A new American Bankers Association-funded study attacking credit unions is just the same repackaging of their usual false attacks, CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said, responding to the study’s claims that credit unions aren’t living up to their mission.

The Senate passed its version of the NDAA for FY2020 Thursday with CUNA-opposed language expanding certain waivers for rent and other facilities costs for financial institutions on military installations currently granted to credit unions.

CUNA advocacy and compliance staff met with NCUA staff to discuss consumer financial protection issues at the agency’s Alexandria, Va. headquarters Wednesday, and also attended the 85th anniversary celebration of the Federal Credit Union Act.

The House passed the FSGG Appropriations Act for FY2020 Wednesday. CUNA wrote in strong support of the bill earlier this week due to the appropriations amounts for several credit union funds, including the CDFI Fund and NCUA's CDRLF.

While CUNA applauds bipartisan efforts from Congress to address robocalls and the FCC's treatment of them, it has concerns with the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (H.R. 3375), which was marked up by House subcommittee Tuesday.

The House is expected to vote this week on the FSGG appropriations act for FY2020, which contains CUNA-supported levels for the Treasury's CDFI Fund ($300 million) and NCUA's CDRLF (at $2 million).

Technology has improved consumer access to financial services, but certain fintech does not have the regulatory structure in place that exists with credit unions and other financial institutions, CUNA wrote to a House Task Force on Financial Technology.

CUNA generally supports the overall intent of NCUA’s proposal to provide greater flexibility in the area of compensation to credit union executives, but believes additional changes are needed for credit unions to remain competitive with their banking counterparts.

CUNA called on Senate leadership Monday to reject inclusion of any language in the NDAA for FY2020 that would expand the DoD's authority to exempt financial institutions from certain costs on military installations.

CUNA will be engaged with Congressional activities in both chambers this week, including committee and floor consideration of legislation and hearings covering credit union priorities, including House and Senate appropriations bills.