Podcasts about ncua

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel hosts a Washington roundtable with John McKechnie, Geeff Bacino, and Alonzo Swann — each with deep NCUA and credit union experience — to break down the forces reshaping the agency this summer.The conversation opens with the NCUA board itself: nominee John Crews and his likely path through a Senate Banking confirmation hearing, and a pending Supreme Court removal-power case that could reinstate two dismissed members or clear the way for new appointments. The group weighs what a full versus divided board would mean for examination priorities, enforcement, and the pace of rulemaking.From there, the discussion turns to a Mississippi conservatorship that became a fraud. Mark explains the single balance-sheet signal — an unusually high cash position paired with heavy borrowing and low loans-to-assets — that pointed to trouble before the word “fraud” was ever used, and the panel discusses what it reveals about supervisory committees, external audits, and internal controls. All wrongdoing is alleged, and a material loss review by the Inspector General follows.The panel then makes the case for examiner presence — the “empty cop car” effect — and why on-site observation catches what data alone cannot, especially as staffing tightens. The episode closes with a look at the Credit Union Board Modernization provision moving through Congress, which would give qualifying, healthy credit unions relief from monthly board-meeting requirements, and a candid take on why credit unions still trail banks on legislative relief.Topics: NCUA board composition and the confirmation timeline; the pending removal-power case; the Jackson, Mississippi conservatorship and alleged fraud; internal controls and supervisory committee oversight; examiner presence and staffing; the material loss review process; and the Credit Union Board Modernization provision.

Episode Description:In this special archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark shares valuable insights from his years of experience in credit union examination and consulting. Broadcasting straight from the beach, he breaks down the top 10 ways credit unions can avoid receiving a Document of Resolution (DOR) from the NCUA. Whether you're preparing for an exam or just looking to fine-tune your operations, these practical tips will help ensure compliance and maintain a smooth examination process.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Understanding Document Resolutions (DOR): What they are, why they occur, and how to avoid them.Key Triggers for DORs: Common issues such as violations of regulations, policies, or strategic plans.Proven Strategies: How to communicate, negotiate, and train effectively to avoid potential pitfalls.Best Practices: Mark's insights on proactive planning, staying informed, and maintaining good examiner relationships.Top 10 Tips Highlighted in This Episode:Comply with the Federal Credit Union Act and NCUA regulations.Follow your organization's policies diligently.Stick to your approved strategic plan or adjust it responsibly.Communicate effectively with NCUA examiners.Negotiate issues identified during the examination process.Invest in training for staff, boards, and committees.Stay updated with regulatory changes by subscribing to NCUA Express.Listen to informative podcasts like With Flying Colors and Credit Union Regulatory Guidance.Avoid accounting problems by ensuring reconciliations and timely audits.Make senior leadership accessible to examiners during the examination process.Resources Mentioned:NCUA ExpressCredit Union Regulatory Guidance podcastMark's consulting services for NCUA examination supportCall to Action:If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to With Flying Colors for more actionable tips and insights into navigating NCUA exams and credit union compliance. Ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts and Spotify are always appreciated! 

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In May, NCUA conserved Jackson Area Federal Credit Union, and I recorded an episode saying I suspected the reported cash wasn't real. This follow-up walks through what the public record now confirms.The institution reported about $162 million in assets and 9.2% net worth, but only 28% of assets in loans, roughly 66% in cash, and $41 million in non-member deposits it didn't appear to need — the pattern that prompted my phantom-cash thesis. Since then, NCUA filed a restated call report recognizing a $91.7 million loss, cutting cash by $93.6 million, and swinging net worth from positive 9% to negative 107%, leaving the institution materially insolvent.On June 11th, NCUA filed a federal complaint alleging the former CEO diverted at least $95 million for personal use — roughly $51 million in false deposit entries plus overstated corporate-credit-union cash, the exact mechanism I had inferred from the 5300. The complaint also details alleged personal spending and a co-defendant spouse, and references an admission made to the board and NCUA in April.I cover the separation-of-duties failure at the center of the case (one person signed the filings and held wire authority), why an examiner is not a fraud auditor, the likely $77 million-plus hit to the share insurance fund, and the coming Inspector General material loss review. I close on the macro backdrop: fewer exams and a contemplated FFIEC change to CAMELS, and what that trade-off means for boards over the long run.

Episode SummaryIn this archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark sits down with Todd Miller — longtime NCUA expert, former Director of Special Actions, and member of the CU Exam Solutions team — to break down one of the most misunderstood and under-optimized tools in credit union governance: the board package.Boards get in trouble not because they don't care, Todd explains, but because they are often misinformed, overwhelmed, or kept in the dark. A well-designed board package solves that — if it's built with the right mix of clarity, consistency, and candor.Todd explains:What high-performing board packages includeWhy “size and complexity” shape reporting expectationsThe danger of data dumps, inconsistent formatting, and detail overloadHow to pair dashboards with strong qualitative narrativesThe one question every executive should answer in their reportsWhy peer comparisons matterHow risk appetite, strategic plans, and deviation explanations must tie togetherReal-world stories from troubled and well-run credit unionsHow to avoid examiner criticism by aligning reporting with actual riskThis episode is full of practical actions your board and leadership team can apply immediately.Key Themes & Takeaways1. Great Board Packages Balance Qualitative + Quantitative ReportingTodd outlines a simple principle: Board reports should demonstrate management's compliance with the business plan, board policies, and the credit union's risk appetite. transcript Board Packages Todd …Boards need both data and narrative to understand where the credit union is, how it got there, and where it's going.2. Consistency Builds Board TrustFrom formatting to color-coding to dashboards, consistency helps directors quickly understand risk without getting bogged down.Inconsistent layouts or disorganized reporting create confusion and can lead to micromanagement or oversight failures.3. Avoid the “Data Dump” TrapTodd highlights that many troubled credit unions had mountains of data… but no clarity. Board packets that keep expanding over time—without periodic pruning—bury critical insights.Annual reviews of what stays, what goes, and how information is summarized are essential.4. Dashboards Are Critical — But Must Be Thoughtfully BuiltDashboards should show:Where the CU has beenWhere it is nowWhere it's trending nextThey must also be paired with narrative analysis to flag:VariancesDeviations from strategic/annual plansNew risksNew opportunities5. The Biggest Blind Spot: Credit Risk ReportingCredit risk is the No. 1 cause of failures. Todd explains how to reduce hundreds of pages into 2–3 meaningful pages with:Risk migration visualsLTV + credit score overlaysPortfolio trendsBusiness loan concentration & large-borrower exposure6. Committees Create Risk — and Reporting ObligationsALCO, lending, IT, risk committees… Boards need visibility but not minutiae.Todd walks through how well-run credit unions:Summarize committee outputElevate red flagsKeep the board focused on strategy, not operations7. Real-World Stories—The Good, The Bad, The UglyTodd shares examples of:39 unprofitable branches hidden in an overly detailed packetBoards blindsided by marijuana banking risk and resulting finesA $4 million depositor walking out because the board lacked contextThese stories underscore the need for transparency, context, and prioritization.Why This MattersA strong board package:Improves governanceEnhances regulator confidencePrevents surprisesSupports faster, cleaner examsKeeps boards strategicHelps management demonstrate competence and controlThis episode is a must-listen for CEOs, CFOs, lending executives, and directors looking to elevate their governance culture.

Are you facing job loss, the rising financial stress, or unexpected bills? You don't have to handle it alone. On this episode of the Perfect Cents Podcast, host Alex Becerra welcomes SAFE Loan Service Manager, Amber Mitchell to discuss how to partner with your financial institution during tough times. Topics include: Communication is Key: Loan servicing departments call out of care to find flexible solutions, not to penalize you. Flexible Options: Programs like Skip-A-Pay move your payment to the end of the loan term, protecting your credit. Community Support: Local credit unions focus on tailored, win-win outcomes for their neighbors.  SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. Community & Local Favorites: Thai Hut (Sacramento) To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org To watch this episode in video-format and access more financial education tips, subscribe to the SAFE Credit Union YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SAFECreditUnionCA

 | WFC Classic: Rating Commercial Credit Risk — What NCUA Expects

Credit union strategy takes center stage as Mark Ritter welcomes industry veteran Jay Murray to Credit Union Conversations. From teller to CEO, Jay's path through corporate credit union leadership shaped decades of collaboration within the credit union sector. He reflects on the financial crisis, regulatory gaps, and how shared services helped small institutions survive and scale. Jay also unpacks the importance of succession planning and why the cooperative model remains vital. His long-tail insight: Credit union succession planning strategies are essential for institutions that want to outlast their current leadership.What You Will Learn in This Episode: ✅ How credit union strategy evolves over decades, and why leaders who embrace credit union collaboration and shared services consistently outperform those who go it alone.✅ What the corporate financial crisis revealed about regulatory oversight and why understanding credit union history prepares today's leaders for tomorrow's risks.✅ Why succession planning at both the CEO and board level is the difference between an institution that thrives beyond its founder and one that quietly disappears.✅ How the cooperative model and financial literacy initiatives can position credit unions as indispensable community anchors in an increasingly corporate financial landscape.Subscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Jay Murray's origin story: from forestry dreams to credit union leadership and becoming a teller at a family savings and loan03:16 The early days of corporate credit union outreach, visiting 1,150 Pennsylvania credit unions 05:34 How Mid-Atlantic Corporate grew through mergers and rebranded as VIZO08:55 The financial crisis: what regulatory oversight missed and what the NCUA ultimately did 15:33 Building credit union collaboration through myCUservices and RKGO BIG19:57 Succession planning and forward-thinking board governance determine whether a credit union survives KEY TAKEAWAYS:

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode: NCUA's 2026–2030 Strategic Plan: What Changed and Why It MattersIn this solo episode, Mark Treichel walks through NCUA's newly released 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and compares it section by section against the prior 2022–2026 plan. The contrast tells credit union leaders exactly where the agency is going — and which of those decisions are now codified as five-year commitments rather than reversible management choices.What's covered:•        The framework requirements: OMB Circular A‑11 and which 19 items the plan needed to address.•        What dropped out of the 2026 plan: the eight-page economic outlook, dedicated climate-related financial risk objective, full enterprise risk management section, standalone minority depository institution objective, diversity-equity-inclusion language, and the cross-agency collaboration narrative.•        What's new in 2026: AI as a standalone strategic objective, the GENIUS Act stablecoin rulemaking as a performance target, the reorganization codified as objective 3.2, real estate footprint reduction language, merit-based hiring as a deliverable, deregulation quantified at 30 actions, and a chartering automation target.•        The political cycle behind the swings: every administration gets a year after inauguration to issue a new five-year plan, and the language reflects whoever is in office.•        Practical implications for credit unions: AI-assisted exam scoping, the shift of stakeholder-facing work to the regions, what the 27% workforce reduction means for examination dynamics, and how to read the deregulation scoreboard for substance vs. headline count.•        Mark's takeaways: reorganization is now a five-year strategic commitment, safety and soundness remains the North Star, AI in examinations is coming and measurable, the deregulation scoreboard is mostly budget dust with a few real items, and the smaller examiner footprint creates short-term wins and longer-term structural questions.A practical episode for credit union CEOs, board members, CFOs, and senior staff who want to understand what NCUA has actually committed to over the next five years and what to do about it before the next board meeting.About the host:Mark Treichel is the principal of Credit Union Exam Solutions. He spent more than 33 years at NCUA, including eight as Executive Director and over five years on the senior leadership team. He hosts With Flying Colors to help credit unions navigate examinations and regulatory change.

WFC Classic: Conservatorship - When NCUA Removes the Board of Directors

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel sits down with Rick Mumm — a 34-year NCUA veteran who spent 26 of those years in field of membership work, including bylaws, mergers, liquidations, and charter expansions — to walk through NCUA's proposed rule change on customer-client relationships in field of membership decisions.This proposal is unusual in two respects. First, unlike most of NCUA's recent deregulation announcements, it has real practical impact for credit unions seeking to add fraternal organizations or associations with any customer-client element. Second, the rule is the direct result of an actual appeal that went all the way to the NCUA Board — an appeal pursued by POLAM Federal Credit Union, led by CEO Jennifer Audette, in which the Board denied the appeal but acknowledged inconsistencies in the existing rule and committed to a rewrite.Topics covered:•        Why the current Chartering Manual creates inconsistency by specifically naming the Knights of Columbus as qualifying while excluding similar fraternal organizations that sell insurance•        How Thrivent fits into the picture as another mutual insurance organization that converted from a mutual savings bank into a federal credit union•        The affiliate-membership wrinkle: under both Knights and Thrivent, members who don't buy insurance are affiliate members without voting rights — which the Chartering Manual says shouldn't qualify for credit union membership•        What the proposed rule actually says, why it's so sparse, and what's notably absent from it•        Why concerns about NCUA's loss of corporate knowledge at the Office of Credit Union Resources and Expansion mean execution will matter more than the text•        How credit unions should position applications under the new standard•        Why credit unions with stalled or denied applications should consider submitting comment lettersRick can be reached at rick@rcservices.com or via rcservices.com.

Glen chats with Lee Wetherington about Jack Henry's newly minted survey of nearly 200 credit union and bank CEOs, exploring how strategic priorities and top concerns differ by group and how they've shifted over time. Also, a treasure trove of new industry data- on consumer payment choice, household economics, crypto/stablecoin usage, and a breezy 269-page NCUA stroke of GENIUS for your holiday reading pleasure.      Links related to this episode: Jack Henry's 2026 Strategy Benchmark Study: https://discover.jackhenry.com/strategy-benchmark-study-2026 FRB Services' Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: https://www.frbservices.org/news/research/2026-findings-diary-consumer-payment-choice The Kansas City Fed's paper on stablecoin use: https://www.kansascityfed.org/documents/15703/PaymentsSystemResearchBriefing26Noll0410.pdf The Federal Reserve Board's 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED): https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/2025-report-economic-well-being-us-households-202605.pdf   CU Today on the NCUA's proposed approach to implementing the GENIUS Act: https://www.cutoday.info/THE-feature/NCUA-s-New-Stablecoin-Framework-Sparks-Debate-Over-CUs-Best-Digital-Dollar-Strategy  Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday May 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. In this session, John will dissect OpenAI's new personal finance offering. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel walks through NCUA's most recent Inspector General semi-annual report to Congress, covering the April through September 2025 reporting period. Seven credit union failures occurred during the cycle, with internal fraud driving the two largest losses for a combined total of more than $16 million. Mark breaks down the fraud triangle (pressure, opportunity, rationalization), examines what the failures reveal about supervisory committee performance, walks through the patterns NCUA examiners look for, and lays out a practical prevention playbook scaled to credit union size.In this episode:•        The seven credit union failures from NCUA's most recent Inspector General report•        Why internal fraud accounted for the largest losses•        The fraud triangle and why opportunity is the most controllable element•        Record keeping failures as a force-multiplier for every other control breakdown•        The supervisory committee as the first line of defense•        What examiners pattern-match against during exams•        Prevention strategies for credit unions under $50 million in assets•        Prevention strategies for mid-size and larger credit unions•        The living fraud risk assessment: member risk, product risk, enterprise risk•        Why on-site exams will not be replaced by virtual examsMark Treichel spent 33 years at NCUA, including eight years as Executive Director. He is now principal of Credit Union Exam Solutions and host of the With Flying Colors podcast.

Is the Sacramento housing market finally cooling down, or are we entering a significant period of transition? On this episode of the Perfect Cents Podcast, host Alex Becerra sits down with renowned housing analyst and certified appraiser Ryan Lundquist to break down the latest Sacramento real estate trends. With over 20 years of local experience, Ryan provides a data-backed look at why the current market is shifting from a fast-paced environment to a much tighter, inventory-strained landscape. Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seller trying to understand local appraisal trends, this interview offers the technical analysis you won't find in viral headlines. Topics include: Market Inventory Dynamics: Why low supply coupled with low demand is creating a unique state of "normal." Regional Growth Drivers: The massive population shift toward Roseville and the ongoing transformation of downtown Loomis. The Bay Area Effect: How migration patterns from the coast continue to influence Sacramento home prices. Buying Strategy for 2026: Why a 20% down payment isn't a requirement and how to navigate the current entry-level market. Luxury Market Trends: An analysis of million-dollar sales and where the top 10% of the market is heading. About the Guest: Ryan Lundquist is a certified residential appraiser and housing market analyst in the Sacramento area. Ryan runs the Sacramento Appraisal Blog, which is a top-ranking appraisal blog in the United States. He is a member of the Real Estate Appraisers Association of Sacramento. His clients include homeowners, real estate agents, CPAs, and attorneys. In his spare time, Ryan does woodworking. He also loves to walk. SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. Community & Local Favorites: Shangri-La (Fair Oaks) High-Hand Cafe (Loomis) High-Hand Brewing Company (Loomis) To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. To see this episode in our new video format visit: Sacramento Housing Market Update: Trends & Analysis with Ryan Lundquist (YouTube) To view Ryan's official website and read his latest blog visit: Sacramento Appraisal Blog To like, share, and subscribe to SAFE Credit Union's official YouTube page visit: SAFE Credit Union (YouTube) To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

Are you torn between the convenience of a fintech app and the personalized service of a credit union? In this episode of the Perfect Cents Podcast, host Alex Becerra is joined by Marcus Webb, Branch Manager at SAFE Credit Union's Granite Bay location. With over 24 combined years of experience, they break down the shifting financial landscape—from the rise of "niche" apps like Rocket Money and Chime to why having a face-to-face relationship still carries immense "intangible value" in a digital world. Topics include: Defining Fintech: Why younger consumers are drawn to specialized, one-dimensional digital tools. The "Data Point" Problem: The difference between being a member of a community and just another entry in an algorithm. The Credit Union Philosophy: How not-for-profit institutions prioritize the person over the profit. Life's Milestones: How a dedicated financial partner helps you navigate buying a first car, planning a wedding, or starting a family. About the Guest: Marcus Webb is a veteran in the banking industry with 12 years of experience. He currently serves as the Branch Manager for the SAFE Credit Union Granite Bay branch, focusing on community-based growth and member success. SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. Community & Local Favorites: R-Vida Cantina To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

Send us Fan MailThe NCUA looks to be getting a new board chair: John Crews, a longtime Washington DC hand and currently Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department.  Prior jobs include Policy Director of the Senate Banking Committee and Policy Advisor to House majority leader Steve Scalise.  He's a guy who knows his way around inside the Beltway.There's an urgency to his nomination because present  NCUA board chair Kyle Hauptman has been named to the board of the Public Company Accounting Oversight board.  Hauptman also is the only member of the NCUA's current board. There are two other seats but their occupants presently are involved in litigation and no longer serve.Will Crews cross the finish line in the Senate and assume the top job at NCUA?On the show is Washington DC lobbyist Elizabeth Ergubian, herself a former staffer at NCUA where she served as  Director of External Affairs & Communications and Policy Advisor to the Chair.Before that she was Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer & Senior Counsel at CUNA.She knows the Beltway doings, she knows credit unions, and here she tells what to expect in Crew's confirmation hearing - and when to expect it.Listen up.Like what you are hearing? Find out how you can help sponsor this podcast here. Very affordable sponsorship packages are available. Email rjmcgarvey@gmail.com  And like this podcast on whatever service you use to stream it. That matters.  Find out more about CU2.0 and the digital transformation of credit unions here. It's a journey every credit union needs to take. Pronto

Are you ready to stop paying your landlord's mortgage and start building your own equity? In this episode of the Perfect Cents Podcast, host Alex Becerra sits down with SAFE Credit Union Home Loan Manager Casey Jenkins to demystify the journey to homeownership. Whether you're worried about your credit score or struggling to save for a down payment, this discussion provides a clear roadmap for anyone looking to secure their first set of house keys. Topics include: Why your "bad credit" might actually be better than you think. The real cost of renting vs. the long-term benefits of home equity. How to balance paying off debt while saving for a down payment. Why working with a mortgage advisor can help you create a winning plan. About the Guest: With over 15 years of experience, Casey shares why the "boring" logistics of mortgages—rates, terms, and payments—are actually powerful tools to help you reach financial freedom. SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. Community & Local Favorites: Zócalo - Modern Mexican Hospitality To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. Beyond Everyday Banking Blog - SAFE Home Loan Consultants Help You Every Step of the Way For details about SAFE HomeRewards, visit: SAFE HomeRewards To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel walks through NCUA's May 6 conservatorship of Jackson Area Federal Credit Union of Jackson, Mississippi. Drawing on 33 years at NCUA — including responsibility for some of the agency's largest historical conservatorships — Mark analyzes the publicly available call report data and explains why this case is unusual.The credit union reported 9.2% net worth at year-end 2025, alongside loan-to-assets of 27.8%, $108 million in cash on deposit at correspondent banks, and $41.8 million in non-member deposits. Mark works through why these patterns, taken together, are statistically extreme — Jackson Area is the only large credit union in the country with non-member deposits over 25% and loan-to-assets under 30%.The episode also covers a roughly $2.13 million Q4 net worth entry that lifted capital back above the well-capitalized threshold against just $42,000 in reported quarterly income, the timing of NCUA's filing of an estimated March 31 call report the day before the conservatorship, and what the language in the press release may signal.Mark closes with five lessons for credit union boards: healthy ratios are not safety; the income statement can tell the truth the balance sheet hides; non-member deposits without lending growth deserve scrutiny; equity entries without income demand explanation; and NCUA examinations are not fraud audits.This is a solo episode — Mark's analysis is based entirely on public data, with no insider information.

On this episode of the Perfect Cents Podcast, host Alex Becerra sits down with Lawrence Lomeli, AVP of Consumer Lending at SAFE Credit Union, to break down the complex world of borrowing and credit to help you build financial freedom for your future.  Topics include: Borrowing as a Tool: Why credit should be viewed as leverage for big-ticket items like homes, cars, and education rather than a source of anxiety. Credit Score Factors: A deep dive into what influences your score, including repayment history, credit mix, and the depth of your profile. The Benefits of High Credit: How a strong score leads to better interest rates, lower costs, and more options from financial institutions. Overcoming Challenges: Understanding that credit is a journey and that past hardships like medical issues or setbacks are not a reflection of your self-worth. Red Flags to Avoid: Critical warnings about the dangers of payday loans and using credit for everyday living expenses like groceries and gas. About the Guest: Lawrence Lomeli brings over 35 years of industry experience to the conversation, specializing in signature, personal, and auto loans. Resources: For more information on financial products and services, visit safecu.org to schedule an appointment with a professional expert today. SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. Land Ocean - New American Grill To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

"Picky eater" is one of the most common labels in pediatrics and one of the easiest to overlook. But when a child's diet is shrinking instead of expanding, when meals are a source of stress instead of routine, or when growth and nutrition start to feel like a question mark, it's worth taking a second look. In this episode, we're discussing ARFID: what it looks like in clinic, how to spot the difference from typical picky eating, and how to approach these patients with a sharper clinical lens. In this episode, we are joined by Kimberly Sheffield, PhD. She is an eating disorders psychologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, as well as the Clinical Director of Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PMHI) day programs, and the Associate Training Director for Psychology Training.  Some highlights from this episode include: Specific growth or nutrition patterns that should raise suspicion of ARFID Treatment options pediatricians can manage in clinic  Overlap between ARFID and neurodiversity   Patterns to look for in certain age groups  This episode is underwritten by Ent Credit Union, proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Ent is Colorado's largest credit union serving more than 550,000 members at 60 service centers across the Front Range. Ent generously responded to Children's Colorado's State of Emergency for pediatric mental health in 2021 and is pleased to support this episode. Visit ent.com, insured by NCUA.  For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org. 

What does it take to build a thriving credit union business lending program in today's market? Mark Ritter sits down with Joe Hyatt of DFTC to unpack decades of experience in commercial lending, loan underwriting, and portfolio diversity. From navigating NCUA compliance to chasing treasury management goals, they share candid insights on what credit unions are doing right and where they still fall short. If you work in business lending, this conversation will hit close to home.What You Will Learn in This Episode: ✅ How credit union business lending has shifted from a rigid, prescriptive regulatory framework to a more flexible, opportunity-driven environment, and what that means for your program today.✅ Why strong credit administration, consistent independent loan review, and thorough annual reviews are the foundation of surviving and succeeding in an NCUA compliance examination.✅ How portfolio diversity, including a move toward C and I lending, small business lending, and treasury management, is reshaping how credit unions approach growth and member relationships.✅ Why credit union technology and emerging AI tools are no longer optional, and how embracing innovation will determine which programs lead and which get left behind.Subscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Joe Hyatt details DFTC's loan underwriting, training, and independent loan review services built for credit unions nationwide04:25 Reflecting on the early days of member business lending and the evolution of talent, tools, and portfolio limits 08:39 Joe outlines keys to NCUA compliance: strong policies, solid credit administration, and proactive loan workout planning12:50 Exploring portfolio diversification, treasury management, and why small-business lending competes with larger commercial real estate deals18:45 Some of the big differences for better or worse today versus the old days21:48 Joe's closing thoughts on portfolio diversity, AI adoption, and why credit union technology will separate tomorrow's leaders from the restKEY TAKEAWAYS:

Are you looking to improve your financial health but don't know where to start? In this episode, join host Alex and special guest Marcie Johnson (Debit and Credit Program Manager at SAFE Credit Union,) as they discuss why mindful spending is the absolute foundation of long-term financial wellness. Whether you're a parent teaching your kids about money or just trying to navigate the convenience of digital payments, this conversation offers practical strategies for everyone.  Topics include: The Three Spending Zones: How to categorize your expenses into essential, flexible, and emergency spending. Mindfulness & Money: Why taking a moment to think before you "tap" can prevent overspending in a world of Apple Pay and Google Pay. Strategic Tools: How to use mobile banking alerts and card notifications to keep your budget on track. Needs vs. Wants: Tips for differentiating between what you truly need and what can wait for a better time. Community & Local Favorites: Supporting Local Arts - Marcie discusses the positive community impact of Rocklin Community Theatre, a local nonprofit where her children participate. Local Eats - The episode wraps up with a nod to Thai Basil, a favorite local dining spot. SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. Rocklin Community Theatre Thai Basil: Fresh, Authentic, Thai To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Mark Treichel is joined by Mike Macchiarola, Partner and CEO of Olden Lane, for a structured deep-dive into the most recent NCUA Annual Report. Mike organizes his analysis into seven interlocking themes — what he calls the Magnificent Seven — and the conversation walks through each one with quantitative detail and practical implications for credit union leadership.In this episode:•        The system is strong but the tone of the report is cautious — and why that is the right posture•        Consolidation math: credit union count down roughly 3.7% year over year, with losses concentrated on the small end of the barbell•        Average age of a credit union member (53) versus the average U.S. resident (38.5), and what the widening gap implies•        Member acquisition cost approaching $900, roughly double the level of two to three years ago•        The median credit union has posted negative member growth for six consecutive quarters•        Why return on assets and net worth are stronger than they look — and the one-time factors propping them up•        Regulatory philosophy pendulum: elimination of reputational risk, rejection of regulation by enforcement, extended exam cycles, and ten-plus deregulation announcements•        Innovation is now central to the agenda: stablecoin rulemaking, NCUA's historical pattern of being ahead on derivatives and non-member shares•        FinTech competitive picture: SoFi, Robinhood, Wealthfront, and Coinbase deposits and growth rates against the credit union industry•        The bigness question: 73% of credit unions hold 13% of assets; the top 21 credit unions hold 25%•        How NCUA itself is changing — roughly 25% of staff exited through the departure plan, single-member board, and what that means for industry timing•        The announcement that Olden Lane is joining Stifel NicolausMike's analysis at Olden Lane is built on quarterly tier-by-tier data on the credit union industry. This conversation is a concentrated version of the themes his team tracks and the practical conclusions they draw from them.

WFC Classic Episode on Appealing ANYTHING to NCUA.

On this episode of The Perfect Cents Podcast, host Alex Becerra is joined by Emilio Barrera, a Community Development Specialist at SAFE Credit Union. Together, they dive into the power of financial planning and how it can completely transform your relationship with money, starting with the way you spend. Emilio shares his expert insights on why a solid plan isn't just about numbers; it's about alleviating stress and stopping the impulse decisions that set you back. Whether you are starting your financial journey from scratch or recovering from past "speed bumps," this conversation provides a judgment-free roadmap to success. Key Takeaway: Financial wellness is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It's about aligning your spending with your core values and building a small pathway of steps to reach your larger vision.  SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel breaks down NCUA's latest proposed rule — one that would eliminate the long-standing loan participation regulation that has been in place since 2006. This is part of NCUA's broader deregulatory push, driven in part by an executive order mandating a ten-to-one ratio of rule eliminations to new rulemaking. Mark walks through what the original 2006 rule established: a 50% of net worth cap for the first 30 months of a loan participation program and a 100% cap after that, with a waiver process for institutions that wanted to exceed those thresholds. The rule applied to both federal credit unions and federally insured state charters. The proposed change would remove those bright line caps entirely and replace them with a principles-based approach — one where the credit union's board sets its own policies, calibrated to the institution's size, complexity, and risk profile. Mark then explains why this change is less dramatic than it might sound. NCUA's concentration risk guidance letter — which already requires board-approved limits, documented risk frameworks, stress testing, servicer performance tracking, and regular board reporting — remains active. General safety and soundness authority also remains, and NCUA examiners still have tools to require reduced exposure, improved policies, or even a pause in lending until programs meet expectations. That said, Mark identifies where the risks are real: smaller credit unions without sophisticated concentration risk frameworks, less experienced examiner staff following NCUA's recent workforce reductions, and regional variability in how principles-based supervision gets applied. The episode closes with four practical steps for credit unions to take now:•        Review your board policy — if it references the old 50% or 100% net worth limits, it will need to be updated when the rule is finalized.•        Run a concentration risk letter checklist against your current policies.•        Document your rationale for concentration risk limits and build it into strategic planning.•        Submit a comment letter by May 26th if you have a view on the proposal. Topics covered:•        What the 2006 loan participation rule established and why it was created•        What NCUA is now proposing and why•        Why the concentration risk guidance letter is the more important tool•        How NCUA's safety and soundness authority works as a backstop•        The sophistication gap facing smaller credit unions•        NCUA staffing reductions and their impact on exam consistency•        What credit unions should do before the rule is finalized

Are you feeling the weight of financial stress? Join us for a special episode of the Perfect Cents Podcast as we celebrate America Saves Week and Financial Capability Month! In this episode, Alex is joined by Savannah Brown, a Community Development Specialist at SAFE Credit Union, to discuss why building a savings habit is the essential scaffolding for your financial wellness plan. Whether you are starting with just one dollar or looking to break a cycle of debt, this conversation offers practical insights into shifting your mindset from "I can't" to "I can." About SAFE Credit Union: SAFE is federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing opportunity lender. For more information on financial well-being, visit our website at safecu.org to schedule an appointment with an expert today.  To check out the resources highlighted in this episode visit the links below. To register for an upcoming Financial Wellness webinar visit: https://www.safecu.org/community/events To read the latest edition of SAFE's Beyond Everyday Banking blog visit: https://blog.safecu.org/ To learn more about SAFE Credit Union products and services visit: https://www.safecu.org/  To contact the podcast team, email Podcast@safecu.org

In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with Steve Farrar and Todd Miller — both former NCUA veterans with over 60 years of combined regulatory experience — to break down exactly what a Code 4 means for your credit union, your board, and your relationships with every lender you work with.Steve spent 15 years as a Problem Case Officer on the West Coast before moving to NCUA's Division of Risk Management in the central office, where he worked on enforcement, corporate resolution, and risk-based capital. Todd spent 34 years with NCUA, including a decade as an examiner and PCO, followed by 11 years as Director of Special Actions in the Western Region.Together, they cover: what NCUA is actually doing when they code you a 4 (hint: building an administrative record), how often you'll see your examiner (more than you think), why the Federal Reserve, FHLB, and Fannie Mae all find out about your status, what Section 701.14 means for management and board changes, why assignment to Special Actions isn't always bad news, and what separates credit unions that recover from those that don't.If you're a Code 4 — or worried you might become one — this episode gives you the insider perspective on what's coming and how to navigate it.

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode, Mark Treichel responds directly to a podcast released by the American Bankers Association (ABA) titled “Are Credit Union Commercial Loans Risky Business?” — a 12-minute episode that contains significant factual errors, conflates distinct regulatory mechanisms, and presents advocacy as analysis.Mark draws on 33 years at NCUA — including eight years as Executive Director — and nearly six years in consulting to walk through eight specific claims from the ABA podcast, providing historical context, regulatory detail, and current data from NCUA call reports to address each one.Topics CoveredHistorical BackgroundThe ABA's 35-year campaign against credit union expansion — from the 1990 field-of-membership lawsuit argued for the ABA by then-attorney John Roberts, through the Supreme Court victory, through the congressional response with HR 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act of 1998, and the origin of the 12.25% MBL cap as a political compromise rather than a safety-and-soundness limit. How that cap ended up jumpstarting the credit union business lending industry — the law of unintended consequences.Claim 1 — The 2016 Rule Change Was a RelaxationMark untangles two separate errors: the invented waiver mechanism for exceeding the MBL cap (which does not exist — the cap is statutory and cannot be waived by NCUA) and the conflation of the loan-level underwriting waiver process (what actually changed in 2016) with the cap itself. Over 1,000 active waivers were on file before the change; NCUA replaced prescriptive checkboxes with a principles-based framework consistent with OCC and FDIC practice.Claim 2 — The MBL Cap Is NotionalEvery exemption the ABA criticizes — low-income designation, bank acquisitions — was created by Congress, not by credit unions circumventing the system. Using a congressionally authorized exemption is compliance, not circumvention.Claim 3 — The Low-Income Designation ExplosionThe total number of federally insured credit unions fell from 5,048 in 2021 to 4,374 by year-end 2025, a decline of more than 13% in four years. A shrinking denominator drives percentage increases independent of raw count changes. NCUA outreach encouraged eligible institutions to apply for a designation they were already entitled to.Claim 4 — NCUA Lacks Commercial Lending ExpertiseNCUA has had member business lending regulations since the 1980s, updated comprehensively in 2003 and modernized again in 2016. The agency maintains specialized commercial lending examination staff, concentration risk guidance, and net worth standards that apply to commercial lending activity.Claim 5 — Bank Acquisition Commercial Loan ComparisonWhen a credit union acquires a commercial bank, it acquires that bank's loan portfolio. The finding that post-acquisition credit unions carry more commercial loans is a mathematical inevitability, not evidence of a supervisory problem.Claim 6 — These Loans Haven't Been Through StressBank commercial real estate delinquencies peaked at 9% in 2009 and 2010 under OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve supervision. Current credit union commercial loan delinquency as of year-end 2025 is approximately 1% — or 0.44% using the 60-plus-day definition. Former NCUA Chairman Todd Harper has observed that well-underwritten member business loans have the ability to perform differently across economic cycles than auto or mortgage loans — diversification into business lending, done right, is a protection for the system.Claim 7 — Small Business Satisfaction DataThe Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey measures satisfaction among approved applicants at institutions borrowers chose to apply to — a population filtered by membership eligibility requirements. It is not a direct comparison between institution types. Credit unions consistently score among the highest of any financial institution type in the American Customer Satisfaction Index across the full membership.Claim 8 — The Tax Exemption and Level Playing FieldThe credit union tax exemption reflects the cooperative structure: member-owned, with earnings returning to members through lower loan rates, higher deposit returns, and reduced fees. Congress has reviewed this treatment many times and has chosen to maintain it.Takeaways for Credit Union ExecutivesKnow the history and be prepared to counter these arguments with facts. Run a well-managed institution with strong underwriting standards and appropriate capital. Engage proactively with your exam process. Know your data. Be skeptical of statistics presented without context.Resources Referenced•        Credit Union Conversations podcast with Mark Ritter (episode featuring former NCUA Chairman Todd Harper and Mike Radway on HR 1151 history)•        NCUA call report data, year-end 2025•        Federal Register — 2016 NCUA Member Business Lending rule•        America's Credit Unions Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC)

In 2025, credit union business lending quietly staged one of its strongest comebacks in years, and Mark Ritter has the numbers to prove it. From a 25% surge in business loan volumes to a 43% jump in participation loans, the recovery exceeded nearly every expectation. But Mark does not stop at the good news. He tackles the slow erosion of community lending, the growing threat of credit union mergers, rising delinquency rates, and an NCUA board in limbo that could create regulatory turbulence for years to come. This is the episode you forward to everyone in your network.What You Will Learn in This Episode: ✅ How credit union business lending rebounded in 2025, with industry-wide business loan volumes climbing over 25% and participation loans rising 43% after years of tightening liquidity.✅ Why credit union consolidation and ongoing credit union mergers are quietly weakening community lending and reducing the cooperative presence in local markets across the country.✅ How rising delinquency rates and increased charge-offs are signaling early stress in portfolios, particularly among larger institutions that leaned into big real estate loans without personal guarantees.✅ Why the NCUA board leadership gap is creating real strain on credit union examiners and slowing down the regulatory clarity that smaller credit unions desperately need.Subscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Credit union business lending volumes for 2025 are revealed, including a 25% industry-wide surge04:05 Participation loans jumped 43%, and MBFS crossed 1,000 loan underwriting milestones in a single year06:14 Mark has some random thoughts about the industry09:54 New people in the industry, credit union mergers, and consolidation are shrinking community lending and weakening local cooperative roots13:48 Rising delinquency rates and charge-offs signal growing portfolio stress tied to loosened business lending standards15:19 The NCUA board leadership vacuum is straining credit union examiners and stalling critical regulatory reliefKEY TAKEAWAYS:

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this solo episode of With Flying Colors, host Mark Treichel presents a comprehensive data analysis of credit union mergers using thirty quarters of NCUA quarterly merger reports, covering activity from the third quarter of 2018 through 2025. The dataset includes 1,901 credit unions involved in merger activity, 1,298 completed mergers, and over $111 billion in merged assets.Mark walks through the consolidation math: credit union mergers typically run between 130 and 180 per year, representing three to four percent of all charters annually. The most notable trend in the data is the dramatic increase in the average size of merging credit unions—from $36 million in average assets in 2018 to $285 million in 2025, roughly an eight-fold increase. Total merged assets in 2025 reached $45 billion, the highest annual figure in the dataset.The episode examines the 80/20 split between voluntary and involuntary mergers, clarifying what the "involuntary" designation actually means in NCUA's reporting—and why it is frequently misunderstood. Mark also profiles the characteristics of serial acquirers, including one credit union that completed 24 mergers in four years, and discusses the different strategic approaches active acquirers take.The pre-merger financial profile section compares median data from merging credit unions against the broader population, with return on assets, membership growth, loan-to-share ratios, net worth, and delinquency all examined. Mark identifies the two metrics he considers most predictive: earnings and membership growth.The episode closes with a look at charter conversion trends—specifically the significant swing back toward federal charters since 2021—and a projection of where the industry is headed over the next 25 years under different consolidation rate scenarios.Topics covered include:•        Annual merger volumes and the peak year of 2019 (254 mergers)•        The dramatic rise in average merger size: $36M (2018) to $285M (2025)•        What "voluntary" and "involuntary" really mean in NCUA merger data•        The 265 involuntary mergers: financial condition, official challenges, management, and sponsor loss•        Serial acquirers and scale players: different strategies, same data source•        Pre-merger profile: median $11M in assets, negative ROA, membership declining at -91bps•        Acquirer profile: median $2.5B in assets, 82bps ROA, 139,000 members•        Charter conversion trends: $41B moved back to the federal charter since 2021•        Industry projections: 1,555 to 2,015 charters by 2050 under current consolidation rates•        Strategic implications: board governance, membership growth, earnings discipline 

Step 3 of the 10-part military finance essentials series. Spencer and Jamie explain why every service member needs a $1,000 emergency fund. This starter fund stops you from living paycheck to paycheck, prevents debt accumulation, and turns emergencies into inconveniences. What to Do Save $1,000 Emergency Fund Timeline: $100/week = 10 weeks $250/month = 4 months Where to keep it: High yield savings account (separate from checking) Must be FDIC or NCUA insured Options: Ally, Marcus, Capital One 360, USAA, Navy Federal Key Points Why $1,000? Covers most common emergencies (flat tire, minor repairs, appliance breakdown) Creates mental clarity and breathing room Prevents credit card debt and payday loans Most Americans can't cover $1,000 emergency - don't be one of them The Mental Shift: With $1,000 saved: emergencies become inconveniences, not crises Flat tire = annoying, not catastrophic Unexpected expense = manageable, not panic-inducing Important Notes: This is a starter emergency fund (you'll build bigger later) Okay to temporarily keep at USAA/Navy Federal Must be in separate account from daily spending Don't skip this to invest more   Bottom Line: $1,000 emergency fund = financial breathing room. Transforms emergencies from crises into inconveniences. Start saving now. Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 22,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free, Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Military Money Manual may receive compensation from JPMC. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

Two documents shape how NCUA conducts credit union examinations: the Examiner's Guide and the National Supervision Policy Manual (NSPM). In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with former NCUA veterans Todd Miller and Steve Farrar to break down what credit unions need to know about both.  The discussion covers the history behind these documents—including why NCUA's six regions once operated so differently that the Board mandated standardization—and provides practical guidance on which sections credit unions should prioritize.  Topics discussed in this episode:  • Why the NSPM was created and how it standardized examination procedures across NCUA's regions  • What happened to the Examiner's Guide and why it's been de-emphasized  • The reference sections in the Examiner's Guide that remain valuable for credit unions  • Key NSPM chapters every credit union should review: District Management, Federal/FSCU Programs, and Regulatory Waivers  • Response timeframes for administrative actions and appeals  • Transparency gaps: missing chapters, dead links, and redacted sections  • How to use both documents strategically when preparing for examinations  Whether you're preparing for an upcoming exam, navigating an enforcement action, or simply want to understand how your regulator operates, this episode provides the insider perspective.  Resources mentioned:  • NCUA's publicly available redacted NSPM  • NCUA Examiner's Guide (web-based version)  • Related episodes on CAMEL Code 3 and 4 ratings, appeals process, and Documents of Resolution 

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode, Mark Treichel is joined by Steve Farrar, Todd Miller, and Dennis Bauer for their quarterly review of the National Credit Union Administration call report data. The group walks through the Q4 2025 numbers across each component of the CAMEL framework, discussing what the data is showing, where the risks are building, and what credit union leaders should be paying attention to heading into 2026. TOPICS COVERED CapitalThe industry net worth ratio stands at approximately 11.28%, down slightly from 11.35% at the end of Q3 2025 but up from 11.2% at year-end 2024. Only 59 credit unions are below the 7% well-capitalized threshold. GAAP net worth has improved nearly 200 basis points over the past two years as unrealized investment losses continue to recover. Community bank core capital ratios are comparable at approximately 11.05%. Asset Quality – InvestmentsCredit unions have been extending investment maturities in a flat yield curve environment, with dollars growing in the three-year, five-year, and ten-year buckets. The spread between a three-year and ten-year investment is only about 14 basis points. Combined with growth in mortgage and commercial loans, balance sheet duration is extending on multiple fronts simultaneously. Asset Quality – LoansIndustry delinquency crossed 1% for the first time in a decade. Non-owner occupied residential real estate delinquency jumped from approximately 62 basis points to 141 basis points. Commercial real estate, construction and development, and student loan categories also showed meaningful increases. Auto loan balances actually declined in 2025 — a rare occurrence. Allowance coverage of delinquency declined from 140% at Q3 to 131% at year-end. Community bank charge-off rates were 0.21%, compared to 0.78% for credit unions. The group discusses the regional nature of credit stress and how national averages can mask concentrated problems in specific geographies. EarningsReturn on assets improved approximately 16 basis points year-over-year, driven by a 27-basis-point improvement in net interest margin. Net interest margin appears to have peaked — up only one basis point from Q3 to Q4. The efficiency ratio improved to approximately 69-70%. Operating expenses have grown at 7% or more for at least three consecutive years, with salary and benefits (nearly half of all operating expenses) up roughly 8% annually in 2024 and 2025. About 11.7% of credit unions were unprofitable in 2025, compared to approximately 5% of community banks. Seventeen credit unions over $1 billion reported losses. Liquidity and MembershipDeposit growth ran at approximately 5%, while membership growth fell to just 2% — the lowest level in roughly a decade. Certificate of deposit growth is decelerating as rates fall, with money market and share draft accounts growing faster. Approximately 80% of CDs are expected to reprice in 2026. Wholesale funding was repaid, improving borrowing capacity. NCUA and the Broader EnvironmentThe group discusses National Credit Union Administration staffing reductions and what that means for examination priorities. With limited resources, the focus will necessarily concentrate on asset quality and concentration risk. Mark raises the pending change to the CAMEL 1 designation and calls for the agency to communicate that change publicly to stakeholders. CAMEL rating distribution improved modestly, with a $155 billion reduction in assets held in CAMEL 3-rated institutions. GUESTSSteve Farrar – Former National Credit Union Administration examiner, problem case officer, and VP of the Central Liquidity Facility; now with Credit Union Exam SolutionsTodd Miller – Former Director of Special Actions, National Credit Union Administration Western Region; now with Credit Union Exam SolutionsDennis Bauer – Former CFO and EVP of Ideal Credit Union (St. Paul, MN); former National Credit Union Administration examiner; now with Credit Union Exam Solutions

In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel sits down with Todd Miller to explore what makes credit union policies effective — and what separates the policy frameworks at high-performing credit unions from those that consistently generate examination findings. Todd, who spent over 33 years at NCUA including a decade as Director of Special Actions, draws on his experience examining credit unions across the full performance spectrum. He shares what he consistently saw in top-performing organizations: strong written policies that created transparency at every level, from the boardroom to the branch. The conversation covers why policies matter beyond regulatory compliance, including their role as training tools, culture builders, and accountability mechanisms. Todd outlines the general principles that underpin effective policy management — from top-down implementation and accessibility to the importance of consequences for non-compliance and the disciplined handling of policy exceptions. The heart of the episode is Todd's breakdown of common elements that should appear in every credit union policy, regardless of subject matter: purpose and objectives, accountability structures, risk appetite statements with real limits, systems of trend-based reporting, and scheduled review processes. He explains why policy limits should be unique to each credit union, why guidelines are no substitute for hard limits, and why trend reporting matters more to board members than point-in-time snapshots. Mark and Todd also discuss the connection between policy compliance and organizational culture, including how violations of individual authority limits can erode morale, create bond claim exposure, and — in the most serious cases — lead to insurance fund losses.

Medical costs and insurance premiums keep going up. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to minimize the effects of rising costs. This tip will discuss how Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can help you manage some of those expenses and save money.   Links: Learn more about Tringle's Health Savings Accounts Check out TCU University for financial education tips and resources! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Learn more about Triangle Credit Union Transcript: Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  Let's start by explaining what an HSA is. HSA stands for Health Savings Account and is very similar to a personal savings account, but money saved in the account must be used to pay for health care expenses (there is an exception to that, which will be covered in a bit). The good news is this is your money, so you get to control how the funds are spent and for which medical expenses.     You can open an HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). You can't if you're on Medicare, TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, or are listed as someone else's dependent for taxes. If you're self-employed and have an HDHP, you can get an HSA. If you switch jobs, your HSA stays with you.   Since we've discussed high-deductible health plans, let's define an HDHP. In 2026, the IRS sets the minimum deductible at $1,700 for individuals or $3,400 for families. The total yearly out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, cannot exceed $8,500 for individuals or $17,000 for families.   There are many benefits to having an HSA. One of the most notable is the tax savings. HSA contributions are made before taxes, so they're deducted from your total income when it comes time to file. In 2026, the IRS lets you put in $4,400 for individual coverage or $8,750 for family coverage. If you're 55 or older, you can add an extra $1,000 each year until you turn 65 or enroll in Medicare. This extra amount is called a catch-up contribution. Money you take out of your HSA is tax-free if you use it for qualified medical expenses, no matter your age. Plus, any money your HSA earns is also tax-free.   With an HSA, you also save on premiums. Most high-deductible health plans have lower premiums, so you can put your savings into your HSA. Use your HSA to pay for any medical expense, including coinsurance, copays, and your deductible.   Your HSA is your money. You own all the money in your HSA, even if your employer contributed, and you keep it if you change jobs, lose coverage, or retire. Your balance rolls over yearly and never expires. If you are 65 or older or disabled, you can withdraw funds for non-medical use without penalty. Using your HSA is easy. Open one at a bank or credit union to get a debit card. Use it to pay for expenses like copays, deductibles, and prescriptions.  If you're interested in getting started with your own HSA, there are multiple ways to contribute. For a list of ways you can contribute and a transcript of this money tip, check out "Helpful Hints about HSAs at triangleuniversity.org.   If there are any other tips or topics you'd like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Also, remember to like and follow our Making Money Personal Facebook and Instagram to share your thoughts. Finally, remember to look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union, on Facebook and LinkedIn.           Thanks for listening to today's Money Tip Tuesday. Check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  Eligibility and contribution limits are set by the IRS and may change. This information is for educational purposes and isn't tax advice—please consult a qualified tax professional. Insured by the NCUA.

When a crisis hits your credit union—whether it's a cyber breach, ransomware attack, or liquidity event—how you communicate in those first hours and days can define the outcome. In this episode, Mark Treichel sits down with John McKechnie to discuss crisis communication lessons learned from decades in the credit union industry.  John served at CUNA for over 18 years before joining NCUA, where he led the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs under three chairmen during some of the most turbulent years in the agency's history, including the 2008 financial crisis. Since 2011, he's been advising credit unions on communications strategy, public affairs, and crisis management.In this episode, Mark and John discuss:•        Why silence during a crisis creates a dangerous vacuum—and how to avoid it•        The principle of being “first with the truth” and why speed matters•        How to identify and prioritize your key stakeholders during an incident•        The value of tabletop exercises and crisis communication plans•        Real examples from the 2008 financial crisis and recent cyber incidents•        Why your members need to hear that their insured funds are safe—early and often•        Setting up a landing page as a single source of truth during a crisis•        The importance of conducting a postmortem after any incident•        How a crisis can actually strengthen the bond between a credit union and its membersWhether your credit union has a crisis communication plan on the shelf or is starting from scratch, this episode offers practical guidance on how to prepare—and how to perform when it matters most.Connect with John McKechnie:Email: john@mckechniellc.comPhone: 202-997-5816

Community finance is under pressure. On this episode of Credit Union Conversation, Mark Ritter sits down with Doug Wadsworth to unpack the realities facing small credit unions, including expanding regulatory burdens, rising compliance costs, and growing competition among credit unions. They discuss why credit union advocacy matters, how the cooperative model must evolve, and what practical leadership looks like when serving members in an increasingly complex financial environment.What You Will Learn in This Episode: ✅ How small credit unions manage increasing regulatory burden and mounting compliance costs during NCUA examinations✅ Why credit union advocacy is essential to protecting the cooperative model and strengthening member impact✅ How credit union competition from large financial institutions and FinTech competition is reshaping credit union strategySubscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Doug shares his journey into the credit union space and his introduction to small credit unions06:25 The challenges of obtaining services, the weight of NCUA examinations, and the rising regulatory burden on small credit unions17:18 Survey results reveal growing credit union competition from larger credit unions over smaller ones21:04 Breaking down compliance costs, HMDA reporting, and NMLS registration27:58 Advocacy efforts aimed at achieving regulatory relief for small credit unions31:15 A vision for strengthening the cooperative model and sustaining community financeKEY TAKEAWAYS:

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode Title: My Takeaways from Monday at GAC: Structure, Supervision, and StablecoinsIn this episode, I share my takeaways from Monday at GAC in Washington, D.C.This was my first GAC in 2000 as Deputy Executive Director at NCUA. I've attended more than 20 since. It was good to be back in D.C., reconnect with colleagues, clients, and former NCUA staff — and to see how the tone of the conference felt this year.Three sessions stood out:1️⃣ Scott Simpson – Stewardship & AdvocacyScott Simpson's first GAC as head of America's Credit Unions set a different tone.He emphasized:Credit unions as a social movementThe importance of advocacyThe reality that tax status and field of membership are not automaticUnity between large and small institutionsIn a chaotic political and regulatory environment, the reminder that credit unions exist because Congress allows them to exist matters.2️⃣ Brené Brown – Strengthening the FoundationBrené Brown's keynote focused on “strong ground.”Her theme: leaders often compensate around weaknesses instead of strengthening the foundation.Key ideas:Vulnerability = uncertainty, risk, and exposureNo risk, no courageArmor (resistance, avoidance, overconfidence) blocks real leadershipIn times of uncertainty, strengthen the coreIn an environment shaped by technology shifts, mergers, geopolitical tension, and regulatory changes, that message resonated.3️⃣ Chairman Hauptman – Supervision & StablecoinsChairman Hauptman's fireside chat focused on rethinking supervision and discussing stablecoins.SupervisionWith NCUA staffing down significantly (I reference roughly 27%), he raised the question:Is the juice worth the squeeze?Topics discussed:Consistency and transparency in examsFewer document requestsRethinking supervisory touchpointsReorganization within NCUAExtending exam cycles for well-run institutionsI also discuss how regulatory inconsistency — when priorities swing dramatically — can create real operational risk for credit unions.Sometimes NCUA can be a credit union's biggest risk — not due to bad intent, but because uncertainty affects strategic decisions.ConsolidationConsolidation is happening. That's math.But it's not inevitable individually.Every mature industry consolidates over time. The key is leadership, strategy, and execution.StablecoinsChairman Hauptman framed stablecoins as infrastructure and global dollar dominance.The key question I raise (credit to Kiah Haslett's framing):What problem does stablecoin actually solve that existing rails don't?We already have:FedwireACHRTPFedNowIs the value international? Domestic? Structural? Or hype?Time will tell.Final ThoughtAcross all three speakers, one theme connected the day:Are we strengthening the foundation — or compensating around it?It was a fun and informative day at GAC, and I'll continue sharing observations as the week unfolds.If you were there and saw something differently, let me know.

Mark Treichel sits down with Steve Farrar and Todd Miller to break down Letters of Understanding and Agreement—NCUA's formal enforcement tool that requires board-level commitment. With over 100 combined years of NCUA experience, including Steve's authorship of NCUA's enforcement manual, this episode delivers insider perspective on what LUAs mean for credit unions, how boards should approach them, and critical mistakes to avoid.Key Topics CoveredWhat triggers an LUA: Understanding when NCUA escalates from informal actions to formal enforcement, and why most credit unions receiving LUAs are classified as troubled.Published vs. unpublished: The distinction that creates reputation risk, how industry publications find published LUAs, and which state regulators require publication.Board accountability: Why voting no or abstaining doesn't protect individual directors, and what fiduciary responsibility means when your credit union signs an LUA.Negotiation before signing: How to approach discussions with your examiner or problem case officer, ensuring timeframes are realistic and commitments are achievable.Root causes vs. comprehensive lists: Why LUAs should focus on fundamental problems, and what to do when you're facing a lengthy document with dozens of items.Satisfying an LUA: The two-part test NCUA applies—completing actions AND achieving intended results—and why there's no built-in expiration date.Notable Quotes"The LUAs only addressed mainly what we would refer to as the root causes of the problem." — Steve Farrar"The language in published LUAs is very draconian and very one-sided. It's intended to be serious." — Todd Miller"If you abstain or vote no, and the board agrees to sign, you're still subject to that agreement. It was a board decision." — Mark TreichelAbout the GuestsSteve Farrar spent 30+ years at NCUA, including 15 years as a problem case officer and 15 years in the central office where he authored NCUA's enforcement manual and worked on corporate resolution and risk-based capital regulations.Todd Miller served nearly 35 years at NCUA as an examiner, problem case officer, regional capital market specialist, and Director of Special Actions supervising problem case officers and capital market specialists.ResourcesCredit Union Exam Solutions: marktreichel.comRelated Episode: Documents of Resolution and Examiner Findings

Episode Title: It's Never as Bad as You Think: Suicide, Fraud, and the Stories I've Never ToldContent Warning: This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).Episode Description: The death of 25-year-old Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore this weekend brought back memories Mark has never shared publicly. In 33 years at NCUA — including 8 years as Executive Director — Mark encountered two individuals who took their own lives after embezzling from their credit unions. In this solo episode with no intro music, Mark tells those stories for the first time and delivers three messages to anyone in the credit union industry who may be carrying a secret they think will destroy their life.In This Episode:How the Rondale Moore story and Hollywood Brown's tweet triggered this episodeMark's first encounter with suicide at age 19A Midwest credit union CEO whose "hunting accident" wasn't accidentalThe connection between Dead Poets Society and an examination Mark will never forgetAn East Coast treasurer who jumped from a high-rise rather than face conservatorshipThree core messages: it's never as bad as you think, there's always a way back, and you will get caughtWhat credit union leaders can do to pay attention to the people, not just the numbersResources:988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — afsp.orgHat tip: Matthew Coller and The Purple Insider podcast for the Rondale Moore episode that pushed Mark to finally record this.

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Episode Description: When your credit union receives an examination result you believe is wrong, what are your options? In this episode, Mark Treichel walks through NCUA's formal appeal process from start to finish — the timeline, the levels of review, what you can actually appeal, and how to think about whether it makes sense for your institution. Drawing on his experience as a former NCUA regional director and his work advising credit unions through the process, Mark breaks down the practical realities most credit union leaders don't fully understand until they're in the middle of it.Key Topics Covered:Why resolving issues at the examiner level is always the best first step — and why it doesn't always workThe fear of retaliation and when it's worth pushing back anywayWhat qualifies as a "material supervisory determination" under Part 746The critical phrase most credit unions overlook: "includes, but is not limited to"Why you can't formally appeal CAMEL components — but effectively can anywayDocument resolutions are negotiable: pushing back on language, dates, and requirementsThe full appeal timeline: regional director, Supervisory Review Committee, and NCUA BoardWhen oral hearings are available and when they're guaranteedWhy "tie goes to the runner" at every level — and what that means for your burden of proofDefining victory: full reversals, partial wins, and the value of being heardBuilding your administrative record for the long termKey Takeaways:You have 30 days from the final exam to appeal to the regional director — and some argue the clock starts when you see the draft.A full appeal through the NCUA Board can take eight months to a year.The Supervisory Review Committee must grant an oral hearing if you request one — the only level where that's guaranteed.Your odds of success generally improve as you move higher in the process.Even if you don't win the appeal, you're building an administrative record NCUA must consider in any future enforcement actions.Resources:NCUA Part 746, Subpart A (Appeals Regulation)Preamble to the final rule on appeals processCredit Union Exam Solutions: marktreichel.com Opus 4.5ExtendedClaude is AI and can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.ShareArtifactsDownload allNcua 

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/The NCUA has issued a proposed rule implementing the GENIUS Act, establishing a federal licensing framework for payment stablecoin issuers.For the first time, credit union subsidiaries could apply to become Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuers (PPSIs) — but only under strict supervisory standards.In this episode, Mark breaks down:Why credit unions cannot issue stablecoins directlyHow the subsidiary licensing model worksThe 10% “Parent Company” threshold and joint application structureThe 1% CUSO investment cap and its impact on participationThe 120-day statutory decision clockHow this compares to FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve proposalsWhy “rewards vs. interest” could become the next regulatory battlegroundHow the proposed CLARITY Act fits into the broader digital asset frameworkThis proposal represents one of the most significant expansions of NCUA supervisory authority in decades. While stablecoin issuance is optional, the regulatory guardrails are now taking shape.Comments on the proposed rule are due 60 days after Federal Register publication.If your credit union is considering digital asset innovation, payment modernization, or cooperative technology ventures, this episode outlines the strategic considerations.Key TopicsGENIUS Act stablecoin frameworkSubsidiary-only issuance requirementPPSI licensing processCapital and liquidity expectationsCUSO structure implicationsJoint ownership modelsRegulatory cost recovery debateCLARITY Act market structure considerationsWhy This MattersStablecoins are not insured shares. They are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. They cannot blur the line between payments and deposits.Understanding these distinctions will be critical as the industry evaluates next steps.If you found this episode helpful, share it with a colleague and subscribe to With Flying Colors for ongoing insights into NCUA policy, supervision trends, and regulatory strategy.

In this special archive episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by Steve Farr and Todd Miller — both former NCUA leaders — to revisit a foundational topic that continues to shape credit union supervision today: risk appetite, risk culture, and concentration risk.While regulators often emphasize capital levels, history shows that capital alone cannot offset poor risk governance. This conversation explores why concentration risk continues to challenge institutions — even those that appear well capitalized.Drawing on decades of regulatory experience, the team walks through the core components of a modern risk management framework and discusses how boards should think about oversight in today's environment.What We Cover

Read the shownotes and full transcript on our site: growyourcreditunion.com The NCUA says deregulation is coming. Small credit union leaders say it's about time. But when the real burden isn't the rules on the books, it's the people enforcing them, does any of it matter? In this episode host Joshua Barclay  and co-host Becky Reed welcome Doug Wadsworth, President and CEO of Tri-CU Credit Union, to discuss these three topics: Is the NCUA's deregulation push solving the right problems? Why aren't businesses seeing a return on AI? Is it really getting harder to lead a credit union? Host: Joshua Barclay  Co-host: Becky Reed Guest: Doug Wadsworth, President and CEO of Tri-CU Credit Union. Get his book:  Keep it Simple, CEO A huge thanks to our sponsor, Pure IT For nearly 10 years, Pure IT has helped credit unions modernize technology, strengthen cybersecurity, and build mission-aligned roadmaps. They meet you where you are, prioritize strategy, and reduce complexity. With deep cloud, security, and planning expertise, Pure IT helps credit unions operate securely and confidently. Learn more at pureitcuso.com today.  

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA leaders Geoff Bacino, Alonzo Swann, and John McKechnie for a timely and candid discussion about Chairman Kyle Hauptman's appointment to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) — and what it signals for the future of the NCUA.While the announcement appears straightforward, the panel explains why it creates a ripple effect across the agency, including questions about leadership continuity, pending lawsuits, board vacancies, staff reductions, and the broader stability of the regulator at a critical time for credit unions.This conversation goes beyond speculation and into how the agency actually functions when leadership is in flux — from delegation of authority to examiner operations to internal morale.You'll hear insider perspective on:Why Hauptman's “intent to remain” language mattersHow the Slaughter/Harper lawsuits could determine the shape of the future boardWhat a one-member board means in practiceWhy notation votes and lack of public discussion are becoming a concernThe real impact of a 27% staff reduction at NCUAHow agency expertise gaps are affecting morale and operationsThe upcoming interest rate ceiling decision and why it may be politically sensitiveWhy the agency may be “running itself” more than people realizeWhat happens if the Supreme Court changes how independent boards operatePredictions on who may replace Hauptman and what that means for credit unionsThe panel also discusses how political dynamics, Senate control, and White House strategy could shape the next NCUA board in ways credit unions haven't seen before.Despite the uncertainty, one theme is clear: the blocking and tackling of supervision continues, but major structural decisions are happening quietly beneath the surface.This episode is essential listening for anyone trying to understand where NCUA is headed in 2026.

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/Chairman Hauptman's Statement on Appointment to PCAOBALEXANDRIA, VA (January 30, 2026) – National Credit Union Administration Chairman Kyle S. Hauptman issued the following statement after being named as a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).“I am grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Paul S. Atkins for their faith in me and for the appointment to the PCAOB,” said Chairman Hauptman. “I intend to remain in my role as NCUA Chairman until my successor is appointed by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.”

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel is joined by former NCUA senior leaders Todd Miller and Steve Farrar for a deep dive into NCUA's 2026 Supervisory Priorities Letter — and what it means in the real world for credit unions heading into the next exam cycle. Deep Dive on NCUA Priority Lett…With significant staffing reductions at the agency and a shift toward more “risk-based” supervision, the group discusses whether exam programs will truly become more tailored — or whether credit unions should expect more conservative ratings, more findings, and less dialogue.The conversation also explores what's emphasized, what's missing, and how operational realities inside NCUA may shape supervision more than policy statements.Key Topics Discussed

In this emergency update of With Flying Colors, Mark breaks down a newly proposed NCUA rule that could meaningfully reduce barriers to serving on a federal credit union board.The proposal would allow federal credit unions to reimburse or directly pay reasonable dependent care costs for volunteer officials when those costs are incurred while attending board meetings or performing official duties — including, potentially, training and conferences.This is a narrow but important change that reflects rising childcare and eldercare costs, declining volunteerism, and the increasing demands placed on credit union boards.Mark also shares brief updates on the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF), NCUA's regulatory simplification efforts, and what's coming next on the podcast following recent discussions at a credit union conference cruise.

Credit union lending faces pivotal changes in 2026 as interest rates, inflation, and regulatory shifts reshape the landscape. In this episode of Credit Union Conversations, host Mark Ritter and MBFS COO Jeff Lyons make bold predictions about fed rate movements, treasury rates, and commercial lending growth. They discuss how rising delinquency rates may affect the industry and explore the NCUA's anticipated regulatory priorities, including oversight of AI and automation. From mortgage rates to commercial real estate refinancing opportunities, this Quick Hits episode delivers actionable insights for credit union leaders navigating an uncertain economic environment in the year ahead.What You Will Learn In This Episode:✅ How fed rate reductions and treasury rates will influence credit union loan pricing strategies and member borrowing costs throughout 2026✅ Why commercial lending growth may slow, while commercial real estate refinancing opportunities emerge from distressed properties✅ What regulatory priorities the NCUA will focus on, including delinquency management, loan loss reserves, stablecoins, and AI and automation policies✅ How the housing market, unemployment rate, and inflation rate interconnect to shape the overall economic outlook for credit unionsSubscribe to Credit Union Conversations for the latest credit union trends and insights on loan volume and business lending! Connect with MBFS to boost your credit union's growth today.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 2026 predictions episode discussing credit union industry forecasts and Fed rate and interest rates predictions, with expectations of rates dropping to 3-3.25% 01:42 Treasury rates and mortgage rates outlook, analyzing the impact on credit union lending and the housing market03:10 Inflation rate forecast at 2.5% with discussion of tariffs and unemployment rate effects on economic stability04:25 Commercial lending growth predictions and commercial real estate refinancing opportunities amid rising delinquency trends06:29 Discussion of the NCUA board, the rising delinquency numbers, and the abuse of AI10:15 Let's talk footballKEY TAKEAWAYS: ✅ Federal Reserve leadership changes will drive fed rate policy toward 3% by year-end, creating refinancing opportunities for loans originated in 2024 at higher rates✅ Rising delinquency rates will trigger stricter NCUA oversight on loan loss reserves and accounting practices, while AI and automation regulation emerges as a new compliance focus area✅ Commercial real estate distress will create a "greater fool" refinancing market where credit unions can acquire loans at significant discounts after original lenders absorb lossesABOUT THE GUEST:Jeff Lyons - LinkedInRESOURCES MENTIONED: Mark Ritter - WebsiteMark Ritter - LinkedInSEO KEYWORDS: Credit Union Conversations, Mark Ritter, MBFS, Credit Unions, CUSO, Credit Union Lending, Interest Rates, Inflation, Fed Rate, Treasury Rates, Commercial Lending, Delinquency, NCUA, AI And Automation, Mortgage Rates, Commercial Real Estate, Federal Reserve

www.marktreichel.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-treichel/In this special preview episode of With Flying Colors, Mark Treichel tees up an upcoming live, on-stage discussion from the Florida Q's Cruise with team members Steve Farr and Todd Miller.Just days before the cruise, NCUA released its 2026 Supervisory Priorities Letter, and as always, that letter gives us important clues about what examiners will be focused on in the year ahead — and just as importantly, what's driving examiner behavior behind the scenes.This episode serves as a primer for the deeper, post-cruise discussion, where we'll incorporate real-time feedback and questions from credit union leaders attending the cruise.