The NCUA board will initiate aseries of briefings on emerging issues prior to taking action onthem, Chairman Rick Metsger said May 18.

The briefings will begin Thursday and will cover agency plansfor modernizing the call report and profile system, and the systemfor reporting and storing credit unions' information.

“Due to federal sunshine laws, and the fact that NCUA has neverhad more than three board members, we cannot deliberate on policyissues, except at open meetings,” Metsger said in a statement.“What we're doing is giving board members an opportunity to talkdirectly to one another, exchange thoughts and ideas. It alsoprovides the broader credit union community with insight into ourthought process. Since no action is being taken, stakeholders willalso have the opportunity to consider our discussion and provideearly input before any rulemaking begins.”

The NCUA board is operating with two members since ChairmanDebbie Matz departed at the end of April. In addition, board memberJ. Mark McWatters has been nominated for a seat on theExport-Import Bank board. However, he has not yet been confirmedand Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala) has indicated that he will not move the nomination. Ranking MemberSherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, met with McWatters on Tuesdayand renewed his call for his confirmation.

Metsger said if the initial series of board briefings isvaluable, he will expand the practice. He said that when boardmeeting agendas are light enough, he will take the opportunity toinclude such briefings.