Capital and Capitol Conundrums
Sometimes things you didn’t think would affect you sneak up on you by surprise, whether out of nowhere or through ignorance or you’re merely preoccupied with other things.
Dodd-Frank has certainly become something that can’t be ignored. In fact, during a recent webinar we just hosted concerning regulatory compliance, more than 66% of attendees said the law would play a significant role in their planning for 2013.
On the other hand, 34% reported it would have a minor role or none at all. Hopefully, those are the ones who are already prepared for the consumer protection and transparency regulations that are coming to fruition.
Executive compensation disclosure could be a part of the transparency trend, and as I’ve advocated in the past, it should be. Currently, only state charters are not exempted from compensation disclosure.
As the last of the tax-exempt, not-for-profits not to disclose, it can make outsiders and members more suspicious of salaries paid to top credit union executives when, in most cases, there’s really nothing to hide. And where there is, then problem solved.
Every year their top executives’ pay is released and the industry groans about the figures. If you expect transparency from your regulator, you have to walk the talk. Interestingly, 59% of our Dodd-Frank webinar participants said greater transparency will be good for credit unions. Respondents weren’t specifically referring to executive compensation, but that’s certainly a piece of it.
