CUNA President/CEO Bill Cheney said he plans to fill the vacancyleft by Paul Gentile's departure as executive vice president ofcommunications, but Gentile's replacement might not fill the sameexact position. Cheney also discussed the developments at theNCUA's November board meeting.

“We are going to move forward to look for someone to bringin at an executive level to continue the great work that Paul hasdone,” Cheney told Credit Union Times on Friday.

“I don't know if it will be exactly same thing, thatremains to be seen, but we are going to replace that role withinour management structure at some level, definitely,” he added.

Gentile's role at CUNA was a “new position within ourorganization to manage our strategic communications but also ourpublications and marketing,” Cheney said

“He's done a great job in the year he will have been here andmade some important changes and upgraded our communications. Wecertainly wish him well in his new role,” he added.

For More on Gentile Departure:

Gentile Named CEO of Massachusett's League

Gentile Speaks to CU Times About New Position

Coming out of the NCUA November board meeting, Cheney saidcredit unions should feel good about the future of corporateassessments.

“Now for the first time, they've acknowledged that there mightbe refunds to credit unions when this is all over,” Cheneysaid.

The NCUA announced that there would be no corporate assessmentfor 2014.

Cheney said he still has concerns about the final CUSO rule andCUNA's attorneys are in the process of reviewing the details.

“The devil's always in details. I have some concern about thecosts but I don't have the details yet,” he said.

“This could put CUSOs at a disadvantage against their non-systemcompetitors and I'm not sure I understand how we benefit fromthat.”

The NCUA also announced a 6.7% increase in the operatingbudget from 2013, bringing the new budget for 2014 to$268 million.

“I was disappointed,” Cheney said about the final budget, addingthat he understands why the NCUA would want to give salaryincreases to its staff after a two-year federal pay freeze.

“The real issue is not the increase for staff, it is staffinglevels,” he said.

Cheney would like the NCUA to look at better ways to allocateresources going forward.

“This money doesn't grow on trees. It's coming from creditunions and credit union members,” he said.

It was also mentioned at the board meeting that the NCUA has tocreate a secure top-secret room under a presidential executiveorder at the cost of $1.6 million.

In the near future, Cheney said CUNA is going to ask the WhiteHouse why the NCUA should have to comply.

“I understand why they have one at the White House. I understandwhy they have one at the Department of State, and the Department ofDefense. I'm not sure it makes sense at the NCUA. I'm sorry, nodisrespect to the NCUA at all,” he said.