merger-related financial arrangement'' is defined in the 
current part 708b as any material increase in compensation (including 
indirect compensation, for example, bonuses, deferred compensation, or 
other financial rewards) or benefits that any board member or senior 
management official of a merging credit union may receive in connection 
with a merger transaction.\10\ A material increase means an increase 
that exceeds 15% of the senior management official or director's 
current compensation or $10,000, whichever is greater.
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    \10\ 12 CFR 708b.2.
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    This definition covers any compensation, of any sort, that meets 
the 15% or $10,000 threshold that a senior management official or 
director would not otherwise receive if the merging credit union does 
not merge. Similar in scope to part 750, NCUA's regulation addressing 
golden parachutes and indemnification payments, this includes 
compensation paid by the continuing credit union or the merging credit 
union.\11\ In determining whether

[[Page 26607]]

such compensation exists, NCUA applies a ``but for'' test to determine 
whether the senior management official or director would not otherwise 
receive the compensation but for the merger.
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    \11\ The voluntary merger rule is also similar to the golden 
parachute rule in its definition of ``payment.'' The golden 
parachute rule defines ``payment'' as (a) any direct or indirect 
transfer of any funds or any asset; (b) any forgiveness of any debt 
or other obligation; (c) the conferring of any benefit; or (d) any 
segregation of any funds or assets, the establishment or funding of 
any trust or the purchase of or arrangement for any letter of credit 
or other instrument, for the purpose of making, or pursuant to any 
agreement to make, any payment on or after the date on which the 
funds or assets are segregated, or at the time of or after such 
trust is established or letter of credit or other instrument is made 
available, without regard to whether the obligation to make such 
payment is contingent on: (1) The determination, after such date, of 
the liability for the payment of such amount; or (2) the 
liquidation, after such date, of the amount of such payment. 12 CFR 
750.1(i).
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    In the years since adopting this definition, the Board has observed 
that it has often been difficult for merging credit unions to determine 
if a particular compensation increase meets the 15% or $10,000 
threshold. For example, in some cases, a continuing credit union offers 
a more robust package of benefits to its executives than the merging 
credit union, and if a senior management official or director from the 
merging credit union remains employed at the continuing credit union, 
they will also receive those benefits. But when these benefits depend 
on continued employment for an extended period, or are subject to 
factors that are not yet known, as is the case with many pension plans, 
comparing these potential future benefits to the thresholds may be 
difficult.
    To simplify compliance with the voluntary merger rule and ensure 
that members have relevant information about the merger, the Board is 
proposing to redefine ``merger-related financial arrangement'' to 
include all increases in compensation or benefits that a covered person 
has received during the 24 months prior to the date of the approval of 
the merger plan by the boards of directors of both credit unions. The 
definition would also include all future compensation or benefits that 
would not be received but for the merger taking place, regardless of 
the amount. While this may result in merging credit unions reporting 
more information to members, the Board believes that the benefits to 
members from the additional disclosures and the added clarity in the 
rule outweigh the seemingly relatively minor burdens of any additional 
reporting requirements. The proposed definition will apply to all 
increases in compensation and benefits from either the merging or the 
continuing credit union.
    The Board has observed that some merging credit unions attempt to 
define the term ``merger-related financial arrangement'' narrowly to 
only include increases in compensation or benefits made around the same 
time as the completion of the merger. This interpretation of what 
constitutes a ``merger-related financial arrangement,'' however, is 
inconsistent with NCUA's interpretation. The current definition of 
``merger-related financial arrangement'' was never intended to only 
apply to payments that are provided at the same time as the proposed 
merger. Instead, the definition is broad in scope applying to any 
increase in compensation or benefits that NCUA determines would not be 
provided but for the merger regardless of whether that increase is made 
before or after the completion of the merger. Accordingly, the Board 
proposes to clarify the definition to make it unambiguous that the rule 
applies both retrospectively and prospectively.
    Under the current rule, the historical look back period is arguably 
open-ended provided that NCUA believes that an arrangement is 
sufficiently merger-related to warrant disclosure. However, it is 
likely a rare occasion where merger conversations take place more than 
two years before a merger package is submitted to NCUA for review. 
Therefore, the Board is proposing to limit the historical look back 
period to the immediate 24 months preceding the date of approval of the 
merger plan by the boards of directors of both credit unions. To 
simplify compliance, the Board is also proposing to require merging 
FCUs to disclose all increases in compensation or benefits made during 
the historical look back period regardless of whether that increase was 
made because of the merger. This will help to avoid undue hardship on 
merging FCUs. The Board requests comments on this aspect of the 
proposed rule, including whether the Board should extend or shorten the 
historical look back period. The Board could adjust the look back 
period based on the persuasiveness of the comments.
    While many merging FCUs make good faith efforts to comply with the 
requirements of part 708b, the Board is aware of a few recent mergers 
where merging FCUs were required to disclose severance payments that 
appeared on their face to be structured as continued employment 
agreements potentially to evade the disclosure requirements of the 
voluntary merger rule. The Board seeks to clarify that under both the 
current voluntary merger rule and the proposed rule, NCUA reserves the 
right to review of any future compensation paid to covered persons of 
the merging FCU by the continuing credit union if there are concerns 
such compensation was tied to the merger.
    The Board has also observed that some merging credit unions attempt 
to define the term ``compensation'' narrowly to only include those 
benefits specifically listed in the definition of ``merger-related 
financial arrangement.'' This interpretation of what constitutes 
compensation for purposes of the voluntary merger rule is in error. The 
list of compensation and benefit arrangements included in the 
definition of ``merger-related financial arrangement'' was never 
intended to be an exhaustive, all-inclusive list. Accordingly, the 
Board proposes to clarify the definition to make it unambiguous that 
the rule applies to all compensation or benefits received in connection 
with a merger transaction, including early payout of pension benefits 
and increased insurance coverage.
    The proposed revisions also require that the disclosure of merger-
related financial arrangements include the amount of the compensation 
or benefits expressed in dollars, where possible. In several recent 
mergers, credit unions have argued that expressing the increases as a 
percentage is sufficient, but this fails to provide adequate context in 
many cases. The Board agrees, however, that certain types of benefits, 
such as pension plans contingent on future service and improvements in 
insurance benefits, are not easily translated into a dollar figure. In 
these cases, disclosing the existence of the additional compensation 
will suffice. Also, for items such as pay raises, the Board agrees that 
it is appropriate to express them as a dollar figure that will be 
received over the course of a year instead of as an absolute dollar 
amount. The Board seeks specific comments on this aspect of the 
proposed rule including whether health care, retirement, and other 
benefits offered on a nondiscriminatory basis to all employees of the 
credit union should continue to be disclosed as merger-related 
financial arrangements, and if so, how those benefits should be 
addressed from a disclosure perspective.
Record Date
    The Board is also adding a definition for ``record date'' to 
clarify which members are eligible to vote on a proposed merger. For 
various practical and legal considerations, it is commonplace for the 
board of directors of a corporation to announce an official date by 
which a shareholder must be an owner of the company in order to 
participate in an annual meeting or corporate election. While the Board 
has always interpreted NCUA's voluntary merger rule and the FCU Bylaws 
to permit the directors of an FCU to set a record date, this authority 
has never been explicitly stated in part 708b. By adopting this 
definition and making corresponding changes to Sec.  708b.106, the 
Board is clarifying the authority of

[[Page 26608]]

the directors of an FCU to set a record date.

Section 708b.105 Submission of Merger Proposal to NCUA

    As part of the merger package, the proposed rule would require both 
the merging and continuing credit union to submit board minutes to NCUA 
that reference the merger during the 24 months preceding the date of 
approval of the merger plan by the boards of directors of both credit 
unions. In several recent mergers, review of board minutes has shed 
light on potential conflicts of interest, including a situation where a 
credit union chief executive officer voted on a merger proposal that 
included significant merger-related compensation for himself. The board 
minutes also provide helpful information on the types of alternatives 
considered by the credit unions in addition to the merger proposal. The 
Board seeks comments on this proposed requirement, including whether 
the time period is the appropriate one.
    In addition, the proposed rule would add a requirement that the 
board of directors of the merging FCU and continuing credit union 
certify that there are no merger-related financial arrangements other 
than those disclosed to the members of the merging FCU in the member 
notice.

Section 708b.106 Approval of the Merger Proposal by Members

    The Board is also proposing amendments to Sec.  708b.106, which 
sets out certain member notice requirements and procedures governing 
the member vote when the merging credit union is an FCU. The proposed 
rule will require member notices to be mailed at least 45 days, but no 
more than 90 days, before the meeting to vote on the merger. The 
proposed rule will also revise the content of the member notice to 
provide additional information and clarity for members. Furthermore, 
the proposed rule will establish procedures to allow for reasonable 
member-to-member communication in advance of a proposed merger.
Timing Requirements for Member Notice
    Members of an FCU that is proposing a voluntary merger must have 
the opportunity to vote on the merger proposal at a meeting.\12\ The 
current voluntary merger rule allows this meeting to be either a 
special meeting or at the annual meeting if the FCU's regularly 
scheduled annual meeting will occur within 60 days after NCUA's 
approval of the proposed merger.\13\ Members must receive notice of the 
meeting as required by the FCU Bylaws.
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    \12\ 12 CFR 708b.106.
    \13\ 12 CFR 708b.106(a)(1).
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    The FCU Bylaws require that FCUs mail notices of annual meetings at 
least 30 days, but not more than 75 days, before the annual 
meeting.\14\ In contrast, the FCU Bylaws only require FCUs to mail 
notices for special meetings at least 7 days before the meeting.\15\ 
Thus, if the merger proposal is to be considered at a special meeting, 
members may have only a few days advance notice of a meeting under the 
current voluntary merger rule and the FCU Bylaws.
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    \14\ 12 CFR 701, App. A, Art. IV, Sec.  2.
    \15\ Id.
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    The Board is concerned that the current voluntary merger rule's 
reference to the provisions of the FCU Bylaws may, in many cases, 
result in an insufficient notice period for members of a merging FCU. 
Members who cannot or do not wish to attend the merger meeting need 
time to return their mail ballot so it is received before the date and 
time of the meeting. If an FCU uses a third-party teller of elections, 
the teller may not be located in the same area as the FCU or member, 
and return mail could take additional time. Even if the FCU, member and 
teller are in the same area, seven days may be insufficient. For 
example, the Board is aware that in at least one recent proposed 
merger, an FCU complied with the regulation and mailed the member 
notices seven days before the meeting, but with mail delays due to a 
federal holiday during the seven-day period, members did not receive 
the special meeting notice in time to mail it back before the special 
meeting.
    In addition to allowing time for mail delivery and return mail, 
members need time to consider fully the ramifications of the merger, 
including the question of whether to transfer their credit union's 
field of membership and net worth to another credit union. The contents 
of the member disclosure may also raise questions that members want the 
FCU's leadership to address before the merger vote. In at least one 
recent merger where the merging FCU mailed member notices several weeks 
before the special meeting, far longer than required under the current 
regulation, members were dissatisfied with the notice period and 
contacted NCUA. Allowing additional time between the time the merging 
FCU sends the member notice and the meeting will provide the merging 
FCU's membership with adequate time to consider the merger and provide 
the credit union leadership the time necessary to address any member 
questions.
    Accordingly, the proposed rule would replace the reference to the 
FCU Bylaws for the timing of the delivery of the member notice with a 
requirement that the member notice be mailed at least 45 days, but no 
more than 90 days, before the meeting to vote on the merger. The 
proposed rule would also revise the notice requirement in Article IV of 
the FCU Bylaws to be consistent.
    The Board believes a notice period of at least 45 days is 
sufficient to provide for members to respond to a proposed merger, make 
inquiries, and plan to attend the merger meeting, but not so much time 
as to be inefficient or that members will forget about the merger 
meeting and opportunity to vote. Furthermore, the proposed requirement 
for a notice period of at least 45 days is no more rigorous than the 
notice requirements for other similar transactions. For example, credit 
unions seeking to merge into a bank must provide members with clear and 
conspicuous disclosures 90 days prior to the date of the membership 
vote on the merger and, again, 30 days before the date of the 
membership vote on the merger.\16\
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    \16\ 12 CFR 708a.305(a).
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    However, the Board recognizes that under certain circumstances 45 
days may be too long for a merging FCU to wait to complete a merger. 
For example, a merging FCU may have operational or financial 
difficulties that do not yet rise to the level of putting the merging 
FCU in danger of insolvency but nevertheless require a merger to be 
completed within a shorter period of time. On the other hand, 45 days 
may not be enough time for a merging FCU to complete a contentious 
merger where there are multiple member-to-member communications that 
the credit union wishes NCUA to review. Accordingly, the Board seeks 
specific comments on whether stakeholders agree with the proposed 
changes regarding the timing of notices. The Board may adjust the 
timing of notices depending on the persuasiveness of the comments.
Contents of Member Notice
    The Board is also proposing to revise the voluntary merger rule's 
requirements related to the content of the member notice. The Board has 
received many questions about the meaning of the current requirements 
and what, precisely, merging FCUs must disclose. The proposed revisions 
will update the rule to reflect present-day concerns, add clarity, and 
make it easier

[[Page 26609]]

for members to understand the basic elements of the merger transaction.
    The current voluntary merger rule's requirements in this area are 
based on the Board's responsibility to ensure that the merger meets the 
convenience and needs of the members \17\ and an FCU board acts in the 
members' best interests.\18\ In assessing the effects of a proposed 
merger, members need to know how the merger will affect their access to 
the continuing credit union, which includes details such as whether the 
continuing credit union plans to keep open the office locations of the 
merging FCU and the other office locations of the continuing credit 
union. Members also need to know whether certain benefits such as 
savings life insurance or credit life insurance will continue after the 
proposed merger.
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    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(c)(4).
    \18\ 12 CFR 701.4(b)(1).
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    Members must also know how the merger will affect the products and 
services that members currently receive from the merging FCU. 
Furthermore, members' interests in the transaction extend beyond 
practical matters of access and services, because the merging FCU's net 
worth belongs to the members. Members need to understand how much of 
the merging FCU's net worth will transfer to the continuing credit 
union. Members also have a right to know if the management and other 
covered persons of their credit union will personally benefit from the 
merger transaction. This critical issue is discussed in some detail 
above.
    To ensure that the member notice contains all relevant information 
in a format members can easily understand, the proposed rule would 
restructure the current voluntary merger rule's paragraph describing 
the summary of the merger plan into a list of shorter, easier to read, 
paragraphs. The proposed changes would improve readability and clarify 
exactly what information NCUA requires merging FCUs to disclose to 
their members. The proposal would also simplify certain items listed in 
the current rule.
    One clarification relates to the physical locations of the 
continuing credit union. Current Sec.  708b.106(a)(2)(iv) requires a 
list of the names and locations of the continuing credit union and its 
branches. The Board is aware that an important issue to members of the 
merging FCU is whether the locations of the continuing credit union 
will be convenient. This means the members need to know whether the 
continuing credit union plans to maintain the current location(s) of 
the merging FCU and the location of the continuing credit union's 
branches. Yet the current rule does not explicitly require this 
information, and the Board has noted member notices in several recent 
mergers where the location information provided to members was 
incomplete or inaccurate. Many member notices listed the names and 
locations without providing addresses. The Board has also discovered 
errors in several other recent member notices that incorrectly 
identified locations.
    The proposed revisions to Sec.  708b.106 require specific 
disclosures about the continuing credit union's plans for the locations 
of the merging FCU and a list, including street address, of the 
continuing credit union's locations. As it could be impractical for a 
continuing credit union to list all its branches, the proposal requires 
a list of locations that are in reasonable proximity to the location(s) 
of the merging FCU. These proposed revisions will ensure that members 
understand how they will be able to access physical locations of their 
credit union after the merger.
    The proposed revisions would also address the meaning of ``an 
analysis of share values'' and ``explanation of any share adjustment.'' 
These terms mean that the member notice should inform members about the 
net worth of the merging FCU relative to the net worth of the 
continuing credit union, and whether any of the merging FCU's net worth 
will be returned to members of the merging FCU in the transaction. An 
FCU would be permitted to include a short statement explaining its net 
worth level, subject to review by NCUA as part of its overall review of 
the merging FCU's disclosures.
    As the Board has previously noted, a merging FCU may have a higher 
net worth ratio because it did not expend its capital offering 
additional services or providing better facilities.\19\ In these cases, 
it may be appropriate for the merger partners to consider whether the 
members of the merging FCU should receive some of this net worth 
through a share adjustment.
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    \19\ 75 FR 15574, 15584 (Mar. 29, 2010).
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    On the other hand, the credit unions may appropriately determine 
that offering additional or improved services or facilities to members 
of the merging FCU offsets the higher net worth of the merging FCU. The 
Board emphasizes that it is not requiring or encouraging share 
adjustments, but simply requiring merging FCUs to provide a more 
detailed explanation of how much of the merging FCU's net worth will 
transfer to the continuing credit union and how much, if any, will be 
rebated to the members of the merging FCU through a share adjustment. 
The updated language in the proposed rule is designed to be easier for 
members to work with than the current voluntary merger rule's 
terminology of ``share values'' and ``share adjustment.''
    Another proposed revision relates to how credit unions present the 
member notice information. If the member notice fails to present 
critical information or presents it in such a way as to obscure 
critical details, then members will not be able to make a fully 
informed decision. Accordingly, merging FCUs must present information 
to their members in a way that is legible and easily understood.
    The Board has observed several member notices in recent mergers 
that were deficient in this respect. In some recent mergers, FCUs 
provided member notices that refer to multi-page attachments for 
critical information such as an explanation of share adjustments or 
merger-related financial arrangements. While the current voluntary 
merger rule does not explicitly prohibit this practice, allowing it to 
continue hinders the goal of having merging FCUs fully inform their 
members about how the merger is likely to affect them.
    The proposed revisions would require that the member notice include 
at least a summary statement for each component of the merger that is 
required to be disclosed without referring members to a separate 
attachment, although credit unions may provide additional information 
or explanations in the attachments. Members should not be made to page 
through voluminous and wordy attachments to ascertain the core details 
of the merger transaction that most affect them and their membership 
interests.
    In most cases, an adequate and informative member notice will need 
to be no more than a couple of sentences or a short paragraph for each 
aspect of the merger. The proposed amendments would retain the existing 
requirement to supply current and consolidated financial statements to 
members, but the proposed rule would require these statements to be 
separate documents as they are generally presented as tables and can 
distract from other important disclosures in the member notice. FCUs 
would also provide the ballot for the merger proposal as a separate 
document consistent with existing requirements in

[[Page 26610]]

NCUA's bank conversions and mergers rule, part 708a.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 12 CFR 708a.104(a) (``A ballot must be included in the same 
envelope as the 30-day notice and only in the 30-day notice.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The changes to the contents of the member notice are proposed with 
the objective of helping to ensure members have adequate information to 
evaluate the proposed merger without imposing any significant 
additional burden on merging or continuing credit unions. If the 
proposed changes are adopted as a final rule, NCUA will issue a revised 
version of the credit union merger manual with updated forms 
corresponding to the changes. The use of a pre-approved, standardized 
format will speed NCUA's review and approval process.
    The Board specifically invites comment on whether the proposed 
changes to the member notice are needed and sufficiently targeted to 
assist members in understanding the proposed merger transaction. The 
Board also invites comment on whether the member notice should be 
narrowed or expanded to include other items, such as ATM access and 
comparisons of fees for commonly used services.
Member-to-Member Communications
    The proposed rule also includes a new paragraph that establishes 
procedures to allow for member-to-member communications in advance of a 
member vote on a proposed merger consistent with existing requirements 
in NCUA's bank conversions and mergers rule.\21\ As part of the member 
notice, FCUs would be required to inform members that if they wish to 
provide their opinions about the proposed merger to other members, they 
can submit their opinions in writing to the merging FCU within 30 
calendar days of receipt of the notice, and the FCU will forward those 
opinions to other members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ See 12 CFR 708a.104(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The interaction of the timeframes for: (1) The submission and 
receipt of the member-to-member communication with (2) the minimum 
required time period for receipt of the member notice before the member 
vote is taken, will work well in the vast majority of voluntary 
mergers. However, the Board is aware that, in some cases, the timing 
could force a merging FCU to postpone the date of the member vote. For 
example, if a merging FCU provides the minimum notice period of 45 
days, and a member uses the maximum of the 30 days permitted to submit 
a member-to-member communication, there would be no time for the 
merging FCU to send the member-to-member communication and still comply 
with the requirement that members receive the member-to-member 
communication at least 15 days before the vote.
    Accordingly, the Board encourages members desiring to communicate 
with other members about the merger to submit their communication as 
soon as possible during the 30-day period allotted. Similarly, merging 
FCUs that anticipate a member-to-member communication may want to 
provide the member notice earlier than 45 days before the vote to avoid 
having to postpone the vote.
    The Board believes that the timeframes of the proposed rule allow 
merging FCUs the flexibility to choose a time for sending the member 
notice that fits their particular circumstances. The leadership of the 
merging FCU will be in the best position to anticipate whether to 
expect a member-to-member communication. If a merging FCU believes that 
no member-to-member communication will occur, then sending notice to 
members 45 days before the vote may be sufficient although subject to 
potential problems. If, however, a merging FCU anticipates needing 
additional time to transmit or to contest a member-to-member 
communication, it can choose to send the notice to members earlier than 
45 days before the vote.
    As with the time period for the member notice, the Board is also 
open to changing the proposed rule's requirements for the timeframes 
related to member-to-member communications to reasonably longer or 
shorter periods of time based on the persuasiveness of the comments 
received.
    The member notice must provide contact information at the merging 
FCU for delivery of such communications, must explain that members must 
agree to reimburse the credit union's costs of transmitting the 
communication, and must refer members to this provision of the 
voluntary merger rule for further information about the communication 
process. The merging FCU must ensure that members receive all 
appropriate communications from other members no later than 15 days 
before the member vote on the proposed merger.
    Consistent with the bank conversions and mergers rule, a merging 
FCU may, at its option, include a statement with the member-to-member 
communication notifying members that the communication represents the 
opinion of a member of the merging FCU and does not necessarily reflect 
the views of the management or directors of the FCU.\22\ To avoid 
potentially misleading member communications, a merging FCU should 
submit member-to-member communications to the appropriate regional 
director or director of ONES within seven days of receipt of the 
communication if it believes that the communication is false or 
misleading with respect to any material fact, omits material facts 
necessary to make the statements in the communication true or accurate, 
relates to a personal claim or grievance, or otherwise is not proper. 
An FCU, however, may not add any additional information to the member 
communication without prior approval of a regional director or the 
director of ONES.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ 12 CFR 708a.104(f)(3)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    While these requirements were previously reserved only for credit 
union to bank conversions, the Board is proposing these procedures for 
credit union to credit union mergers as well. The Board has observed in 
a recent merger a significant disparity between the high number of 
members voting to approve the proposed merger by mailed ballot compared 
to the low number of members voting to approve the merger in person at 
a member meeting. While such procedures are permissible under NCUA's 
regulations, the Board is concerned that members voting by mailed 
ballot do not benefit from the rigorous debate that may take place 
during a member meeting where members are free to discuss the proposed 
merger openly with management or the directors of the FCU.
    This proposed addition to the voluntary merger rule allows members 
to communicate with other members in advance of the merger vote, and 
provides the opportunity for members to share ideas with other members 
who may be unable to attend the member meeting. These new procedures 
will allow for healthy member debate of a proposed merger prior to a 
member vote. While this may result in additional administrative burdens 
on merging FCUs, the Board believes that requiring merging FCUs to 
facilitate member-to-member communications is the least restrictive 
means to achieve this compelling objective of ensuring that members 
vote on a proposed merger with all information reasonably available to 
them.

Sections 708b.202 and 204 Notice to Members of Proposal To Terminate on 
Convert Insurance

    To be consistent throughout the regulations, the Board is also 
proposing to amend the timing of the member notice requirement for 
federally insured

[[Page 26611]]

credit unions seeking to terminate federal share insurance or convert 
to non-federal share insurance, through merger or otherwise. NCUA 
regulations currently require that the credit union mail notices to 
members at least seven days, but not more than 30 days, before the 
membership vote that will result in the loss of federal share 
insurance.\23\ The proposal would change the required time for mailing 
the notice to at least 45 days, but not more than 90 days, before the 
member vote. This is consistent with the member notice period for 
voluntary mergers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 12 CFR 708b.202, 204.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Conforming and Clarifying Amendments to Other NCUA Regulations

Appendix A to Part 701 Federal Credit Union Bylaws

    As discussed above, the Board proposes to require the merging FCU 
to mail member notices at least 45 days, but no more than 90 days, 
before the meeting to vote on a proposed merger. Accordingly, the Board 
is proposing to amend Article IV of the FCU Bylaws to be consistent 
with the proposed amendments to part 708b.

Sections 708a.104 and 708a.305 Conversions and Mergers Into Banks; 
Disclosures and Communications to Members

    The Board proposes to clarify the member-to-member communication 
requirements in Sec.  708a.104(f)(3) and (g)(3) of NCUA's bank 
conversions and mergers rule, part 708a, to address circumstances where 
a member wishes to reply to a member-to-member communication sent by 
email. Part 708a, in relevant part, sets out the parameters and 
procedures by which a FICU may convert to a mutual savings bank or 
merge into a bank.
    The clarification addresses circumstances where a member receiving 
a member-to-member communication by email attempts to reply to that 
communication. The source of the sent member-to-member communication 
may not be clear to members receiving it. For example, in one recent 
bank conversion attempt, members responding to a member-to-member 
communication unknowingly sent their responses to the converting credit 
union because it was not clear to them that the credit union was the 
actual sender, on behalf of the communicating member, of the email 
rather than the communicating member.
    The Board is aware that if a FICU converting to or merging into a 
bank sends the member-to-member communication, on behalf of the 
communicating member, from its own email system, it is difficult to 
have the ``reply'' function direct a reply email back to the 
communicating member. The Board also realizes that some members 
replying to a member-to-member communication may wish to contact the 
credit union and not the communicating member. Accordingly, the Board 
is not proposing to dictate where replies to an emailed member-to-
member communication are directed, but to require disclosure to inform 
members about where the reply goes.
    This requirement could be satisfied in a variety of ways. For 
example, if a reply would go to the credit union's third-party email 
provider, the converting or merging FICU could send a message stating 
that if the member wants to contact either the credit union or the 
communicating member, they should do so using the respective email 
addresses for the credit union or the communicating member. The Board 
does not want FICUs to have to alter email systems and technologies to 
forward member-to-member communications.
    As discussed above, with respect to FCUs seeking to merge with 
other FICUs pursuant to part 708b, the Board also proposes to require 
merging FCUs to facilitate member-to-member communications. 
Accordingly, the clarification made to part 708a regarding member-to-
member communications involving bank conversions or mergers would also 
be incorporated in a similar way into the proposed amendments to part 
708b.

IV. Regulatory Procedures

1. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires NCUA to prepare an analysis 
of any significant economic impact a regulation may have on a 
substantial number of small entities (primarily those under $100 
million in assets).\24\ As discussed below, the proposed rule only 
impacts a small number of small FCUs and FICUs and imposes costs that 
are either absorbed by other parties or offset by decreases in 
regulatory compliance burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Small Entities Affected
    The proposed rule will not affect a substantial number of small 
entities. Based on recent experience, the requirements for merging FCUs 
in subpart A of part 708b will only apply to about 138 small FCUs each 
year. With nearly 3,000 small FCUs currently in the credit union 
system, this is not a substantial number of small FCUs.
    The requirements for bank conversions or terminating federal share 
insurance coverage in subpart B of part 708b will apply to even fewer 
small FICUs. In recent experience, bank conversions have all involved 
FICUs with greater than $100 million in assets. While some small FICUs 
may seek to convert to banks, the Board does not believe that this 
number will be substantial. Likewise, while a majority of the FICUs 
terminating federal share insurance coverage have less than $100 
million in assets, only an average of 5 small FICUs terminate federal 
share insurance coverage each year.
Economic Impact on Small Entities
    The economic impact of the proposed rule will also be minimal. In 
almost all cases, a small FCU merges into a much larger FICU. The 
larger FICU often assists the small FCU with each step in the merger 
process keeping the economic impact on the small FCU to a minimum. 
Additionally, subpart A of part 708b will require communicating members 
to reimburse small FCUs for reasonable expenses decreasing the likely 
economic impact of the new member-to-member communication requirements.
    Moreover, the requirement to disclose all merger-related financial 
arrangements will, in some instances, simplify compliance for merging 
FCUs with such arrangements. Merging FCUs will no longer be required to 
determine whether the merger-related financial arrangement is a 
``material'' increase in compensation or whether the employee is a 
``senior management official'' as defined in current Sec.  708b.2. As 
discussed above, a number of small FCUs have struggled with this 
analysis in recent mergers despite good faith efforts to comply with 
the voluntary merger rule.
    Furthermore, the slight increase in the overall time period 
required to consummate mergers or terminate federal share insurance in 
subparts A and B of part 708b should not have a significant impact on 
small FCUs and FICUs.
    Accordingly, NCUA certifies that this regulation will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ 5 U.S.C. 605(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) (PRA), the

[[Page 26612]]

NCUA may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to 
respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently 
valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
    Information collection requirements for parts 708a and 708b are 
assigned OMB control numbers 3133-0182 and 3133-0024, respectively. 
Proposed revisions to these currently approved collections due to these 
proposed amendments have been submitted to OMB for approval in 
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11.
    The Board invites comment on (a) whether the collections of 
information are necessary for the proper performance of the agency's 
function, including practical utility; (b) the accuracy of estimates of 
the burden of the information collections, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information being collected, and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    All comments are a matter of public record. Comments regarding the 
information collection requirements of this rule should be sent to (1) 
Dawn Wolfgang, NCUA PRA Clearance Officer, National Credit Union 
Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Suite 5067, Alexandria, Virginia 
22314-3428, or Fax No. 703-519-8579, or Email at PRAcomments@ncua.gov 
and the (2) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for NCUA, New Executive 
Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or email at 
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.gov.
    Titles: 12 CFR part 708a, Bank Conversions and Mergers (OMB No. 
3133-0182) and 12 CFR part 708b, Mergers of Federally-Insured Credit 
Unions; Voluntary Termination or Conversions of Insured Status (OMB No. 
3133-0024).
    Frequency: Event generated.
    Affected Public: FICUs (708a); FCUs (708b).
    Part 708a: The Board proposes to clarify the member-to-member 
communication requirements in Sec. Sec.  708a.104(f)(3) and 
708a.305(g)(3) to address circumstances where a member wishes to reply 
to a member-to-member communication sent by email. If applicable, the 
converting credit union must notify members using the ``reply'' feature 
that the email has been directed to an address other than the 
requesting member's and identify to whom the response was sent. This 
provision is also included under Sec.  708b.106(d)(5).
    Part 708b: The Board is proposing to add a requirement that, where 
the merging credit union is an FCU, the merging and continuing credit 
unions include at least two years of board minutes in the merger 
package submitted to NCUA under Sec.  708b.104(a). The merger package 
would also include a new certification from both credit unions that 
there are no merger-related financial arrangements other than those 
that would be disclosed to the merging FCU's members. The proposed rule 
would also amend the contents of the member notice for members of 
merging FCUs in Sec.  708b.106(b) to require a detailed description of 
any merger-related financial arrangements involving a covered person 
and additional information about the physical locations of the merging 
and continuing credit unions.
    Additionally, proposed Sec.  708b.106(d) would establish a 
mechanism for member-to-member communications and require a merging FCU 
to ensure that its members receive any member-to-member communication 
at least 15 calendar days before a vote. Should the merging FCU believe 
the member's request is not proper, it must submit the request to the 
regional director for determination.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1 (708a); 138 (708b).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 712 (708a; increase of 2 hours); 
8,120 (708b; increase of 558 hours).

3. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. 
NCUA, an independent regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), 
voluntarily complies with the executive order to adhere to fundamental 
federalism principles. The final rule does not have substantial direct 
effects on the states, on the relationship between the national 
government and the states, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. NCUA has 
therefore determined that this final rule does not constitute a policy 
that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive order.

4. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    NCUA has determined that this rule will not affect family well-
being within the meaning of section 654 of the Treasury and General 
Government Appropriations Act, 1999, Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 
(1998).

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 701

    Advertising, Credit, Credit unions, Fair housing, Insurance, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 708a

    Credit unions, Conversions, Mergers of credit unions, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements

12 CFR Part 708b

    Credit unions, Mergers of credit unions.


    By the National Credit Union Administration Board, on May 25, 
2017.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons discussed above, the National Credit Union 
Administration proposes to amend 12 CFR parts 701, 708a and 708b as 
follows:

PART 701--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 701 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 
1761a, 1761b, 1766, 1767, 1782, 1784, 1786, 1787, 1789. Section 
701.6 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 3717. Section 701.31 is also 
authorized by 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1981 and 3601-3610. 
Section 701.35 is also authorized by 42 U.S.C. 4311-4312.

0
2. Revise the first sentence of paragraph a. of Section 2 of Article IV 
of appendix A to part 701 to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 701--Federal Credit Union Bylaws

* * * * *

Article IV. Meetings of Members

* * * * *
    Section 2. Notice of meetings required. a. The secretary must 
give written notice to each member of meetings: At least 30 but no 
more than 75 days before the date of the annual meeting; at least 7 
days before the date of any special meeting; and at least 45 but no 
more than 90 days before the date of any meeting to vote on a merger 
with another credit union or a conversion to or merger with a bank. 
* * *
* * * * *

PART 708a--BANK CONVERSIONS AND MERGERS

0
3. Revise the authority citation for part 708a to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(7), 1766, 1785(b), 1785(c), and 1789.


[[Page 26613]]


0
4. Add Sec.  708a.104(f)(3)(iii) to read as follows:


Sec.  708a.104  Disclosures and communications to members.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) If use of any ``reply'' or ``reply to'' function in a 
member's emailed material causes an email to be directed to any email 
address other than the requesting member's email address (such as the 
credit union's email address), the converting credit union must notify 
members using the ``reply'' or ``reply to'' function that the email has 
been directed to an address other than the requesting member's and 
identify to whom the response was sent.
* * * * *
0
5. Add Sec.  708a.305(g)(3)(iii) to read as follows:


Sec.  708a.305  Disclosures and communications to members.

* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) If use of any ``reply'' or ``reply to'' function in a 
member's emailed material causes an email to be directed to any email 
address other than the requesting member's email address (such as the 
credit union's email address), the converting credit union must notify 
members using the ``reply'' or ``reply to'' function that the email has 
been directed to an address other than the requesting member's and 
identify to whom the response was sent.
* * * * *

PART 708b--MERGERS OF FEDERALLY-INSURED CREDIT UNIONS; VOLUNTARY 
TERMINATION OR CONVERSION OF INSURED STATUS

0
6. The authority citation for part 708b is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(7), 1766, 1785, 1786, and 1789.

0
7. Amend Sec.  708b.2 as follows:
0
a. Add a definition in alphabetical order for ``covered person''.
0
b. Revise the definition of ``merger-related financial arrangement''.
0
c. Add a definition in alphabetical order for ``record date''.
0
d. Remove the definition for ``senior management official''.
    The additions and revision read as follows:


Sec.  708b.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Covered person means the chief executive officer or manager (or a 
person acting in a similar capacity); the four most highly compensated 
employees other than the chief executive officer or manager; and any 
member of the board of directors or the supervisory committee.
* * * * *
    Merger-related financial arrangement means any increase in 
compensation or benefits that any covered person of a merging credit 
union has received during the 24 months prior to the date of the 
approval of the merger plan by the boards of directors of both credit 
unions. It also means any increase in compensation or benefits that any 
covered person of a merging credit union will receive in the future 
because of the merger. This definition includes all direct and indirect 
compensation, such as salary, bonuses, deferred compensation, early 
payout of retirement benefits, increased insurance benefits, or any 
other financial rewards or benefits.
* * * * *
    Record date means a date announced by the board of directors of a 
merging credit union as the official date by which a person must have 
been a member of the merging credit union in order to be eligible to 
vote on a proposed merger.
* * * * *
0
8. Amend Sec.  708b.104 by revising paragraphs (a)(8) and (9) and 
adding paragraphs (a)(10) and (11) to read as follows.


Sec.  708b.104   Submission of merger proposal to NCUA.

    (a) * * *
    (8) If the merging credit union's assets on its latest call report 
are equal to or greater than the threshold amount established and 
published in the Federal Register annually by the Federal Trade 
Commission under 15 U.S.C. 18a(a)(2)(B)(i), a statement about whether 
the two credit unions intend to make a Hart-Scott-Rodino Act premerger 
notification filing with the Federal Trade Commission and, if not, an 
explanation why not;
    (9) For mergers where the continuing credit union is not federally 
insured and will not apply for federal insurance:
    (i) A written statement from the continuing credit union that it 
``is aware of the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 1831t(b), including all 
notification and acknowledgment requirements''; and
    (ii) Proof that the accounts of the credit union will be accepted 
for coverage by the nonfederal insurer (if the credit union will have 
nonfederal insurance);
    (10) For mergers where the merging credit union is a federal credit 
union, board minutes for the merging and continuing credit union that 
reference the merger during the 24 months prior to the date of the 
approval of the merger plan by the boards of directors of both credit 
unions; and
    (11) For mergers where the merging credit union is a federal credit 
union, a certification from the merging credit union and the continuing 
credit union that there are no merger-related financial arrangements 
other than those disclosed in the notice required under paragraph 
(a)(4) of this section in connection with the proposed merger.
* * * * *
0
9. Revise Sec.  708b.106 to read as follows:


Sec.  708b.106  Approval of the merger proposal by members.

    (a) Advance notice of member vote. If the merging credit union is a 
federal credit union, members must receive at least 45 calendar days, 
but no more than 90 calendar days, advance written notice of any member 
meeting called to vote on the merger proposal.
    (b) Contents of member notice. While the merging credit union may 
refer members to attachments for additional information or explanation, 
the notice provided to members pursuant to paragraph (a) of this 
section shall, at a minimum, contain the following:
    (1) A statement of the purpose of the meeting and the time and 
place;
    (2) A statement of the right of members to vote on the merger 
proposal in person or by mail ballot to be received no later than the 
date and time announced for the member meeting called to vote on the 
merger proposal;
    (3) A statement of the right of members to communicate with other 
members by mail or email pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section;
    (4) A summary of the merger plan, including but not necessarily 
limited to:
    (i) A statement that the merging credit union does or does not have 
a higher net worth percentage than the continuing credit union;
    (ii) A statement as to whether the members of the merging credit 
union will receive a share adjustment or not, including a summary of 
reasons for the decision and, at the merging credit union's discretion, 
a short explanation about the capital level;
    (iii) An explanation of any changes in insurance such as life 
savings protection insurance or loan protection insurance;
    (iv) An explanation of any changes related to federal share 
insurance (if the continuing credit union is not federally insured); 
and
    (v) A detailed description of all merger-related financial 
arrangements

[[Page 26614]]

involving a covered person (e.g., the amount of any increase in the 
covered person's compensation, bonus, deferred compensation, insurance 
benefits, or other financial benefits including early payouts of 
retirement benefits provided because of the merger). This description 
must include the recipient's name and title as well as, at a minimum, 
the amount of the merger-related financial arrangement expressed, where 
possible, as a dollar figure;
    (5) A statement of the reasons for the proposed merger; and
    (6) A statement identifying the physical locations of the merging 
credit union by street address, stating whether each location is to be 
closed or retained, and a list of branches of the continuing credit 
union by street address that are located in reasonable proximity to the 
merging credit union's locations.
    (c) Additional documents. The notice provided to members pursuant 
to paragraph (a) of this section shall be accompanied separately by the 
following documents:
    (1) The current financial statements for each credit union and a 
consolidated financial statement for the continuing credit union;
    (2) Any additional information or explanatory material that the 
merging credit union wishes to provide that does not detract from the 
required disclosures and gives further detail to members regarding 
information disclosed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section; and
    (3) A Ballot for Merger Proposal.
    (d) Member-to-member communications. Within 30 calendar days of 
receiving the notice provided to members pursuant to paragraph (a) of 
this section, members may jointly or individually make a written 
request to the merging credit union that the credit union mail or email 
a requesting member or members' merger-related communications to other 
members eligible to vote provided that the member or members agree to 
reimburse the credit union for reasonable expenses, excluding overhead, 
of mailing or emailing the communications on behalf of the requesting 
member(s). The merging credit union must ensure that members receive 
all merger-related communications at least 15 calendar days prior to 
any member meeting called to vote on the merger proposal.
    (e) Additional procedures governing member-to-member 
communications. Member-to-member communication requests pursuant to 
paragraph (d) of this section are governed by these additional 
procedures:
    (1) A member request must indicate if the member wants the 
materials mailed or emailed. If the member requests the materials to be 
mailed, the credit union must mail the materials to all eligible 
members. If a member requests the materials to be emailed, the credit 
union will email the materials to all members who have agreed to accept 
communications electronically from the credit union. The merging credit 
union will inform the member of the percentage of members for whom it 
does not have an email address.
    (2) The merging credit union may, at its option, include the 
following statement with a member's materials:
    On (date), the board of directors of (name of merging credit union) 
adopted a proposal to merge with (name of continuing credit union). 
Credit union members who wish to express their opinions about the 
proposed merger to other members may provide those opinions to (name of 
credit union). By law, the credit union, at the requesting members' 
expense, must then send those opinions to the other members. The 
attached document represents the opinion of a member of this credit 
union. This opinion is a personal opinion and does not necessarily 
reflect the views of the management or directors of the credit union.
    (3) The merging credit union may not add anything other than the 
statement allowed by paragraph (e)(2) of this section to the member 
communication without prior approval of the regional director.
    (4) After consultation with the regional director according to 
paragraph (f) of this section, the merging credit union is not required 
to mail or email materials that:
    (i) Due to size or similar reasons are impracticable to mail or 
email;
    (ii) Are false or misleading with respect to any material fact;
    (iii) Omit a material fact necessary to make the statement in the 
material not false or misleading;
    (iv) Relate to a personal claim or personal grievance, or solicit 
personal gain or business advantage by or on behalf of any party;
    (v) Relate to any matter, including a general economic, political, 
racial, religious, social, or similar cause that is not materially 
related to the proposed merger;
    (vi) Directly or indirectly and without expressed factual 
foundation impugn a person's character, integrity, or reputation;
    (vii) Directly or indirectly and without expressed factual 
foundation make charges concerning improper, illegal, or immoral 
conduct; or
    (viii) Directly or indirectly and without expressed factual 
foundation make statements impugning the safety and soundness of the 
credit union.
    (5) If use of any ``reply'' or ``reply to'' function in a member's 
emailed material causes an email to be directed to any email address 
other than the requesting member's email address (such as the credit 
union's email address), the converting credit union must notify members 
using the ``reply'' or ``reply to'' function that the email has been 
directed to an address other than the requesting member's and identify 
to whom the response was sent.
    (f) Consultation with regional director regarding improper member 
communications. If the merging credit union believes some or all of the 
member or members' request is not proper, it must submit the member 
materials to the regional director within 7 calendar days of receipt. 
The credit union must include with its transmittal letter a specific 
statement of why the materials are not proper and a specific 
recommendation for how the materials should be modified, if possible, 
to make them proper. The regional director will review the 
communication, communicate with the requesting member, and respond to 
the credit union within 7 calendar days with a determination on the 
propriety of the materials. The credit union must then immediately mail 
or email the material to the members if so directed by NCUA.
    (g) Clear and conspicuous disclosures required. Any information 
required by paragraph (b) of this section to be disclosed on the notice 
provided to members pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section shall be 
legible, written in plain language, designed to be understood by 
ordinary consumers, and in the language in which most transactions are 
conducted for that member.
    (h) Approval of a proposal to merge. Approval of a proposal to 
merge a federal credit union into a federally insured credit union 
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the 
merging credit union, as of a certain record date established by the 
board of directors, who vote on the proposal. If the continuing credit 
union is not federally insured, the requirements of subpart B of this 
part also apply and the merging credit union must use the form notice 
and ballot in subpart C of this part unless the regional director 
approves the use of different forms.
0
10. Revise Sec.  708b.202(b) to read as follows:


Sec.  708b.202  Notice to members of proposal to terminate insurance.

* * * * *

[[Page 26615]]

    (b) The credit union must deliver the notice in person to each 
member, or mail it to each member at the address for the member as it 
appears on the records of the credit union, at least 45 days, but not 
more than 90 days, before the date of the vote. Members must be 
permitted to vote by mail ballot. The credit union may provide the 
notice of the proposal and the ballot to members at the same time.
* * * * *
0
11. Revise Sec.  708b.204(b) to read as follows:


Sec.  708b.204  Notice to members of proposal to convert insurance.

* * * * *
    (b) The credit union must deliver the notice in person to each 
member, or mail it to each member at the address for the member as it 
appears on the records of the credit union, at least 45 days, but not 
more than 90 days, before the date of the vote. Members must be 
permitted to vote by mail ballot. The credit union may provide the 
notice of the proposal and the ballot to members at the same time.
* * * * *

[FR Doc. 2017-11331 Filed 6-7-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P