CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle, Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Donovan, Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer Elizabeth Eurgubian and Senior Director of Advocacy and Counsel Mitria Wilson met with new NCUA board member Todd Harper Wednesday to welcome him to the board and discuss credit union priorities. Harper was nominated by President Donald Trump in January and was confirmed in March, along with NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood.

“We thank board member Harper for his time and attention during our discussion about issues that are important to credit unions, most notably reducing the regulatory burden to increase member services,” Nussle said. “CUNA is pleased with the direction the agency has taken over the past few years, and we believe with a full board in place NCUA can continue its work and build on this positive momentum.”

CUNA wrote a letter to Harper after he was sworn in, expressing hope that NCUA will:

• Undertake a proactive and collaborate strategy to ensure credit unions are prepared for the current expected credit loss (CECL) standard.
• Commit to returning the normal operating level to 1.3%, down from the current 1.38%; and
• Perform additional analysis on NCUA’s risk-based capital rule.

Harper has previous experience working for NCUA. From 2011 to 2017, he led the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and served as the chief policy advisor to the then-board chairman.