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Background
In September 2021, the NCUA started piloting a post-examination survey to allow federal credit unions to provide timely feedback to the agency while helping to standardize the feedback process. Credit union feedback helps the NCUA evaluate the effectiveness of our examination processes and improves communication with credit unions. While Letter to FCU 21-FCU-05 indicated the pilot would conclude on March 31, 2022, the NCUA extended the pilot while working on a new survey process.
During the pilot phase, federal credit union managers or CEOs receive a link to the post-examination survey from the NCUA’s Office of the Ombudsman at the conclusion of a regular examination. Credit unions are requested to respond to the survey within 15 days. Credit unions were encouraged, but not required to respond to the survey.
Post Examination Survey Process – Effective April 1, 2024
During the pilot phase, the NCUA has gathered feedback and possible survey questions from both credit unions and NCUA staff. Beginning April 1, 2024, the post-exam survey questions will be updated to incorporate the feedback received. As the pilot continues in 2024, federal credit unions will receive an email with a link to the post-examination survey from the NCUA Ombudsman. The survey will be sent approximately 2 weeks after the completion of the examination and credit unions will have 15 days to submit responses. The survey will not be sent at the conclusion of a follow-up examination or supervision contact. Survey responses generally will not be used on an individual credit union basis. The NCUA Ombudsman will provide aggregate survey data to NCUA leadership. Credit unions are not required to respond to the survey; participation is optional.
The survey includes seven to eight questions focused on pre-examination, reporting, and post-examination requirements. Credit unions can also complete open-ended responses to expand their response to an individual question. The NCUA will rotate three versions of the survey for credit unions with completed examinations.
The full list of survey questions can be found here.
In 2024, the NCUA plans to obtain the services of a third party to manage the survey process. The use of an outside vendor to manage the survey process and gather responses reduces the administrative work associated with the survey. The NCUA will provide updates as we mature the survey process.
If you have questions about the post examination survey, please contact the Office of the Ombudsman at 703.518.1175 or ombudsman@ncua.gov. To provide other feedback to the NCUA, visit the Ombudsman webpage here.
Survey Questions
Pre-Exam Questions
| Credit Union Question | NCUA Examiner In Charge Question |
|---|---|
| Requests for pre-exam data and information, such as the items needed list, avoided duplicate requests. Please provide supporting comments if there were duplicate requests. | Requests for pre-exam data and information, such as the items needed list, avoided duplicate requests. If no, please provide supporting comments if there were duplicate requests. Additional comments are optional. |
| Requests for data and information during the exam avoided duplicate requests, including information previously requested during pre-exam planning. Please provide supporting comments if there were duplicate requests. | Requests for data and information during the exam avoided duplicate requests, including information previously requested during pre-exam planning. If no, please provide supporting comments if there were duplicate requests. Additional comments are optional. |
| The credit union received sufficient notification prior to the start of the examination. Please provide the approximate number of days prior notification was received and include any comments about the notification time and/or suggestions for improvement. | I considered the credit union’s unique circumstances and provided sufficient notification to the credit union prior to the start of the examination. Please provide comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| The credit union received the items needed list with sufficient time to accommodate the requested data and information prior to the start of the examination. Please provide the number of days prior to the start of the examination the items needed list was received and include any comments about the timing of the receipt of the items needed list. | The credit union provided requested documents in a timely fashion to facilitate completion of the examination. Please provide comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
Exam Procedures
| Credit Union Question | NCUA Examiner In Charge Question |
|---|---|
| Examiners reviewed the annual audit, internal audit function, and/or the Supervisory Committee activities and indicated the extent to which they relied on these in arriving at any examination conclusions. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The exam team placed appropriate reliance on the annual audit, internal audit function, and/or Supervisory Committee activities. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| Examiners consulted credit union management when analyzing and addressing concerns. Please provide any comments to support your response. | I consulted credit union management when analyzing and addressing concerns. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| The monthly and/or quarterly monitoring materials provided throughout the year by credit union management (e.g., Call Report, etc.), along with the information provided as part of the items needed list, facilitated the examiner’s awareness of the credit union’s operations and financial condition. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The monthly and/or quarterly monitoring materials provided throughout the year by credit union management (e.g., Call Report, etc.), along with the information provided as part of the items needed list, facilitated awareness of credit union operations and financial condition. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| The exam review areas included those posing the highest risk to your institution. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The exam review areas included those posing the highest risk to the credit union. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
Exam-Related Communication with Management and Officials
| Credit Union Question | NCUA Examiner In Charge Question |
|---|---|
| The exam team provided and discussed any draft Examiner’s Findings, Documents of Resolution, and other concerns with credit union management (CEO or designated credit union staff) prior to presenting them to the board of directors. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The exam team provided and discussed any draft Examiner’s Findings, Documents of Resolution, and other concerns with credit union management (CEO or designated credit union staff) prior to presenting to the board of directors. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| The examiner offered to hold a Joint Conference – that is, a meeting with the credit union’s board of directors – to discuss conclusions from the examination. Please provide any comments to support your response. | I offered to hold a Joint Conference to discuss conclusions from the examination. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| Examiners kept management (CEO or designated credit union staff) updated throughout the exam. Please provide any comments to support your response. | I kept management (CEO or designated credit union staff) updated throughout the exam. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| Examiners consulted with management or designated staff concerning time frames for providing information and scheduling meetings. Please provide any comments to support your response. | I consulted with credit union management or designated staff concerning time frames for providing information and scheduling meetings. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| Examiners were responsive to credit union inquiries and questions. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The credit union was responsive to my inquiries and questions. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| The examiners acted professionally, communicated in a respectful manner, and made no attempt to intimidate credit union personnel. Please note, factually identifying the potential legal or regulatory consequences of something the credit union is, or is not, doing, is not considered intimidation. Please provide any comments to support your response. | All credit union personnel acted professionally, communicated in a respectful manner, and made no attempt to intimidate examiners. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
Exam Report
| Credit Union Question | NCUA Examiner In Charge Question |
|---|---|
| The written exam report documented and explained the examiner’s final conclusions and determinations. This includes CAMELS Ratings, Risk Ratings, corrective action plans, and any other concerns or conclusions. Please provide any comments to support your response. If no, please identify the area or areas not well documented or explained in the report. | The written exam report effectively communicated and supported final conclusions and recommendations. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| Any corrective actions required were appropriate for the size and complexity of the credit union when possible (that is, when there was discretion to do so under applicable law or regulation). Please provide any comments to support your response. | Whenever possible (that is, when there was discretion to do so under applicable law or regulation), I tailored any corrective action plans provided to the size and complexity of the credit union. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| Examiners provided the opportunity for management to provide corrective actions and considered management’s input in the final examination report. Please provide any comments to support your response. | I provided credit union management the opportunity to provide corrective actions to examination concerns and considered management’s input in the final examination report. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| The final exam report was delivered at, or prior to, the exit meeting with the CEO or designated credit union staff; or at, or prior to, the joint conference with the credit union’s Board of Directors (if one was held); or if changes resulted from either of these meetings, was delivered within 10 business days thereafter. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The final exam report was delivered at, or prior to, the exit meeting with the CEO or designated credit union staff, or at, or prior to, the joint conference with the credit union’s Board of Directors (if one was held), or if changes resulted from either of these meetings, was delivered within 10 business days thereafter. Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
| If examination conclusions changed (Documents of Resolution, Examiner Findings, CAMELS Ratings, Risk Ratings, etc.) after drafts were provided to management, were the changes communicated to management? | If examination conclusions changed (Documents of Resolution, Examiner Findings, CAMELS Ratings, Risk Ratings, etc.) after drafts were provided to management, were the changes communicated to management? Please provide any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |
General
| Credit Union Question | NCUA Examiner In Charge Question |
|---|---|
| To keep up with changes in the credit union industry, what areas should be included in the examination process that are (a) not currently reviewed, or (b) only reviewed occasionally? This question is optional. |
To keep up with changes in the credit union industry, what areas should be included in the examination process that are (a) not currently reviewed, or (b) only reviewed occasionally? This question is optional. |
| What logistical or administrative changes would you like to see implemented for NCUA examinations? This question is optional. |
What logistical or administrative changes would you like to see implemented for NCUA examinations? This question is optional. |
| Please provide other comments about the exam or suggestions to improve the examination process. This question is optional. |
Please provide other comments about the exam or suggestions to improve the examination process. This question is optional. |
| The distribution of onsite and offsite (virtual/remote) examination work was reasonable. Please provide any comments to support your response. | The distribution of onsite and offsite (virtual/remote) examination work was reasonable. Please provide the approximate percentage of examination work completed offsite and any comments to support your response. Comments are optional. |