NASHVILLE, Tenn. - NCUA Chairman Rick Metsger's 2017 budget briefing won't just be as good as the agency'sprevious budget hearings. The October event will be better, he saidat NAFCU's annual conference here Wednesday.

"The difference will be significant," he told CUTimes.

Previous budget hearings were attended primarily by tradeassociations, and no budget information was released in advance, hesaid.

Because the NCUA released details on its 2017 budget last fall,stakeholders can review the information online now, Metsger said.Even though the October budget briefing will be at the NCUA'sAlexandria, Va., headquarters, the agency may webcast the event andallow the credit union community to submit questions via socialmedia and other platforms.

"I want it to be accessible, not just for the people who can bein Alexandria," he said. "I'd expect we would set up something sopeople can participate in a live, real way."

Additionally, information on the prospective 2018 budget willalso be provided before the budget briefing.

"Having that ability to be transparent and clear, there'snothing secretive," he said. "I think it's always beneficial totell the story of what you're trying to do. I think it's anopportunity to show the community how much work we put into thebudget."

Metsger's ambitious 2016 agenda will also focus on examinationreform, which includes not just less frequent exams for wellmanaged credit unions, but also better analysis of call report databefore the exam and better coordination between federal and stateregulators so examiners from both entities can be onsite at creditunions at the same time, he said.

Metsger said he plans to update NCUA staff on exam reform during a Thursday webinar following the monthlyNCUA board meeting.

"Change always provides angst because people don't know theimpact," Metsger said of the potential reaction from NCUA staffregarding the change. "Part of my responsibility is to show howthis change will make us more efficient and effective."

One outcome of exam reform could be more scrutiny on small,state chartered credit unions that haven't been examined muchrecently, and have insufficient internal controls, Metsger said.Better use of technology in examining larger credit unions couldresult in more hours devoted to small credit unions to detect andprevent internal fraud.

"It's not a permanent thing, but if we haven't touched them infive years, or ever, as the insurer we probably should do that," hesaid.

Exam reform could also provide examiners and regional officeswith more flexibility to examine credit unions as needed, ratherthan adhering to a rigid schedule, Metsger said.

"An examiner should be able to ask the (regional director), 'CanI have another 16 hours at this credit union?’" he said. "Thiscould provide that. Putting resources where the risk is, putting itwhere the help is needed, and being flexible to adjust forchange."