FOIA Frequently Asked Questions

You can make a request under the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA.

FOIA is a federal law that provides any person a right of access to many federal agency records.

This right is enforceable in a court of law; however, NCUA is authorized to withhold certain kinds of records that are exempt.

No. You can find a great deal of information about NCUA on the World Wide Web at www.ncua.gov.

Records that are publicly available such as press releases, speeches, and some staff manuals can also be obtained from the NCUA Office of External Affairs and Communications (OEAC) or the NCUA Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO).

OEAC is responsible for maintaining NCUA’s relationship with the public and the media. For more information, call 703.518.6330. OCFO is responsible for, among other things, the sale and distribution of NCUA’s publications. An order form for publications is available on our web site or you may call 703.518.6340 for more information.

You may obtain any non-exempt agency record.

For example:

• Report of Officials – Persons who have agreed to serve the credit union’s membership
• Procurement Contracts – With whom NCUA is doing business

There are many records accessible through the NCUA website.

On www.ncua.gov, you may view and copy such records as:

• Interpretive Rulings and Policy Statements
• Administrative Orders
• General Counsel Opinion Letters
• Comment Letters on Proposed NCUA Regulations
• Proposed NCUA Rules and Regulations
• Manuals and Guides

Part 792, Subpart A of the NCUA Rules and Regulations. (12 CFR 792)

You can download a copy from our website, call us at 703.518.6540, make a written request to the Office of General Counsel, foia@ncua.gov, or stop by our reading room, 6070B.

Yes, from our website, or you may request a copy from the Office of General Counsel, foia@ncua.gov.

No form is required. Simply send us a written request stating that you are seeking records under the FOIA and give us a detailed description of the records being sought, your willingness to pay applicable fees as described in §792.19-792-26 of our regulations and include your name, address and telephone number.

See §792.08 for more information about making a FOIA request.

You may send your written request to the NCUA Office of General Counsel, Attn: FOIA Officer, via e-mail to FOIA@ncua.gov.

Requests for audit and investigative records should be addressed to the NCUA Office of Inspector General to OIGmail@ncua.gov.

The law permits agencies to recover some of the costs of processing a FOIA request. See §§ 792.19-792.26 of our regulation for more information.

NCUA’s fee schedule is available on our web site.

We usually respond within 20 business days if the record is reasonably described.

You can also request an expedited response if you have a compelling need. See §792.18 for more information. 

Generally, credit union examination records; records which if released, would cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; confidential proprietary business information, internal communications regarding proposed NCUA policies; and law enforcement investigative records.

NCUA’s written response will identify what records have been withheld and the FOIA exemptions that were applied.

You will be notified in writing. If the records are located at another federal agency, we will advise you.

You may contact the NCUA FOIA officer in the Office of General Counsel at 703.518.6540, or the NCUA Inspector General in the Office of Inspector General at 703.518.6350.