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NASCUS files comments on NCUA proposed risk-based capital rule
(April 27, 2015) – The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) filed comments today on the NCUA’s proposed changes to NCUA Rules and Regulations Parts 700-703; 713, 723, and 747 regarding prompt corrective action (PCA) and risk-based capital (RBC). This is the second proposal put forth by the NCUA on this important topic; the revised rule was presented at the NCUA’s Jan. 15 board meeting.
In this second round of comments, NASCUS encouraged NCUA to take a closer look at the appropriate definition of a “complex” institution, the approval of supplemental capital for RBC purposes, and the use of concentration risk-weights for real estate and commercial loans, among other issues.
“The numerous modifications undertaken by NCUA represent a significant improvement over the original proposal,” wrote NASCUS. “Nevertheless, the current proposal requires additional refinement to ensure that it is right-sized for the credit union movement and does not create a competitive disadvantage relative to the banking industry.”
NASCUS encouraged NCUA to refine the list of activities that is used to identify complex institutions. “Real estate loans, investments with maturities greater than five years, and Internet banking are staple activities of financial services institutions in today’s marketplace and should not be considered complex,” wrote NASCUS.
NASCUS also recommended that the threshold for complexity be set where all or most credit unions are engaged in four or more of the activities identified as complex.
They wrote, “The Federal Credit Union Act requires NCUA to define a complex credit union based on its portfolio of assets and liabilities. A single complex activity is generally not representative of a credit union’s entire portfolio, and arguably does not rise to that standard.”
NASCUS also urged NCUA to remove concentration risk-weights from the rule, citing supervisory tools and the new capital adequacy planning requirements under proposed section 702.101(b) as better options to target outlier credit unions: “Utilizing capital adequacy plans to address concentration risk would control for concentrations that pose safety and soundness risk without placing the wider credit union system at a competitive disadvantage compared to banks,” they said.
About NASCUS
The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) is the primary resource and voice of the state governmental agencies that charter, regulate and examine the nation’s state-chartered credit unions. NASCUS membership is made up of state-chartered credit unions, state regulators and other supporters of the state credit union system. NASCUS is the only organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of the state credit union charter and the autonomy of state credit union regulatory agencies. To learn more about NASCUS, visit www.nascus.org.