Press

Metsger: NCUA board meeting livestream brings “full and timely transparency”

ALEXANDRIA, VA (February 19, 2015) — The inaugural livestream of the National Credit Union Administration Board’s open meeting today was a success, NCUA Vice Chairman Rick Metsger said.

“The live coverage provides full and timely transparency of NCUA Board actions for the credit union community,” Metsger said. “We had 138 people watching the broadcast, more people than were in the room, or that the room could hold. We expect that number to increase as more people become aware of the option and as we improve the quality of the broadcasts.”

The Vice Chairman thanked NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz for responding affirmatively to his request to have Board meetings streamed in real time and agency staff for implementing it so quickly.

“I don’t expect we will ever win an Emmy for our broadcasts,” Metsger said, “but everyone will be able to see what happens as it happens, without viewing it through someone else’s filter.

“Space in the NCUA Board Room is limited, and very few members of the credit union community can afford either the time or expense required to travel to Washington to attend our Board meetings. This online viewing option gives them the ability to observe from their offices or homes while continuing to serve their members. It also gives the agency virtually unlimited ability to accommodate all who want to watch.”

Approximately 60 percent of viewers were from individual credit unions, and an additional 10 percent were from state credit union leagues and other trade organizations. The remaining 30 percent included federal and state regulators, journalists, attorneys, consultants and supervisors.

NCUA is the independent federal agency created by the U.S. Congress to regulate, charter and supervise federal credit unions. With the backing of the full faith and credit of the United States, NCUA operates and manages the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, insuring the deposits of more than 98 million account holders in all federal credit unions and the overwhelming majority of state-chartered credit unions. At MyCreditUnion.gov and Pocket Cents, NCUA also educates the public on consumer protection and financial literacy issues.


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