WASHINGTON -- NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood has beenemphasizing with credit unions that though he does not see it asystemic problem for credit unions, he would like to hold a riskmitigation summit for credit unions to share ideas and get creativejuices flowing.

The Vice Chairman's Risk Mitigation Summit will be heldThursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce inWashington, D.C. Leaders from Treasury, the Federal Reserve System,corporate credit unions, and others from the financial servicescommunity are expected to attend to discuss the latest trends inrisk management and analysis.

In that same vein, Hood also encouraged attendees of NAFCU'sCongressional Caucus last week (see caucus coverage on pages 26-30)to raise the issue of implementing a risk-based capital structurefor credit unions. The plan would permit many credit unions tolower their current capital levels and remain safe and sound whileallowing for greater service to members by using that capital forbranches, ATMs and services, he said.