Advocacy

Whats Hot: Vendor Authority

NACUSO Opposes NCUA’s Bid for Expanded Authority over Credit Union Vendors

The National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO) has expressed concerns about the National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) request for expanded regulatory authority over all credit union vendors. NACUSO argues that this expansion is unnecessary, costly, and would burden both the NCUA and credit unions.
Key Points of NACUSO’s Position:
1. NCUA Lacks Expertise: NACUSO believes that NCUA lacks the expertise to regulate and examine the diverse range of businesses that interact with credit unions. Many of these vendors, including CUSOs, offer products and services already subject to extensive regulation by other agencies.
2. Unnecessary Resource Drain: Expanding NCUA’s authority would require a significant increase in agency resources, including staffing and budget. The average credit union works with over 100 vendors, and NCUA would need to examine thousands of businesses nationwide.
3. Existing Authority is Sufficient: NACUSO highlights that NCUA already has “review” authority over CUSOs through a rule in effect since 1998. This rule allows NCUA access to CUSO books and records, and NCUA can compel changes through a CUSO’s owner credit unions.
4. Cybersecurity Concerns Can Be Addressed Differently: While NCUA cites cybersecurity as a primary concern, NACUSO suggests that NCUA could leverage its affiliation with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) to utilize examinations conducted by other agencies, such as the FDIC and OCC.
5. Unjustified Expansion: NACUSO argues that NCUA’s request for expanded authority is an overreach, especially since existing mechanisms have proven effective in overseeing credit union vendors.

<Click here to read NACUSO’s full position on vendor authority>