Field-of-Membership Expansion

A credit union’s field of membership is the legal definition of who is eligible to join. Credit unions often want to expand their fields of membership to include additional potential members. Federal credit unions operate under one of three kinds of charters: single common bond, multiple common bond, or community. The type of charter under which a credit union operates determines what groups or geographic areas it may serve.

A federally chartered credit union must receive approval from the National Credit Union Administration prior to making changes in its field of membership. Chapter 2 of the NCUA’s Chartering and Field of Membership Manual has complete details about fields of membership and the process for amending them.

What are the Types of Expansions Available?

• Occupational common-bond expansion: an employer-based group or persons employed within a Trade, Industry or Profession;
• Associational common-bond expansion: a member-based group meeting the NCUA’s threshold requirement and totality of circumstances test;
• Underserved area expansion: a geographic area meeting the NCUA’s underserved area requirements (available to only multiple common bonds);
• Community: a geographic area meeting the NCUA’s definition of a well-defined local community or rural district; and
• Merged with (or purchase and assumption of) a credit union’s field of membership meeting the NCUA’s requirements.

How Can We Expand?

If you are a multiple-common-bond, federally chartered credit union and you want to add occupational or associational groups, regardless of their size, the preferred method of request and expansion is our Consumer Access Process and Reporting Information System (CAPRIS) https://capris.ncua.gov.

You will need to use NCUA Connect, the agency’s central user interface, to reach CAPRIS. To use NCUA Connect, you will need your credit union’s Admin Portal Administrator to grant you access. Multiple-common-bond federal credit unions wishing to use this system for the first time must submit a request for an Admin Portal administrator for their credit unions to OneStop@ncua.gov.

If you get an approval from the CAPRIS system you can start serving that group immediately, pending your board’s resolution.

Most groups can be added quickly through CAPRIS. However, there are certain instances where the NCUA requires additional documentation. CAPRIS has a Library function and will guide you on which documents are required to further process your request. Please refer to the CAPRIS CU User Guide for additional information. If you have any questions regarding CAPRIS, please direct your questions to DCAMail@ncua.gov or call 703.518.1150.

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