Minorities collectively represented 26.8% of the NCUA'sworkforce in 2013, according to a report sent to Congress on Mondayfrom the agency's Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.

The NCUA said the 2013 total was 1.6% higher than 2011. Inaddition, the total dollar awards given to women and minority-ownedbusinesses last year was $8.3 million – a 137% increase from theprior year.

“(The) NCUA is absolutely committed to developing a stronger,more diverse workplace where everyone's talents are recognized andopportunities abound,” NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz said on Monday. “We take this responsibility veryseriously as part of the overall effort to make the agency anemployer of choice. We are likewise committed to expanding theopportunities for minority- and women-owned companies to dobusiness with NCUA.”

The Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, established underthe Dodd-Frank Act, also reported that women represented 43.7% oftotal employees at the NCUA in 2013 and 42.6% of the agency'ssenior staff.

African Americans represented 14.5% of total employees at theagency and 7.4% of senior staff. Hispanic Americans represented4.4% of all employees and 3.7% of senior staff. Asian Americans,which include Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders, represented5.8% of all employees and 3.7% of senior staff.

The Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, established on Jan.21, 2011, is responsible for assessing the diversity policies andpractices of the NCUA's regulated entities as well as monitoringand established diversity practices among the NCUA'smanagement.

Last week, Democrats on the House Financial Services Committeecalled for a review of internal practices at federal agenciesincluding the NCUA in light of discrimination allegations involvingthe CFPB.

The Democratic members of the committee later requested the cancellation of ahearing scheduled by Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) focused onthe allegations.

“We are very concerned with claims of discrimination at the CFPBand have requested that the Inspector General investigate thoseallegations, as well as personnel practices within all federalfinancial agencies. However, we take exception with the unorthodoxmanner in which the upcoming hearing was empaneled and organized,”the lawmakers wrote to Hensarling in a letter dated March 28.