Federal Credit Union Operating Fee Schedule for 2026

Dear Boards of Directors and Chief Executive Officers:

The NCUA Board approved the agency’s 2026 operating and capital budgets in December 2025. As a result of that decision and other factors, operating fee rates for federal credit unions will decrease by an average of approximately 24.65 percent in 2026. Additionally, the operating fee exemption threshold was increased from $2.08 million to $2.16 million. Federal credit unions with a four-quarter average of $2.16 million or less in total assets are exempt from paying an operating fee.

The decrease in 2026 operating fees results from three significant changes compared to 2025:

• Reductions to NCUA staffing and program levels;
• Repurposing approximately $49.3 million of unspent, past years’ budgets for 2026; and,
• Crediting $1 million to the 2026 operating fee, resulting from past years’ unspent collections.

NCUA’s net annual 2026 budget decreases by approximately 20 percent from 2025.¹ In addition, because assets at federal credit unions² grew by 3.72 percent in 2025, the operating fee revenue required to finance the NCUA budget is lower on a relative basis than in 2025.

The enclosed 2026 Operating Fee Schedule will help you calculate your credit union’s exact 2026 operating fee. The enclosure includes a web link to the NCUA’s online calculator. In March 2026, NCUA will provide individual invoices with the specific dollar amount for each credit union’s operating fee. If your credit union owes an operating fee, it is due no later than Friday, April 17, 2026.

The remainder of this letter provides additional information about the operating fee and payment options.

Why was the exemption threshold changed in 2026?

The exemption threshold was adjusted by the average asset growth rate across federal credit unions as of September 30, 2025. The NCUA Board approved the operating fee methodology in December 2023. This methodology includes an annual adjustment to the exemption threshold based on the average growth in federal credit union assets to keep pace with system growth, which provides relief to the smallest federal credit unions. Federal credit unions with a four-quarter average of $2.16 million or less in total assets are exempt from paying an operating fee.

What is the timeline for operating fee and Share Insurance Fund invoices?

Your federal credit union’s 2026 operating fee will be based on a four-quarter average of total assets reported as of September 30, 2025; June 30, 2025; March 31, 2025; and December 31, 2024. In March 2026, federal credit unions with four-quarter average total assets greater than $2.16 million will receive an invoice for their 2026 operating fee; those with a four-quarter average of $2.16 million or less in total assets are exempt from paying an operating fee.

Concurrently, all NCUA-insured credit unions will be notified of any adjustments necessary to maintain their Share Insurance Fund capitalization deposits at one percent of insured shares, as required by the Federal Credit Union Act. Your credit union’s capitalization deposit may be adjusted up or down based on insured shares reported as of December 31, 2025.

For federal credit unions, NCUA will combine your operating fee and capitalization deposit adjustment into a single invoice. Payment is due no later than Friday, April 17, 2026.

How do I make the payment to the NCUA?

Payments to NCUA must be remitted electronically. Credit unions are encouraged to enroll in the U.S. Department of Treasury Pay.gov direct debit program. To enroll, you may access the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Agreement through CUOnline by navigating to the EFT Agreement tab. Alternatively, you may complete the Authorized Electronic Transfer Payments form, which can be found on ncua.gov, and email the form to ncusifach@ncua.gov. Once enrolled, you will continue to receive invoices by mail. Payments will be drafted automatically on the due date; no further action is required.

How does the Overhead Transfer Rate affect the Operating Fee?

For 2026, the Overhead Transfer Rate (OTR) is 61.8 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point compared to 2025. Each year, NCUA uses the OTR to determine how much of the NCUA’s operating budget is funded by the Share Insurance Fund. The OTR is derived from estimates of the NCUA’s resources that will be used for insurance-related functions. Additional discussion of the OTR and detailed information about the NCUA budget are available on the Budget and Supplementary Materials page on NCUA.gov.

If you have any questions about your credit union’s operating fee, please contact the NCUA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer at ocfomail@ncua.gov.