Commentary

Over time, credit unions have made a name for themselves as trusted providers of low-cost, quality consumer financial services. They have a commitment to their 86 million consumer/members, and the next generation of consumers they will be serving. That's why credit unions have helped to develop legislation that will give...

Managing interest rate risk will become a critical strategic objective for most credit unions as the economy continues to grow and interest rates continue to increase. The good news so far in this improving economy is that even as interest rates have been heading up, they are still affordable. However,...

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA jointly released a frequently asked questions guide with the other federal banking regulators last week. NCUA, together with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of Thrift Supervision prepared the FAQ...

Accounting issues unearthed at Freddie Mac and at Fannie Mae point up the need for stronger financial oversight of the GSEs. Customers of financial institutions and financial service providers have a right to expect their safety and soundness. I fully support the need for legislation and regulation that strengthens the...

Hagel's bill, co-sponsored by Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.), includes a proposal to `clarify the mission' of the GSEs by defining their permissible activities. The Hagel Bill makes direct or indirect loan origination impermissible by the GSEs. It does so by defining primary and secondary mortgage activities....

Dark Shadows was a campy 1960s, pseudo-scary soap opera that tempted its audience with mysterious goings-on just out of the viewer's sight, at least until the next episode. Pending legislation that reforms regulatory and business oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has that same feeling: there's more to it...

Dark Shadows was pseudo-scary. Hagel's Bill is truly scary. If you're frightened, do three things now. First: support legislation that strengthens financial oversight of the GSEs. Fiscal responsibility and adequate capital levels make sense. Second, oppose - strenuously - legislation that limits our ability as lenders to provide our members...

Bright Lines? More like dark shadows. Answering `how will we know what to originate' is easy once we understand who's behind the Hagel Bill: big banks and the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. If S.190 becomes law, U.S. mortgage lending will be controlled by the largest lenders. Smaller lenders -...