SAVANNAH, Ga.- NCUA Board Member Deborah Matz emphasized the need for federal and state regulators to collaborate and learn from each other, particularly in the face of war, during the 25th Annual NCUA/National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors State Regulatory Conference. "[A]fter crisscrossing the country, touring credit unions and speaking to credit union leaders, I am even more convinced of the need for dual chartering," Matz said. "Now more than ever it seems the credit union community can benefit from creativity and innovation." She pointed out the ways the federal regulators have learned from the states. Matz indicated that NCUA's broader field of membership regulations were prompted by states' expansions and that some of the member business lending rule revisions came straight from states' amendments to the federal agency's rule. The NCUA Board member expressed concerns over the state of the economy, its potential impact on credit unions, and the possibility of war. "If your budget suffers, your credit union exams do not have to," she told the gathering of state and federal regulators. Given the fiscal problems facing state governments, Matz suggested the state regulators avail themselves of NCUA's assistance in tough times.