The NCUA’s recent training conference in Jacksonville, Fla.,cost $1.9 million, about $175,000 below its original budget, theagency said Wednesday.

Travel was the most expensive category at $672,650 followed bylodging at $522,070. The agency said it paid $83 per night for thelodgings at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.

The total cost of the “Pathway to the Future” National TrainingConference, held April 28 through May 9, was $1,911,267.

“Federally insured credit unions will benefit from betterexaminations and service from National Credit Union Administrationexaminers after the completion of an extensive skills developmentprogram conducted at the agency’s biennial National TrainingConference,” the agency said in a news release.

There were more than 1,200 participants at the event, which camein $176,133 below budget. The NCUA said the conference cost$512,945 less than its 2012 training conference.

“Providing the credit union system with well-prepared andknowledgeable examiners is essential to protecting safety andsoundness,” NCUA Executive Director Mark Treichel said. “The kindof professional development that takes place at the NationalTraining Conference makes the examination process operate moreefficiently and provides greater consistency.”

The main sessions focused on supervisory committee audits,administrative actions, ethics, technology tools and professionaldevelopment. The breakout sessions touched upon topics such asliquidity, interest rate risk as well as lending and compliancewith new mortgage rules, the agency said.

During the conference, the NCUA upgraded the standard governmentpersonal identification cards required for staff. The agency saiddoing the upgrades onsite cut costs since staff did not have totravel to General Services Administration regional offices for theupdates.

“This training is part of the NCUA’s efforts to modernizeoperations and stay abreast of changes in the credit union system,”Treichel said. “With so many of our staff based across the country,bringing everyone together for this sort of comprehensive trainingis the surest, most cost-effective way to help them develop orimprove their skills.”