WASHINGTON — When it comes to what's equitable, credit unions unfairly contend with a number of regulations that are either excessive or financially burdensome, Mary Dunn CUNA deputy general counsel and senior vice president of regulatory advocacy, told the Small Business Administration's national regulatory fairness hearing last week.

At the March 12 hearing, small business owners, representatives from 11 business trade groups and 20 federal agencies shared testimonies on the impact that federal regulations have had. The SBA hearing was a sounding board for business leaders to report unfair or excessive federal regulatory enforcement by any federal agency that impacts their members and small businesses nationwide. SBA Administrator Steve Preston and other agency officials listened to witnesses during the six-hour hearing.

Dunn opened her testimony, saying, "credit unions are one of the most heavily regulated entities and are currently subject to a wide range of regulatory requirements including an array of consumer protection rules on issues," such as truth-in-lending, privacy, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act.