82_FR_35638 82 FR 35493 - Emergency Mergers-Chartering and Field of Membership

82 FR 35493 - Emergency Mergers-Chartering and Field of Membership

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 145 (July 31, 2017)

Page Range35493-35498
FR Document2017-15685

The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to amend in its Chartering and Field of Membership Manual the definition of the term ``in danger of insolvency'' for emergency merger purposes. The current definition requires a credit union to fall into at least one of three net worth categories over a period of time to be ``in danger of insolvency.'' For two of the three categories, the Board proposes to lengthen by six months the forecast horizons, the time period in which NCUA projects a credit union's net worth will decline to the point that it falls into one of the categories. This will extend the time period in which a credit union's net worth is projected to either render it insolvent or drop below two percent from 24 to 30 months and from 12 to 18 months, respectively. Additionally, the Board proposes to add a fourth category to the three existing net worth categories to include credit unions that have been granted or received assistance under section 208 of the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) in the 15 months prior to the Region's determination that the credit union is in danger of insolvency.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 145 (Monday, July 31, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 145 (Monday, July 31, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35493-35498]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15685]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 701

RIN 3133-AE76


Emergency Mergers--Chartering and Field of Membership

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to amend in its Chartering and 
Field of Membership Manual the definition of the term ``in danger of 
insolvency'' for emergency merger purposes. The current definition 
requires a credit union to fall into at least one of three net worth 
categories over a period of time to be ``in danger of insolvency.'' For 
two of the three categories, the Board proposes to lengthen by six 
months the forecast horizons, the time period in which NCUA projects a 
credit union's net worth will decline to the point that it falls into 
one of the categories. This will extend the time period in which a 
credit union's net worth is projected to either render it insolvent or 
drop below two percent from 24 to 30 months and from 12 to 18 months, 
respectively. Additionally, the Board proposes to add a fourth category 
to the three existing net worth categories to include credit unions 
that have been granted or received assistance under section 208 of the 
Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) in the 15 months prior to the 
Region's determination that the credit union is in danger of 
insolvency.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(Please send comments by one method only):
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     NCUA Web site: https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/Pages/rules/proposed.aspx. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Address to [email protected]. Include ``[Your 
name] Comments on Proposed Rule 701, In Danger of Insolvency 
Definition'' in the email subject line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerard S. Poliquin, Secretary of the 
Board, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public inspection: You may view all public comments on NCUA's Web 
site at https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/Pages/rules/proposed.aspx as submitted, except for those we cannot post for 
technical reasons. NCUA will not edit or remove any identifying or 
contact information from the public comments submitted. You may inspect 
paper copies of comments in NCUA's law library at 1775 Duke Street, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22314, by appointment weekdays between 9 a.m. and 
3 p.m. To make an appointment, call (703) 518-6546 or send an email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas I. Zells, Staff Attorney, 
Office of General Counsel, or Amanda Parkhill, Loss/Risk Analysis 
Officer, Office of Examination and Insurance, at 1775 Duke Street, 
Alexandria, VA 22314 or telephone: (703) 548-2478 (Mr. Zells) or (703) 
518-6385 (Ms. Parkhill).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Summary of the Proposed Rule
III. Regulatory Procedures

I. Background

    Credit unions that experience a sharp decline in net worth have a 
much higher likelihood of failing. From the second quarter of 1996 
through the second quarter of 2016, there were 11,734 federally insured 
credit unions. As shown by the table below, 2,502 of these credit 
unions fell below the well-capitalized threshold (7 percent net worth 
ratio) after having a net worth ratio above that threshold for at least 
one quarter. The net worth ratio of 490 of these 2,502 credit unions 
eventually fell below two percent. Importantly, only 15 percent of 
those credit unions whose net worth dropped below two percent sometime 
in this period remain active.

[[Page 35494]]



                    Table 1--Credit Unions Falling Below Critical Net Worth Ratio Thresholds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Net worth ratio fell:                        Number of CUs      Active        Active  (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below 7%........................................................           2,502           1,104              44
Below 6%........................................................           1,563             475              30
Below 5%........................................................           1,126             254              23
Below 4%........................................................             825             151              18
Below 3%........................................................             647             102              16
Below 2%........................................................             490              73              15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Credit union failures are costly to the entire credit union system 
through their effect on the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund 
(NCUSIF). NCUA, as a prudential safety and soundness regulator, is 
charged with protecting the safety and soundness of the credit union 
system and, in turn, the NCUSIF and the taxpayer through regulation and 
supervision.\1\ One way to mitigate some of the cost to the NCUSIF and 
minimize disruption to credit union members is to find appropriate 
merger partners for at-risk credit unions.
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    \1\ NCUA's mission is to ``provide, through regulation and 
supervision, a safe and sound credit union system, which promotes 
confidence in the national system of cooperative credit.'' https://www.ncua.gov/About/Pages/Mission-and-Vision.aspx.
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    Under the emergency merger provision of section 205(h) of the FCU 
Act, the Board may allow a credit union that is either insolvent or in 
danger of insolvency to merge with another credit union if the Board 
finds that: (1) An emergency requiring expeditious action exists; (2) 
no other reasonable alternatives are available; and (3) the action is 
in the public interest.\2\ Under these circumstances, the Board may 
approve an emergency merger without regard to common bond or other 
legal constraints, such as obtaining the approval of the members of the 
merging credit union. The emergency merger statute addresses exigent 
circumstances and is intended to serve the public interest and credit 
union members by providing for the continuation of credit union 
services to members and by preserving credit union assets and the 
NCUSIF.
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    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(h).
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    To take such action, NCUA must first determine that a credit union 
is either insolvent or in danger of insolvency before the agency can 
make the additional findings that an emergency exists, other 
alternatives are not reasonably available, and the public interest 
would be served by the merger. The FCU Act, however, does not define 
when a credit union is ``in danger of insolvency.''
    In 2009, NCUA proposed a definition of in danger of insolvency to 
establish an objective standard to aid it in making in danger of 
insolvency determinations.\3\ In doing so, NCUA aimed to provide 
certainty and consistency regarding how it interprets the in danger of 
insolvency standard. In 2010, NCUA finalized the 2009 proposed 
definition, which provided for the above-referenced three net worth 
categories, and it remains the current definition.\4\
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    \3\ 74 FR 68722 (Dec. 29, 2009).
    \4\ 75 FR 36257 (June 25, 2010).
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    Experience gained since 2010, including the analysis of Call 
Reports and other NCUA internal data, have led the Board to conclude 
that an update to the current definition of in danger of insolvency is 
needed.

II. Summary of the Proposed Rule

A. Overview

    The current definition of in danger of insolvency requires a credit 
union to fall into at least one of three net worth categories to be 
found to be in danger of insolvency. The Board believes it necessary to 
amend the current definition in three ways.
    First, the Board proposes to lengthen by six months the ``forecast 
horizons,'' the time periods in which NCUA projects a credit union's 
net worth for determining if it is in danger of insolvency. This change 
would apply to two of the three current categories. It would result in 
forecast horizons of 30 months for the insolvency (zero net worth) 
category, up from 24 months, and 18 months for the critically 
undercapitalized (under two percent net worth) category, up from 12 
months. The third category of the current definition, in which a credit 
union is significantly undercapitalized and NCUA determines there is no 
reasonable prospect of the credit union becoming adequately capitalized 
in the succeeding 36 months, would remain unchanged.
    The second change the Board proposes is the addition of a fourth 
category to the definition. Specifically, a credit union would be 
considered in danger of insolvency if it had been granted or received 
assistance under section 208 of the FCU Act in the 15 months prior to 
the Region's determination that the credit union is in danger of 
insolvency.
    Finally, the Board proposes to make a technical spelling correction 
to the first category of the definition to replace the word ``relay'' 
with the word ``rely''.
    The Board believes the proposed changes to the current definition 
would provide NCUA with a more appropriate degree of flexibility and 
better allow NCUA to act when the statutory criteria for an emergency 
merger are met, namely an emergency requiring expeditious action 
exists, no other reasonable alternatives are available, and the action 
is in the public interest.\5\ As detailed below, both the experience 
NCUA has gained in applying the current definition and quantitative 
data have persuaded the Board that the proposed changes are necessary. 
Under the time frames of the current definition, NCUA has, on several 
occasions, been prevented from instituting an emergency merger because 
a struggling credit union had not yet met the regulatory time frames to 
be considered in danger of insolvency, although it had otherwise met 
the statutory criteria. The lack of flexibility in the current rule can 
result in continued decline in the health of a credit union, leading to 
a reduction in member services as the institution moves towards 
resolution. As shown in the chart below, credit union loan growth 
declines in the quarters leading up to an emergency merger.
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    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(h).

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[[Page 35495]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP31JY17.000

    In some instances, the rigidity of the current regulatory 
definition unnecessarily limits NCUA's ability to resolve failing 
institutions. This comes at a greater cost to a credit union's members 
and the NCUSIF, particularly in the case of an eventual liquidation. 
The FCU Act grants the Board broad authority to define the term ``in 
danger of insolvency'' for emergency merger purposes. The Board 
believes that the proposed definition increases agency flexibility and 
will enable NCUA to act more timely to preserve credit union services 
and credit union assets and to protect the safety and soundness of the 
credit union system and the NCUSIF.

B. Extending the Forecast Horizons

    The Board proposes to amend the definition of in danger of 
insolvency in the glossary to appendix B to part 701 to extend the 
forecast horizons, the time periods in which NCUA must project whether 
a credit union will become insolvent or critically undercapitalized. 
Currently, to be deemed in danger of insolvency under the definition's 
first two categories, NCUA must project a credit union's future net 
worth will decline at a rate that will either render the credit union 
insolvent within 24 months or drop below two percent (critically 
undercapitalized) within 12 months. The Board proposes to extend these 
periods to 30 months and 18 months, respectively. The Board intends to 
leave as is the forecast horizon of the third category of the 
definition pertaining to significantly undercapitalized credit unions 
that NCUA projects have no reasonable prospect of becoming adequately 
capitalized in the succeeding 36 months.
    The Board believes that these proposed changes to the definition 
will capture more credit unions that are in danger of insolvency 
earlier in their decline, before their net worth declines most rapidly, 
and will provide value to both the members of the credit union being 
merged and the NCUSIF. Increasing the likelihood that a distressed 
credit union would be eligible for an emergency merger earlier could 
help to protect net worth, reduce payouts on deposit insurance or 
merger assistance, and improve merger prospects. The proposed changes 
also provide NCUA with additional flexibility to resolve the distressed 
credit union through a merger and help to better ensure continuity of 
financial services for members. This additional flexibility is 
especially beneficial when circumstances deplete a credit union's 
capital slowly and steadily rather than abruptly, such as in the case 
of an institution with a large portfolio of declining illiquid assets.
    To evaluate the benefit of shifting the critically undercapitalized 
threshold from 12 to 18 months and the insolvency threshold from 24 to 
30 months, NCUA used a simple forecast of the net worth ratios of 46 
credit unions that underwent an emergency merger between the second 
quarter of 2010, when the current in danger of insolvency definition 
was put into place, and the fourth quarter of 2016.\6\ Of the 46 credit 
unions that underwent an emergency merger since the rule was previously 
revised by the NCUA Board, 11 credit unions with total assets of $812 
million would have qualified for an emergency merger earlier under the 
proposed definition of in danger of insolvency. The 11 credit unions 
had $12 million more in net worth at the time the credit unions first 
qualified under the proposed definition compared with the 2010 
definition. The $12 million additional net worth meant the credit 
unions had net worth ratios 1 to 3 percentage points higher. Also, the 
longer forecast horizon allows NCUA to identify a significant number of 
additional potential credit union emergency merger candidates. The 
largest diagnostic improvements from extending the forecast horizon 
occur in

[[Page 35496]]

the two quarters prior to an emergency merger. Instead of 31% of the 
credit unions estimated to be below the critically undercapitalized 
threshold within 12 months two quarters before the emergency merger and 
50% one quarter before, 42% and 58% of the credit unions are estimated 
to be below the critically undercapitalized threshold within 18 months. 
The identification of these additional credit unions represent an 
opportunity for NCUA to preserve services to members and member assets 
through the emergency merger process prior to the quarters when the net 
worth of these credit unions declines the most. As the chart below 
illustrates, credit union net worth generally declines the most in the 
quarters leading up to an emergency merger.
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    \6\ This simple hypothetical forecast was used exclusively for 
purposes of analyzing emergency merger data and forecast horizons. 
It is not representative of, and does not limit, how NCUA projects 
credit unions to meet the established and proposed in danger of 
insolvency categories. The forecast of the net worth ratio uses the 
change in the net worth ratio during the most recently available 
four quarters and projects that change in net worth through the 
forecast horizon for each threshold. In other words, NCUA calculated 
whether the credit union would fall below either of the critical 
thresholds using a simple straight line projection approach, with 
the projected rate of decline in net worth equal to the most 
recently available four-quarter change.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP31JY17.001

    The data closely aligns with the views and experiences of NCUA. The 
agency has found that the current forecast horizons for these two 
categories can result in the unnecessary delay or even rejection of 
emergency merger requests that do not meet the current regulatory 
definition of in danger of insolvency, but would otherwise meet the 
statutory criteria for an emergency merger. NCUA believes that 
extending these forecast horizons will lessen the potential for such 
occurrences. When a credit union cannot be timely merged through an 
emergency merger and no other credit unions with compatible fields of 
membership submit a merger proposal, NCUA must consider alternative and 
usually less desirable means of resolution. These less desirable means 
of resolution could even include the liquidation of the credit union. 
In general, merging a credit union into another institution is more 
desirable than liquidating the credit union because a merger is 
generally lower cost to the NCUSIF and provides continued and, in most 
cases, expanded service to the membership.
    NCUA believes that the delay associated with waiting for an 
institution to deteriorate to the point where it satisfies the current 
regulatory definition of in danger of insolvency has too frequently 
resulted in struggling institutions being allowed to deteriorate over 
time to the point where they are no longer viable merger partners and 
have to be resolved by means that are more costly to the NCUSIF and 
more disruptive to the members. Rather than continue to operate under 
the current definition, which hampers NCUA's ability to take 
responsible supervisory action on a timely basis and ensure the safety 
and soundness of the credit union system, the Board proposes to amend 
the regulatory definition of in danger of insolvency to facilitate 
those mergers that satisfy the statutory requirements.
    As stated above, the Board proposes to leave the forecast horizon 
for the third category of the current definition as is. Rather than 
establishing a time period in which credit unions are projected to 
decline to a certain point, as the other two categories do, the third 
category only allows NCUA to find that a credit union is in danger of 
insolvency if the credit union has no reasonable prospect of improving 
its net worth from the significantly undercapitalized level to the 
adequately capitalized level in the succeeding 36 months. The Board 
believes that the current forecast horizon for this category already 
provides credit unions significant time to become adequately 
capitalized and is concerned that any extension to the forecast horizon 
would make it exceedingly difficult to accurately determine if a credit 
union has a reasonable possibility of returning its net worth to the 
adequately capitalized level.

C. Section 208 Assistance

    The Board proposes to expand the definition of in danger of 
insolvency in the glossary to appendix B to part 701 to add a fourth 
category that provides that a credit union will satisfy the definition 
of in danger of insolvency if

[[Page 35497]]

the credit union has been granted or received assistance under section 
208 of the FCU Act in the 15 months prior to the Region making such 
determination. Section 208 allows the Board to provide special 
assistance to credit unions to avoid liquidation.
    In analyzing credit union Call Reports and other internal NCUA 
data, NCUA has found that an overwhelming number of credit unions that 
received section 208 assistance eventually left the credit union 
system. Between the first quarter of 2001 and the fourth quarter of 
2016, 181 credit unions received at least one type of section 208 
assistance. Since then, 165, or 91.2%, of these credit unions have 
stopped filing Call Reports.
    Further, the data shows that not only did the overwhelming majority 
of the credit unions that received section 208 assistance stop filing 
Call Reports, but did so not long after, or prior to, receiving the 
assistance. Notably, 13.9% of the total number of credit unions that 
received section 208 assistance began receiving such assistance after 
they filed their final Call Report. An additional 37.0% of these 165 
credit unions filed their final Call Report in the same quarter in 
which they first began receiving section 208 assistance. Another 41.2% 
of these credit unions filed their final Call Report within the four 
quarters after the quarter they first received section 208 assistance. 
In total, 152 of the 165 credit unions, or 92.1%, stopped filing Call 
Reports prior to or within 15 months of receiving the section 208 
assistance.

Credit Unions Receiving Section 208 Assistance: First Receipt of Section
                208 Assistance to Last Call Report Filed
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                                              Number          Percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Same quarter............................              61            37.0
1 year..................................              68            41.2
2 years.................................               3             1.8
3 years.................................               2             1.2
4 or more years.........................               8             4.8
Assistance began after final call report              23            13.9
 was filed..............................
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................             165           100.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The quantitative evidence, along with NCUA's experiences and 
observations, demonstrate that credit unions receiving section 208 
assistance within the last 15 months are in danger of insolvency for 
emergency merger purposes.
    It must be noted that the Board is not proposing that every credit 
union that receives section 208 assistance, thus meeting the proposed 
definition of in danger of insolvency, is destined for an emergency 
merger. The emergency merger statute addresses exigent circumstances. 
Credit unions to be merged on an emergency basis still must meet the 
statutory requirements that an emergency exists, other alternatives are 
not reasonably available, and the public interest would be served by 
the merger.\7\ However, quantitative evidence and NCUA's experience do 
indicate that a credit union's receipt of section 208 assistance is a 
reliable indicator of a credit union being in danger of insolvency and 
a safety and soundness concern.
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    \7\ 12 U.S.C. 1785(h).
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III. Regulatory Procedures

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires that, in 
connection with a notice of proposed rulemaking, an agency prepare and 
make available for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the impact of a proposed rule on small 
entities. A regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, however, 
if the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (defined for 
purposes of the RFA to include credit unions with assets less than $100 
million) and publishes its certification and a short, explanatory 
statement in the Federal Register together with the rule. The proposed 
rule merely provides NCUA greater flexibility to authorize emergency 
mergers and will not have an impact on small credit unions. 
Accordingly, NCUA certifies that the proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small credit 
unions.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency creates a new or amends existing information collection 
requirements.\8\ For the purpose of the PRA, an information collection 
requirement may take the form of a reporting, recordkeeping, or a 
third-party disclosure requirement. The proposed rule does not contain 
information collection requirements that require approval by OMB under 
the PRA.\9\ The proposed rule would merely provide NCUA greater 
flexibility to authorize emergency mergers.
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    \8\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
    \9\ 44 U.S.C. Chap. 35.
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C. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. In 
adherence to fundamental federalism principles, NCUA, an independent 
regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), voluntarily complies 
with the executive order. This rulemaking will not have a substantial 
direct effect on the states, on the connection between the national 
government and the states, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. NCUA has 
determined that this proposal does not constitute a policy that has 
federalism implications for purposes of the executive order.

D. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    NCUA has determined that this final rule will not affect family 
well-being within the meaning of Section 654 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.\10\
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    \10\ Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998).
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List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 701

    Credit, Credit unions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.



[[Page 35498]]


    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on July 20, 
2017.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.
    For the reasons discussed above, the NCUA Board proposes to amend 
12 CFR part 701 as follows:

PART 701--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 701 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 
1761a, 1761b, 1766, 1767, 1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789. 
Section 701.6 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 3717. Section 701.31 
is also authorized by 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1981 and 
3601-3610. Section 701.35 is also authorized by 42 U.S.C. 4311-4312.

0
2. Revise the definition of ``in danger of insolvency'' in Appendix 1 
(Glossary) to appendix B to part 701 to read as follows:
* * * * *
    In danger of insolvency--In making the determination that a 
particular credit union is in danger of insolvency, NCUA will establish 
that the credit union falls into one or more of the following 
categories:
    1. The credit union's net worth is declining at a rate that will 
render it insolvent within 30 months. In projecting future net worth, 
NCUA may rely on data in addition to Call Report data. The trend must 
be supported by at least 12 months of historic data.
    2. The credit union's net worth is declining at a rate that will 
take it under two percent (2%) net worth within 18 months. In 
projecting future net worth, NCUA may rely on data in addition to Call 
Report data. The trend must be supported by at least 12 months of 
historic data.
    3. The credit union's net worth, as self-reported on its Call 
Report, is significantly undercapitalized, and NCUA determines that 
there is no reasonable prospect of the credit union becoming adequately 
capitalized in the succeeding 36 months. In making its determination on 
the prospect of achieving adequate capitalization, NCUA will assume 
that, if adverse economic conditions are affecting the value of the 
credit union's assets and liabilities, including property values and 
loan delinquencies related to unemployment, these adverse conditions 
will not further deteriorate.
    4. The credit union has been granted or received assistance under 
section 208 of the Federal Credit Union Act, 12 U.S.C. 1788, in the 15 
months prior to the Region's determination that the credit union is in 
danger of insolvency.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-15685 Filed 7-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7535-01-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                            35493

                                                  estate-related financial transaction to                  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.                   • Email: Address to regcomments@
                                                  finance the initial construction of a 1-to-              Robert E. Feldman,                                    ncua.gov. Include ‘‘[Your name]
                                                  4 family residential property that does                  Executive Secretary.                                  Comments on Proposed Rule 701, In
                                                  not include permanent financing is a                     [FR Doc. 2017–15748 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]           Danger of Insolvency Definition’’ in the
                                                  commercial real estate transaction.                      BILLING CODE P
                                                                                                                                                                 email subject line.
                                                  *     *     *     *    *                                                                                          • Fax: (703) 518–6319. Use the
                                                  ■ 4. Section 323.3 is amended by:
                                                                                                                                                                 subject line described above for email.
                                                                                                           NATIONAL CREDIT UNION                                    • Mail: Address to Gerard S. Poliquin,
                                                  ■ a. Removing the word ‘‘or’’ at the end
                                                                                                           ADMINISTRATION                                        Secretary of the Board, National Credit
                                                  of paragraph (a)(11);
                                                                                                                                                                 Union Administration, 1775 Duke
                                                  ■ b. Revising paragraph (a)(12);                                                                               Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314–
                                                                                                           12 CFR Part 701
                                                  ■ c. Adding paragraph (a)(13);                                                                                 3428.
                                                  ■ d. Revising paragraph (b); and                         RIN 3133–AE76                                            • Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as
                                                  ■ e. Revising paragraph (d)(2).                                                                                mail address.
                                                                                                           Emergency Mergers—Chartering and
                                                     The revisions and addition read as                                                                             Public inspection: You may view all
                                                                                                           Field of Membership
                                                  follows:                                                                                                       public comments on NCUA’s Web site
                                                                                                           AGENCY:  National Credit Union                        at https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-
                                                  § 323.3 Appraisals required; transactions                Administration (NCUA).                                supervision/Pages/rules/proposed.aspx
                                                  requiring a State certified or licensed                                                                        as submitted, except for those we cannot
                                                                                                           ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                  appraiser.                                                                                                     post for technical reasons. NCUA will
                                                     (a) * * *                                             SUMMARY:    The NCUA Board (Board)                    not edit or remove any identifying or
                                                     (12) The FDIC determines that the                     proposes to amend in its Chartering and               contact information from the public
                                                  services of an appraiser are not                         Field of Membership Manual the                        comments submitted. You may inspect
                                                  necessary in order to protect Federal                    definition of the term ‘‘in danger of                 paper copies of comments in NCUA’s
                                                  financial and public policy interests in                 insolvency’’ for emergency merger                     law library at 1775 Duke Street,
                                                  real estate-related financial transactions               purposes. The current definition                      Alexandria, Virginia 22314, by
                                                  or to protect the safety and soundness                   requires a credit union to fall into at               appointment weekdays between 9 a.m.
                                                  of the institution; or                                   least one of three net worth categories               and 3 p.m. To make an appointment,
                                                     (13) The transaction is a commercial                  over a period of time to be ‘‘in danger               call (703) 518–6546 or send an email to
                                                  real estate transaction that has a                       of insolvency.’’ For two of the three                 OGCMail@ncua.gov.
                                                  transaction value of $400,000 or less.                   categories, the Board proposes to                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                           lengthen by six months the forecast                   Thomas I. Zells, Staff Attorney, Office of
                                                     (b) Evaluations required. For a
                                                                                                           horizons, the time period in which                    General Counsel, or Amanda Parkhill,
                                                  transaction that does not require the
                                                                                                           NCUA projects a credit union’s net                    Loss/Risk Analysis Officer, Office of
                                                  services of a State certified or licensed
                                                                                                           worth will decline to the point that it               Examination and Insurance, at 1775
                                                  appraiser under paragraph (a)(1), (a)(5),
                                                                                                           falls into one of the categories. This will           Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 or
                                                  (a)(7), or (a)(13) of this section, the
                                                                                                           extend the time period in which a credit              telephone: (703) 548–2478 (Mr. Zells) or
                                                  institution shall obtain an appropriate
                                                                                                           union’s net worth is projected to either              (703) 518–6385 (Ms. Parkhill).
                                                  evaluation of real property collateral
                                                                                                           render it insolvent or drop below two                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  that is consistent with safe and sound
                                                                                                           percent from 24 to 30 months and from
                                                  banking practices.                                                                                             I. Background
                                                                                                           12 to 18 months, respectively.
                                                  *      *     *     *      *                                                                                    II. Summary of the Proposed Rule
                                                                                                           Additionally, the Board proposes to add
                                                     (d) * * *                                                                                                   III. Regulatory Procedures
                                                                                                           a fourth category to the three existing
                                                     (2) Commercial real estate                            net worth categories to include credit                I. Background
                                                  transactions of more than $400,000. All                  unions that have been granted or                         Credit unions that experience a sharp
                                                  federally related transactions that are                  received assistance under section 208 of              decline in net worth have a much higher
                                                  commercial real estate transactions                      the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act)                likelihood of failing. From the second
                                                  having a transaction value of more than                  in the 15 months prior to the Region’s                quarter of 1996 through the second
                                                  $400,000 shall require an appraisal                      determination that the credit union is in             quarter of 2016, there were 11,734
                                                  prepared by a State certified appraiser.                 danger of insolvency.                                 federally insured credit unions. As
                                                  *      *     *     *      *                              DATES: Comments must be received on                   shown by the table below, 2,502 of these
                                                    Dated: July 18, 2017.                                  or before September 29, 2017.                         credit unions fell below the well-
                                                  Keith A. Noreika,                                        ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                    capitalized threshold (7 percent net
                                                  Acting Comptroller of the Currency.                      by any of the following methods (Please               worth ratio) after having a net worth
                                                                                                           send comments by one method only):                    ratio above that threshold for at least
                                                    By order of the Board of Governors of the                 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://              one quarter. The net worth ratio of 490
                                                  Federal Reserve System, July 18, 2017.
                                                                                                           www.regulations.gov. Follow the                       of these 2,502 credit unions eventually
                                                  Margaret McCloskey Shanks,                               instructions for submitting comments.                 fell below two percent. Importantly,
                                                  Deputy Secretary of the Board.                              • NCUA Web site: https://                          only 15 percent of those credit unions
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                    Dated at Washington, DC, this 18th of July,            www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/                  whose net worth dropped below two
                                                  2017.                                                    Pages/rules/proposed.aspx. Follow the                 percent sometime in this period remain
                                                    By order of the Board of Directors.                    instructions for submitting comments.                 active.




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                                                  35494                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                                               TABLE 1—CREDIT UNIONS FALLING BELOW CRITICAL NET WORTH RATIO THRESHOLDS
                                                                                                                                                                                                       Number of                          Active
                                                  Net worth ratio fell:                                                                                                                                                     Active
                                                                                                                                                                                                         CUs                               (%)

                                                  Below   7%   .....................................................................................................................................            2,502            1,104             44
                                                  Below   6%   .....................................................................................................................................            1,563              475             30
                                                  Below   5%   .....................................................................................................................................            1,126              254             23
                                                  Below   4%   .....................................................................................................................................              825              151             18
                                                  Below   3%   .....................................................................................................................................              647              102             16
                                                  Below   2%   .....................................................................................................................................              490               73             15



                                                     Credit union failures are costly to the                                  In 2009, NCUA proposed a definition                                      adequately capitalized in the succeeding
                                                  entire credit union system through their                                  of in danger of insolvency to establish                                    36 months, would remain unchanged.
                                                  effect on the National Credit Union                                       an objective standard to aid it in making                                     The second change the Board
                                                  Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF). NCUA,                                      in danger of insolvency                                                    proposes is the addition of a fourth
                                                  as a prudential safety and soundness                                      determinations.3 In doing so, NCUA                                         category to the definition. Specifically,
                                                  regulator, is charged with protecting the                                 aimed to provide certainty and                                             a credit union would be considered in
                                                  safety and soundness of the credit union                                  consistency regarding how it interprets                                    danger of insolvency if it had been
                                                  system and, in turn, the NCUSIF and the                                   the in danger of insolvency standard. In                                   granted or received assistance under
                                                  taxpayer through regulation and                                           2010, NCUA finalized the 2009                                              section 208 of the FCU Act in the 15
                                                  supervision.1 One way to mitigate some                                    proposed definition, which provided for                                    months prior to the Region’s
                                                  of the cost to the NCUSIF and minimize                                    the above-referenced three net worth                                       determination that the credit union is in
                                                  disruption to credit union members is to                                  categories, and it remains the current                                     danger of insolvency.
                                                  find appropriate merger partners for at-                                  definition.4                                                                  Finally, the Board proposes to make a
                                                  risk credit unions.                                                         Experience gained since 2010,                                            technical spelling correction to the first
                                                     Under the emergency merger                                             including the analysis of Call Reports                                     category of the definition to replace the
                                                  provision of section 205(h) of the FCU                                    and other NCUA internal data, have led                                     word ‘‘relay’’ with the word ‘‘rely’’.
                                                  Act, the Board may allow a credit union                                   the Board to conclude that an update to                                       The Board believes the proposed
                                                  that is either insolvent or in danger of                                  the current definition of in danger of                                     changes to the current definition would
                                                  insolvency to merge with another credit                                   insolvency is needed.                                                      provide NCUA with a more appropriate
                                                  union if the Board finds that: (1) An                                                                                                                degree of flexibility and better allow
                                                  emergency requiring expeditious action                                    II. Summary of the Proposed Rule                                           NCUA to act when the statutory criteria
                                                  exists; (2) no other reasonable                                           A. Overview                                                                for an emergency merger are met,
                                                  alternatives are available; and (3) the                                                                                                              namely an emergency requiring
                                                  action is in the public interest.2 Under                                    The current definition of in danger of                                   expeditious action exists, no other
                                                  these circumstances, the Board may                                        insolvency requires a credit union to fall                                 reasonable alternatives are available,
                                                  approve an emergency merger without                                       into at least one of three net worth                                       and the action is in the public interest.5
                                                  regard to common bond or other legal                                      categories to be found to be in danger                                     As detailed below, both the experience
                                                  constraints, such as obtaining the                                        of insolvency. The Board believes it                                       NCUA has gained in applying the
                                                  approval of the members of the merging                                    necessary to amend the current                                             current definition and quantitative data
                                                  credit union. The emergency merger                                        definition in three ways.                                                  have persuaded the Board that the
                                                  statute addresses exigent circumstances                                     First, the Board proposes to lengthen                                    proposed changes are necessary. Under
                                                  and is intended to serve the public                                       by six months the ‘‘forecast horizons,’’                                   the time frames of the current
                                                  interest and credit union members by                                      the time periods in which NCUA                                             definition, NCUA has, on several
                                                  providing for the continuation of credit                                  projects a credit union’s net worth for                                    occasions, been prevented from
                                                  union services to members and by                                          determining if it is in danger of                                          instituting an emergency merger
                                                  preserving credit union assets and the                                    insolvency. This change would apply to                                     because a struggling credit union had
                                                  NCUSIF.                                                                   two of the three current categories. It                                    not yet met the regulatory time frames
                                                     To take such action, NCUA must first                                   would result in forecast horizons of 30                                    to be considered in danger of
                                                  determine that a credit union is either                                   months for the insolvency (zero net                                        insolvency, although it had otherwise
                                                  insolvent or in danger of insolvency                                      worth) category, up from 24 months,                                        met the statutory criteria. The lack of
                                                  before the agency can make the                                            and 18 months for the critically                                           flexibility in the current rule can result
                                                  additional findings that an emergency                                     undercapitalized (under two percent net                                    in continued decline in the health of a
                                                  exists, other alternatives are not                                        worth) category, up from 12 months.                                        credit union, leading to a reduction in
                                                  reasonably available, and the public                                      The third category of the current                                          member services as the institution
                                                  interest would be served by the merger.                                   definition, in which a credit union is                                     moves towards resolution. As shown in
                                                  The FCU Act, however, does not define                                     significantly undercapitalized and                                         the chart below, credit union loan
                                                  when a credit union is ‘‘in danger of                                     NCUA determines there is no reasonable                                     growth declines in the quarters leading
                                                  insolvency.’’                                                             prospect of the credit union becoming                                      up to an emergency merger.
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                                                    1 NCUA’s mission is to ‘‘provide, through                               www.ncua.gov/About/Pages/Mission-and-                                        3 74 FR 68722 (Dec. 29, 2009).
                                                  regulation and supervision, a safe and sound credit                       Vision.aspx.                                                                 4 75 FR 36257 (June 25, 2010).
                                                  union system, which promotes confidence in the                              2 12 U.S.C. 1785(h).                                                       5 12 U.S.C. 1785(h).
                                                  national system of cooperative credit.’’ https://



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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                    35495




                                                     In some instances, the rigidity of the                pertaining to significantly                           between the second quarter of 2010,
                                                  current regulatory definition                            undercapitalized credit unions that                   when the current in danger of
                                                  unnecessarily limits NCUA’s ability to                   NCUA projects have no reasonable                      insolvency definition was put into
                                                  resolve failing institutions. This comes                 prospect of becoming adequately                       place, and the fourth quarter of 2016.6
                                                  at a greater cost to a credit union’s                    capitalized in the succeeding 36                      Of the 46 credit unions that underwent
                                                  members and the NCUSIF, particularly                     months.                                               an emergency merger since the rule was
                                                  in the case of an eventual liquidation.                     The Board believes that these                      previously revised by the NCUA Board,
                                                  The FCU Act grants the Board broad                       proposed changes to the definition will               11 credit unions with total assets of
                                                  authority to define the term ‘‘in danger                 capture more credit unions that are in                $812 million would have qualified for
                                                  of insolvency’’ for emergency merger                     danger of insolvency earlier in their                 an emergency merger earlier under the
                                                  purposes. The Board believes that the                    decline, before their net worth declines              proposed definition of in danger of
                                                  proposed definition increases agency                     most rapidly, and will provide value to               insolvency. The 11 credit unions had
                                                  flexibility and will enable NCUA to act                  both the members of the credit union                  $12 million more in net worth at the
                                                  more timely to preserve credit union                     being merged and the NCUSIF.                          time the credit unions first qualified
                                                  services and credit union assets and to                  Increasing the likelihood that a                      under the proposed definition compared
                                                  protect the safety and soundness of the                  distressed credit union would be                      with the 2010 definition. The $12
                                                  credit union system and the NCUSIF.                      eligible for an emergency merger earlier              million additional net worth meant the
                                                                                                           could help to protect net worth, reduce               credit unions had net worth ratios 1 to
                                                  B. Extending the Forecast Horizons
                                                                                                           payouts on deposit insurance or merger                3 percentage points higher. Also, the
                                                    The Board proposes to amend the                        assistance, and improve merger                        longer forecast horizon allows NCUA to
                                                  definition of in danger of insolvency in                 prospects. The proposed changes also                  identify a significant number of
                                                  the glossary to appendix B to part 701                   provide NCUA with additional                          additional potential credit union
                                                  to extend the forecast horizons, the time                flexibility to resolve the distressed                 emergency merger candidates. The
                                                  periods in which NCUA must project                       credit union through a merger and help                largest diagnostic improvements from
                                                  whether a credit union will become                       to better ensure continuity of financial              extending the forecast horizon occur in
                                                  insolvent or critically undercapitalized.                services for members. This additional
                                                  Currently, to be deemed in danger of                     flexibility is especially beneficial when               6 This simple hypothetical forecast was used

                                                  insolvency under the definition’s first                  circumstances deplete a credit union’s                exclusively for purposes of analyzing emergency
                                                                                                                                                                 merger data and forecast horizons. It is not
                                                  two categories, NCUA must project a                      capital slowly and steadily rather than               representative of, and does not limit, how NCUA
                                                  credit union’s future net worth will                     abruptly, such as in the case of an                   projects credit unions to meet the established and
                                                  decline at a rate that will either render                institution with a large portfolio of
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                                                                 proposed in danger of insolvency categories. The
                                                  the credit union insolvent within 24                     declining illiquid assets.                            forecast of the net worth ratio uses the change in
                                                                                                                                                                 the net worth ratio during the most recently
                                                  months or drop below two percent                            To evaluate the benefit of shifting the            available four quarters and projects that change in
                                                  (critically undercapitalized) within 12                  critically undercapitalized threshold                 net worth through the forecast horizon for each
                                                  months. The Board proposes to extend                     from 12 to 18 months and the                          threshold. In other words, NCUA calculated
                                                  these periods to 30 months and 18                        insolvency threshold from 24 to 30                    whether the credit union would fall below either of
                                                                                                                                                                 the critical thresholds using a simple straight line
                                                  months, respectively. The Board intends                  months, NCUA used a simple forecast of                projection approach, with the projected rate of
                                                  to leave as is the forecast horizon of the               the net worth ratios of 46 credit unions              decline in net worth equal to the most recently
                                                  third category of the definition                         that underwent an emergency merger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        EP31JY17.000</GPH>




                                                                                                                                                                 available four-quarter change.



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                                                  35496                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  the two quarters prior to an emergency                   credit unions are estimated to be below               prior to the quarters when the net worth
                                                  merger. Instead of 31% of the credit                     the critically undercapitalized threshold             of these credit unions declines the most.
                                                  unions estimated to be below the                         within 18 months. The identification of               As the chart below illustrates, credit
                                                  critically undercapitalized threshold                    these additional credit unions represent              union net worth generally declines the
                                                  within 12 months two quarters before                     an opportunity for NCUA to preserve                   most in the quarters leading up to an
                                                  the emergency merger and 50% one                         services to members and member assets                 emergency merger.
                                                  quarter before, 42% and 58% of the                       through the emergency merger process




                                                     The data closely aligns with the views                and, in most cases, expanded service to               projected to decline to a certain point,
                                                  and experiences of NCUA. The agency                      the membership.                                       as the other two categories do, the third
                                                  has found that the current forecast                        NCUA believes that the delay                        category only allows NCUA to find that
                                                  horizons for these two categories can                    associated with waiting for an                        a credit union is in danger of insolvency
                                                  result in the unnecessary delay or even                  institution to deteriorate to the point               if the credit union has no reasonable
                                                  rejection of emergency merger requests                   where it satisfies the current regulatory             prospect of improving its net worth
                                                  that do not meet the current regulatory                  definition of in danger of insolvency has             from the significantly undercapitalized
                                                  definition of in danger of insolvency,                   too frequently resulted in struggling                 level to the adequately capitalized level
                                                  but would otherwise meet the statutory                   institutions being allowed to deteriorate             in the succeeding 36 months. The Board
                                                  criteria for an emergency merger. NCUA                   over time to the point where they are no              believes that the current forecast
                                                  believes that extending these forecast                   longer viable merger partners and have                horizon for this category already
                                                                                                           to be resolved by means that are more                 provides credit unions significant time
                                                  horizons will lessen the potential for
                                                                                                           costly to the NCUSIF and more                         to become adequately capitalized and is
                                                  such occurrences. When a credit union
                                                                                                           disruptive to the members. Rather than                concerned that any extension to the
                                                  cannot be timely merged through an
                                                                                                           continue to operate under the current                 forecast horizon would make it
                                                  emergency merger and no other credit                     definition, which hampers NCUA’s                      exceedingly difficult to accurately
                                                  unions with compatible fields of                         ability to take responsible supervisory               determine if a credit union has a
                                                  membership submit a merger proposal,                     action on a timely basis and ensure the               reasonable possibility of returning its
                                                  NCUA must consider alternative and                       safety and soundness of the credit union              net worth to the adequately capitalized
                                                  usually less desirable means of                          system, the Board proposes to amend
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                                                                                 level.
                                                  resolution. These less desirable means                   the regulatory definition of in danger of
                                                  of resolution could even include the                     insolvency to facilitate those mergers                C. Section 208 Assistance
                                                  liquidation of the credit union. In                      that satisfy the statutory requirements.                The Board proposes to expand the
                                                  general, merging a credit union into                       As stated above, the Board proposes                 definition of in danger of insolvency in
                                                  another institution is more desirable                    to leave the forecast horizon for the                 the glossary to appendix B to part 701
                                                  than liquidating the credit union                        third category of the current definition              to add a fourth category that provides
                                                  because a merger is generally lower cost                 as is. Rather than establishing a time                that a credit union will satisfy the
                                                  to the NCUSIF and provides continued                     period in which credit unions are                     definition of in danger of insolvency if
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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                                                         35497

                                                  the credit union has been granted or                                         quarter of 2016, 181 credit unions                                            their final Call Report. An additional
                                                  received assistance under section 208 of                                     received at least one type of section 208                                     37.0% of these 165 credit unions filed
                                                  the FCU Act in the 15 months prior to                                        assistance. Since then, 165, or 91.2%, of                                     their final Call Report in the same
                                                  the Region making such determination.                                        these credit unions have stopped filing                                       quarter in which they first began
                                                  Section 208 allows the Board to provide                                      Call Reports.                                                                 receiving section 208 assistance.
                                                  special assistance to credit unions to                                         Further, the data shows that not only                                       Another 41.2% of these credit unions
                                                  avoid liquidation.                                                           did the overwhelming majority of the                                          filed their final Call Report within the
                                                     In analyzing credit union Call Reports                                    credit unions that received section 208                                       four quarters after the quarter they first
                                                  and other internal NCUA data, NCUA                                           assistance stop filing Call Reports, but                                      received section 208 assistance. In total,
                                                  has found that an overwhelming                                               did so not long after, or prior to,
                                                                                                                                                                                                             152 of the 165 credit unions, or 92.1%,
                                                  number of credit unions that received                                        receiving the assistance. Notably, 13.9%
                                                                                                                                                                                                             stopped filing Call Reports prior to or
                                                  section 208 assistance eventually left                                       of the total number of credit unions that
                                                  the credit union system. Between the                                         received section 208 assistance began                                         within 15 months of receiving the
                                                  first quarter of 2001 and the fourth                                         receiving such assistance after they filed                                    section 208 assistance.

                                                       CREDIT UNIONS RECEIVING SECTION 208 ASSISTANCE: FIRST RECEIPT OF SECTION 208 ASSISTANCE TO LAST CALL
                                                                                                  REPORT FILED
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Number             Percent

                                                  Same quarter ...........................................................................................................................................................                     61              37.0
                                                  1 year .......................................................................................................................................................................               68              41.2
                                                  2 years .....................................................................................................................................................................                 3               1.8
                                                  3 years .....................................................................................................................................................................                 2               1.2
                                                  4 or more years .......................................................................................................................................................                       8               4.8
                                                  Assistance began after final call report was filed ....................................................................................................                                      23              13.9

                                                         Total ..................................................................................................................................................................            165              100.0



                                                    The quantitative evidence, along with                                      entities. A regulatory flexibility analysis                                   provide NCUA greater flexibility to
                                                  NCUA’s experiences and observations,                                         is not required, however, if the agency                                       authorize emergency mergers.
                                                  demonstrate that credit unions receiving                                     certifies that the rule will not have a
                                                  section 208 assistance within the last 15                                                                                                                  C. Executive Order 13132
                                                                                                                               significant economic impact on a
                                                  months are in danger of insolvency for                                       substantial number of small entities                                            Executive Order 13132 encourages
                                                  emergency merger purposes.                                                   (defined for purposes of the RFA to                                           independent regulatory agencies to
                                                    It must be noted that the Board is not                                     include credit unions with assets less                                        consider the impact of their actions on
                                                  proposing that every credit union that                                       than $100 million) and publishes its                                          state and local interests. In adherence to
                                                  receives section 208 assistance, thus                                        certification and a short, explanatory                                        fundamental federalism principles,
                                                  meeting the proposed definition of in                                        statement in the Federal Register                                             NCUA, an independent regulatory
                                                  danger of insolvency, is destined for an                                     together with the rule. The proposed                                          agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5),
                                                  emergency merger. The emergency                                              rule merely provides NCUA greater                                             voluntarily complies with the executive
                                                  merger statute addresses exigent                                             flexibility to authorize emergency                                            order. This rulemaking will not have a
                                                  circumstances. Credit unions to be
                                                                                                                               mergers and will not have an impact on                                        substantial direct effect on the states, on
                                                  merged on an emergency basis still must
                                                                                                                               small credit unions. Accordingly, NCUA                                        the connection between the national
                                                  meet the statutory requirements that an
                                                                                                                               certifies that the proposed rule will not                                     government and the states, or on the
                                                  emergency exists, other alternatives are
                                                                                                                               have a significant economic impact on                                         distribution of power and
                                                  not reasonably available, and the public
                                                  interest would be served by the merger.7                                     a substantial number of small credit                                          responsibilities among the various
                                                  However, quantitative evidence and                                           unions.                                                                       levels of government. NCUA has
                                                  NCUA’s experience do indicate that a                                                                                                                       determined that this proposal does not
                                                                                                                               B. Paperwork Reduction Act                                                    constitute a policy that has federalism
                                                  credit union’s receipt of section 208
                                                  assistance is a reliable indicator of a                                        The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                                         implications for purposes of the
                                                  credit union being in danger of                                              (PRA) applies to rulemakings in which                                         executive order.
                                                  insolvency and a safety and soundness                                        an agency creates a new or amends                                             D. Assessment of Federal Regulations
                                                  concern.                                                                     existing information collection                                               and Policies on Families
                                                  III. Regulatory Procedures                                                   requirements.8 For the purpose of the
                                                                                                                               PRA, an information collection                                                  NCUA has determined that this final
                                                  A. Regulatory Flexibility Act                                                requirement may take the form of a                                            rule will not affect family well-being
                                                     The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)                                      reporting, recordkeeping, or a third-                                         within the meaning of Section 654 of
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  generally requires that, in connection                                       party disclosure requirement. The                                             the Treasury and General Government
                                                  with a notice of proposed rulemaking,                                        proposed rule does not contain                                                Appropriations Act, 1999.10
                                                  an agency prepare and make available                                         information collection requirements that                                      List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 701
                                                  for public comment an initial regulatory                                     require approval by OMB under the
                                                  flexibility analysis that describes the                                      PRA.9 The proposed rule would merely                                            Credit, Credit unions, Reporting and
                                                  impact of a proposed rule on small                                                                                                                         recordkeeping requirements.
                                                                                                                                  8 44   U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
                                                    7 12   U.S.C. 1785(h).                                                        9 44   U.S.C. Chap. 35.                                                       10 Public    Law 105–277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998).



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                                                  35498                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 145 / Monday, July 31, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                    By the National Credit Union                           the Region’s determination that the                   entered into the form separately. This
                                                  Administration Board on July 20, 2017.                   credit union is in danger of insolvency.              will assist GSA in its tracking and
                                                  Gerard Poliquin,                                         *     *    *     *    *                               analysis of the comments received.
                                                  Secretary of the Board.                                  [FR Doc. 2017–15685 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]             • Mail: General Services
                                                    For the reasons discussed above, the                   BILLING CODE 7535–01–P
                                                                                                                                                                 Administration, Regulatory Secretariat
                                                  NCUA Board proposes to amend 12 CFR                                                                            Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW.,
                                                  part 701 as follows:                                                                                           Washington, DC 20405.
                                                                                                                                                                   GSA requests that comments be as
                                                                                                           GENERAL SERVICES
                                                  PART 701—ORGANIZATION AND                                                                                      specific as possible, include any
                                                                                                           ADMINISTRATION
                                                  OPERATION OF FEDERAL CREDIT                                                                                    supporting data, detailed justification
                                                  UNIONS                                                   41 CFR Chapters 101 and 102                           for your proposal, or other information
                                                                                                                                                                 such as cost information, provide a
                                                  ■  1. The authority citation for part 701                [Notice–MA–2017–03; Docket 2017–0002;                 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) or
                                                  is revised to read as follows:                           Sequence No. 7]                                       Federal Register (FR) citation when
                                                    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1755, 1756,                                                                    referencing a specific regulation, and
                                                                                                           Evaluation of Existing Federal                        provide specific suggestions regarding
                                                  1757, 1758, 1759, 1761a, 1761b, 1766, 1767,              Management and Federal Property
                                                  1782, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1789.                                                                      repeal, replacement or modification.
                                                                                                           Management Regulations; Extension
                                                  Section 701.6 is also authorized by 15 U.S.C.                                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
                                                  3717. Section 701.31 is also authorized by 15
                                                                                                           of Comment Period
                                                                                                                                                                 Bob Holcombe, Director, Personal
                                                  U.S.C. 1601 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1981 and 3601–            AGENCY:  General Services                             Property, Office of Government-wide
                                                  3610. Section 701.35 is also authorized by 42            Administration (GSA).                                 Policy, 202–501–3828 or via email at
                                                  U.S.C. 4311–4312.
                                                                                                           ACTION: Request for comments;                         robert.holcombe@gsa.gov.
                                                  ■  2. Revise the definition of ‘‘in danger               extension of comment period.                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GSA
                                                  of insolvency’’ in Appendix 1 (Glossary)                                                                       published a request in the Federal
                                                  to appendix B to part 701 to read as                     SUMMARY:    GSA issued a request on May               Register at 82 FR 24651, May 30, 2017
                                                  follows:                                                 30, 2017 seeking input by July 31, 2017.              seeking input on federal management
                                                  *      *      *    *     *                               The comment period is extended until                  and federal property management
                                                     In danger of insolvency—In making                     August 14, 2017, to provide additional                regulations. The comment period is
                                                  the determination that a particular                      time for interested parties to review and             extended to provide additional time for
                                                  credit union is in danger of insolvency,                 submit comments on the request.                       interested parties to the review and
                                                  NCUA will establish that the credit                      DATES: The comment period for the                     submit comments on the request.
                                                  union falls into one or more of the                      document published in the Federal                       Dated: July 18, 2017.
                                                  following categories:                                    Register at 82 FR 24651, May 30, 2017,                Michael Downing,
                                                     1. The credit union’s net worth is                    is extended for 14 days.                              Regulatory Reform Officer, Office of the
                                                  declining at a rate that will render it                     Comment Date: Interested parties                   Administrator.
                                                  insolvent within 30 months. In                           should submit comments to the                         [FR Doc. 2017–15457 Filed 7–28–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  projecting future net worth, NCUA may                    Regulatory Secretariat at one of the                  BILLING CODE 6820–14–P
                                                  rely on data in addition to Call Report                  addresses shown below on or before
                                                  data. The trend must be supported by at                  August 14, 2017.
                                                  least 12 months of historic data.                        ADDRESSES: Submit comments                            GENERAL SERVICES
                                                     2. The credit union’s net worth is                    identified by ‘‘Notice–MA–2017–03,                    ADMINISTRATION
                                                  declining at a rate that will take it under              Evaluation of Existing Federal
                                                  two percent (2%) net worth within 18                     Management and Federal Property                       41 CFR Subtitle F
                                                  months. In projecting future net worth,                  Regulations’’ by any of the following                 [Notice–MA–2017–02; Docket 2017–0002;
                                                  NCUA may rely on data in addition to                     methods:                                              Sequence No. 5]
                                                  Call Report data. The trend must be                         • Regulations.gov: http://
                                                  supported by at least 12 months of                       www.regulations.gov. Submit comments                  Federal Travel Regulation System;
                                                  historic data.                                           via the Federal eRulemaking portal by                 Evaluation of Existing Federal Travel
                                                     3. The credit union’s net worth, as                   searching for Notice–MA–2017–03,                      Regulation; Extension of Comment
                                                  self-reported on its Call Report, is                     Evaluation of Existing Regulations.                   Period
                                                  significantly undercapitalized, and                      Select the link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that                  AGENCY:  General Services
                                                  NCUA determines that there is no                         corresponds with ‘‘Notice–MA–2017–                    Administration (GSA).
                                                  reasonable prospect of the credit union                  03, Evaluation of Existing Federal                    ACTION: Request for comments;
                                                  becoming adequately capitalized in the                   Management and Federal Property                       extension of comment period.
                                                  succeeding 36 months. In making its                      Management Regulations.’’ Follow the
                                                  determination on the prospect of                         instructions provided on the screen.                  SUMMARY:   GSA issued a document on
                                                  achieving adequate capitalization,                       Please include your name, company                     May 30, 2017 seeking input by July 31,
                                                  NCUA will assume that, if adverse                        name (if applicable), and ‘‘Notice–MA–                2017. The comment period is extended
                                                  economic conditions are affecting the                    2017–03, Evaluation of Existing Federal               to provide additional time for interested
                                                  value of the credit union’s assets and                   Management and Federal Property                       parties to review and submit comments
sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  liabilities, including property values                   Management Regulations’’ on your                      on the document.
                                                  and loan delinquencies related to                        attached document.                                    DATES: The comment period for the
                                                  unemployment, these adverse                                 • Google form found at: https://                   document published in the Federal
                                                  conditions will not further deteriorate.                 goo.gl/forms/EzesI5HeTP7SGZpD3.                       Register at 82 FR 24652, published on
                                                     4. The credit union has been granted                     If you are commenting via the google               May 30, 2017, is extended until August
                                                  or received assistance under section 208                 form, please note that each regulation or             14, 2017.
                                                  of the Federal Credit Union Act, 12                      part that you are identifying for repeal,               Comment Date: Interested parties
                                                  U.S.C. 1788, in the 15 months prior to                   replacement or modification should be                 should submit comments to the


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Document Created: 2017-07-29 00:21:39
Document Modified: 2017-07-29 00:21:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments must be received on or before September 29, 2017.
ContactThomas I. Zells, Staff Attorney, Office of General Counsel, or Amanda Parkhill, Loss/Risk Analysis Officer, Office of Examination and Insurance, at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 or telephone: (703) 548-2478 (Mr. Zells) or (703) 518-6385 (Ms. Parkhill).
FR Citation82 FR 35493 
RIN Number3133-AE76
CFR AssociatedCredit; Credit Unions and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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