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Examiner's Guide

The NCUA Examiner’s Guide is a resource for use in the supervision of credit unions. The guide is specifically addressed to examiners, and assists in the scoping process, on- and off-site supervision contacts, and more. The guidance provided in the guide may not necessarily be appropriate for every situation. NCUA’s risk-focused approach requires that examiners exercise professional judgment to assess the risk inherent in a given credit union operation and determine the scope of the examination by taking the many variables presented by an individual credit union into consideration. When examiners determine existing or potential risk is present, they may perform the procedures necessary to determine the extent of that risk and any mitigating circumstances related to the risk. Examiners will use the supervisory criteria contained in the guide to evaluate a credit union’s condition based on the preponderance of relevant factors. Examiners will work with credit union officials and staff to take the steps necessary to correct or reduce unwarranted risk.

The Examiner’s Guide is intended to provide a framework for more consistent application of staff judgment with respect to conclusions about a credit union’s financial and operational condition, and related CAMEL and risk ratings. It also provides a consistent approach for evaluating the adequacy of a credit union’s relevant risk-management processes. Supervisory criteria detailed in this guide are not strict requirements unless noted as required by law or regulation.

While the guide does not impose requirements on credit unions, it offers information about the examination and supervision process that credit unions may find useful. The NCUA offers many resources for credit unions and the public when they have questions about the Federal Credit Union Act and NCUA rules and regulations, such as NCUA Interpretive Rulings and Policy Statements, Letters to Credit Unions and other Guidance, and Legal Opinions.

If you have questions that are not addressed in the Examiner’s Guide, you may call the Regional Office in the region where the credit union is located.

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