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An interpretive ruling and policy statement and final rule raising the "small entity" asset-size threshold to $100 million for NCUA's determination of the economic impact of its rules on credit unions was adopted by the NCUA Board Thursday on a vote of 3-0.

The final rule, approved in tandem with IRPS 15-1, revises the threshold set by NCUA under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. It does not confer specific regulatory relief but would require NCUA to "give special consideration to the economic impact" of proposed and final rules on 733 additional credit unions, or a total of about 4,890 institutions. (See more on relief planned.)

NAFCU continues to support this change, but it is still pressing NCUA to find ways to provide regulatory relief to all credit unions, said Alicia Nealon, NAFCU's director of regulatory affairs.

Yesterday's open board meeting began with a quarterly report on the Temporary Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund. NCUA says it still sees no need for any stabilization fund assessment on credit unions this year, or in future years, if the fund as well as the NCUA Guaranteed Notes program perform as expected. A rebate at some future time is considered likely.

Meanwhile, the board also approved a final rule to exclude Central Liquidity Facility-related bridge loans from the aggregate unsecured lending cap on loans to one borrower by corporate credit unions. Supported by NAFCU, the final rule also exempts such loans from the calculation of net assets and net risk-weighted assets for determining a corporate's minimum capital requirements.

Additionally, the board approved a statutorily required change in the caps on civil money penalties and granted a community charter expansion sought by Charlotte Metro Federal Credit Union (N.C.).