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Decision and Order on Appeal Unified Singers Federal Credit Union

January 2002
Decision and Order on Appeal Unified Singers Federal Credit Union
Subject
Insurance Claim

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BEFORE THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

In the Matter of [redacted]

Insurance Claim

Docket 02-INS-001

Decision and Order on Appeal

Decision

This matter comes before the National Credit Union Administration Board (Board) pursuant to 12 CFR 745.202, as an administrative appeal of the determination by the Agent for the Liquidating Agent of Unified Singers Federal Credit Union denying [redacted]’s claim for dividends from January 18, 2002, through April 30, 2000, (the date of the liquidation).

Background

Unified Singers Federal Credit Union (hereinafter Unified Singers or the Credit Union) was chartered in 1968 to serve the Unified Inspirational Singing Convention in Thomas County, Georgia. The Credit Union was granted a low-income designation in 1989. The NCUA Board placed the Credit Union into liquidation on April 30, 2002, due to insolvency. The Agent for the Liquidation Agent (hereinafter the Liquidating Agent) determined that the Credit Union had been insolvent for at least a year prior to liquidation. The Credit Union, and after the liquidation the Liquidating Agent, paid dividends to all shareholders through December 31, 2001. The Liquidating Agent made share payouts directly to the shareholders.

[redacted] opened a share certificate account (account #[redacted]) with the Credit Union on January 18, 2002. [redacted] placed $100,000 into the Credit Union in a 6-month share certificate that was to mature on July 19, 2002. The stated dividend rate was 4.5%. As noted, the Credit Union was liquidated on April 30, 2002. On May 16, 2002, the Liquidating Agent sent a check to [redacted] in the amount of $100,000. [redacted] did not receive dividends on [redacted] share certificate account. On May 21, 2002, [redacted] sent a letter to the NCUA Board appealing the Liquidating Agent’s determination. [redacted] does not request a specific amount of dividends in [redacted] appeal letter. Rather, [redacted] requests “some consideration for interest accumulated” on [redacted] share certificate account.

Application of FCU Act and NCUA Regulations to Appeal

One of the ways a federal credit union differs from a bank or savings institution is that it pays dividends, which are based on earnings, rather than interest, which is a contractual obligation, not based on earnings. A federal credit union cannot pay dividends unless it has earnings and the appropriate transfers of earnings to reserves are made. Section 117 of the Federal Credit Union Act, 12 U.S.C. §1763, states in part: “At such intervals as the board of directors may authorize, and after provision for required reserves, the board of directors may declare a dividend to be paid … at different rates and maturity dates in the case of share certificates …” Section 702.401(d) of the NCUA Rules and Regulations, 12 C.F.R. §702.401(d) restates this requirement: “The transfer of earnings to a federally-insured credit union’s regular reserve account … must occur … before payment of dividends to members.” The Liquidating Agent determined Unified Singers to be insolvent for at least a year prior to liquidation. Unified Singers had no earnings in 2002 from which to pay dividends. There being no earnings for the period during which [redacted] owned [redacted] share certificate, there is no basis upon which [redacted] can be paid. There were no earnings to transfer to reserves in 2002; hence, no dividends can be paid. Since [redacted] didnot open [redacted] share certificate account until January 18, 2002, [redacted] is not entitled to any dividends.

Order

For the reasons set forth above, it is ORDERED as follows:

The Board upholds the Liquidating Agent’s decision and denies [redacted]’s appeal.

The Board’s decision constitutes a final agency determination. Pursuant to 12 CFR 745.203(c), this final determination is reviewable in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 5, United States Code, by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or the court of appeals for the Federal judicial circuit where the credit union’s principal place of business was located. Such action must be filed not later than 60 days after the date of this final determination.

So ORDERED this 21st day of November, 2002 by the National Credit Union Administration Board.

Becky Baker
Secretary of the Board

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