[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34982-34990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15686]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION


Closing the Temporary Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund 
and Setting the Share Insurance Fund Normal Operating Level

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is considering closing the Temporary 
Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund (Stabilization Fund) in 2017, 
prior to its scheduled closing date in June 2021. Closing the 
Stabilization Fund and distributing all assets, property, and funds to 
the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (Share Insurance Fund) 
will increase the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio and allow for the 
return to insured credit unions of any equity above the normal 
operating level. The return of excess equity would be accomplished 
through a distribution from the Share Insurance Fund in conformance 
with the Federal Credit Union Act (the Act). However, given the nature 
of certain assets and liabilities of the Stabilization Fund, the Share 
Insurance Fund's assumption of these assets and liabilities will 
introduce additional risk of volatility to the Share Insurance Fund's 
equity ratio. Therefore, the Share Insurance Fund would need to hold 
sufficient equity to cover potential changes in the value of its claims 
on the failed corporate credit union asset management estates. In 
addition, the Share Insurance Fund needs to have enough equity to cover 
other risks to the equity ratio, such as losses on insured credit 
unions, under the same macroeconomic conditions that create volatility 
in the asset management estate values. To ensure the Share Insurance 
Fund has sufficient equity to absorb these risks, the Board proposes to 
raise the normal operating level to 1.39 percent.
    This notice provides a discussion of the reasons the Board is 
proposing to close the Stabilization Fund in 2017 and the basis used to 
determine the normal operating level necessary to account for the 
additional risk to the Share Insurance Fund. In addition, the notice 
sets forth a new policy by which the Board would set the normal 
operating level. The Board solicits comments on each of these proposed 
actions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 5, 2017 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(Please send comments by one method only):
     NCUA Web site: https://www.ncua.gov/about/pages/board-comments.aspx
     Email: Address to [email protected]. Include ``[Your 
name]--Comments on Stabilization Fund Closure'' in the email subject 
line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerald Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 
22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public Inspection: You can view all public comments on NCUA's Web 
site at https://www.ncua.gov/about/pages/board-comments.aspx as 
submitted, except for those we cannot post for technical reasons. NCUA 
will not edit or remove any identifying or contact information from the 
public comments submitted. You may inspect paper copies of comments in 
NCUA's headquarters at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, by 
appointment weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. To make an appointment, 
call (703) 518-6360 or send an email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Cappetta, Supervisory 
Financial Analyst, at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, or 
telephone: (703) 518-1592.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Stabilization Fund Background
II. Legal Matters
III. Closing the Stabilization Fund
IV. The Normal Operating Level
V. Request for Comment

I. Stabilization Fund Background

    Public Law 111-22, Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 
(Helping Families Act), signed into law by the President on May 20, 
2009 created the Temporary Corporate Credit Union Stabilization Fund. 
Congress provided NCUA with this temporary fund to accrue the losses of 
the corporate credit union system and assess insured credit unions for 
such losses over time. This prevented insured credit unions from 
bearing a significant burden for losses associated with the failure of 
five corporate credit unions within a short period. Without creation of 
the Stabilization Fund, these corporate credit union losses would have 
been borne by the Share Insurance Fund. The magnitude of losses would 
have exhausted the Share Insurance Fund's retained earnings and 
significantly impaired credit unions' one percent contributed capital 
deposit.\1\ The deposit impairment, along with premiums that would have 
been necessary to restore the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio, 
would have resulted in a significant, immediate cost to credit unions 
at a time when their earnings and capital were already under stress due 
to the Great Recession.\2\ In June 2009, the Board formally approved 
use of the Stabilization Fund for accounting for the costs of the 
Corporate System Resolution Program.\3\ Since then, all of these costs 
have been accounted for in the financial statements of the 
Stabilization Fund.
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    \1\ Prior to reassignment of these costs to the Stabilization 
Fund, the capitalization deposit impairment would have been 89 basis 
points.
    \2\ Because the contributed capital deposit is reflected as an 
asset on the financial statements of insured credit unions, under 
accounting rules any impairment results in an immediate expense to 
credit unions.
    \3\ For more details on the corporate system resolution program, 
please see the NCUA Corporate System Resolution Costs Web page 
(https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/Pages/corporate-system-resolution.aspx).
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    The Act specifies that the Stabilization Fund will terminate 90 
days after the seven-year anniversary of its first borrowing from the 
U.S. Treasury.\4\ The first borrowing occurred

[[Page 34983]]

on June 25, 2009, making the original closing date September 27, 2016. 
However, the Act provided the Board, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, authority to extend the closing date of 
the Stabilization Fund. In June 2010, the Board voted to extend the 
life of the Stabilization Fund and on September 24, 2010, NCUA received 
concurrence from the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury to extend the 
closing date to June 30, 2021.
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    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(h).
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    In March 2009, the Board conserved U.S. Central Federal Credit 
Union and Western Corporate Credit Union. In September 2010, the Board 
conserved three additional corporate credit unions and publicly 
announced the Corporate System Resolution Program. The Board placed the 
five corporate credit unions into liquidation in the fourth quarter of 
2010. The Board, as Liquidating Agent, administers the assets and 
liabilities of the five failed corporate credit unions in separate 
legal entities, referred to as asset management estates.
    The Corporate System Resolution Program included providing short-
term and long-term funding to resolve a portfolio of residential 
mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, 
other asset-backed securities, and corporate bonds (collectively 
referred to as the Legacy Assets) held by the liquidated corporate 
credit unions. Under the Corporate System Resolution Program, NCUA 
created a re-securitization program where NCUA issued a series of NCUA 
Guaranteed Notes (NGNs). The sale of NGNs to investors has provided 
long-term funding for the Legacy Assets. The NGNs are guaranteed by 
NCUA in its Agency capacity, backed by the full faith and credit of the 
United States. While the accounting for obligations associated with the 
NGNs occurs through the Stabilization Fund, the guaranty is not 
specific to the Stabilization Fund. All NCUA agency funds for which 
payments on the NGN guarantees is a permitted use, including the Share 
Insurance Fund, are potential sources for guaranty obligations prior to 
any recourse to the U.S. Treasury.
    During its life, the Stabilization Fund provides the primary 
funding necessary for NCUA's guarantees on the NGNs and to complete the 
resolution of the corporate credit union asset management estates. The 
majority of this funding has been from two primary sources: Borrowings 
of $5.1 billion (peak outstanding balance) on NCUA's $6 billion line of 
credit with the U.S. Treasury and $4.8 billion in Stabilization Fund 
assessments paid by insured credit unions.
    In 2010, when NCUA announced the Corporate System Resolution 
Program, the outstanding principal balance of the Legacy Assets totaled 
over $40 billion--about four times the size of the Share Insurance 
Fund. The initial outstanding balance of guaranteed notes backed by the 
Legacy Assets and sold to investors through the NGN program in 2010 and 
2011 totaled approximately $28 billion--almost three times the size of 
the Share Insurance Fund at that time. As of March 2017, the 
outstanding principal balance of the Legacy Assets and the outstanding 
balance of the guaranteed notes back by them have declined to $12.7 
billion and $7.5 billion, respectively. Both of these balances are less 
than the current size of the Share Insurance Fund, which is $13.2 
billion in total assets as of March 31, 2017.
    The projected range of lifetime Legacy Asset defaults was $13.2 
billion to $16.4 billion as of December 2011. As of March 2017, the 
projected range of lifetime Legacy Asset defaults has declined to $9.9 
billion to $10.3 billion. In addition, NCUA's pursuit of legal 
recoveries in its capacity as Liquidating Agent against various third 
parties in connection with the Legacy Assets has resulted in net 
recoveries of approximately $3.8 billion after fees and expenses.\5\ 
Improved projected performance of the Legacy Assets and legal 
recoveries are the primary reasons the Stabilization Fund's net 
position has increased from negative $7.5 billion as of December 2010 
to a positive $1.6 billion as of March 2017.
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    \5\ NCUA does not include potential future legal recoveries in 
loss projections, as they are inherently inestimable. For a list of 
legal recoveries to date, see NCUA's Legal Recoveries Web site 
(https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/Pages/corporate-system-resolution/legal-recoveries.aspx).
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    It is now possible for the remaining obligations of the Corporate 
System Resolution Program to be borne by the Share Insurance Fund 
without inordinate risk, provided additional equity is maintained while 
the exposure to remaining resolution program obligations exist. As a 
result, the Board believes the purpose of the Stabilization Fund has 
been fulfilled.\6\ Therefore, the Board proposes to close the 
Stabilization Fund in 2017. Closing the Stabilization Fund at this time 
would increase the equity ratio of the Share Insurance Fund and require 
NCUA to distribute any resulting equity above the normal operating 
level to insured credit unions.\7\ The Board is simultaneously 
publishing a separate proposal to update Sec.  741.4 of NCUA's Rules 
and Regulations regarding the method for Share Insurance Fund 
distributions to insured credit unions.
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    \6\ Worthy of note, if the Stabilization Fund is closed in 2017, 
it would have been in operation about one year longer than the 
original seven years provided for in the Act.
    \7\ The potential return of excess equity would be in the form 
of a distribution to insured credit unions from the Share Insurance 
Fund as provided for in the Act. Stakeholders should not confuse 
this with potential recoveries on depleted member capital. Until 
senior obligations of each particular estate can be satisfied, there 
will not be distributions for any recoveries on depleted member 
capital.
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II. Legal Matters

    The Act sets forth the purpose, permissible expenditures, borrowing 
and repayment authorities, assessment authority, investment authority, 
and procedures for closing the Stabilization Fund.\8\ The statute 
specifically prescribes the conditions for closing the Stabilization 
Fund and distributing its holdings.\9\ The Board has the authority 
under the Act to close the Stabilization Fund at its discretion at any 
time when it has no deficit, which then requires that all of its assets 
and funds be distributed to the Share Insurance Fund.\10\ The 
Stabilization Fund's financial statements have reflected a positive net 
position since June 30, 2014. Therefore, there are currently no 
statutory barriers for the Board in regards to closing the 
Stabilization Fund in 2017. Once the Stabilization Fund is closed, 
there is no statutory authority that permits NCUA to re-open it for any 
reason.
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    \8\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e.
    \9\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(h).
    \10\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(g), (h).
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    The Board is aware of industry opinions that the Act may permit a 
distribution to insured credit unions directly from the Stabilization 
Fund. The Board does not believe this is permissible for the following 
reasons.
    NCUA's authority to use Stabilization Fund money arises from the 
reference to 12 U.S.C. 1783(a) in the legislation that created the 
Stabilization Fund.\11\ Specifically, the legislation provides that 
``[m]oney in the Stabilization Fund shall be available upon requisition 
by the Board . . . for making payments for the purposes described in 
Sec.  1783(a) of this title.'' \12\ Except with respect to 
administrative payments, the legislation limits this authority to the 
context of a ``conservatorship, liquidation, or threatened 
conservatorship or liquidation, of a corporate credit union.'' \13\ 
Under section 1783(a),

[[Page 34984]]

permissible uses include payments of insurance under section 1787 of 
the title, for providing assistance and making expenditures under 
section 1788 of the title in connection with the liquidation or 
threatened liquidation of insured credit unions, and for such 
administrative and other expenses incurred in carrying out the purposes 
of the subchapter as the Board may determine to be proper.
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    \11\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(b).
    \12\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(b)(1).
    \13\ Id.
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    Here, a distribution, such as an assessment rebate, does not 
plainly meet any of those criteria, assuming an appropriate nexus to a 
corporate credit union conservatorship or liquidation could be 
established in each instance. First, a distribution to insured credit 
unions from the Stabilization Fund, by its namesake alone, would not be 
a payment of insurance under section 1787. Further, a distribution 
could not be in the form of assistance under section 1788, since it 
would not go to credit unions for the assistance purposes described in 
section 1788. Finally, a distribution is not an ``administrative 
expense'' or ``other expense'' in the context of the Act.
    While the general definition of an expense can be quite broad,\14\ 
section 1782(c)(3) of the Act expressly governs distributions to 
insured credit unions. Distributions under section 1782(c)(3) are not 
included as an authority that Congress granted for the Stabilization 
Fund, particularly since Congress expressly tied Stabilization Fund 
authority to section 1783(a), to the exclusion of any other section. On 
the contrary, the Stabilization Fund legislation references section 
1782(c)(3) only with respect to distributions flowing into the 
Stabilization Fund, in any circumstances where U.S. Treasury borrowings 
remain outstanding.\15\
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    \14\ Black's Law Dictionary characterizes an expense as ``[a]n 
expenditure of money, time, labor or resources to accomplish a 
result.'' Black's Law Dictionary 617 (8th ed. 2004).
    \15\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(e).
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    In the only other circumstance where the legislation references a 
distribution in any manner, it is in reference to the Stabilization 
Fund's closing.\16\ In that circumstance, the Act limits a distribution 
of all ``funds, property or other assets remaining in the Stabilization 
Fund'' to one recipient: The Share Insurance Fund.\17\ For these 
reasons, the Board believes the Stabilization Fund must be closed 
before a distribution of excess funds to insured credit unions can 
occur for purposes other than those described in section 1783(a).
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    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 1790e(h).
    \17\ Id. Within 90 days following the seventh anniversary of the 
initial Stabilization Fund advance, or earlier at the Board's 
discretion, the Board shall distribute any funds, property, or other 
assets remaining in the Stabilization Fund to the Insurance Fund and 
shall close the Stabilization Fund.
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III. Closing the Stabilization Fund

A. Accounting and Financial Reporting

    The financial statements of the Stabilization Fund and the Share 
Insurance Fund are presented under standards promulgated by the Federal 
Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB). These financial statements 
are presented and audited by calendar year. With the closing of the 
Stabilization Fund, NCUA intends to prepare final financial statements 
for the Stabilization Fund as of September 30, 2017. These financial 
statements would be audited by NCUA's Office of the Inspector General.
    Per applicable accounting standards, the assets and liabilities of 
the Stabilization Fund will be distributed to the Share Insurance Fund 
at September 30, 2017 values. This transfer will increase the net 
position of the Share Insurance Fund, resulting in an increase to the 
equity ratio. As required by applicable accounting standards, certain 
budgetary accounts will also transfer and be shown in the Statement of 
Budgetary Resources. NCUA determined the applicable accounting 
standards in consultation with an independent accounting firm.
    The post-closure financial statements and note disclosures for the 
Share Insurance Fund will continue to provide the same level of detail 
about the receivables from the corporate asset management estates and 
the related fiduciary activities. That is, the detailed note 
disclosures in the Stabilization Fund's financial statements will now 
be in the note disclosures of the Share Insurance Fund's financial 
statements. NCUA does not envision any changes to the accounting for 
the asset management estates. The accounting for each asset management 
estate has and will remain distinct, which is a requisite in fulfilling 
the Board's responsibility as Liquidating Agent.
    For illustrative purposes, Table 1 depicts the March 31, 2017 Share 
Insurance Fund balance sheet (unaudited), the March 31, 2017 
Stabilization Fund balance sheet (unaudited), and the pro-forma Share 
Insurance Fund balance sheet (unaudited) as if the Stabilization Fund 
were closed on that day.\18\
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    \18\ The impact on the post-closure Share Insurance Fund 
financial statements will be based on actual results at the time the 
Stabilization Fund is closed and the presentation may vary somewhat 
due to the specific application of accounting standards on 
individual line items.

Table 1--Share Insurance Fund and Stabilization Fund Balance Sheets, Pre- and Post-Closure, as of March 31, 2017
                                              [Dollars in millions]
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                                                                       Share                           Share
                                                                     insurance     Stabilization     insurance
                                                                    fund (pre-      fund (pre-      fund (post-
                                                                     closure)        closure)        closure)
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                                                     Assets
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Fund Balance with Treasury & Investments........................       $12,766.2          $700.4       $13,466.6
Notes Receivable, Net...........................................             8.7  ..............             8.7
Capitalization Deposits Receivable..............................           316.5  ..............           316.5
Receivable from Asset Management Estates, Net (NPCU)............            51.3  ..............            51.3
Receivable from Asset Management Estates, Net (CCU).............  ..............           876.3           876.3
Accrued Interest and Other Assets...............................            61.2             2.7            63.9
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total Assets................................................        13,203.9         1,579.4        14,783.3
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                                          Liabilities and Net Position
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Accounts Payable and Other Liabilities..........................            26.0             1.1            27.1
Borrowings from U.S. Treasury...................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Insurance and Guarantee Program Liabilities.....................           245.6  ..............           245.6
Net Position--Contributed Capital Deposits......................        10,285.8  ..............        10,258.8

[[Page 34985]]

 
Net Position--Cumulative Results of Operations..................         2,646.5         1,578.3         4,224.8
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total Liabilities and Net Position..........................        13,203.9         1,579.4        14,783.3
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total Net Position......................................        12,932.3         1,578.3        14,510.6
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    Subsequent to March 31, 2017, and prior to the end of the year, 
there are several items that have been or are expected to be recognized 
that will ultimately affect the net position of the Share Insurance 
Fund. Table 2 includes these additional items and the effect on the 
projected net position as of December 31, 2017.

 Table 2--Breakdown of Projected Net Position Components by December 31,
                                  2017
                         [Dollars in thousands]
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                                                           Amount  (in
                       Component                            millions)
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March 31, 2017 Pro-Forma Net Position (Post-Closure)--           $14,511
 From Table 1 Above...................................
    Plus: Legal Recoveries that Increase the Value of                310
     the Receivable from the AMEs.....................
    Plus: Estimated Recovery on U.S. Central Capital        \20\ 500-800
     Note \19\........................................
    Plus: Share Insurance Fund Net Income 2017q2-                   (26)
     2017q4 \21\......................................
    Plus: Adjustment to 1% Contributed Capital Deposit               383
     \22\.............................................
                                                       -----------------
Equals: Adjusted Net Position (Post-Closure), as of 12/    15,678-15,978
 31/17................................................
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B. Effect on Share Insurance Fund Equity Ratio and Distributions
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    \19\ The estimated recovery includes U.S. Central's portion of 
the recent legal recoveries.
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    The Share Insurance Fund equity ratio is defined in the Act as the 
ratio of the amount of Fund capitalization, including insured credit 
unions' 1 percent capitalization deposits and the retained earnings 
balance of the Fund (net of direct liabilities of the fund and 
contingent liabilities for which no provision has been made) to the 
aggregate amount of insured shares in all insured credit unions.\23\ It 
serves as a measure of the Share Insurance Fund's overall strength and 
ability to absorb losses. In general, the Act requires the Board to 
manage the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio within a range of 1.20 
percent to 1.50 percent.
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    \20\ This estimated range only reflects what is projected to be 
recognizable by December 31, 2017 under applicable accounting rules, 
which mainly includes the portion of the U.S. Central capital note 
for which there is cash available for repayment.
    \21\ Assuming current yield on investments, insurance losses 
equal to the five-year average, and operating expenses based on the 
currently approved NCUA budget.
    \22\ Based on share growth of 3.71 percent in the first quarter 
2017 and the historical share of adjusted contributed capital 
deposit adjustments collected in October each year.
    \23\ 12 U.S.C. 1782(h)(2).
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    The closure of the Stabilization Fund would increase the Share 
Insurance Fund's net position. This would result in an increase to the 
Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio. Table 3 shows the estimated equity 
ratio of the Share Insurance Fund as of December 31, 2017 as if the 
Stabilization Fund were closed.

 Table 3--Projected Share Insurance Fund Equity Ratio as of December 31,
                                  2017
                         [Dollars in thousands]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Amount  (in
                       Component                            millions)
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Adjusted Net Position Post Closure--From Table 2 Above   $15,678-$15,978
  Less: Gain(Loss) on Investments \24\................             ($66)
                                                       -----------------
Equals: Equity Ratio Numerator........................   $15,744-$16,044
Equity Ratio Denominator: Projected Insured Shares as         $1,089,500
 of December 31, 2017 \25\............................
Projected Calendar Yearend 2017 Equity Ratio \26\.....       1.45%-1.47%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Share Insurance Fund's calendar yearend equity ratio is part of 
the statutory basis to determine whether NCUA must make a distribution 
to insured credit unions.\27\ The Act states ``the Board shall effect a 
pro rata distribution to insured credit unions after each calendar year 
if, as of the end of that calendar year--
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    \24\ Actual gain(loss) on investments as of March 31, 2017 and 
could be materially different as of December 31, 2017.
    \25\ Based on 5.8 percent annual insured share growth, which is 
the three-year average insured share growth for the industry.
    \26\ This does not account for extraordinary losses and/or 
failures in credit unions, abnormally high insured-share growth, or 
a significant downturn in economic conditions, including declining 
interest rates.
    \27\ The equity ratio is also part of the statutory basis for 
determining whether a premium or Share Insurance Fund restoration 
plan is necessary.

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[[Page 34986]]

     Any loans to the Fund from the Federal Government, and any 
interest on those loans, have been repaid;
     The Fund's equity ratio exceeds the normal operating 
level; and
     The Fund's available assets ratio exceeds 1.0 percent.'' 
\28\
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    \28\ 12 U.S.C. 1782(c)(3). This section is also subject to 12 
U.S.C. 1790e(e).
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    As of October 24, 2016, all NCUA borrowings from the Federal 
Government had been repaid. The Share Insurance Fund's available asset 
ratio is 1.21 percent as of March 31, 2017, well above the 1.0 percent 
minimum and is projected to remain above 1.0 percent.\29\
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    \29\ After closure, NCUA estimates the Share Insurance Fund 
would hold $4 billion in surplus funds over the 1.0 percent minimum 
ratio. NCUA currently projects $2.8 billion in guaranty payments on 
the NGNs after 2017. However, the current estimate for the funding 
needs net of related cash flows is approximately $1 billion.
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    To the extent the equity ratio exceeds the normal operating level 
as of calendar yearend 2017, a distribution would be paid to insured 
credit unions in accordance with the Act and Sec.  741.4 of NCUA 
regulations. The distribution in total would equal the dollar amount of 
equity in excess of the normal operating level. For additional 
information on how the pro rata distribution would be made, see the 
July 2017 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on this subject.

IV. The Normal Operating Level

    Per the Act, the normal operating level is an equity ratio set by 
the Board and may not be less than 1.20 percent and not more than 1.50 
percent.\30\ As noted above, if the calendar yearend equity ratio 
exceeds the normal operating level, NCUA is required to make a pro rata 
distribution to insured credit unions. The Board has historically set 
the normal operating level as the target equity ratio for the Share 
Insurance Fund.
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    \30\ 12 U.S.C. 1782(h)(4).
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    The current normal operating level is 1.30 percent, set by the 
Board in 2007 based on the Board-approved methodology in place at that 
time. When establishing the 1.30 percent normal operating level in 
2007, the Board affirmed that the Share Insurance Fund would maintain a 
counter-cyclical posture. In practice, this means the Share Insurance 
Fund's equity should be built up during periods of economic prosperity 
and allowed to decline during periods of economic adversity. A counter-
cyclical posture allows NCUA to maintain the Share Insurance Fund at a 
level that is sufficient for it to remain viable even during economic 
stress conditions without having to charge a premium when credit unions 
can least afford it.
    With the proposed closing of the Stabilization Fund, the Board 
considered whether the current normal operating level of 1.30 percent 
would be sufficient to cover all of the Share Insurance Fund's 
resulting exposures. To determine this, NCUA modeled the losses that 
would be expected under a moderate and a severe recession.\31\ For the 
two recession scenarios, the agency modeled the:
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    \31\ In estimating the equity ratio under various economic 
stress scenarios, NCUA must make estimates and assumptions that 
affect the model output. Actual results could differ from NCUA's 
estimates; however, the agency evaluates the reasonableness of such 
estimates when analyzing the model output. The base scenario for 
modeling the performance of the Share Insurance Fund is a moderate 
economic expansion through the projection period with Treasury rates 
assumed to rise steadily across the maturity spectrum, the 
unemployment rate remains low and housing prices rise slightly.
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     Impact on the equity ratio of the estimated decline in the 
value of the Share Insurance Fund's claims on the liquidated corporate 
credit unions' asset management estates--which would be driven by a 
reduction in the value of the Legacy Assets.
     Performance of the Share Insurance Fund based on the three 
primary factors that currently affect the Share Insurance Fund's equity 
ratio: Insured share growth, yield on investments, and insurance 
losses.
    The Share Insurance Fund was modeled over a five-year period and 
the Legacy Assets were modeled over their remaining life.\32\ NCUA used 
the applicable variables describing economic developments for the 
Adverse and Severely Adverse economic scenarios from the Federal 
Reserve Board's 2017 annual stress test supervisory scenarios.\33\ In 
the Adverse scenario, the U.S. economy experiences a moderate 
recession, and asset prices decline. This scenario is characterized by 
weakening economic activity, including higher unemployment, falling 
short-term interest rates, long-term interest rates that slowly rise, a 
steadily rising unemployment rate, and sustained declines in housing 
prices. The Severely Adverse scenario is characterized by a severe 
global recession that is accompanied by a period of heightened stress 
in corporate loan markets and commercial real estate markets. In this 
scenario, the unemployment rate spikes, short-term interest rates fall 
to near zero, long-term interest rates fall initially then increase 
slightly, and housing prices decline substantially. Further details on 
how these scenarios were applied to model the value of the claims on 
the corporate asset management estates and the performance of the Share 
Insurance Fund are provided below.
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    \32\ A five-year horizon (beginning at yearend 2017) was used to 
cover the cycle of an economic downturn and the life of the NGN 
program.
    \33\ Supervisory Scenarios for Annual Stress Test Required under 
the Dodd-Frank Act Stress Testing Rules and the Capital Plan Rule, 
February 10, 2017 (https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/files/bcreg20170203a5.pdf).
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A. Determining Equity Needed To Cover Potential Declines in the Value 
of Claims on the Corporate Credit Union Asset Management Estates

    At NCUA's request, BlackRock incorporated the Adverse and Severely 
Adverse macroeconomic scenarios into its proprietary models to project 
cash flows for all of the Legacy Assets.\34\ In both the Adverse and 
Severely Adverse macroeconomic scenarios, the value of the Legacy 
Assets declines.
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    \34\ The NGNs remaining after yearend 2017 do not mature until 
2020 and 2021. Because these NGNs do not have a call feature (other 
than a clean-up call provision when the Legacy Asset balances are 10 
percent or less or their balances when transferred to the NGNs, 
which NCUA does not expect to be triggered), they cannot be retired 
early.
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    Credit spreads indicative of Adverse and Severely Adverse market 
conditions are applied to the forward interest rate curve to arrive at 
a discount rate to calculate the present value of the Legacy Asset cash 
flows, as shown in Table 4. For the Adverse scenario, credit spreads 
similar to the period of the U.S. credit rating downgrade in August 
2011 were used. For the Severely Adverse scenario, credit spreads 
similar to the peak of the Great Recession in 2009 were used.

[[Page 34987]]



                                                       Table 4--Discounted Legacy Asset Cash Flows
                                                                  [Dollars in billions]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          Scenario                            Differences from base
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Severely                          Severely
                                                                           Base           Adverse          adverse          Adverse          adverse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..............................................................           $10.3             $8.3             $7.3           ($2.0)           ($3.0)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The projected Legacy Asset cash flows are aggregated by NGN and run 
through the applicable NGN waterfall to determine their related 
projected cash flows. As shown in Table 5, the NGN-related cash flows 
include guaranty fees paid to NCUA, guaranty payments made by NCUA to 
NGN investors for principal and interest shortfalls, guaranty 
reimbursements made to NCUA for any guaranty payments made, and any 
residual cash flows left after all of these payments have been made. 
The present value of the NGN cash flows is determined by the same 
discounting approach discussed above.

                                       Table 5--Discounted NGN Cash Flows
                                              [Dollars in billions]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Scenario                          Differences from base
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Cash flow                                                Severely                        Severely
                                       Base           Adverse         adverse         Adverse         adverse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guaranty Fees...................            $0.1            $0.1            $0.1            $0.0            $0.0
Guaranty Payments...............           (3.2)           (4.0)           (4.4)           (0.8)           (1.2)
Guaranty Reimbursements.........             3.0             3.3             3.5             0.3             0.5
Residuals.......................             3.5             2.1             1.3           (1.4)           (2.2)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................             3.4             1.5             0.5           (1.9)           (2.9)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NCUA then applied the un-securitized projected Legacy Asset cash 
flows and NGN cash flows to the applicable asset management estates 
based on the payout priorities in NCUA regulations.\35\ This results in 
an estimate of the change in the net receivable from asset management 
estates due to NCUA, as well as changes in NCUA's projected recovery on 
the U.S. Central capital note.\36\ For each asset management estate, 
the impact of the stress scenarios will differ depending on the 
specific circumstances of the estate. While the decreases in Legacy 
Asset and NGN cash flows under the Adverse and Severely Adverse 
scenarios are approximately $2 billion and $3 billion, respectively, 
the net impact on the value of NCUA's claims--and ultimately the equity 
ratio--is different, primarily due to how these funds flow through the 
payout priorities applicable to each asset management estate. This is 
shown in Table 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Payout priorities are outlined in 12 CFR 709.5.
    \36\ For more information on the U.S. Central capital note, see 
NCUA's costs and assessments Q&A (https://www.ncua.gov/Resources/Documents/QA-Corporate-Resolution-Costs-and-Assessments.pdf).
    \37\ These numbers represent both the $0.1 billion of net 
receivable due to NCUA and the $0.8 billion expected to be 
recognized for the U.S. Central capital note. While NCUA believes 
the full $1 billion capital note will be collected, $0.8 billion 
represents NCUA's estimate of the recognizable value under 
accounting rules at yearend 2017.

                     Table 6--Net Receivable to NCUA Plus U.S. Central Capital Note Recovery
                                              [Dollars in billions]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Scenario                          Differences from base
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Estate                                                  Severely                        Severely
                                       Base           Adverse         adverse         Adverse         adverse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Central \37\...............            $0.9            $0.9            $0.5            $0.0          ($0.4)
WesCorp.........................             0.9             0.5             0.3           (0.4)           (0.6)
Members.........................             0.2             0.2             0.1             0.0           (0.1)
Southwest.......................             0.0             0.0             0.0             0.0             0.0
Constitution....................             0.0             0.0             0.0             0.0             0.0
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................             2.0             1.6             0.9           (0.4)           (1.1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the Adverse scenario, NCUA projects a decline in value of its 
receivables from asset management estates, net of approximately $400 
million, which would equate to a 4-basis point reduction in the Share 
Insurance Fund's equity ratio. Under the Severely Adverse scenario, the 
potential decline in value is approximately $1.1 billion or 11 basis 
points.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ There are four asset management estates projected to have 
recoveries for investors in depleted capital instruments of the 
failed corporates. Depleted capital recoveries would decrease by 
approximately $1.5 billion and $1.7 billion under the Adverse and 
Severely Adverse scenarios, respectively. This estimate accounts for 
any depleted member capital claims the other four asset management 
estates have against the U.S. Central asset management estate. 
However, all five estates are currently expected to have outstanding 
senior creditor obligations, including to the Stabilization Fund (or 
Share Insurance Fund after closure) via the guaranty provided on the 
NGNs until 2021. Thus, until senior creditor obligations can be 
satisfied with certainty--that is repaid or fully funded, including 
for contingencies--it would be inappropriate for NCUA to make 
payments to the subordinated depleted capital claimants.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 34988]]

B. Determining Equity Needed To Cover Other Risks to the Equity Ratio 
of the Share Insurance Fund 39
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ The performance of the Share Insurance Fund described here 
does not include the losses discussed above related to the claims on 
the corporate credit union asset management estates. The Share 
Insurance Fund performance is modeled here based on the current 
financial position, without factoring in the potential Stabilization 
Fund closure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NCUA uses the relevant variables from the economic scenarios 
outlined above to project the values of the three primary drivers of 
the Share Insurance Fund: Insured share growth, insurance losses, and 
yield on investments. NCUA developed regression equations that relate 
the historical movements of economic variables to movements in two of 
the primary drivers of the Share Insurance Fund equity ratio: Insurance 
losses and growth in insured shares. The equations translate the 
economic conditions in the Adverse and Severely Adverse scenarios into 
projections of the level of losses and insured share growth. The 
equations are relatively straightforward and translate economic 
developments into Share Insurance Fund drivers in a commonsense way 
using historical data that extends back to the early-to-mid 1990s. For 
example, the equation for share growth relates annual growth in total 
shares (inflation-adjusted) from 1991 to 2016 to the unemployment rate, 
the change in the average annual unemployment rate, the change in the 
average annual three-month Treasury bill, and the year-to-year growth 
in real disposable income. In the equation, a rise in unemployment 
first raises share growth, but continued high unemployment eventually 
leads to lower growth. Faster income growth tends to lead to faster 
share growth, and a rising interest rate tends to reduce share growth.
    For the insurance loss equation, NCUA projects the portion of 
shares accounted for by CAMEL 4 and 5 rated federally insured credit 
unions using data from 1996 to 2016 for the unemployment rate and house 
price growth.\40\ As expected, a higher unemployment rate tends to 
increase insurance losses, as does falling house prices. Then, the 
dollar value of losses is projected as a constant percentage of the 
portion of shares in CAMEL 4 and 5 rated institutions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ See Letter to Credit Unions 07-CU-12 CAMEL Rating System 
for more information on NCUA's CAMEL rating system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To determine the yield on the Share Insurance Fund investment 
portfolio, interest rate inputs are taken directly from the Adverse and 
Severely Adverse stress scenarios. These inputs are applied to the 
Share Insurance Fund's investment portfolio assuming a seven-year 
ladder.\41\ Table 7 outlines the resulting inputs used each year of the 
projections for the key drivers to forecast the equity ratio under the 
various stress scenarios.\42\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ The interest rate inputs used were provided by 
Macroeconomic Advisers, LLC (April 2017). These inputs were used for 
two reasons: (1) The Federal Reserve scenarios do not provide the 
yield on the seven-year Treasury note, which NCUA uses in the stress 
scenarios. Macroeconomic Advisers uses its proprietary model to 
extend the Federal Reserve scenarios to a wider array of economic 
variables, including the full yield curve. (2) Macroeconomic 
Advisers advances the beginning of the Federal Reserve scenarios to 
the second quarter of 2017, rather than beginning in the first 
quarter. This was necessary because, when conducing analysis of the 
Share Insurance Fund, first quarter data was already known. 
Macroeconomic Advisers scenarios match the Federal Reserve scenarios 
for variables provided by the Federal Reserve, but the timing is 
advanced on quarter into the future relative to the published 
Federal Reserve scenarios, so that the Adverse and Severely Adverse 
shocks begin in the second quarter of 2017. Using these scenarios 
allows NCUA to implement the full effects of the downturn scenarios 
developed by the Federal Reserve.
    \42\ These are stress scenarios and do not represent forecasts 
of likely outcomes. Federal Reserve stress scenarios provide data 
through the first quarter of 2020. These scenarios are extended 
through 2021 by Macroeconomic Advisers, LLC using a proprietary 
model. NCUA assumes that values for the economic variables in 2022 
are the same as they were in 2021 (for variables that are rates or 
growth rates).

                   Table 7--Projected Inputs for the Primary Drivers of the Equity Ratio \43\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Base                     Adverse              Severely  adverse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insured Share Growth..............  2017: 5.10%               2017: 6.60%               2017: 6.92%
                                    2018: 5.30%               2018: 6.30%               2018: 6.20%
                                    2019: 5.50%               2019: 4.20%               2019: 2.34%
                                    2020: 5.60%               2020: 3.70%               2020: 1.66%
                                    2021: 6.00%               2021: 3.90%               2021: 2.48%
                                    2022: 5.70%               2022: 4.67%               2022: 3.90%
Insurance Losses (in millions)....  2017: $52.1               2017: $142.0              2017: $216.0
                                    2018: $58.1               2018: $311.2              2018: $532.0
                                    2019: $52.4               2019: $257.8              2019: $425.4
                                    2020: $60.2               2020: $202.8              2020: $292.4
                                    2021: $78.1               2021: $164.2              2021: $230.4
                                    2022: $76.7               2022: $188.6              2022: $269.6
Yield on Investment Portfolio.....  2017: 1.64%               2017: 1.56%               2017: 1.48%
                                    2018: 1.92%               2018: 1.73%               2018: 1.49%
                                    2019: 2.16%               2019: 1.84%               2019: 1.47%
                                    2020: 2.40%               2020: 1.93%               2020: 1.47%
                                    2021: 2.57%               2021: 2.00%               2021: 1.46%
                                    2022: 2.74%               2022: 2.05%               2022: 1.51%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As  shown above, insured share growth rises initially as consumers 
move funds into safer, federally insured savings instruments--a pattern 
that is highly correlated to economic downturns. After an initial 
surge, growth in insured shares slows reflecting worsening economic 
conditions. Toward the end of the stress scenarios, growth begins to 
increase reflecting some rebound in the overall economy. Insurance 
losses peak at the beginning of the economic stress and then decline 
and stabilize over the following years. Overnight rates drop to 10 
basis points for the entire period and the yield on investments drops 
over the first three years, and then increases as the economy begins to 
recover.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ NCUA used the current budget growth of 4.1 percent in each 
scenario as the operating expense input.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The results of each stress scenario, expressed as the calendar 
yearend Share Insurance Fund equity ratio, are included in Table 8 
(based on the current equity ratio of 1.26 percent).\44\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ Using the figures in Table 1 and Table 3 above, the 
calendar yearend equity ratio of the Share Insurance Fund is 
projected to be 1.23 percent, if the Stabilization Fund is not 
closed in 2017.

[[Page 34989]]



                                          Table 8--Projected Equity Ratio Under Various Economic Stresses \45\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            2017q1 (%)       2017 (%)        2018 (%)        2019 (%)        2020 (%)        2021 (%)        2022 (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline................................            1.26            1.26            1.24            1.24            1.23            1.23            1.23
Adverse.................................            1.26            1.25            1.21            1.18            1.16            1.15            1.14
Severely Adverse........................            1.26            1.24            1.18            1.13            1.11            1.09            1.06
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Neither the Adverse nor the Severely Adverse scenario causes the 
equity ratio of the Share Insurance Fund to fall below 1.00 percent, 
the level at which credit union's contributed capital deposit would 
begin to be impaired.\46\ However, by yearend 2019, under both the 
Adverse and Severely Adverse scenarios, the equity ratio falls below 
1.20 percent--the statutory trigger for either assessing premiums or 
developing a Share Insurance Fund restoration plan. Under the Adverse 
and Severely Adverse scenarios, for the equity ratio to not fall below 
1.20 percent during the full projection timeframe, the equity ratio at 
yearend 2017 would have to be 1.33 percent and 1.41 percent, 
respectively.\47\ However, the actual results could vary from these 
projections based on a variety of factors, including:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ These scenarios do not account for any substantial increase 
in NCUA's operating budget or increases in the loss rate of CAMEL 4 
and 5 rated credit unions, both of which may increase in times of 
economic stress.
    \46\ Credit unions' one percent contributed capital deposits are 
included in the numerator of the equity ratio and are available to 
absorb losses of the Share Insurance Fund. However, because the 
contributed capital deposits are recorded both as equity to the 
Share Insurance Fund and as assets to credit unions, if NCUA were to 
use any part of this capital to absorb losses, credit unions would 
have to write-down (expense) this asset. At the same time, credit 
unions would be required to deposit additional funds to adjust their 
contributions back to a full one percent of their insured shares.
    \47\ Similar results are obtained if the Share Insurance Fund is 
stressed over two years using the highest observed stress factors 
during the last ten years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Projected declines in the equity ratio, even under no 
economic stress.
     Extraordinary losses and/or failures in credit unions that 
are not market related, such as those from fraud or other asset 
``bubbles''.
     Unusual or abnormally high insured share growth materially 
different from the historical correlation.
     Economic conditions that involve greater volatility in one 
or more market indicators as compared to the stress scenarios modeled.

C. Approach for Setting the Normal Operating Level

    The Board has the responsibility to be prudent in managing the 
Share Insurance Fund. In addition to maintaining public confidence in 
federal share insurance, it is important that NCUA maintain a strong 
Share Insurance Fund for the mutual benefit of the credit union 
community and the taxpayers. The Board believes that the Share 
Insurance Fund should be able to withstand a moderate recession without 
the equity ratio falling below 1.20 percent. This approach is 
consistent with the Act's minimum equity level for the Share Insurance 
Fund set by Congress. Additionally, it allows NCUA to maintain a 
counter-cyclical posture, which helps to ensure that credit unions will 
not need to impair their contributed capital deposit or pay premiums 
when they can least afford it. The Board does not believe it should set 
the normal operating level at a point where mandatory premiums or 
development of a Fund restoration plan would be necessary in a moderate 
recession.\48\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ The Board believes its authority to establish a Fund 
restoration plan in lieu of mandatory premiums should only be used 
for severe, unexpected circumstances. While the Board can develop a 
restoration plan to restore the Share Insurance Fund to 1.20 percent 
within eight years (or longer in extraordinary circumstances), this 
could necessitate one or more relatively large premiums. Further, it 
could erode public confidence in federal share insurance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board also considered the amount of equity necessary for the 
Share Insurance Fund to withstand a severe global recession without 
having the equity ratio fall below 1.20 percent. While the Severely 
Adverse stress scenario is more conservative, the Board believes 
managing to the Adverse scenario provides a good balance between 
maintaining sufficient equity in the Share Insurance Fund and keeping 
money at work in the credit union community.
    Based on the analyses above, Table 9 shows the calculation of what 
the equity ratio needs to be to withstand a moderate and a severe 
recession without falling below 1.20 percent.

  Table 9--Equity Ratio Needed to Withstand an Economic Stress by Risk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Severely
                                          Adverse stress  adverse stress
                                           scenario (%)    scenario (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity for Share Insurance Fund Stress..       \49\ 1.33            1.41
Equity for Claims on AMEs (see Table 6).            0.04            0.11
Projected Equity Ratio Decline in 2018              0.02            0.02
 and 2019 (based on current performance
 trends) \50\...........................
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................            1.39       \51\ 1.54
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To withstand a moderate recession without the equity ratio falling 
below 1.20 percent, the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio needs to be 
high enough to withstand the following:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ The 2007 Board-approved policy would also result in a 
recommended normal operating level above 1.30 percent. To date, the 
Board has maintained the normal operating level at 1.30 percent, 
which has allowed NCUA to use the excess equity to help repay 
outstanding U.S. Treasury borrowings.
    \50\ The equity ratio has been declining over the last several 
years and is expected to continue to decline because of the low 
yield on Share Insurance Fund investments and strong insured share 
growth. For additional information on the methodology used to 
project the equity ratio using current trends, refer to the 
information provided at the November 2016 Open Board Meeting 
(https://www.ncua.gov/About/Documents/Agenda%20Items/AG20161117Item5a.pdf).
    \51\ This exceeds the statutory maximum normal operating level 
of 1.50 percent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     A 13 basis point decline in the equity ratio due to the 
impact on the

[[Page 34990]]

three primary drivers of the Share Insurance Fund's performance.
     A 4 basis point decline in the value of the Share 
Insurance Fund's claim on the corporate credit union asset management 
estates.
     A 2 basis point decline in the equity ratio expected to 
occur prior to when the remaining NGNs begin to mature in 2020 and 
remaining exposure to the Legacy Assets can begin to be reduced. This 
helps ensure the 4 basis points of additional equity to account for the 
potential decline in value of the claims on the asset management 
estates is maintained in the Share Insurance Fund until Legacy Assets 
can be sold.\52\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ The Board must consider retaining this equity now, because 
as the equity ratio declines, the Board would be unable to replenish 
the equity through premium assessments as long as the equity ratio 
remains above 1.30 percent, per the Act. 12 U.S.C. 1782(c)(2)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, the Board proposes to set the normal operating level at 
1.39 percent. Based on the yearend equity ratio projections of 1.45 
percent to 1.47 percent from Table 3, this would result in an estimated 
initial Share Insurance Fund distribution of 6 to 8 basis points 
(approximately $600 to $800 million) paid in 2018.\53\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ The 4 basis points of equity included for covering losses 
on the Share Insurance Fund's claims against the corporate asset 
management estates, along with any recognition permitted on the 
outstanding balance of the $1 billion U.S. Central capital note (an 
estimated range of 2 to 5 basis points of equity), may be available 
for a future Share Insurance Fund distribution--provided it is not 
consumed by an increase in future legacy asset losses from an 
economic downturn or other losses and factors affecting the equity 
ratio. Future distributions also depend on any subsequent changes 
the Board might make to the normal operating level.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Policy for Setting the Normal Operating Level
    The Board retains the authority to reassess and set the normal 
operating level periodically, in particular when there are changes in 
the risks to the Share Insurance Fund's equity ratio, such as maturity 
of the NGNs. Based on the approach discussed above, the Board proposes 
to replace its current policy for setting the normal operating level 
with the following.\54\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ The current policy was approved at the December 3, 2007 
NCUA Board meeting open to the public.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Periodically, NCUA will review the equity needs of the Share 
Insurance Fund and provide this analysis to stakeholders. Board action 
is only necessary when this review determines that a change in the 
normal operating level is warranted. Any change to the normal operating 
level of more than 1 basis point shall be made only after a public 
announcement of the proposed adjustment and opportunity for comment. In 
soliciting comment, NCUA will issue a report including data supporting 
the proposal.
    The Board's main objectives in setting the normal operating level 
are to:
     Retain public confidence in federal share insurance,
     Prevent impairment of the one percent contributed capital 
deposit, and
     Ensure the Share Insurance Fund can withstand a moderate 
recession without the equity ratio declining below 1.20 percent over a 
five-year period.

V. Request for Comment

    The Board seeks comments on the proposed closure of the 
Stabilization Fund in 2017 and the related approach for setting the 
normal operating level of the Share Insurance Fund. Commenters are also 
encouraged to discuss any other relevant issues they believe the Board 
should consider with respect to this matter. In particular, the Board 
is interested in comments on whether to:
     Close the Stabilization Fund in 2017, close it at some 
future date, or wait until it is currently scheduled to close in 2021.
     Set the normal operating level based on the Share 
Insurance Fund's ability to withstand a moderate recession. Or, should 
the Share Insurance Fund be able to withstand a severe recession.
     Base the approach to setting the normal operating level on 
preventing the equity ratio from declining below 1.20 percent, or some 
other higher minimum level.
    Commenters are encouraged to provide the specific basis for their 
comments and, to the extent feasible, documentation to support any 
recommendations.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on July 20, 
2017.
Gerard S. Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-15686 Filed 7-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7535-01-P