NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NCUA will reconsider the $10 millionthreshold that currently defines small credit unions, which areexempt from many regulations and eligible for assistance from theOffice of Small Credit Union Initiatives, Chairman Debbie Matzannounced Thursday at the NAFCU Annual Conference.

The agency is currently conducting analysis to determine the newthreshold size, and expects to roll out the recommendation in timefor the September board meeting, Matz said.

The NCUA said in a recent letter to credit unions that thosewith fewer than $10 million in assets will from now on only besubjected to a 40-hour examination.

Matz said if the small credit union threshold is raised, creditunions over $10 million may not get the 40-hour exam, but willbenefit from other regulatory exemptions.

Regardless of whether more credit unions will fall under theOSCUI umbrella, Matz said the office is working to reach a wideraudience by utilizing technology such as webinars, DVDs and phonecalls.

The goal is to reduce the time examiners currently spendassisting small credit unions, which is partly to blame for adisproportionate amount of examination resources spent on smallcredit unions, the NCUA board chair said.

Instead of looking to examiners for assistance, small creditunions should work with the OSCUI instead, she said.

During her general session address at the Nashville conference,Matz also said the board will also reconsider a number ofregulations this fall after credit unions raised the issues duringrecent NCUA Listening Sessions.

They include the potential to count video teller machines asservice facilities in meeting field of membership expansionrequirements, dropping the personal guarantee for member businessloans in certain cases, allowing credit unions to purchase Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, increasing the maximumapplication fee for short term loans and expanding the definitionof districts for credit unions that serve rural areas.