August 15, 1997
Nelson Toye, Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
1100 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1100
Dear Mr. Toye:
You have asked several questions relating to state chartered credit
unions operating branches on military installations located overseas.
Your specific questions, along with our answers, are set forth
below.
1. May an existing federal credit union convert to a state
charter and remain subject to the regulations of the NCUA?
Yes. If a state chartered credit union is federally insured,
it is subject to examination and regulation by both the state
supervising agency and NCUA. Federally insured state chartered
credit unions (FISCUs) must sign an "Agreement for Insurance
of Accounts" which provides that they agree to comply with
the requirements of Title II of the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU
Act) and of regulations prescribed by the NCUA Board. For your
review, a copy of a sample "Agreement" is enclosed.
While certain NCUA regulations apply only to federal credit unions,
key safety and soundness regulations, such as those concerning
fidelity bond requirements and limitations on business lending
and lending to insiders, apply to all federally insured credit
unions. NCUA has general rulemaking authority with respect to
all federally insured credit unions.
2. Does the NCUA provide full insurance coverage for credit
union members' accounts that are established and exist at overseas
installations? Would state chartered credit unions operating
at overseas installations be covered by insurance requirements
of the NCUA?
Yes. NCUA is authorized to provide insurance for the member accounts of "credit unions organized and operated according to the laws of any State, the District of Columbia, the several territories, and possessions of the United States, the Panama Canal Zone, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico." 12 U.S.C. �81(a). The amount of insurance is determined in accordance with the FCU Act and NCUA's regulations. 12 U.S.C. �87(k) and 12 C.F.R. Part 745. An NCUA insured state chartered credit union operating overseas would be subject to the same insurance requirements as a federal credit union.
3. Are state-chartered credit unions, operating at overseas
locations, subject to NCUA on-site audits or only state regulators
audits?
NCUA has the right to examine any federally insured credit union.
12 U.S.C �84; 12 C.F.R. �1.1. NCUA examinations
are technically not audits as the term is used by the accounting
profession, but are insurance reviews focusing on issues of safety
and soundness such as asset quality, positive earnings, and adequate
reserves.
NCUA recognizes state regulatory agencies as primarily responsible
for supervising and examining FISCUs, including those that may
have offices located overseas. The actual examination of FISCUs
is not the same in each state. In some states, NCUA examiners
work with state examiners and conduct a joint examination. In
other states, state regulators conduct the examination and share
their examination reports with the appropriate NCUA regional office.
In the latter case, an NCUA examiner reviews the state reports
to confirm that the examination has identified problems affecting
safety and soundness of a FISCU properly, has recommended appropriate
corrective action, and has established reasonable time-frames
for corrective action.
4. How can the Department determine if a specific credit union
is approved and regulated by the NCUA?
If the Department is interested in knowing whether a state chartered
credit union is federally insured and thus, subject to regulation
by the NCUA, it only needs to contact the appropriate NCUA regional
office which can provide such information.
5. Assuming that state chartered credit unions are authorized
by the Department to operate at overseas installations, what role
does the NCUA play in determining regulatory requirements if problems
arise among credit unions chartered by different state regulatory
agencies?
NCUA and state supervising agencies jointly assume responsibility
for addressing safety and soundness issues adequately and for
coordinating with examiners on any necessary corrective action.
NCUA and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors
(NASCUS) meet frequently to encourage cooperation, resolve differences,
and provide a continuing forum for regulatory and insurance issues.
If a FISCU has serious operational and management problems that
cannot be resolved, NCUA has available the same authority it has
for federally chartered credit unions to take administrative action.
That authority includes the power to issue a cease and desist
order, impose civil money penalties, order the prohibition and
removal of credit union officials, impose a conservatorship, and
terminate federal share insurance. 12 U.S.C �86. However,
only a state supervising agency can
place an insolvent FISCU into involuntary liquidation.
6. What legal precedent would be established by having state
credit union regulations determining de facto public policy for
a federal department?
If there are any issues that concern the Department involving
FISCUs, NCUA can work with the Department to insure uniformity
in policy.
7. What is the NCUA's assessment of congressional intent to
maintain federally-chartered credit unions to facilitate compliance
with international law and regulations?
NCUA is unaware of any particular congressional intent on this
matter.
8. Finally, does the NCUA object to the presence of state-chartered
credit unions located on DoD overseas military installations?
No. It is NCUA's position that FISCUs should have the same opportunity
as federal credit unions to provide credit union services.
Sincerely,
Norman E. D'Amours
Chairman
GC/NSW:bhs
SSIC 4800
97-0729
Enclosure