NCUA Sets 2026 Supervisory Priorities

On January 14, 2026, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) released its annual supervisory priorities letter, emphasizing its “No Regulation by Enforcement” policy.  

The letter underscores that in examining federally insured credit unions the agency will prioritize transparency, ensuring that rules are clearly published before they are enforced.  This policy is designed to provide credit unions with greater regulatory certainty, moving away from oversight via legal settlements and toward a collaborative, risk-based examination process tailored to each institution’s unique profile.

Among other concerns highlighted in the letter, NCUA Examiners will scrutinize credit risk management, underwriting standards, and liquidity planning as a supervisory priority in 2026. Credit unions should expect a deep dive into their interest rate risk and capital adequacy, as the agency aims to ensure the system remains resilient despite elevated funding costs and declining asset quality across the industry.

Finally, the letter additionally provides credit unions with a number of helpful links to additional resources addressing Balance Sheet Management, Operational Risk Management and Compliance Risk Management issues.