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This file was generated by Descript 

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Samantha: Hello, this is Samantha Shares.

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This episode covers N C U A Board
Member Tanya OAtska Statement on the

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Decision to Remove Total Overdraft
and Non-sufficient Fund Fee Data

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The following is an audio
version of that STATEMENT.

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This podcast is educational
and is not legal advice.

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We are sponsored by Credit Union
Exam Solutions Incorporated, whose

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Forty years of National Credit

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Union  Administration experience.

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We assist our clients with N C
U A so they save time and money.

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If you are worried about a recent,
upcoming or in process N C U A

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examination, reach out to learn how they
can assist at Mark Treichel DOT COM.

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Also check out our other podcast called
With Flying Colors where we provide tips

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on how to achieve success with N C U A.

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And now the STATEMENT

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N C U A Board Member Tanya OAtska
Statement on the Decision to Remove Total

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Overdraft and Non-sufficient Fund Fee Data

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N C U A Board Member Tanya F.

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Otsuka issued the following statement
about the agencyâs decision to remove

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total overdraft and non-sufficient
fund (NSF) fee data for federally

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insured credit unions with more than
$1 billion in assets from Call Reports

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beginning with the first quarter of 2025.

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Member empowerment is a cornerstone
of the cooperative credit movement.

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For credit unions, which are built
on the philosophy of âpeople helping

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people,â increasing transparency is a
simple way to demonstrate the credit

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union difference, enable consumers
to make informed financial decisions,

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and help maintain trust and confidence
in our cooperative system of credit.

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In that spirit, the N C U A began
collecting and publishing quarterly

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Call Report data on revenues credit
unions with over $1 billion in assets

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made from overdraft and non-sufficient
funds (NSF) fees last year.

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Unfortunately, the fourth quarter
2024 data published today will be

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the last to include information
on overdraft and NSF fee income.

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On March 3, 2025, Chairman Hauptman
unilaterally announced changes

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to the way the N C U A collects
overdraft and NSF fee information.1

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Specifically, starting on March 31,
2025, the agency would âno longer publish

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overdraft and non-sufficient fund fee
income for individual credit unionsâ

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and this information would ostensibly be
collected during supervisory examinations.

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This is a step in the wrong direction.

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There is no data to suggest credit
unions limited the services they provide

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low-income or underserved consumers last
year simply to avoid having to report

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fee income on the N C U Aâs Call Reports.

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Credit unions with higher overdraft
and NSF fees also do not appear to

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offer lower fees to members for other
services, nor better interest rates.2

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Overdraft and NSF fees put a strain
on members who are likely already

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struggling and may further trap them
in a cycle of financial hardship

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that can be difficult to escape.

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That is why providing the public
information about fees through the N

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C U Aâs Call Reports enabled consumers
across the country to more readily compare

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between credit unions and choose the
institution that best fit their needs.3

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Credit unions are already required
to disclose to their members

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the fees that they charge.

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Instead of providing overdraft and fee
income in a transparent, consistent, and

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standardized way, collecting overdraft
and NSF fee data through the exam process

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will erode the quality of the data and
hamstring our ability to monitor trends.

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The decision to collect this data
through the supervisory process

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rather than through the quarterly
Call Report must not be used as an

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excuse to withhold it from credit
union members or the broader public.

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Transparency is vital for promoting fair
competition within the financial system.

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Limiting access to individual credit union
data does not help consumers, encourage

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the chartering of de novo institutions,
or reduce regulatory burden on small

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cooperatives, which were exempt from
the requirement to report these data.

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It just enables larger institutions
that rely heavily on fee income to

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operate in the shadows, resulting in
less competition and less choice for

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consumers, and places institutions
that stay true to the principles of the

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credit union movement at a disadvantage.

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At the end of the day, members, as owners
of their credit union, have a right to

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know how their institution operates, just
like any investor would if they purchased

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stock in a publicly traded company.

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We shouldnât keep credit
union members in the dark.

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I urge the N C U A Chair to prioritize
transparency and to continue the practice

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of quarterly reporting and public
disclosure of overdraft and NSF fee

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income for individual credit unions.

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I look forward to continuing to work
with the entire N C U A Board to protect

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consumers and the credit union system.

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This concludes the STATEMENT

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If your Credit union could use assistance
with your exam, reach out to Mark Treichel

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on LinkedIn, or at mark Treichel dot com.

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This is Samantha Shares and
we Thank you for listening.