The head of a national Federal Reserve panel devoted toimproving bank/credit union dialogue and gathering grassrootseconomic data voiced support this week for the group's record inshedding light on charter differences and addressing regulatorybarriers.

“I think credit unions and community banks have learned a lotfrom one another and shared with the Fed staff what's reallyhappening in Main Street when it comes to Dodd-Frank, for example”observed Howard Boyle, the CEO of an Ohio bank and presidentof the Fed's Community Depository Institutions AdvisoryCouncil.

The Fed panel, set up nearly two years ago by Chairman BenBernanke and which includes satellite committees at the centralbank's 12 regional offices, has been quietly conducting infrequent,off-the- record regular sessions in which CEOs of banks and CUs cansometimes spar over Fed policy matters.

“The discussions are always candid and sometimes passionate andI do think there is a respect for the individual charters that arerepresented,” observed Boyle, who also is president/CEO of the $150million Hometown Bank of Kent.

Boyle said discussions are often wide ranging, covering suchareas as consumer and commercial lending trends, investments andrates.

Leadership of the national 12-member CDIAC as well as theregional CDIAC panels have long been dominated by CEOs of theregional/community banks. There are approximately 25 credit union CEOs on the CDIACs with the lone nationalrepresentative being Michael Kloiber, president/CEO of the $2.7billion Tinker FCU in Oklahoma City. Leaving the panel latelast year was Randy Smith, president/CEO of the $5.1 billionRandolph Brooks FCU in Live Oak, Texas.

Boyle acknowledged that another CEO from a bank, rather thanfrom a credit union, was picked to replace Smith but the balanceshould be rectified in the next round of appointments or when avacancy arises.

“Yes, I was a little surprised but I think it will be remedied,”he forecast.

Robert Allen, president/CEO of the $4.4 billion Teachers FCU inHauppauge, N.Y. and a member of the CDIAC panel of the FederalReserve Bank of New York, said he has found the district Fedmeetings – with the most recent in April – useful andproductive.

“I like the idea of going around the table and comparing datafrom each area whether it is my area on Long Island or inagricultural regions in northern New York,” said Allen. And when itcomes to discussing lending, Allen agrees that the lack of it insome areas remains an issue but not at his credit union.

“I'm glad to say Long Island with its presence of large creditunions has done well and because of the competition we have madethe public very aware of credit unions,” said Allen stressing lastyear's Bank Transfer Day has been nicely extended.

William J. Rissel, president/CEO of the $1 billion Fort Knox FCUof Radcliff, Ky., and a CDIAC member of the Federal Reserve Bank ofSt. Louis, said much of the meeting focus has been on ways togenerate loan volume – commercial, residential and consumer. Thediscussions center on what are the dynamics driving those forces,he added.