National Credit Union Administration 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The NCUA Board (Board) is making two temporary changes to its prompt corrective action (PCA) regulations to help ensure that federally insured credit unions (FICUs) remain operational and liquid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first amends these regulations to temporarily enable the Board to issue an order applicable to all FICUs to waive the earnings-retention requirement for any FICU that is classified as adequately capitalized. The second modifies these regulations with respect to the specific documentation required for net worth restoration plans (NWRPs) for FICUs that become undercapitalized. These temporary modifications will be in place until March 31, 2022. This rule is substantially similar to an interim final rule that the Board published on May 28, 2020.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce the availability of technical assistance grants (awards) for low-income designated credit unions (LICUs) through the CDRLF. The CDRLF serves as a source of financial support in the form of loans and technical assistance grants that better enable LICUs to support the communities in which they operate. All grant awards made under this NOFO are subject to funds availability and are at the NCUA's discretion.

The agencies are gathering information and comments on financial institutions' use of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML). The purpose of this request for information (RFI) is to understand respondents' views on the use of AI by financial institutions in their provision of services to customers and for other business or operational purposes; appropriate governance, risk management, and controls over AI; and any challenges in developing, adopting, and managing AI. The RFI also solicits respondents' views on the use of AI in financial services to assist in determining whether any clarifications from the agencies would be helpful for financial institutions' use of AI in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to consumer protection.

To mitigate transition costs on credit unions related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 Pandemic), the NCUA Board (Board) is issuing this temporary interim final rule to permit federally insured credit unions (FICUs) to use asset data as of March 31, 2020, in order to determine the applicability of certain regulatory asset thresholds during calendar years 2021 and 2022. Specifically, the interim final rule allows a FICU to use March 31, 2020, financial data when determining whether the institution is subject to capital planning and stress testing requirements under the NCUA's regulations and supervision from the Office of National Examinations and Supervision.

The OCC, Board, FDIC, FCA, and NCUA (collectively, the Agencies) propose to supplement the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Flood Insurance with new questions and answers regarding the acceptance of flood insurance policies issued by private insurers pursuant to the Agencies' private flood insurance final rule issued in February 2019. These questions and answers will assist lenders in meeting their responsibilities under the final rule and increase public understanding of the Agencies' respective flood insurance regulations. The Agencies solicit comment on all aspects of these new questions and answers.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board (Board) is issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit comments on two approaches to simplify its risk-based capital requirements. The Board's risk-based capital requirements are set forth in a final rule dated October 29, 2015, which is currently scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2022. The delayed effective date has provided the Board with additional time to evaluate the capital standards for federally-insured credit unions (FICUs) that are classified as ``complex'' (those with total assets greater than $500 million). The first approach would replace the risk-based capital rule with a Risk-based Leverage Ratio (RBLR) requirement, which uses relevant risk attribute thresholds to determine which complex credit unions would be required to hold additional capital (buffers). The second approach would retain the 2015 risk-based capital rule but enable eligible complex FICUs to opt-in to a ``complex credit union leverage ratio'' (CCULR) framework to meet all regulatory capital requirements. The CCULR approach would be modeled on the ``Community Bank Leverage Ratio'' framework, which is available to certain banks.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 on or after the date of publication of this notice.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing this proposal to raise the asset threshold for defining a credit union as ``complex'' for purposes of being subject to any risk-based net worth requirement in the NCUA's regulations. The proposed rule would amend the NCUA's regulations to provide that any risk-based net worth requirement will be applicable only to a federally insured natural-person credit union (credit union) with quarter-end assets that exceed $500 million and a risk-based net worth requirement that exceeds six percent. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a vital need for financial institutions, including credit unions, to provide access to responsible credit and other member services to support consumers. Implementing this regulatory change in advance of January 1, 2022, the effective date of the 2015 final risk based capital (RBC) rule issued by the NCUA, would provide necessary capital relief to a significant number of credit unions without substantially decreasing the safety and soundness of credit unions or the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF).

The NCUA Board (Board) is amending various parts of the NCUA's regulations to permit Low-income Designated Credit Unions, Complex Credit Unions, and New Credit Unions to issue Subordinated Debt for purposes of Regulatory Capital treatment. The Board issued the proposed Subordinated Debt rule at its January 2020 meeting. The Board is finalizing the rule largely as proposed, except for a few changes to various sections based on comments received. Such changes include amending the definition of Accredited Investor, providing a longer timeframe in which a credit union may issue Subordinated Debt after approval, reducing the required number of years of Pro Forma Financial Statements an Issuing Credit Union must provide with its application, clarifying the prohibition on Subordinated Debt issuances outside of the United States, and clarifying that the Board will publish a fee schedule only if it makes a determination to charge a fee.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice.

The NCUA Board is adopting a final rule that codifies the Interagency Statement Clarifying the Role of Supervisory Guidance, issued by the NCUA, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve (the Board), the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) (collectively, the agencies) on September 11, 2018 (2018 Statement). By codifying the 2018 Statement, with amendments, the final rule confirms that the NCUA will continue to follow and respect the limits of administrative law in carrying out their supervisory responsibilities. The 2018 Statement reiterated well-established law by stating that, unlike a law or regulation, supervisory guidance does not have the force and effect of law. As such, supervisory guidance does not create binding legal obligations for the public. Because it is incorporated into the final rule, the 2018 Statement, as amended, is binding on the NCUA. The final rule adopts the rule as proposed without change.

The NCUA is seeking comments and information from interested parties on the NCUA's communication methods and related initiatives to promote efficiency and increase transparency.