8.4 Million Households Go UnBanked

on 12:46 PM

To assess the inclusiveness of the banking system the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation conducted a June 2017 survey of 35,000 unbanked and underbanked households.

The survey provides estimates of the proportion of U.S. households that don't have an account at an insured institution and the proportion that have an account but obtained (non-bank) alternative financial services in the past 12 months. The survey provides insights to inform efforts to better meet the needs of these consumers within the banking sy
stem.

Estimates from the 2017 survey indicate that 6.5% of households in the United States were un-banked in 2017. This represents approximately 8.4m households. An additional 18.7% of households (24.2m) were under-banked . . . meaning that the household had a checking or savings account but also obtained financial products and services outside of the banking system.

The 2017 survey examines a number of additional topics, including the methods that banked households used to access accounts, bank branch visits, use of prepaid cards, use of alternative financial services, saving for unexpected expenses or emergencies, use of credit, and the methods that households used to conduct financial transactions in a typical month.

See http://www.economicinclusion.gov/ for survey findings, the ability to generate custom tables and charts using 2017 and earlier years of survey data, and data downloads and documentation.

The 2017 survey report, executive summary, and other related materials follow:

2017 Executive Summary - PDF
2017 Full Report - PDF
2017 Appendix Tables - PDF

BCFP announces coming changes to payday rule

on 1:31 PM

BCFP announces coming changes to payday rule
http://news.cuna.org/articles/115092-bcfp-announces-coming-changes-to-payday-rule?utm_source=real_magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Compliance%253A%2520NCUA%2520announces%2520Nov%252E%252014%2520HMDA%2520webinar

Free Webinar: Remote Deposit Capture Patent Update

on 1:23 PM

Join CUNA Mutual Group on Tuesday, October 30th, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., for a look into the latest updates on remote deposit capture. Credit unions that utilize remote deposit capture (RDC) technology are receiving letters from a law firm "inviting" them to negotiate a patent licensing deal for the use of the technology. The law firm that represents USAA claims to have developed the technology that credit unions are using. Most credit unions use vendors for RDC services and products. However, it appears USAA is asserting patent infringement claims against credit unions directly instead of vendors.

If your credit union offers or plans to offer RDC services to members, it needs to be aware of the USAA's claims. Find more information and register for this free CUNA member webinar online. 

NCUA Approves Final RBC Rule, Raises Threshold

on 3:50 PM

Yesterday, the board of the National Credit Union Administration's approved a final risk-based capital rule that provides regulatory relief for credit unions. It delays implementation of the risk-based capital rule by one year, to Jan. 1, 2020, and raises the threshold for risk-based capital compliance to $500 million in assets.  The rule will be effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register, which is expected in the coming days.

CUNA has been advocating for a longer delay and other substantive modifications but supports the changes to the effective date and threshold for compliance.

Board Member Rick Metsger said that NCUA can now begin developing a rule on alternative capital, which would likely be effective at the same time as RBC.

The board also approved a proposed rule that makes several amendments to federal credit union bylaws in order to update, clarify, and simplify, as well as provide additional guidance. The proposed changes include:

  • Incorporation of legal opinions issued by the NCUA’s Office of General Counsel into the text of the Federal Credit Union Bylaws; and
  • Removal of outdated or obsolete provisions. 

Free: Awareness Campaign Webinars

on 11:57 AM

A series of free webinars CUNA is hosting about the Awareness initiative.  They will be held on October 22, November 14, and December 10, all at 3:00 eastern time for an hour.

The topic for the first webinar is understanding the voice of consumers.  It will be hosted by Douglas Kiker of CUNA and the guest is Graeme Trayner of Glover Park Group, who has handled all the research and focus groups on Awareness.

Register for the first free webinar online.

Visit https://awareness.creditunion/ (password: openyoureyes) to learn more about the national credit union awareness program.

CUNA sets free webinar on RDC litigation for Oct. 30

on 8:53 AM

CUNA sets free webinar on RDC litigation for Oct. 30
http://news.cuna.org/articles/115035-cuna-sets-free-webinar-on-rdc-litigation-for-oct-30?utm_source=real_magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CUNA%2520supports%2520GFIN%252C%2520looks%2520to%2520ensure%2520even%2520playing%2520f

Compliance: NCUA provides guidance on FOM narrative approach

on 9:48 AM

Compliance: NCUA provides guidance on FOM narrative approach
http://news.cuna.org/articles/115031-compliance-ncua-provides-guidance-on-fom-narrative-approach?utm_source=real_magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Compliance%253A%2520NCUA%2520provides%2520guidance%2520on%2520FOM%2520narrativ

CU AID Activated to Assist CUs Affected by Hurricane Michael

on 2:11 PM

The National Credit Union Foundation (the Foundation) has opened CUAid to receive disaster relief funds to assist credit union people affected by Hurricane Michael; a Category 4 hurricane that has caused catastrophic effects across Florida and Georgia and is expected to reach the already hurricane-soaked Carolinas.

Donations to CUAid are being used for any credit union employees and volunteers affected by this hurricane. Credit union supporters in every state can make donations through cuaid.coop.

“With Hurricane Michael arriving as the Florida’s strongest storm in over twenty-five years, we are opening CUAid to begin raising funds to assist credit union people in their recovery,” said Gigi Hyland, Executive Director. “We hope the credit union movement will once again show their support and cooperative spirit in assisting those who have been affected by this natural disaster.”

100% of the donations through CUAid goes to credit union disaster relief. The Foundation does not use disaster relief funds to pay for the CUAid.coop web platform or any of the Foundation costs to administer the national disaster relief program for credit unions.

Click here to make a donation

Free Remote Deposit Capture Patent Update Webinar

on 1:51 PM

Credit unions that use remote deposit capture (RDC) technology are receiving letters from a law firm "inviting" them to negotiate a patent licensing deal for the use of the technology.  The law firm that represents USAA claims to have developed the technology that credit unions are using. Most credit unions use vendors for RDC services and products; however, it appears that USAA is asserting patent infringement claims against credit unions directly instead of vendors. If your credit union offers or plans to offer RDC services to members, it needs to be aware of the USAA's claims.

On March 21 CUNA held a webinar addressing the topics below:
  • Happenings with the USAA RDC 
  • Steps to ensure you insulate your credit union from possible patent infringements 
  • How to plan a response to USAA claims 
Now there are further updates on the subject, and an update webinar has been scheduled for October 30th, from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm ET.  The event is free to members of CUNA/AVCU.

Register to participate in the webinar and read more details.

If you are unable to attend the update live webinar, register for the free recording

Resources for New Compliance Officersw

on 1:42 PM

AVCU's online compliance resource for credit unions, InfoSight, provides many compliance resources for the new compliance officer, some of which are highlighted here:


Access to InfoSight is by subscription for employees of AVCU member credit unions. To establish an account send an email to johncote@vermontcreditunions.coop  

CUNA backs BCFP’s TDP proposal, offers improvements

on 11:21 AM

CUNA backs BCFP’s TDP proposal, offers improvements
http://news.cuna.org/articles/115017-cuna-backs-bcfps-tdp-proposal-offers-improvements?utm_source=real_magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Final%2520RBC%2520rule%2520on%2520NCUA%253Fs%2520Oct%252E%252018%2520meeting%2520agenda

Sanders' Seeks Limit on Size of Banks

on 4:31 PM

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders this week introduced legislation to apply a cap on financial institutions, and break up JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The Sanders bill has strong support from the Independent Community Banking Association (ICBA) which says that “the greatest ongoing threat to the safety and soundness of the U.S. banking system is the dominance of a small number of too-big-to-fail mega-banks.”

Sanders' asset cap would require a bank with assets collectively representing more than 3% of the country’s GDP (about $584B) to reduce its size within 2 two years.

Sanders says that the nation’s four largest financial institutions — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup — are on average nearly 80% bigger than they were before their government provide 2008 bailout, and control nearly 36% of all bank deposits.  The 6 largest institutions have over $10 trillion in assets, equivalent to 54% of annual U.S. GDP.

No consideration of Sanders' bill is expected at least until next year.  Read online for more details 

CUNA, CUDoctor offer new HR eSchool

on 9:58 AM

CUNA, CUDoctor offer new HR eSchool 
http://news.cuna.org/articles/114998-cunacudoctoroffernewhreschool?utm_source=real_magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CUNA%253Fs%2520Nussle%252C%2520Schenk%2520talk%2520CU%2520regulatory%2520climate%2520a

McWatters Calls on Congress to Make Number of Changes

on 9:22 AM

McWatters Calls on Congress to Make Number of Changes
http://www.cutoday.info/Fresh-Today/McWatters-Calls-on-Congress-to-Make-Number-of-Changes?utm_source=Fresh+Today+100318&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fresh+Today+100318

4 tips & tricks for rebranding your credit union

on 9:19 AM

4 tips & tricks for rebranding your credit union
https://www.cuinsight.com/4-tips-tricks-for-rebranding-your-credit-union.html?utm_source=CUinsight+Email+List&utm_campaign=b714bc3979-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_02_12_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_601789497f-b714bc3979-278263821

Surge in ATM ‘Wiretapping’ Attacks

on 1:13 PM

The U.S. Secret Service is warning financial institutions about a recent surge in a form of ATM skimming that involves cutting cupcake-sized holes in a cash machine and then using a combination of magnets and medical devices to siphon customer account data directly from the card reader inside the ATM.

According to a non-public alert distributed this week and shared with KrebsOnSecurity by a financial industry source, the Secret Service has received multiple reports about a complex form of skimming that often takes thieves days to implement.

This type of attack, sometimes called ATM “wiretapping” or “eavesdropping,” starts when thieves use a drill to make a relatively large hole in the front of a cash machine. The hole is then concealed by a metal faceplate, or perhaps a decal featuring the bank’s logo or boilerplate instructions on how to use the ATM.

A thin metal faceplate is often used to conceal the hole drilled into the front of the ATM. The PIN pad shield pictured here is equipped with a hidden spy camera. Skimmer thieves will fish the card skimming device through the hole and attach it to the internal card reader via a magnet.

Watch the security video below of a thief fitting a skimmer to an ATM.


Compliance: Reg. CC rule includes presumption of alteration

on 10:06 AM

Compliance: Reg. CC rule includes presumption of alteration
https://www.cuinsight.com/compliance-reg-cc-rule-includes-presumption-of-alteration.html?utm_source=CUinsight+Email+List&utm_campaign=3a8fafab94-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_01_12_32&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_601789497f-3a8fafab94-278263821