The $3 trillion pandemic relief bill unveiled by House Democrats on Tuesday will help the nation recover from the coronavirus crisis, but it fails to give credit unions important tools they need to help in the effort, trade group lobbyists said Wednesday.
The coronavirus relief bill unveiled by House Democrats Tuesday would not increase the credit union Member Business Loan cap or decrease capital standards—two major priorities of the NCUA and credit union trade groups.
The $3 trillion, 1,800-page bill includes about $1 trillion in aid to states and local government, as well as extended unemployment benefits and additional stimulus payments to taxpayers. It also would provide a safe harbor for financial institutions providing services to marijuana-related business.
Amid some opposition from a key Democrat, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood told the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday that Congress should decrease capital standards for credit unions, as they respond to economic problems caused by the coronavirus crisis.
Hood said that he would like Congress to authorize a temporary reduction in minimum capital requirements—reducing the level at which credit unions are considered well capitalized from a net-worth ratio of 7% to 6%. He said that the level for “adequately capitalized” credit unions should be cut from 6% to 5%.
NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood will join other financial regulators when they testify before the Senate Banking Committee on May 12.
Clashing with NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood, board member Todd Harper is asking Congress not to reduce credit union capital standards in response to the coronavirus crisis.
“Reductions in capital standards could ultimately lead to greater losses for the Share Insurance Fund, which all surviving federally insured credit unions would need to pay,” Harper wrote to leaders of the House and Senate committees with NCUA oversight powers.
Congress should expand the ability of all credit unions to serve underserved areas, NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood wrote this week, as he sent Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Id.) a list of legislative changes he believes will help the agency respond to the coronavirus crisis.