A credit union’s “field of membership” determines who is eligible to join that credit union and access its financial products and services. Credit unions often want to expand their fields of membership to include additional potential members.
Federally chartered credit unions operate under one of three kinds of charters: single common bond, multiple common bond, or community. The type of charter a credit union holds determines what groups or geographic areas it may serve.
A federally chartered credit union must receive approval from the National Credit Union Administration prior to making changes in its field of membership. Chapter 2 of This is an external link to a website belonging to another federal agency, private organization, or commercial entity. the NCUA’s Chartering and Field of Membership Manual (Opens new window) has complete details about fields of membership and the process for amending them.
What are the Types of Expansions Available?
- Occupational common-bond expansion: an employer-based group or persons employed within a Trade, Industry or Profession
- Associational common-bond expansion: a member-based group meeting the NCUA’s threshold requirement and totality of circumstances test
- Underserved area expansion: a geographic area meeting the NCUA’s underserved area requirements (available to only multiple common bonds)
- Community: a geographic area meeting the NCUA’s definition of a well-defined local community or rural district
- Merged with (or purchase and assumption of) a credit union’s field of membership meeting the NCUA’s requirements
How Can We Expand?
On June 5, 2025, the NCUA updated its Consumer Access Process and Reporting Information System (CAPRIS) to allow more applications to be submitted through that system. This update allows multiple common bond federal credit unions the ability to add occupational and associational groups of any size. Additionally, this update allows multiple common bond federal credit unions to submit applications for serving underserved areas or for converting to a community charter either by:
- Using an online form within the system; or
- Uploading a completed application.
Similarly, community chartered federal credit unions are now able to use CAPRIS to submit community expansion applications using the online form or uploading a completed application.
You will need to use NCUA Connect, the agency’s central user interface, to reach CAPRIS. To use NCUA Connect, you will need your credit union’s Admin Portal Administrator to grant you access. Federal credit unions wishing to use this system for the first time must submit a request for an Admin Portal administrator for their credit unions to OneStop@ncua.gov.
As with occupational and associational group submissions, you will be able to use the CAPRIS status tracker to review the status of your underserved area or community expansion/conversion request.
For multiple common bond federal credit unions, most occupational and associational groups can be added quickly through CAPRIS.
When processing any type of application, the NCUA may request additional documentation. Should the NCUA require additional information related to your application, to easily provide that documentation through the Library function within CAPRIS. Once you upload a document, it will be associated with your credit union. For more information on the use of the Library function within CAPRIS, please refer to the CAPRIS CU User Guide, located under the Help tab within CAPRIS. If you have any questions regarding CAPRIS, please direct your questions to CAPRISInfo@ncua.gov or call 703.518.1150.