Pulling from a 2003 Government Accountability Office study, the Wisconsin Bankers Association offered what it considered evidence that most NCUA examiners do not have enough experience to effectively monitor commercial loans at credit unions.

The WBA said the GAO was "skeptical" that the NCUA was up to "the challenge of ensuring that it is adequately prepared to monitor" the expansion of the CU commercial lending. The banking group also noted that more than 270 of Wisconsin's state-chartered CUs already have the right to petition the state's Office of Credit Unions to exceed the 12.25% member business lending cap.

"The federal legislation would circumvent an important regulatory safeguard used to determine whether a credit union has the expertise and financial strength to manage more commercial loans," said Kurt Bauer, WBA president/CEO, in an April 9 statement.