ARLINGTON, Va. - NASCUS filed additional written comments withNCUA on Nov. 4 on the agency's proposed 2006 budget. In itsadditional comments, NASCUS encourages NCUA to work with stateregulatory agencies to collect and maintain data regarding thetotal direct cost of all on-site or off-site insurance relatedactivities for federally insured, state-chartered credit unions.Doing so, says NASCUS, "would enable state regulators and NCUA toidentify where costs savings could be achieved while maintainingthe proper regulatory oversight of FISCUs." NASCUS also discussesthe benefits of a consistent examination platform for bothfederally and privately insured CUs. It also asked NCUA if it ispermissible for state examiners to use NCUA-provided software toexamine state-chartered, privately insured CUs. By using the NCUAcomputers, says NASCUS, state agencies can quickly share pertinentand timely information with the NCUA to enhance supervision anddiminish potential risks to the NCUSIF. According to NASCUS, themajority of state credit union regulatory agencies lease computersfrom the NCUA and use the AIRES platform in examination procedures."The amount spent offsets a significantly greater expense that theNCUA would incur if state agencies chose not to use the AIRESplatform," NASCUS states. "It is not costly to equip stateexaminers with personal computers or software when mutually agreedupon by state regulators and the NCUA. Tangible benefits to theNCUSIF are derived from cooperation in the examination program"NASCUS adds.