The 44 credit unions that filed their second quarter callreports late have agreed to pay a total of $17,111 in civil moneypenalties, the NCUA announced Wednesday.

The individual penalties ranged from $52 to $1,824 and themedian penalty was $256. The NCUA is required by law to send thecivil money penalties to the U.S. Treasury. Two of the creditunions also filed late in the first quarter.

According to the NCUA, the amount of the penalty depends on the creditunion's asset size, its recent call report filing history and thelength of the delay.

In total, 27 of the 44 credit unions had assets of less than $10million, 10 had assets between $10 million and $50 million, fivehad assets between $50 million and $250 million and two had assetsgreater than $250 million. The $331 million Sea West Coast GuardFCU in Oakland, Calif., topped the list with an $1,824 fine,followed by the $218 million Altana FCU in Billings, Mont. with a$1,230 fine.

“The situation is improving, but full compliance remains thegoal,” NCUA Board Chairman Debbie Matz said. “As most of the creditunions that file late are small credit unions, the NCUA's Office ofSmall Credit Union Initiatives has been working with smallerinstitutions, and we think that has helped several credit unionsfile on time. Our efforts on compliance and assistance willcontinue until we get to the point where no credit union files alate call report.”

In total, 75 credit unions filed late for the second quarter.There were some credit unions that filed late but were notfined.

“During an initial review, the NCUA consulted regional officesand, when appropriate, state supervisory authorities. This reviewdetermined mitigating circumstances in 19 cases justified waivingthe penalty,” said an NCUA press release.

“The NCUA informed the remaining 56 credit unions in mid-Augustof penalties they faced, and the agency advised them they couldreduce their penalties by signing a consent agreement.”

The NCUA said it would begin administrative hearings againstcredit unions that did not consent to the penalties.

“Twenty credit unions subsequently provided the agency withinformation about circumstances that led to the late filing. NCUAdetermined 12 of those credit unions would not be penalized. Onecredit union saw its penalty reduced,” the agency said.