[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 208 (Monday, October 30, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50270-50285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23213]



[[Page 50269]]

Vol. 82

Monday,

No. 208

October 30, 2017

Part III





National Credit Union Administration





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12 CFR Part 746





Supervisory Review Committee; Procedures for Appealing Material 
Supervisory Determinations; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 208 / Monday, October 30, 2017 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 50270]]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 746

RIN 3133-AE69


Supervisory Review Committee; Procedures for Appealing Material 
Supervisory Determinations

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is adopting regulatory procedures for 
appealing material supervisory determinations to the NCUA's Supervisory 
Review Committee (SRC). These procedures significantly expand the 
number of material supervisory determinations appealable to the SRC to 
include most agency decisions that could significantly affect capital, 
earnings, operating flexibility, or the nature or level of supervisory 
oversight of a federally insured credit union (FICU). Furthermore, the 
procedures contain a number of safeguards designed to provide FICUs 
with enhanced due process and promote greater consistency with the 
practices of the Federal banking agencies.

DATES: This rule is effective January 1, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael J. McKenna, General Counsel, 
Frank S. Kressman, Associate General Counsel, or Benjamin M. 
Litchfield, Staff Attorney, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 
Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428 or telephone: (703) 518-
6540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 309 of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory 
Improvement Act of 1994 (Riegle Act) required the NCUA and the Federal 
banking agencies \1\ to establish independent intra-agency appeals 
procedures for the review of ``material supervisory determinations'' no 
later than 180 days after September 23, 1994.\2\ The Riegle Act defined 
the term ``material supervisory determination'' to include agency 
decisions relating to ``(i) examination ratings; (ii) the adequacy of 
loan loss reserve provisions; and (iii) loan classifications on loans 
that are significant to the [credit union]'' and to exclude agency 
decisions to appoint a conservator or liquidating agent for a FICU, or 
to take prompt corrective action pursuant to section 216 of the Federal 
Credit Union Act (FCU Act).\3\
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    \1\ The Federal banking agencies include the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System (FRB). See 12 U.S.C. 1813(q) (defining ``appropriate Federal 
banking agency'').
    \2\ Public Law 103-325, tit. III, section 309, 108 Stat. 2160, 
2218 (Sept. 23, 1994) (codified at 12 U.S.C. 4806).
    \3\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d.
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    When establishing the intra-agency appeals procedures, the Riegle 
Act required the NCUA and the Federal banking agencies to ensure that 
(1) any appeal of a material supervisory determination by an insured 
depository institution or insured credit union is heard and decided 
expeditiously; and (2) appropriate safeguards exist for protecting the 
appellant from retaliation by agency examiners.\4\ Furthermore, the 
Riegle Act required the NCUA and the Federal banking agencies to 
appoint an agency ombudsman responsible for serving as a liaison 
``between the agency and any affected person with respect to any 
problem such party may have in dealing with the agency resulting from 
the regulatory activities of the agency'' and assuring ``that 
safeguards exist to encourage complainants to come forward and preserve 
confidentiality.'' \5\
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    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 4806(b)(1)-(2).
    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 4806(d)(1)-(2).
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    The Board published a proposed Interpretive Ruling and Policy 
Statement (IRPS) setting out intra-agency appeals procedures for the 
review of material supervisory determinations in the Federal Register 
on November 17, 1994 for a 30-day comment period ending on December 19, 
1994.\6\ The proposed IRPS took the form of guidelines that established 
an SRC of five senior NCUA staff members consisting of the Executive 
Director, the General Counsel, the Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance (E&I), one Regional Director, and one 
additional senior staff or Board staff member to hear appeals of 
material supervisory determinations. The Executive Director was to 
serve as the SRC Chairman. Furthermore, the proposed IRPS limited the 
scope of appealable determinations to agency decisions specifically 
defined as ``material supervisory determinations'' under section 309 of 
the Riegle Act with the appeal of ``examination ratings'' further 
limited to composite CAMEL ratings of 4 and 5.
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    \6\ 59 FR 59437 (Nov. 17, 1994).
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    The Board extended the comment period until January 18, 1995 to 
allow stakeholders additional opportunity to comment on the proposed 
IRPS.\7\ After reviewing and considering the public comments, the Board 
published a final IRPS in the Federal Register on March 20, 1995 as 
IRPS 95-1 ``Supervisory Review Committee.'' \8\ The final IRPS took the 
form of guidelines that established an SRC consisting of three senior 
NCUA staff members each appointed by the NCUA Chairman. The scope of 
appealable determinations remained limited to agency decisions 
specifically defined as ``material supervisory determinations'' under 
section 309 of the Riegle Act, however, the final IRPS expanded the 
ability to appeal CAMEL ratings cover composite ratings of 3, 4, and 5 
as well as all component ratings of those composite ratings.
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    \7\ 59 FR 61003 (Nov. 29, 1994).
    \8\ 60 FR 14795 (Mar. 20, 1995).
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    On April 23, 2002, the Board adopted IRPS 02-1, which amended IRPS 
95-1 to expand the scope of appealable determinations to include a 
decision by a Regional Director to revoke a Federal credit union's 
(FCU) authority under the NCUA's then-Regulatory Flexibility Program 
(RegFlex).\9\ RegFlex permitted an FCU with advanced levels of net 
worth and consistently strong supervisory examination ratings to 
request exemptions, in whole or in part, from certain NCUA 
regulations.\10\ The Board eliminated this program in 2011, but made 
certain regulatory relief provisions previously available under the 
program widely available to all FCUs.\11\
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    \9\ 67 FR 19778 (Apr. 23, 2002).
    \10\ 66 FR 23971 (Nov. 23, 2001).
    \11\ 77 FR 31981 (May 31, 2012).
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    The Board adopted IRPS 11-1, which contains the current SRC appeals 
procedures, on April 29, 2011.\12\ IRPS 11-1 expanded the jurisdiction 
of the SRC to include denials of Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) 
reimbursements by the Director of the Office of Small Credit Union 
Initiatives (OSCUI). A TAG is an award of money, in such amounts and 
according to such terms and conditions as the NCUA may establish, to a 
credit union participating in the Community Development Revolving Loan 
Fund that does not have to be repaid.\13\ TAGs are paid on a 
reimbursement basis to cover expenses approved in advance by the NCUA 
and supported by adequate documentation. In IRPS 11-1, the Board 
determined that the fact-intensive nature of TAG reimbursement requests 
warranted review by the SRC. The Board has not made material changes to 
IRPS 11-1 since 2012 when it removed all references to RegFlex to 
reflect the elimination of that program.\14\
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    \12\ 76 FR 3674 (Jan. 20, 2011) (interim final IRPS); 76 FR 
23871 (Apr. 29, 2011) (final IRPS).
    \13\ 12 CFR 705.2.
    \14\ 12 CFR 705.7(g)(2).

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[[Page 50271]]

II. Summary of the Proposed Rule

    On June 7, 2017, the Board published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register formally codifying the SRC appeals process as part of the 
NCUA's regulations.\15\ The proposed rule also included significant 
amendments to the SRC appeals process to enhance due process and to be 
more consistent with the Federal banking agencies. The proposed rule 
expanded the number of supervisory determinations appealable to the SRC 
and provided FICUs with an opportunity to seek review by the Director 
of E&I. To accommodate the increased workload of the SRC, the Board 
proposed to expand the size of the SRC to include a rotating pool of 
not less than eight senior staff from the NCUA's regional and central 
offices. Central office staff would have included high level officials 
within the Office of the Executive Director (OED), the Office of 
Consumer Financial Protection and Access (OCFPA), the Office of 
National Examinations and Insurance (ONES), and OSCUI. The Secretary of 
the Board was to serve as the permanent SRC Chairman and select three 
individuals (one of whom could include the SRC Chairman) to hear a 
particular appeal.
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    \15\ 82 FR 26391 (June 7, 2017).
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III. Summary of Comments to the Proposed Rule

    The Board received 9 comments on the proposed rule from State and 
national credit union trade associations, an FCU, a management 
consulting company, a professional association for State credit union 
supervisors, and a private individual. Commenters generally approved of 
the proposed rule and appreciated the Board's efforts to provide FICUs 
with enhanced due process regarding agency decisions. However, 
commenters raised several concerns with various aspects of the proposed 
rule and recommended changes to address those concerns. Specific 
comments and recommendations are discussed in more detail in the 
Section-by-Section Analysis set out in Part V below.
    One commenter requested that the Board establish an examination 
outreach officer position to conduct a post-examination interview with 
each FICU to determine whether the goals of a healthy exam are being 
met, and if not, what parts of the exam can be improved upon to achieve 
those goals. The commenter also requested that the Board establish an 
advisory committee of senior credit union officials similar to the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's credit union advisory council 
(CUAC) to advise the NCUA on credit union matters. These requests are 
outside the scope of the proposed rule and, therefore, the Board will 
not address them in this rulemaking.

IV. Summary of the Final Rule

    The Board is generally adopting the rule as proposed, with certain 
modifications based on public comments and other considerations as 
discussed in greater detail in the section-by-section analyses set out 
in Part V below. The final rule expands the scope of appealable 
determinations to include most agency decisions that may significantly 
affect the capital, earnings, operating flexibility, or that may 
otherwise affect the nature and level of supervisory oversight of a 
FICU. This includes, but is not limited to, a composite examination 
rating of 3, 4, or 5; a determination relating to the adequacy of loan 
loss reserve provisions; the classification of loans and other assets 
that are significant to the FICU; a determination relating to 
compliance with Federal consumer financial law; and a determination 
relating to a waiver request or application for additional authority 
where independent appeals procedures have not been specified in other 
NCUA regulations.
    The final rule also creates an optional intermediate level of 
review (at the FICU's option) by the Director of E&I, or his or her 
designee, before a FICU appeals an agency decision to the SRC. Review 
by the Director of E&I will be based entirely on written submissions 
provided by the appropriate program office and the petitioning FICU 
with no opportunity for an oral hearing. The Director of E&I will have 
an opportunity, however, to request additional information from the 
parties and may consult with them jointly or separately before 
rendering a decision. The Director of E&I may also solicit input from 
any other pertinent program office, including the Office of General 
Counsel, as necessary. A FICU that receives an adverse decision from 
the Director of E&I may appeal that decision to the SRC. Under no 
circumstances, however, may either party request reconsideration of a 
decision rendered by the Director of E&I.
    Furthermore, the final rule restructures the SRC by creating a 
rotating pool of at least eight senior staff appointed by the NCUA 
Chairman from NCUA's central and regional offices who may be selected 
by the SRC Chairman to serve on a three-member panel to hear a 
particular appeal. The Secretary of the Board will serve as the 
permanent SRC Chairman and will also be eligible to serve as one of the 
three members on any particular panel. The Special Counsel to the 
General Counsel (Special Counsel), or any senior staff within the 
Office of General Counsel assigned such duties, will serve as a 
permanent non-voting advisor to each three-member panel to consult on 
procedural and legal matters regarding the jurisdiction of the SRC. To 
avoid any real or apparent conflicts of interest, the SRC Chairman will 
not be permitted to select individuals for the program office that 
rendered the material supervisory determination that is the subject of 
the appeal to serve on the three-member panel hearing that appeal.

V. Section-by-Section Analysis

Part 746--Appeals Procedures

Subpart A--Procedures for Appealing Material Supervisory Determinations
    The proposed rule, along with a companion rule on agency appeals, 
created a comprehensive set of appeals procedures to the appeal of most 
agency decisions to the Board. This comprehensive set of procedures was 
to be codified in a new part of the NCUA's regulations, part 746, with 
the SRC appeals process codified in subpart A to part 746 and the 
appeals procedures codified in subpart B to part 746. The Board 
received one substantive comment on this aspect of the proposed rule. 
The commenter requested that the Board codify the SRC appeals process 
in part 741, NCUA's share insurance requirements rule, to make the 
procedures more conspicuous for federally insured, State-chartered 
credit unions (FISCUs). While the commenter's argument is not without 
merit, the Board believes that codifying these procedures in their own 
part of the NCUA's regulations gives all credit unions, regardless of 
charter, greater notice of the procedures for appealing most agency 
decisions. Accordingly, the Board is codifying the SRC appeals process 
as subpart A to part 746 as proposed.
Section 746.101 Authority, Purpose, and Scope
    Proposed Sec.  746.101 set out the authority for issuing the 
regulation as well as the regulation's purpose and scope. Paragraph (a) 
provided that the rule was being issued pursuant to section 309 of the 
Riegle Act \16\ and the Board's plenary regulatory authority to 
administer the FCU Act.\17\ Paragraph (b) noted that the purpose of the 
rule was to establish an expeditious review

[[Page 50272]]

process for a FICU to appeal a material supervisory determination to an 
independent supervisory panel and, if applicable, to the Board. 
Finally, paragraph (c) clarified that the rule only applied to the 
appeal of a material supervisory determination made by NCUA staff. The 
proposed rule did not apply to a decision to appoint a conservator or 
liquidating agent for a FICU, to order a FICU to take prompt corrective 
action, or to enforcement-related actions and decisions. The Board did 
not receive any comments on proposed Sec.  746.101 and is finalizing 
this provision as proposed with minor wording changes for 
clarification.
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    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 4806(a).
    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 1766(a), 1789(a)(11).
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Section 746.102 Definitions
    Proposed Sec.  746.102 set out definitions for certain terms 
relevant to the proposed rule. The Board received one substantive 
comment on this aspect of the proposed rule requesting that the Board 
add a definition of ``senior staff'' to clarify which individuals are 
eligible to be appointed by the NCUA Chairman to serve as members of 
the rotating pool of individuals able to be selected by the SRC 
Chairman to hear a particular appeal. The commenter expressed concerns 
that many of the procedural safeguards in the proposed rule designed to 
prevent conflicts of interest might actually result in NCUA staff with 
executive level knowledge and experience being ineligible to serve as 
part of the rotating pool. As a result, NCUA staff with the same level 
of knowledge and experience as the individuals making the initial 
material supervisory determination may be called upon to evaluate 
judgments and impressions of their peers which could create pressure to 
affirm that initial material supervisory determination.
    The Board appreciates the commenter's concerns and agrees that the 
SRC will function best if the most knowledgeable and experienced NCUA 
staff are reviewing appeals to the SRC. However, the Board does not 
believe that adding a definition of ``senior staff'' is either the most 
practical or effective solution for ensuring the competency and 
independence of members of the rotating pool. A definition of ``senior 
staff'' would necessarily need to be open-ended and vague, as opposed 
to being tied to particular titles or pay grades, to account for any 
operational changes at the NCUA, as well as to ensure that there is a 
sufficiently broad group of individuals from which the NCUA Chairman 
can select members of the rotating pool. As a result, the Board 
believes that any definition of ``senior staff'' would almost certainly 
lack the clarity that the commenter seeks. Therefore, the Board will 
not define ``senior staff'' in the final rule. The determination of 
which individuals are considered ``senior staff'' eligible to be 
appointed to the rotating pool will rest solely within the discretion 
of the NCUA Chairman.
    The Board did not receive any other substantive comments on 
proposed Sec.  746.102 and is finalizing this provision as proposed 
with minor modifications. The Board is removing the definitions of 
``petitioner'' and ``respondent'' to reflect the fact that a program 
office will no longer be eligible to appeal an adverse decision by the 
Director of E&I or the SRC. The Board is adopting this policy change in 
response to concerns raised by the commenters that are discussed in 
more detail below. The Board has replaced the words ``petitioner'' and 
``respondent'' with ``insured credit union'' and ``program office'' 
where appropriate throughout the final rule.
Section 746.103 Material Supervisory Determinations
    Proposed Sec.  746.103 set out a general definition of ``material 
supervisory determination'' and provided a list of examples. The 
proposed rule defined ``material supervisory determination'' to mean a 
written decision by a program office that may significantly affect the 
capital, earnings, operating flexibility, or that may otherwise affect 
the nature or level of supervisory oversight of a FICU. The Board 
intended this general definition to be broad, capturing most agency 
decisions where independent appeals procedures did not exist, and as 
consistent with the definitions adopted by the Federal banking agencies 
as possible taking into consideration any operational differences 
between those agencies and the NCUA. Commenters generally supported 
this aspect of the proposed rule, highlighting the importance of 
significantly expanding the ability of FICUs to appeal agency decisions 
to the SRC and the Board. Accordingly, the Board is adopting the 
general definition of ``material supervisory determination'' set out in 
Sec.  746.103 substantially as proposed with modifications for clarity.
    The Board is modifying Sec.  746.103(a) to clarify that the SRC 
appeals procedures do not apply to agency decisions that have been 
committed to the sole discretion of the appropriate program office 
director. While the Board seeks to provide FICUs with the greatest 
possible opportunity to seek agency review of material supervisory 
determinations, some agency decisions require significant expertise 
that is unique to a particular program office or must be made with such 
finality that the SRC appeals procedures would be inappropriate. 
Accordingly, the Board is revising the general definition of ``material 
supervisory determination'' in the final rule to read ``a written 
decision by a program office (unless ineligible for appeal) that may 
significantly affect the capital, earnings, operating flexibility, or 
that may otherwise affect the nature or level of supervisory oversight 
of a FICU.'' In cases where an agency decision has been committed to 
the sole discretion of the program office, a FICU that receives an 
adverse decision could potentially seek judicial review of the agency 
decision under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).\18\
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    \18\ 5 U.S.C. 704 (permitting judicial review of a final agency 
action).
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    The Board is also modifying Sec.  746.103(a) to clarify that a 
decision by the reviewing authority (i.e., the appropriate program 
office director, the Director of E&I, the SRC, or the Board) to dismiss 
an appeal will be considered a ``material supervisory determination.'' 
Allowing the reviewing authority to dismiss an appeal avoids 
unnecessary administrative burden on the NCUA caused by inconsequential 
disputes and reinforces the Board's longstanding policy that 
supervisory disputes should be resolved at the program office level as 
often as possible. However, the Board also believes that it is 
important to counterbalance this ability of the reviewing authority to 
dismiss an appeal with the right of a FICU to appeal a wrongful 
dismissal. Accordingly, should the Director of E&I, the SRC, or the 
Board determine that dismissal was inappropriate under the 
circumstances, the reviewing authority will address appeal on its 
merits without referring the matter back to the original reviewing 
authority that dismissed the appeal.\19\ The Board is making a similar 
change to Sec.  746.104(b) which addresses dismissal and withdrawal.
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    \19\ Unlike Federal courts of appeal, which review factual 
determinations by a Federal district court for clear error, the 
Director of E&I, the SRC, and the Board review the factual basis of 
an appeal de novo. Accordingly, while the Board encourages a FICU to 
resolve all supervisory disputes at the examiner or Regional Office 
level as often as possible, there is little merit to sending an 
appeal back to the reviewing authority that made the determination 
that an agency decision was not a ``material supervisory 
determination.'' See e.g. Easley v. Cromartie, 532 U.S. 234, 243 
(2001) (``We are also aware that we review the District Court's 
findings only for `clear error.' In applying this standard, we, like 
any reviewing court, will not reverse a lower court's finding of 
fact simply because we `would have decided the case differently.' 
'').
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    This clarification is particularly necessary to address cases where 
the reviewing authority dismisses an appeal

[[Page 50273]]

because an agency decision is not a ``material supervisory 
determination.'' The threshold test for determining whether an agency 
decision is appealable to the SRC is whether it is a ``material 
supervisory determination.'' An agency decision is only a ``material 
supervisory determination'' if it has a significant impact on capital, 
earnings, operating flexibility, or the nature or level of supervisory 
oversight of a FICU. Terms like ``significant'' are difficult to define 
in the abstract but an agency decision is most likely to be 
``significant'' if it has an actual effect in some direct and immediate 
way on the FICU's capital, earnings, operating flexibility, or the 
nature or level of supervisory oversight of the FICU. An agency 
decision that requires the FICU to incur substantial costs would be the 
clearest example of a ``material supervisory determination.'' In 
contrast, an agency decision where the harm is more speculative, such 
as an impact on long-term growth strategies, would likely not be a 
``material supervisory determination.'' In each case, it will be the 
responsibility of the reviewing authority to determine whether an 
agency decision meets this threshold test. If the agency decision does 
not, the reviewing authority may dismiss the appeal. Accordingly, the 
Board believes it is necessary to allow a FICU to appeal that agency 
decision to ensure accountability and enhance due process.
Examination Ratings
    Proposed Sec.  746.103(a)(1) listed a composite examination rating 
of 3, 4, or 5 as an example of a material supervisory determination. 
Proposed Sec.  746.103(b)(1), however, excluded a composite examination 
rating of 1 or 2 because the Board did not believe that a composite 
examination rating of 2 would have a significant impact on the 
supervisory oversight of a FICU. Similarly, proposed Sec.  
746.103(b)(2) excluded component examination ratings unless such 
ratings had a significant adverse effect on the nature or level of 
supervisory oversight of a FICU. Several commenters objected to these 
aspects of the proposed rule, highlighting that the Federal banking 
agencies permit insured depository institutions to appeal all composite 
and component examination ratings and urging the Board to adopt a 
similar approach.
    However, the Board does not believe that adopting an approach that 
is entirely consistent with the Federal banking agencies is 
appropriate. The NCUA uses a credit union examination as a diagnostic 
tool to identify potential operational vulnerabilities and address 
regulatory compliance concerns that could impact the safety and 
soundness of a FICU. While a FICU's composite examination rating may 
change if an NCUA examiner identifies an emerging trend that increases 
a FICU's risk profile, a change in an examination rating does not, in 
and of itself, typically have a significant impact on a FICU until the 
FICU reaches a composite examination rating of 3, 4, or 5. Furthermore, 
a change in a component examination rating hardly impacts a FICU unless 
that particular component examination rating is connected with some 
specified regulatory relief initiative by the NCUA, such as the ability 
to participate in an extended examination cycle.\20\
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    \20\ See e.g. Letter to Credit Unions 16-CU-12 (Dec. 2016) 
(announcing an extended examination cycle for certain FICUs with a 
composite examination rating of 1 or 2 with a corresponding 
management component rating of 1 or 2).
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    In contrast, the FDIC uses composite and component examination 
ratings issued by the respective Federal banking agencies (including 
the FDIC) as a basis for determining an insured depository 
institution's Federal deposit insurance premium.\21\ Under FDIC's risk-
based assessment system, an insured depository institution's weighted 
average component examination rating is used along with other financial 
ratios and risk indicators to determine the initial base assessment 
rate.\22\ This initial base assessment rate is then used to determine 
an insured depository institution's quarterly Federal deposit insurance 
premium which can vary within an established range based on the 
institution's composite examination rating.\23\ As a result of these 
complex formulas, any change in an insured depository institution's 
composite or component examination ratings could have a significant 
impact on the amount of its Federal deposit insurance premium.
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    \21\ See 12 CFR 327.16. The term ``insured depository 
institution'' refers to a bank or savings association the deposits 
of which are insured by the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act. See 12 U.S.C. 1813(c).
    \22\ Id.
    \23\ See 12 CFR 327.10.
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    Put differently, a change in a composite or component examination 
rating is not a ``material supervisory determination'' for a FICU until 
the FICU reaches a composite examination rating of 3, 4, or 5, or 
unless the particular component examination rating changes the nature 
or level of supervisory oversight of the FICU. Meanwhile, a change in a 
composite or component examination may be a ``material supervisory 
determination'' for an insured depository institution because it can 
lead to an increase in that institution's Federal deposit insurance 
premium. In light of this important distinction, the Board does not 
believe that absolute consistency with the Federal banking agencies is 
necessary to provide FICUs with enhanced due process. Accordingly, the 
Board adopts this aspect of Sec.  746.103 as proposed.
Restitution Orders Pursuant to the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation 
Z
    Proposed Sec.  746.103(a)(4) listed a restitution order pursuant to 
the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) \24\ and its implementing regulation, 
Regulation Z,\25\ as an example of a material supervisory 
determination. By doing so, the Board intended to signal to FICUs that 
any determination by NCUA examiners or by OCFPA regarding a FICU's 
compliance with Federal consumer financial law,\26\ as that term is 
defined in the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010,\27\ would be 
appealable to the SRC under the proposed rule. However, the Board 
recognizes that by specifically discussing restitution orders under 
TILA and Regulation Z, the Board may have given the false impression 
that other determinations regarding other aspects of TILA and 
Regulation Z or other Federal consumer financial laws would not be 
appealable to the SRC and the Board. Accordingly, the Board is revising 
this aspect of proposed Sec.  746.103 to clarify that all agency 
decisions regarding a FICU's compliance with Federal consumer financial 
law are appealable to the SRC and the Board.
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    \24\ 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.
    \25\ 12 CFR part 1026.
    \26\ The term ``Federal consumer financial law'' means any 
provision of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, enumerated 
consumer laws, or any regulation issued by the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau. See 12 U.S.C. 5481(14). The term ``enumerated 
consumer laws'' refer to several Federal consumer protections 
statutes including the Consumer Leasing Act of 1976, the Electronic 
Fund Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit 
Reporting Act, and the Truth in Lending Act. See 12 U.S.C. 5481(12). 
The NCUA has exclusive supervision and enforcement authority with 
respect to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for compliance 
with Federal consumer financial law for FICUs with assets of $10 
billion or less. See 12 U.S.C. 5516.
    \27\ Public Law 111-203, tit. X, 124 Stat. 1375, 1955 (July 21, 
2010).
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Prompt Corrective Action
    Proposed Sec.  746.103(b)(5) excluded from the definition of 
material supervisory determination a directive imposing prompt 
corrective action under section 216 of the FCU Act.\28\ One commenter 
objected to this exclusion, arguing that the significance and

[[Page 50274]]

potential impact of such a directive warrants further review by the SRC 
to provide FICUs with enhanced due process. The Board disagrees. The 
current procedures for issuing a directive imposing prompt corrective 
action provide FICUs with significant procedural safeguards. A FICU may 
present written arguments against a proposed directive directly to the 
Board and request that the Board modify or rescind an existing 
directive at any time due to changed circumstances.\29\ Such a request 
is automatically granted if it remains outstanding for more than 60 
calendar days after receipt by the Board.\30\ A FICU may also request a 
written recommendation from the NCUA Ombudsman, an impartial agency 
official who does not report directly or indirectly to any program 
office involved with the issuance of the directive, regarding a 
proposed directive or a pending request for modification or rescission 
of an existing directive.\31\ The Board believes that these procedural 
safeguards provide FICUs with even more due process than the SRC 
appeals procedures.
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    \28\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d.
    \29\ 12 CFR 747.2002(a)(1) and (f).
    \30\ 12 CFR 747.2002(f).
    \31\ 12 CFR 747.2002(g).
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    The commenter also argued that allowing a FICU to appeal a 
directive imposing prompt corrective action to the SRC would be 
consistent with the approach adopted by the FDIC. However, proposed 
Sec.  746.103(b)(5) is nearly identical to an exclusion adopted by the 
FDIC in its ``Guidelines for Appeal of Material Supervisory 
Determinations,'' (Guidelines) which establishes the FDIC's Supervisory 
Appeals Review Committee (SARC) and sets out procedures for insured 
depository institutions to appeal material supervisory determinations 
by FDIC staff.'' \32\ While the FDIC did adopt ``catch all'' language 
in its Guidelines that allows an insured depository institution to 
appeal an agency decision that may impact the institution's ``capital 
category for prompt corrective action purposes,'' that language does 
not independently authorize an insured depository institution to appeal 
a directive imposing prompt corrective action. Rather, it allows an 
insured depository institution to appeal an underlying agency decision 
that could impact net worth,\33\ which may cause the institution to 
fall within a lower capital classification.\34\ To avoid this kind of 
confusion, the Board specifically omitted this language from its 
definition of ``material supervisory determination'' in the proposed 
rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See 60 FR 15923 (Mar. 28, 1995) (establishing the FDIC's 
intra-agency appeals procedures under the Riegle Act). The FDIC 
recently adopted amended Guidelines on July 18, 2017 following 
publication of the proposed rule. See 82 FR 34522 (July 25, 2017).
    \33\ ``Net worth'' for prompt corrective action purposes is 
defined principally as a FICU's retained earnings balance at 
quarter-end as determined under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting 
Principles (U.S. GAAP). See 12 CFR 702.2(f).
    \34\ See 12 CFR part 702, subpart A (net worth classification).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the Board already provides significant procedural 
safeguards for FICUs prior to issuing a directive imposing prompt 
corrective action that are more expeditious than the SRC appeals 
process and consistent with the practices of the Federal banking 
agencies, the Board does not believe that subjecting these agency 
decisions to the SRC appeals process would be appropriate. Accordingly, 
the Board is adopting Sec.  746.103(b)(5) as proposed.
Enforcement Matters
    Proposed Sec.  746.103(b)(6) excluded from the definition of 
``material supervisory determination'' all decisions to initiate formal 
enforcement actions. One commenter objected to this exclusion noting 
that the FDIC recently revised its Guidelines to allow insured 
depository institutions to appeal a decision regarding the 
institution's level of compliance with a formal enforcement action. The 
commenter argued that the Board should similarly expand the definition 
of material supervisory determination for consistency with the FDIC. 
The Board disagrees. Compliance with a formal enforcement action is 
monitored by high-level NCUA staff within a program office in 
consultation with staff attorneys within the Office of General Counsel. 
Accordingly, the Board believes that FICUs already have significant 
procedural and structural safeguards with respect to formal enforcement 
matters such that subjecting these decisions to the SRC appeals process 
would be unnecessarily duplicative.
    As the Board noted in the preamble to the proposed rule, once a 
formal enforcement action is initiated, the SRC appeals process is 
suspended regardless of how far along the FICU may be in that process. 
Once the formal enforcement action is resolved, the FICU may continue 
to seek redress through the SRC appeals process to the extent that any 
matters remain outstanding and were not addressed as part of the formal 
enforcement action. To avoid confusion, the Board is adopting a 
modification in the final rule to clarify when a formal enforcement 
action commences. A formal enforcement action begins when the NCUA 
provides written notice to the FICU of a recommended or proposed formal 
enforcement action under section 206 of the FCU Act.\35\ A FICU will be 
notified in writing that the NCUA has recommended or proposed a formal 
enforcement action. Other types of correspondence from the NCUA, such 
as letters requesting additional information or referencing a violation 
of law without an express statement that the NCUA has recommended or 
proposed formal enforcement action are not considered to constitute 
notice of a recommended or proposed formal enforcement action for 
purposes of the SRC appeals process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 12 U.S.C. 1786.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Examples and Exclusions
    Proposed Sec.  746.103 included several other examples of and 
exclusions from the general definition of ``material supervisory 
determination.'' The examples and exclusions included matters 
specifically addressed by the Riegle Act and preliminary matters such 
as the scope and timing of supervisory contacts. The Board did not 
receive substantive comments on these examples and exclusions. 
Accordingly, the Board is adopting the examples set out in proposed 
Sec.  746.103(a)(2), (3), and (5) and the exclusions set out in 
proposed Sec.  746.103(b)(3), (4), (7), (8), (9), and (10) as proposed.
Section 746.104 General Provisions
    Proposed Sec.  746.104 set out general provisions to be applied by 
each reviewing authority during the SRC appeals process. The proposed 
rule established an explicit standard of review to ensure that the 
NCUA's policies and procedures were applied fairly and consistently. 
The proposed rule also addressed the effect of an appeal on the 
commencement of enforcement actions, applications for additional 
authority, and waiver requests. The Board received several comments on 
various aspects of proposed Sec.  746.104. As discussed in more detail 
below, the Board is adopting Sec.  746.104 as proposed with minor 
modifications for clarity.
Standard of Review
    Proposed Sec.  746.104(a) established a de novo standard of review 
for each stage of the SRC appeals process. The standard of review 
required each reviewing authority to make an independent decision 
regarding whether the material supervisory determination was correct 
and not just reasonable. If the appropriate reviewing authority 
determined that the material supervisory determination was

[[Page 50275]]

incorrect, they would render a corrected determination. Commenters 
generally supported this explicit standard of review for each stage of 
the SRC appeals process. However, commenters requested that the Board 
modify Sec.  746.104(a) to explicitly state that a decision by a FICU 
to forgo optional review by the Director of E&I would not prejudice the 
FICU in an appeal to the SRC or the Board. While the Board believes 
that the retaliation provision in proposed Sec.  746.112 was sufficient 
to address this issue, the Board understands the commenters' concerns 
and is adopting a modification to Sec.  746.104(a) in the final rule to 
clarify that a decision to bypass optional review by the Director of 
E&I may not be used by the SRC or the Board as a basis to deny an 
otherwise proper appeal.
    Commenters also requested that the Board clarify what constitutes 
the administrative record to be reviewed by the relevant reviewing 
authority at each stage of the SRC appeals process. While the Board 
believes that several sections of the proposed rule addressed this 
issue, such as proposed Sec.  746.106(c), which outlined the basis for 
review of a material supervisory determination by the Director of E&I, 
the Board recognizes that a more general statement regarding the 
administrative record may be necessary to provide FICUs with greater 
clarity and enhanced due process. Accordingly, the Board is adopting a 
new paragraph in the final rule, Sec.  746.104(f), to explicitly 
describe what information is part of the administrative record to be 
reviewed by the reviewing authority at each stage of the SRC appeals 
process. For most appeals, the administrative record consists entirely 
of written submissions by the petitioning FICU and the appropriate 
program office. In cases involving a federally insured, State-chartered 
credit union (FISCU), the administrative record may also include 
written submissions by the appropriate State supervisory authority 
(SSA). A decision by an intermediate reviewing authority, such as the 
Director of E&I or the SRC, is also part of the administrative record. 
Furthermore, the administrative record includes a transcript of any 
oral hearing before the SRC or the Board.
    One commenter specifically requested that the Board require that 
any consultations between a reviewing authority and another party must 
take the form of written submissions that would become part of the 
administrative record. The proposed rule explicitly allowed the 
Director of E&I to consult with the FICU, the program office, or any 
other party prior to rendering a decision. The consultation process was 
meant to allow the Director of E&I to get clarification on a written 
submission or seek advice from a program office, such as the Office of 
General Counsel, on a technical or legal matter outside of the Director 
of E&I's area of expertise. In fact, the Board anticipates that much of 
the consultation process will involve outreach to staff within the 
Office of General Counsel to seek legal opinions on various regulatory 
matters which may be subject to one or more evidentiary privileges. 
Accordingly, the Board does not believe that it is appropriate to 
include such communications as part of the administrative record.
Dismissal and Withdrawal
    Proposed Sec.  746.104(b) set out the conditions under which a 
reviewing authority could dismiss the appeal of a material supervisory 
determination. Under the proposed rule, a reviewing authority could 
dismiss an appeal if it was not timely filed, if the basis for the 
appeal was not discernable, if the petitioner asked to withdraw the 
request in writing, or for reasons deemed appropriate by the reviewing 
authority, including, for example, if the petitioner acted in bad faith 
by knowingly withholding evidence from the appropriate reviewing 
authority. The Board cautioned that FICUs are encouraged to make good 
faith efforts to resolve supervisory issues at the most direct level 
possible, starting with their examinations or program office staff, and 
as efficiently as possible. Accordingly, the Board stated that if a 
FICU engaged in bad faith by knowingly withholding evidence from an 
examiner, the program office, the Director of E&I, the SRC, or the 
Board, withholding that evidence would result in dismissal of the 
appeal. The Board did not receive substantive comments on this aspect 
of the proposed rule and is adopting Sec.  746.104(b) substantially as 
proposed with one clarification to address the appeal of a dismissal 
for failure to state a material supervisory determination discussed in 
the section analysis of Sec.  746.103 above.
Discovery
    Proposed Sec.  746.104(c) prohibited discovery or any similar 
process in connection with an appeal. Instead, each appeal was based 
entirely on written submissions to the reviewing authority and, where 
permitted, oral presentations to the SRC and the Board. The Board did 
not receive substantive comments on this aspect of the proposed rule 
and is, therefore,. Accordingly, the Board is adopting Sec.  746.104(c) 
as proposed.
Enforcement Matters
    Proposed Sec.  746.104(d) clarified that no provision of the 
proposed rule was intended to affect, delay, or impede any formal or 
informal supervisory or enforcement action in progress or affect the 
NCUA's authority to take any supervisory or enforcement action against 
a FICU. The purpose of this provision was to ensure that appeals to the 
SRC and enforcement matters remained separate processes governed by 
different rules. The Board received one comment on this specific aspect 
of the proposed rule. The commenter requested that the Board modify 
Sec.  746.104(d) to allow a FICU to request a stay of a supervisory or 
enforcement action during the pendency of an appeal consistent with 
recently adopted amendments to the FDIC's Guidelines. The Board has 
carefully reviewed the recent amendments to the FDIC's Guidelines and 
believes that proposed Sec.  746.104(d) is consistent with the overall 
approach adopted by the FDIC. While the FDIC, in response to a public 
comment, noted that the Guidelines do not prohibit an insured 
depository institution from requesting a stay from a Division Director, 
the Guidelines make abundantly clear that the FDIC does not generally 
stay supervisory actions during the pendency of an appeal.\36\ 
Similarly, while the proposed rule does not explicitly prohibit a FICU 
from requesting a stay of a supervisory or enforcement action during 
the pendency of an appeal, such a stay would be reluctantly 
countenanced and rarely granted. Accordingly, the Board adopts Sec.  
746.104(d) as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 82 FR 34522, 34526 (July 25, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Authority and Waiver Requests During the Pendency of an 
Appeal
    Proposed Sec.  746.104(e) required a program office to delay action 
on a waiver request or an application for additional authority that 
could be affected by the outcome of an appeal unless the FICU 
specifically requested that the waiver request or application for 
additional authority be considered notwithstanding the appeal. The 
proposed rule suspended any deadline for a program office to make a 
determination on a waiver request or application for additional 
authority set out in any part of the NCUA's regulations until the FICU 
exhausted its administrative remedies under the SRC appeals process or 
was no longer eligible to pursue an appeal. The

[[Page 50276]]

purpose of this provision was to avoid situations where a FICU receives 
an adverse determination on a waiver request or an application for 
additional authority based on a material supervisory determination, 
only to have the material supervisory determination subsequently 
reversed by the SRC. It also prevented a waiver request or an 
application for additional authority from being automatically denied by 
operation of other parts of the NCUA's regulations. The Board did not 
receive comments on Sec.  746.104(e) and is adopting this provision as 
proposed.
Section 746.105 Procedures for Reconsideration From the Appropriate 
Program Office
    Proposed Sec.  746.105 set out procedures for a FICU to request 
reconsideration from the appropriate program office. Prior to 
requesting review by the Director of E&I or filing an appeal with the 
SRC, the proposed rule required a FICU to make a written request for 
reconsideration from the appropriate program office within 30 calendar 
days after receiving an examination report or other written 
communication containing a material supervisory determination. The 
request for reconsideration needed to include a statement of the facts 
on which the request for reconsideration was based, a statement of the 
basis for the material supervisory determination and the alleged error 
in the determination, and any other evidence relied upon by the FICU 
that was not previously provided to the appropriate program office 
making the material supervisory determination.
    Under the proposed rule, the appropriate program office was 
required to reach a decision on a request for reconsideration within 30 
calendar days after receiving the request. If a written decision was 
not issued within 30 calendar days after receiving a request for 
reconsideration, the request was automatically deemed to have been 
denied. Any subsequent request for reconsideration was to be treated as 
a request for review by the Director of E&I or an appeal to the SRC as 
determined by the Secretary of the Board after consultation with the 
FICU. As the Board explained in the preamble to the proposed rule, 
these procedures largely follow NCUA's long standing policy of 
requiring a FICU to first request reconsideration from the program 
office prior to filing an appeal with the SRC. This is to encourage a 
program office and a FICU to resolve disputes informally and as 
expeditiously as possible.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ 82 FR 26391, 26395 (June 7, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters requested that the Board remove the requirement 
that a FICU seek reconsideration from the appropriate program office 
prior to a request for review by the Director of E&I or an appeal to 
the SRC. Alternatively, some commenters requested that the Board permit 
a FICU to appeal time-sensitive matters directly to the SRC. As the 
Board first explained in IRPS 94-2,\38\ it is NCUA policy to require a 
FICU to attempt to resolve supervisory disputes with the program office 
before invoking the jurisdiction of the SRC. Review by the SRC is 
disruptive to the normal organizational structure of NCUA and should 
only be reserved for those issues that cannot be resolved in good faith 
between a program office and the FICU. Requiring a FICU to request 
reconsideration as a prerequisite before obtaining further review under 
the SRC appeals process preserves the ordinary relationship between 
FICUs and program offices and ensures that only serious disputes are 
elevated to the SRC. Accordingly, the Board is adopting Sec.  746.105 
as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ 59 FR 59437 (Nov. 17, 1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 746.106 Procedures for Requesting Review by the Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance
    Proposed Sec.  746.106 set out procedures for requesting review by 
the Director of E&I, or his or her designee. Prior to filing an appeal 
with the SRC, but after receiving a written decision by the appropriate 
program office in response to a request for reconsideration, the 
proposed rule allowed a FICU to make a written request for review by 
the Director of E&I of the program office's material supervisory 
determination. The proposed rule required such a request to be made in 
writing within 30 calendar days after receiving a final decision on 
reconsideration by the appropriate program office. The request for 
review needed to include a statement that the FICU is requesting review 
by the Director of E&I, a statement of the facts on which the request 
for review was based, a statement of the basis for the material 
supervisory determination and the alleged error in the determination, 
any evidence relied upon by the FICU that was not previously provided 
to the program office making the material supervisory determination, 
and a certification from the FICU's board of directors authorizing the 
request for review to be filed.
    Under the proposed rule, review of a material supervisory 
determination by the Director of E&I was based on written submissions 
provided with the initial documents requesting review. The Director of 
E&I could request additional information from any party within 15 
calendar days after the Secretary of the Board received the request for 
review and the relevant party had 15 calendar days to submit the 
requested information. The Director of E&I also had the authority to 
consult with the FICU and the program office jointly or separately, and 
with any other party prior to issuing a written decision. The proposed 
rule required the Director of E&I to issue a written decision within 30 
calendar days after the Secretary of the Board receives the request for 
review. However, the deadline would be extended by the time period 
during which the Director of E&I gathered additional information from 
the FICU or the program office. If a written decision was not issued 
within 30 calendar days, or as extended by any additional time during 
which information was being gathered, the request for review was 
automatically deemed to have been denied. Any subsequent request for 
review was to be treated as an appeal to the SRC.
    The Board received one substantive comment regarding the ability of 
the Director of E&I to consult with any party, including the FICU or 
the program office, prior to issuing a written decision. The commenter 
requested that these consultations take the form of written submissions 
that would become part of the administrative record. As the Board 
discussed above in the section analysis of Sec.  746.104, the Board 
does not believe that consultations should be part of the 
administrative record. The Board sees little merit in including these 
kinds of communications as part of the administrative record because 
they will already be reflected in the initial submissions of the FICU 
and the program office and the final decision of the Director of E&I. 
Accordingly, the Board is adopting Sec.  746.106 as proposed.
Section 746.107 Procedures for Appealing to the Supervisory Review 
Committee
    Proposed Sec.  746.107 set out procedures for appealing a material 
supervisory determination to the SRC. The proposed rule required a FICU 
to file an appeal within 30 calendar days after receiving a written 
decision by the appropriate program office on reconsideration or, if 
the FICU requested review by the Director of E&I, within 30 calendar 
days after a final decision made by the Director of E&I, or his or her 
designee. The appeal documents submitted to the SRC needed to include a 
statement that the FICU was filing an appeal with the SRC, a statement 
of the facts on which

[[Page 50277]]

the appeal is based, a statement of the basis for the material 
supervisory determination to which the FICU objected and the alleged 
error in the determination, any other evidence relied upon by the FICU, 
and a certification that the FICU's board of directors authorized the 
appeal to be filed.
    The conduct of the appeal was primarily by oral hearing before the 
SRC at NCUA headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, except where the FICU 
requested that an appeal be based entirely on the written record. At 
the oral hearing, the FICU and the appropriate program office could 
introduce written evidence or witness testimony during each side's oral 
presentation. The SRC was also permitted to ask questions of any 
individual, including witnesses, appearing before it. Prior to the oral 
hearing, both the FICU and the program office would submit notices of 
appearance identifying no more than two individuals who would be 
representing them in the oral hearing, including counsel. However, 
either party could request permission from the SRC to allow additional 
individuals to appear before the SRC. The SRC was required to reach a 
decision within 30 calendar days after an oral presentation or, if the 
appeal was based entirely on the written record, within 30 calendar 
days from the date of receipt of the appeal. If a written decision was 
not issued within 30 calendar days, the appeal was automatically deemed 
to have been denied.
    The proposed rule also required the SRC to publish its decisions on 
the NCUA's Web site with appropriate redactions to protect confidential 
or exempt information. In cases where redaction was insufficient to 
prevent improper disclosure, published decisions could be presented in 
summary form. If an appeal involved the interpretation of material 
supervisory policy or generally accepted accounting principles, the SRC 
was required to notify the Director of E&I and solicit input from E&I 
prior to rendering a decision. Likewise, if an appeal involved an 
interpretation of NCUA's regulations, the FCU Act, or any other law 
applicable to FICUs, the SRC was required to notify the General Counsel 
and solicit input from the Office of General Counsel. Finally, the 
proposed rule authorized the SRC Chairman to issue rules governing the 
operations of the SRC, to order that material be kept confidential, or 
to consolidate appeals that presented similar issues of law or fact. 
The Board is adopting Sec.  746.107 substantially as proposed with 
minor modifications discussed below.
    The Board received four substantive comments on this aspect of the 
proposed rule. One commenter requested that the Board remove the 
ability of the program office to appeal a decision by the Director of 
E&I to the SRC. The commenter argued that it would be inappropriate to 
allow a program office to challenge a determination by the central head 
of examination policy and that only a FICU should have the ability to 
appeal a decision by the Director of E&I. The Board agrees with the 
commenter and has accordingly removed the ability of the program office 
to appeal a decision by the Director of E&I to the SRC in the final 
rule. For the same reasons, the Board has also removed the ability of 
the program office to appeal an adverse decision by the SRC to the 
Board under Sec.  746.108.
    Another commenter requested that the Board include, as part of the 
publication of a written decision by the SRC, a synopsis of each appeal 
and a summary of the final result on NCUA's Web site. The Board agrees 
with the commenter and has accordingly added language in the final rule 
indicating that a synopsis of each appeal and a summary of the final 
result will be published on NCUA's Web site along with the written 
decision by the SRC with appropriate redactions. The Board believes 
that publishing a synopsis and the final result will make it easier for 
a FICU to research previous SRC decisions which enhances the 
precedential value of each SRC decision and encourages consistent 
results throughout the SRC appeals process. For the same reasons, the 
Board will also publish a synopsis of each appeal and a summary of the 
final result for appeals from the SRC to the Board under Sec.  746.110.
    A third commenter requested that the Board expand the publication 
of written decisions by the SRC to include publication of appeals that 
were rejected without being considered by the SRC. The commenter argued 
that allowing stakeholders to determine the number of petitions granted 
or rejected enhances the ability of stakeholders to evaluate the 
efficacy of the SRC appeals process. However, the Board does not 
believe that publishing rejected appeals will necessarily achieve 
either of those goals. The Board anticipates that a large majority of 
rejected appeals will involve a FICU failing to file a timely appeal. 
The Board sees little merit in publishing these determinations on 
NCUA's Web site because those determinations are of little precedential 
value to FICUs and give little, if any, insight into the SRC appeals 
process. Accordingly, neither the SRC nor the Board will not publish 
rejected appeals.
    Finally, a commenter objected to the ability of the SRC Chairman to 
issue supplemental rules governing the operations of the SRC. The 
commenter argued that while the SRC Chairman may use this authority to 
ensure the SRC appeals process operates efficiently, the broad 
authority to adopt supplemental rules invites potential misuse of that 
authority. The Board disagrees. The substantive appellate rights of 
each FICU are set out in the final rule. The SRC Chairman may not adopt 
any supplemental rules that would limit or alter those rights in any 
way. For example, the SRC Chairman could not adopt a supplemental rule 
that would conflict with the requirement in Sec.  746.107(b) to submit 
certain information as part of an appeal to the SRC. Instead, the SRC 
Chairman may only adopt rules that further define, clarify, or simplify 
the SRC appeals process. For example, the SRC Chairman could adopt a 
supplemental rule to allow a FICU to make an oral presentation through 
video conference rather than in person at NCUA headquarters in 
Alexandria, Virginia. As a result, the Board sees little opportunity 
for the SRC Chairman to misuse the authority to adopt supplemental 
rules and declines to limit the authority of the SRC Chairman to issue 
such rules. Should a FICU believe that a particular rule adopted by the 
SRC Chairman is an inappropriate exercise of the SRC Chairman's 
authority, the FICU may appeal that rule to the Board as part of its 
appeal of the SRC decision.
Section 746.108 Composition of the Supervisory Review Committee
    Proposed Sec.  746.108 set out rules governing the formation and 
composition of the SRC. Under the proposed rule, the NCUA Chairman 
would appoint not less than eight individuals from among the NCUA's 
central and regional offices to serve along with the SRC Chairman as a 
rotating pool from which individual members could be selected by the 
SRC Chairman to serve as the three-member SRC for a particular appeal. 
Each member of the rotating pool, with the exception of the SRC 
Chairman, was to serve a one year term with eligibility to be 
reappointed by the NCUA Chairman for additional terms. Certain 
individuals, however, such as the General Counsel and Executive 
Director, were ineligible to serve as members of the rotating pool and, 
accordingly,

[[Page 50278]]

could not be selected by the SRC Chairman to serve on the SRC for any 
particular appeal.
    The Secretary of the Board was to serve as permanent SRC Chairman 
and the Special Counsel was to serve as a permanent non-voting member 
of each SRC to offer advice to the SRC on procedural and legal matters. 
When selecting SRC members to hear a particular appeal, the SRC 
Chairman was required to consider any real or apparent conflicts of 
interest that could impact the SRC member's objectivity as well as that 
individual's experience with the subject matter of the appeal. Members 
of the program office that rendered the material supervisory 
determination that was the subject of the appeal were ineligible to 
serve as SRC members for that appeal. Likewise, E&I staff were 
ineligible to serve as SRC members for appeals where the FICU appealed 
a decision by the Director of E&I. Commenters generally favored this 
aspect of the proposed rule but raised some concerns and offered 
suggested modifications discussed below. With the exception of a minor 
modification to grant the NCUA additional flexibility and the increase 
of the term limits for members of the rotating pool, the Board is 
adopting Sec.  746.108 as proposed.
Formation and Composition of the Committee Pool
    Proposed Sec.  746.108(a) established a rotating pool of at least 
eight senior staff appointed by the NCUA Chairman from NCUA's central 
and regional offices who may be selected by the SRC Chairman to serve 
on a three-member panel to hear a particular appeal. The Board received 
several comments on this aspect of the proposed rule. One commenter 
requested that the Board include a representative from an SSA as part 
of the rotating pool similar to the representative from the State 
Liaison Committee who serves on the Federal Financial Institutions 
Examination Council (FFIEC).\39\ Another commenter requested that the 
Board allow senior credit union executives to serve as part of the 
rotating pool similar to establishing a jury of credit union peers to 
judge appeals of material supervisory determinations. The Board 
appreciates the commenters' suggestions but believes that review by 
senior NCUA staff who are not involved in the material supervisory 
determination at issue is more consistent with the Riegle Act, which 
requires the Board to establish an independent intra-agency appellate 
process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ 12 U.S.C. 3303(a)(6), 3306.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board is adopting one modification to proposed Sec.  
746.108(a), however, to address the closure and consolidation of 
various program offices to avoid the need for future technical 
corrections to the SRC appeals rule. The proposed rule specifically 
listed several central offices from which the NCUA Chairman could 
select senior staff to serve on the rotating pool. However, on July 21, 
2017, the Board announced a major restructuring initiative including 
the consolidation of two Regional Offices and the creation of the 
Office of Credit Union Resources and Expansion which could eliminate at 
least one central office listed in the proposed rule. Accordingly, the 
Board is modifying Sec.  746.108(a) in the final rule to eliminate any 
reference to specific central offices. Instead, the regulatory text 
will refer, generally, to senior staff in the central and regional 
offices to allow for additional agency flexibility.
Term of Office for Members of the Committee Pool
    Proposed Sec.  746.108(b) limited each member of the rotating pool 
to a one year term with the option of being reappointed by the NCUA 
Chairman for additional terms. This was to ensure greater 
accountability among members of the rotating pool. However, one 
commenter expressed concerns that such an approach could lead to a lack 
of consistency in SRC decisions and requested that the Board modify 
this provision to establish permanent members of the rotating pool with 
the ability to appoint alternatives in the event of a conflict of 
interest. Another commenter requested that the Board adopt a minimum 
five year term for members of the rotating pool. The Board is mindful 
of commenters' concerns regarding the need to retain experienced senior 
staff as part of the rotating pool to ensure greater consistency in SRC 
decisions. Accordingly, the Board is adjusting the term limit in Sec.  
746.108(b) to a two-year term with the option of reappointment by the 
NCUA Chairman after the expiration of the two-year term.
Selection Criteria
    Proposed Sec.  746.108(d) required the SRC Chairman when selecting 
members from the rotating pool to serve as the SRC for a particular 
appeal to consider any real or apparent conflicts of interest that may 
impact the objectivity of the member as well as the individual's 
experience with the subject matter of the appeal. One commenter 
requested that the Board also include language requiring the SRC 
Chairman to also consider any perceived conflict of interest, in 
addition to a real or apparent conflict of interest, in selecting 
members of the rotating pool to hear a particular appeal. Functionally, 
this would allow a FICU to veto the selection of a member of the SRC 
panel that the FICU subjectively feels cannot render an impartial 
decision. While the Board seeks to adopt a process that is transparent 
and provides FICUs enhanced due process, adopting such a subjective 
disqualification standard would unnecessarily complicate the SRC 
appeals process by opening every SRC decision to challenge from a FICU 
that subjectively felt that a particular member of the SRC panel was 
biased against the FICU regardless of any objective evidence to 
indicate a real or potential conflict of interest. Accordingly, the 
Board is adopting Sec.  746.108(d) as proposed.
Section 746.109 Procedures for Appealing to the NCUA Board
    Proposed Sec.  746.109 set out procedures for appealing an adverse 
decision by the SRC to the Board. The proposed rule required a FICU or 
program office to file an appeal within 30 calendar days after 
receiving an adverse decision from the SRC. Under the proposed rule, an 
appeal to the Board was not an automatic right. Instead, the proposed 
rule required at least one Board Member to agree to hear an appeal 
within 20 calendar days of receiving a request for an appeal to the 
Board. If at least one Board Member did not agree to hear an appeal 
within 20 calendar days, the request for an appeal was automatically 
deemed to have been denied. If a FICU or program office failed to file 
an appeal within 30 calendar days after receiving an adverse decision 
from the SRC, the FICU was deemed to have waived all claims pertaining 
the subject matter of the appeal. Consistent with IRPS 12-1, an adverse 
decision by the SRC on the denial of a TAG reimbursement was not 
reviewable by the Board.
    The appeal documents submitted to the Board needed to include a 
statement of the facts on which the appeal was based, a statement of 
the basis for the material supervisory determination to which the FICU 
or program office objected and the alleged error in the determination, 
and (for FICUs) a certification that the FICU's board of directors 
authorized the appeal to be filed with the Board. For a FICU or program 
office requesting an oral hearing, the appeal documents also needed to 
include a separate written document requesting an oral hearing and 
demonstrating good cause why an appeal could not be presented 
adequately in writing. A FICU or program office could amend or

[[Page 50279]]

supplement its appeal in writing within 15 calendar days from the date 
the Secretary of the Board received the appeal. If the FICU amended or 
supplemented its appeal, the program office was permitted to file 
responsive materials within 15 calendar days from the date the 
Secretary of the Board received the amended or supplemental 
information.
    The Board received one substantive comment regarding this aspect of 
the proposed rule. The commenter argued that a FICU should be allowed 
to appeal all adverse decisions from the SRC to the Board as a matter 
of right rather than at the discretion of one Board Member. The 
commenter reasoned that requiring the Board to hear all appeals would 
serve an important agency goal of alerting the Board to emerging trends 
in supervisory policy.\40\ The Board disagrees. As the Board stated in 
the preamble to the proposed rule, the purpose of this provision is to 
reserve Board review only for those cases involving significant issues 
of supervisory policy that cannot be addressed at a lower appellate 
level or that may require further Board action such a rulemaking to 
clarify an ambiguity in one of the NCUA's regulations.\41\ For all 
other supervisory issues, the Director of E&I, the central office 
responsible for supervisory policy, is in the best position to respond 
to emerging trends through the issuance of guidance documents. 
Accordingly, the Board is adopting Sec.  746.109 as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ The commenter also suggested that the Board does not have 
the authority to delegate the ability to render a final agency 
decision to a subordinate official. It is a settled principle of 
Federal administrative law that a Federal agency has the authority 
to subdelegate responsibilities to a subordinate official absent 
affirmative evidence of a contrary Congressional intent. See U.S. 
Telecom. Ass'n v. F.C.C., 359 F.3d 554, 565 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (citing 
United States v. Giordano, 416 U.S. 505 (1974)).
    \41\ 82 FR 26391, 26397 (June 7, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 746.110 Administration of the Appeal
    Proposed Sec.  746.110 set out procedures for appealing an adverse 
decision from the SRC to the Board based solely on the written record. 
Under the proposed rule, the Board or the Special Counsel could request 
additional information to be provided in writing from either party 
within 15 calendar days after: (1) Either the FICU or the program 
office filed an appeal with the Secretary of the Board; (2) either the 
FICU or the program office filed an amendment or supplemental 
information; or (3) either the FICU or the program office filed 
responsive materials, whichever was later. The Board was required to 
reach a decision within 90 calendar days from the date of receipt of 
the appeal. If a written decision was not issued within 90 calendar 
days, the appeal was automatically deemed to have been denied. The 
proposed rule also required the Board to publish its decisions on the 
NCUA's Web site with appropriate redactions to protect confidential or 
exempt information. In cases where redaction was insufficient to 
prevent improper disclosure, published decisions could be presented in 
summary form. The Board did not receive substantive comments on this 
aspect of the proposed rule and is adopting Sec.  746.110 with a slight 
modification to the provision regarding publication of decisions as 
discussed in the section analysis of Sec.  746.107.
Section 746.111 Oral Hearing
    Proposed Sec.  746.111 set out procedures for appealing an adverse 
decision from the SRC to the Board through an oral hearing. Under the 
proposed rule, a petitioner was required to request an oral hearing 
before the Board as part of the initial appeal documents submitted in 
accordance with Sec.  746.109. The proposed rule required the request 
for an oral hearing to take the form of a separate written document 
titled ``Request for Oral Hearing'' and show good cause why the appeal 
could not be presented adequately in writing. Similar to a decision to 
hear an appeal, the proposed rule required at least one Board Member to 
approve an oral hearing within 20 days after receiving the request for 
an oral hearing and direct the Secretary of the Board to serve notice 
of the Board's determination in writing to both the FICU and the 
program office. In the event that a request for an oral hearing was 
denied, the Board could review an appeal based entirely on the written 
record provided that at least one Board Member agreed to hear the 
appeal.
    The proposed rule required the Secretary of the Board to notify the 
parties of the date and time for the oral hearing making sure to 
provide reasonable lead time and scheduling accommodations. In most 
cases the oral hearing was to be held at NCUA headquarters in 
Alexandria, Virginia. However, the proposed rule allowed the NCUA 
Chairman to permit an oral hearing to be conducted through 
teleconference or video conference in his or her sole discretion. The 
parties were required to submit a notice of appearance identifying the 
individuals who would be representing them in the oral hearing with 
each party designating no more than two individuals without the prior 
consent of the NCUA Chairman. The oral hearing was to consistent 
entirely of oral presentations. The proposed rule expressly prohibited 
the introduction of written evidence or witness testimony at the oral 
hearing. The proposed rule also required the oral hearing to be on the 
record and transcribed by a stenographer, who was to prepare a 
transcript of the proceedings. Finally, the proposed rule required the 
Board to maintain the confidentiality of any information or materials 
submitted in the course of the proceedings subject to applicable 
Federal disclosure laws.
    The Board received one comment on this specific aspect of the 
proposed rule. The commenter raised concerns regarding the limitation 
on the introduction of written evidence or witness testimony at the 
oral hearing. The commenter argued that an oral presentation cannot 
provide the same level of detail as a written brief on the merits of a 
particular appeal and, therefore, the Board should permit the 
introduction of written evidence at the oral hearing. Furthermore, the 
commenter argued that the Board should permit witness testimony, where 
appropriate, to accommodate circumstances where an expert may have 
special knowledge that could assist the Board with a particular appeal. 
The commenter's arguments are misplaced. The proposed rule did not 
prohibit the submission of a written brief on the merits or expert 
testimony. Instead, the proposed rule simply required a written brief 
or expert testimony to be submitted as part of the initial appeal 
documents provided to the Secretary of the Board in accordance with 
Sec.  746.109. The purpose of the prohibition on submitting written 
evidence or witness testimony at the oral hearing was to avoid 
conducting a full administrative trial in front of the Board. Rather, 
the Board was to serve as an appellate body hearing oral arguments and 
deciding a case on the administrative record and the written 
submissions of the parties, which could include written briefs and 
expert testimony presented before the oral hearing.
    The Board is not convinced that a full administrative trial, 
including the submission of written evidence and witness testimony, is 
necessary to provide FICUs with enhanced due process. At various stages 
of the SRC appeals process, a FICU will have the opportunity to provide 
the appropriate reviewing authority with written and oral evidence 
which may include written briefs or expert testimony. This information 
should already be part of the administrative record presented to

[[Page 50280]]

the Board on appeal and it would be unnecessarily duplicative to allow 
the reintroduction of this kind of evidence at an oral hearing. The 
Board has reserved ample authority, either on its own initiative or 
through the Special Counsel, to request additional information from an 
expert witness or to request supplemental briefings from either party. 
Furthermore, allowing a full administrative trial would frustrate the 
overarching policy goal of the SRC appeals process to allow a FICU with 
an expeditious and fair method for appealing material supervisory 
determinations while also encouraging the FICU to work out most 
disputes at the examiner or program office-level. Accordingly, the 
Board is adopting Sec.  746.111 as proposed.
Section 746.112 Retaliation Prohibited
    Proposed Sec.  746.112 allowed a FICU to file a complaint with the 
NCUA Office of Inspector General regarding retaliation, abuse, or 
retribution by NCUA staff in connection with an appeal to the SRC. The 
proposed rule required a complaint to include an explanation of the 
factual circumstances surrounding the complaint and any evidence of 
retaliation. Information submitted as part of a complaint would be kept 
strictly confidential. If the Office of Inspector General concluded 
that any NCUA staff had retaliated against a FICU for filing an appeal 
with the SRC, that staff member would be subject to disciplinary or 
remedial action by his or her appropriate supervisor including 
reprimand, suspension, or separation from employment depending on the 
facts and circumstances. The Board did not receive substantive comments 
on this aspect of the proposed rule and is adopting Sec.  746.112 as 
proposed.
Section 746.113 Coordination With State Supervisory Authority
    Proposed Sec.  746.113 set out a framework for the appropriate 
reviewing authority to cooperate with the SSA regarding an appeal of a 
material supervisory determination by a FISCU that was the joint 
product of the NCUA and the SSA. The proposed rule required the 
reviewing authority to promptly notify the SSA of the appeal, provide 
the SSA with a copy of the appeal and any other related materials, 
solicit the SSA's views regarding the merits of the appeal before 
rendering a decision, and notify the SSA of the reviewing authority's 
decision. Once the NCUA reviewing authority had issued its decision, 
any other issues remaining between the FISCU and the SSA were left to 
those parties to resolve. The Board received one comment regarding this 
aspect of the proposed rule. The commenter argued that the Board should 
permit an SSA to comment on an appeal in all cases involving a FISCU 
and not only when the appeal involves a material supervisory 
determination that is the joint product of the NCUA and the SSA. The 
Board disagrees. Congress vested the NCUA with exclusive authority to 
administer the FCU Act.\42\ Accordingly, the Board believes that it 
would be inappropriate to allow an SSA to comment on matters that fall 
exclusively within the NCUA's exercise of its supervisory powers under 
the FCU Act. As a practical matter, the Board also finds little value 
in soliciting input from an SSA on matters that involve legal or 
factual issues that are entirely the result of an NCUA examination or 
exclusively involve matters of Federal law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ 12 U.S.C. 1766, 1784, 1789, and 1795b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The commenter also argued that the Board should permit an SSA to 
make written submissions similar to amicus briefs that would become 
part of the administrative record. The proposed rule did not prohibit 
an SSA from expressing its views regarding the merits of an appeal in 
the form of written submissions. In fact, the Board anticipated that 
most comments from an SSA would be submitted in writing and become part 
of the administrative record reviewed by each successive reviewing 
authority before rendering a decision on appeal. While the Board 
believes that clarifications regarding the administrative record 
discussed above in the section analysis of Sec.  746.104 may be 
sufficient to address commenter's concerns, the Board is also adopting 
a modification to Sec.  746.113 to clarify that a reviewing authority 
is required to solicit an SSA's written views regarding the merits of 
an appeal before rendering a decision. Under Sec.  746.104(f), the 
written submissions of the SSA will become part of the administrative 
record reviewed on appeal by the appropriate reviewing authority.

VI. Withdrawal of IRPS 12-1 ``Supervisory Review Committee''

    IRPS 11-1 ``Supervisory Review Committee,'' as amended by IRPS 12-
1, sets out the current guidelines for appealing a material supervisory 
determination to the SRC. With the issuance of this final rule, the 
Board is withdrawing IRPS 11-1 effective January 1, 2018. IRPS 11-1 
shall remain on the NCUA's Web site and govern the appeal of all 
material supervisory determinations appealed prior to January 1, 2018. 
The final rule will not have retroactive effect and will only apply to 
material supervisory determinations appealed after January 1, 2018.

VII. Regulatory Procedures

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires NCUA to prepare an analysis 
to describe any significant economic impact a regulation may have on a 
substantial number of small entities (primarily those under $100 
million in assets).\43\ This rule has no economic impact on small 
credit unions because it only impacts internal NCUA procedures and 
provides voluntary options for credit unions. Accordingly, NCUA 
certifies the final rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small credit unions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 
(Pub. L. 104-121) (SBREFA) provides generally for congressional review 
of agency rules. A reporting requirement is triggered in instances 
where NCUA issues a final rule as defined by Section 551 of the 
Administrative Procedure Act. NCUA does not believe this final rule is 
a ``major rule'' within the meaning of the relevant sections of SBREFA. 
As required by SBREFA, NCUA has filed the appropriate reports so that 
this final rule may be reviewed.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency by rule creates a new paperwork burden on regulated 
entities or increases an existing burden.\44\ For purposes of the PRA, 
a paperwork burden may take the form of a reporting or recordkeeping 
requirement, both referred to as information collections. Information 
collected as part of a civil action or administrative action, 
investigation, or audit, however, is not considered an information 
collection for purposes of the PRA. Subpart A to part 746 establishes 
procedures for appealing material supervisory determinations to the 
NCUA Supervisory Review Committee. Because the only paperwork burden in 
this final rule relates to activities that are not considered to be 
information collections, NCUA has determined that this rule is exempt 
from the requirements of the PRA.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
    \45\ 44 U.S.C. 3518(c)(1)(B)(ii).

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[[Page 50281]]

Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The NCUA has determined that this final rule will not affect family 
well-being within the meaning of section 654 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.\46\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ Public Law 105-277, section 654, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681-581 
(1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on State and local interests.\47\ 
The NCUA, an independent regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 
3502(5), voluntarily complies with the executive order to adhere to 
fundamental federalism principles. The final rule will not have 
substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship between 
the National Government and the states, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The NCUA 
has therefore determined that this final rule does not constitute a 
policy that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive 
order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 746

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Credit Unions, 
Investigations.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on October 19, 
2017.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons discussed above, the NCUA Board adds 12 CFR part 
746 to read as follows:

PART 746--APPEALS PROCEDURES

Subpart A--Procedures for Appealing Material Supervisory Determinations
Sec.
746.101 Authority, purpose, and scope.
746.102 Definitions.
746.103 Material supervisory determinations.
746.104 General provisions.
746.105 Procedures for reconsideration from the appropriate program 
office.
746.106 Procedures for requesting review by the Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance.
746.107 Procedures for appealing to the Supervisory Review 
Committee.
746.108 Composition of Supervisory Review Committee.
746.109 Procedures for appealing to the NCUA Board.
746.110 Administration of the appeal.
746.111 Oral hearing.
746.112 Retaliation prohibited.
746.113 Coordination with State supervisory authority.
Subpart B [Reserved]

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1766, 1787, and 1789.

Subpart A--Procedures for Appealing Material Supervisory 
Determinations


Sec.  746.101  Authority, purpose, and scope.

    (a) Authority. This subpart is issued pursuant to section 309 of 
the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 
(12 U.S.C. 4806), which requires the NCUA Board to establish an 
independent intra-agency appeals process to review appeals of material 
supervisory determinations made by NCUA staff, and sections 120 and 209 
of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1766, 1789).
    (b) Purpose. The purpose of this subpart is to establish an 
expeditious review process for insured credit unions to appeal material 
supervisory determinations made by NCUA staff to an independent 
supervisory panel and, if applicable, to the NCUA Board. This subpart 
is also intended to establish appropriate safeguards for protecting 
insured credit unions from retaliation by NCUA staff.
    (c) Scope. This subpart applies to the appeal of material 
supervisory determinations made by NCUA staff. This subpart does not 
apply to the appeal of determinations for which an independent right to 
appeal exists such as a decision to appoint a conservator or 
liquidating agent for an insured credit union or to take prompt 
corrective action pursuant to section 216 of the Federal Credit Union 
Act (12 U.S.C. 1790d) and part 702 of this chapter. This subpart also 
does not apply to enforcement-related actions and decisions, including 
determinations and the underlying facts and circumstances that form the 
basis of a pending enforcement action.


Sec.  746.102  Definitions.

    For purposes of this subpart:
    Board means the NCUA Board.
    Committee means the Supervisory Review Committee.
    Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance has the same 
meaning as used in Sec.  790.2 of this chapter but also includes 
individuals designated by the Director of the Office of Examination and 
Insurance from among senior staff in the Office of Examination and 
Insurance to handle requests for review pursuant to Sec.  746.106 of 
this subpart.
    Material Supervisory Determination is defined in Sec.  746.103 of 
this subpart.
    Program office means the office within NCUA responsible for 
rendering a material supervisory determination.
    Special Counsel to the General Counsel or Special Counsel means an 
individual within the Office of General Counsel providing legal or 
procedural advice to the Committee in accordance with the procedures 
set forth in this subpart.


Sec.  746.103  Material supervisory determinations.

    (a) Material supervisory determination. The term ``material 
supervisory determination'' means a written decision by a program 
office (unless ineligible for appeal) that may significantly affect the 
capital, earnings, operating flexibility, or that may otherwise affect 
the nature or level of supervisory oversight of an insured credit 
union. The term includes, but is not limited to:
    (1) A composite examination rating of 3, 4, or 5;
    (2) A determination relating to the adequacy of loan loss reserve 
provisions;
    (3) The classification of loans and other assets that are 
significant to an insured credit union;
    (4) A determination regarding an insured credit union's compliance 
with Federal consumer financial law;
    (5) A determination on a waiver request or an application for 
additional authority where independent appeal procedures have not been 
specified in other NCUA regulations; and
    (6) A determination by the relevant reviewing authority that an 
appeal filed under this subchapter does not raise a material 
supervisory determination.
    (b) Exclusions from coverage. The term ``material supervisory 
determination'' does not include:
    (1) A composite examination rating of 1 or 2;
    (2) A component examination rating unless the component rating has 
a significant adverse effect on the nature or level of supervisory 
oversight of an insured credit union;
    (3) The scope and timing of supervisory contacts;
    (4) A decision to appoint a conservator or liquidating agent for an 
insured credit union;
    (5) A decision to take prompt corrective action pursuant to section 
216 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1790d) and part 702 of 
this chapter;
    (6) Enforcement-related actions and decisions, including 
determinations and the underlying facts and circumstances that form the 
basis of a pending enforcement action;
    (7) Preliminary examination conclusions communicated to an insured 
credit union before a final exam

[[Page 50282]]

report or other written communication is issued;
    (8) Formal and informal rulemakings pursuant to the Administrative 
Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 500 et seq.);
    (9) Requests for NCUA records or information under the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and part 792 of this chapter and the 
submission of information to NCUA that is governed by this statute and 
this regulation; and
    (10) Determinations for which other appeals procedures exist.


Sec.  746.104  General provisions.

    (a) Standard of review. Each reviewing authority shall make an 
independent decision regarding whether a material supervisory 
determination by the program office subject to appeal was appropriate. 
The reviewing authority shall give no deference to the legal or factual 
conclusions of the program office or a subordinate reviewing authority; 
provided, however, that the burden of showing an error in a material 
supervisory determination shall rest solely with the insured credit 
union. An insured credit union shall not be prejudiced in any respect 
by electing to forgo optional review by the Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance pursuant to Sec.  746.106 of this subpart.
    (b) Dismissal and withdrawal. Any appeal under this subpart may be 
dismissed by written notice if it is not timely filed; if the basis for 
the appeal is not discernable; if an insured credit union asks to 
withdraw the request in writing; if an insured credit union fails to 
provide additional information requested pursuant to any authority 
granted in this subpart; if an insured credit union engages in bad 
faith; if the appeal fails to state a material supervisory 
determination as defined in Sec.  746.103 of this subpart; or for 
reasons deemed appropriate by the reviewing authority.
    (c) Discovery. No provision of this subpart is intended to create 
any right to discovery or similar process.
    (d) Supervisory or enforcement actions not affected. No provision 
of this subpart is intended to affect, delay, or impede any formal or 
informal supervisory or enforcement action in progress or affect NCUA's 
authority to take any supervisory or enforcement action against an 
insured credit union. For purposes of this subpart, a supervisory or 
enforcement action is considered to be commenced when NCUA provides an 
insured credit union with written notice of a recommended or proposed 
enforcement action under the Federal Credit Union Act or other 
applicable law.
    (e) Additional authority and waiver requests during the pendency of 
an appeal. A program office will not consider a waiver request or an 
application for additional authority that could be affected by the 
outcome of an appeal of a material supervisory determination unless 
specifically requested by an insured credit union appealing the 
material supervisory determination. Any deadline for a program office 
to decide a waiver request or an application for additional authority 
set forth in any part of this chapter shall be suspended until an 
insured credit union appealing a material supervisory determination has 
exhausted its administrative remedies under this subpart or may no 
longer appeal the material supervisory determination, whichever is 
later.
    (f) Administrative record. A decision by the reviewing authority 
pursuant to this subpart shall be based exclusively on the 
administrative record. The administrative record shall consist of all 
written submissions by an insured credit union and a program office, 
decisions by subordinate reviewing authorities, and (where applicable) 
transcripts of an oral hearing before the SRC. For appeals where 
consultation with the appropriate State supervisory authority is 
required pursuant to Sec.  746.113, the administrative record shall 
also consist of any written submissions by the State supervisory 
authority.


Sec.  746.105  Procedures for reconsideration from the appropriate 
program office.

    (a) Reconsideration. An insured credit union must make a written 
request for reconsideration from the appropriate program office prior 
to requesting review by the Director of the Office of Examination and 
Insurance pursuant to Sec.  746.106 or filing an appeal with the 
Committee pursuant to Sec.  746.107. Such a request must be made within 
30 calendar days after receiving an examination report containing a 
material supervisory determination or other official written 
communication of a material supervisory determination. A request for 
reconsideration must be in writing and filed with the appropriate 
program office.
    (b) Content of request. Any request for reconsideration must 
include:
    (1) A statement of the facts on which the request for 
reconsideration is based;
    (2) A statement of the basis for the material supervisory 
determination to which the insured credit union objects and the alleged 
error in such determination; and
    (3) Any other evidence relied upon by the insured credit union that 
was not previously provided to the appropriate program office making 
the material supervisory determination.
    (c) Decision. Within 30 calendar days after receiving a request for 
reconsideration, the appropriate program office shall issue a written 
decision, stating the reasons for the decision, and provide written 
notice of the right to file a request for review by the Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance pursuant to Sec.  746.106 or file 
an appeal with the Committee pursuant to Sec.  746.107. If a written 
decision is not issued within 30 calendar days, the request for 
reconsideration will be deemed to have been denied.
    (d) Subsequent requests for reconsideration. Any subsequent request 
for reconsideration following an initial request made pursuant to this 
section will be treated as a request for review by the Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance pursuant to Sec.  746.106 or an 
appeal to the Committee pursuant to Sec.  746.107 as determined by the 
Secretary of the Board after consultation with the insured credit 
union.


Sec.  746.106  Procedures for requesting review by the Director of 
Office of Examination and Insurance.

    (a) Request for review. Prior to filing an appeal with the 
Committee pursuant to Sec.  746.107, but after receiving a written 
decision by the appropriate program office in response to a request for 
reconsideration pursuant to Sec.  746.105, an insured credit union may 
make a written request for review by the Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance of the program office's material supervisory 
determination. Such a request must be made within 30 calendar days 
after a final decision on reconsideration is made by the appropriate 
program office. A request for review must be in writing and filed with 
the Secretary of the Board, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 
Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428.
    (b) Content of request. Any request for review by an insured credit 
union must include:
    (1) A statement that the insured credit union is requesting review 
by the Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance;
    (2) A statement of the facts on which the request for review is 
based;
    (3) A statement of the basis for the material supervisory 
determination to which the insured credit union objects and the alleged 
error in such determination;

[[Page 50283]]

    (4) Any other evidence relied upon by the insured credit union that 
was not previously provided to the appropriate program office making 
the material supervisory determination; and
    (5) A certification that the board of directors of the insured 
credit union has authorized the request for review to be filed.
    (c) Conduct of review. Review of a material supervisory 
determination shall be based on the written submissions provided under 
paragraph (b) of this section. The Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance may request additional information from the 
appropriate program office or the insured credit union within 15 
calendar days after the Secretary of the Board receives a request for 
review by the Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance. The 
relevant party must submit the requested information to the Director of 
the Office of Examination and Insurance within 15 calendar days after 
receiving such request for additional information. The Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance may consult with the parties 
jointly or separately before rendering a decision and may solicit input 
from any other pertinent program office as necessary.
    (d) Decision. Within 30 calendar days after the Secretary of the 
Board receives a request for review, the Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance shall issue a written decision, stating the 
reasons for the decision, and provide written notice of the right to 
file an appeal with the Committee pursuant to Sec.  746.107. The 30 
calendar day deadline is extended by the time period during which the 
Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance is gathering 
additional information. If a written decision is not issued within 30 
calendar days, as extended by additional time during which the 
information is being gathered, the request for review will be deemed to 
have been denied.
    (e) Subsequent requests for review. No party may request 
reconsideration of the decision rendered by the Director of the Office 
of Examination and Insurance. Any subsequent request for review 
following the rendering of a decision by the Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance will be treated as an appeal to the 
Committee.


Sec.  746.107  Procedures for appealing to the Supervisory Review 
Committee.

    (a) Request for appeal. After receiving a written decision by the 
appropriate program office in response to a request for reconsideration 
pursuant to Sec.  746.105, an insured credit union may file an appeal 
with the Committee. Such an appeal must be filed within 30 calendar 
days after receiving a written decision by the appropriate program 
office on reconsideration or, if the insured credit union requests 
review by the Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance 
pursuant to Sec.  746.106, within 30 calendar days after a final 
decision is made by the Director of the Office of Examination and 
Insurance. An appeal must be in writing and filed with the Secretary of 
the Board, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, 
Alexandria, VA 22314-3428.
    (b) Content of appeal. Any appeal must include:
    (1) A statement that the insured credit union is filing an appeal 
with the Committee;
    (2) A statement of the facts on which the appeal is based;
    (3) A statement of the basis for the determination to which the 
insured credit union objects and the alleged error in such 
determination;
    (4) Any other evidence relied upon by the insured credit union that 
was not previously provided to the appropriate program office or, if 
applicable, the Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance; 
and
    (5) A certification that the board of directors of the insured 
credit union has authorized the appeal to be filed.
    (c) Conduct of appeal. The following procedures shall govern the 
conduct of an appeal to the Committee:
    (1) Submission of written materials. The Committee may request 
additional information from either of the parties within 15 calendar 
days after the filing of an appeal. The parties must submit the 
requested information to the Committee within 15 calendar days after 
receiving a request for additional information.
    (2) Oral hearing; duration; location. Except where an insured 
credit union has requested that an appeal be based entirely on the 
written record, an appeal shall also consist of oral presentations to 
the Committee at NCUA headquarters. The introduction of written 
evidence or witness testimony may also be permitted at the oral 
hearing. The insured credit union shall argue first. Each side shall be 
allotted a specified and equal amount of time for its presentation, of 
which a portion may be reserved for purposes of rebuttal. This time 
limit shall be set by the Committee and will be based on the complexity 
of the appeal. Committee members may ask questions of any individual 
appearing before it.
    (3) Appearances; representation. The parties shall submit a notice 
of appearance identifying the individual(s) who will be representing 
them in the oral presentation. The insured credit union shall designate 
not more than two officers, employees, or other representatives 
including counsel, unless authorized by the Committee. The program 
office shall designate not more than two individuals, one of whom may 
be an enforcement attorney from NCUA's Office of General Counsel, 
unless authorized by the Committee.
    (d) Decision. Within 30 calendar days after the oral presentation 
of the appeal to the Committee, the Committee shall issue a decision in 
writing, stating the reasons for the decision, and provide the insured 
credit union with written notice of the right to file an appeal with 
the NCUA Board (if applicable). If an insured credit union has 
requested that an appeal be entirely based on the written record, the 
Committee shall issue a decision within 30 calendar days from the date 
of receipt of an appeal by the Secretary of the Board. The 30 calendar 
day deadline to decide an appeal based entirely on the written record 
is extended by any time period during which the Committee is gathering 
additional information pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this section.
    (e) Publication. The Committee shall publish its decisions on 
NCUA's Web site with appropriate redactions to protect confidential or 
exempt information. In cases where redaction is insufficient to prevent 
improper disclosure, published decisions may be presented in summary 
form. Published decisions may be cited as precedent in appeals to the 
Committee. Publication shall include a synopsis of each appeal and a 
summary of the final result.
    (f) Consultation with Office of Examination and Insurance or Office 
of General Counsel Required. If an appeal involves the interpretation 
of material supervisory policy or generally accepted accounting 
principles, the Committee shall notify the Director of the Office of 
Examination and Insurance of the appeal and solicit input from the 
Office of Examination and Insurance. If an appeal involves the 
interpretation of legal requirements, including NCUA's regulations, the 
Committee shall notify the General Counsel of the appeal and solicit 
input from the Office of General Counsel.
    (g) Supplemental procedures authorized. In addition to the 
procedures contained in this subpart, the Committee Chairman may adopt 
supplemental procedures governing the operations of the Committee, 
order that material be kept confidential, or consolidate appeals that 
present similar issues of law or fact.

[[Page 50284]]

Sec.  746.108  Composition of Supervisory Review Committee.

    (a) Formation and composition of committee pool. The NCUA Chairman 
shall select not less than eight members from among senior staff in 
NCUA's regional and central offices as a Committee pool from which the 
Committee Chairman may select Committee members. None of the members 
appointed by the NCUA Chairman shall also serve as a Regional Director, 
Associate Regional Director, Executive Director, Deputy Executive 
Director, General Counsel, Director of the Office of Examination and 
Insurance, or a senior policy advisor or chief of staff to a Board 
Member.
    (b) Term of office for members of Committee pool. Each member of 
the Committee pool shall serve for a two-year term and may be 
reappointed by the NCUA Chairman for additional terms.
    (c) Designation and role of Committee Chairman. The Secretary of 
the Board shall serve as permanent Committee Chairman. The Committee 
Chairman shall be responsible for designating three Committee members 
(one of whom may be the Committee Chairman) from among the Committee 
pool to hear a particular appeal.
    (d) Selection criteria. When selecting Committee members to hear an 
appeal pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, the Committee 
Chairman shall consider any real or apparent conflicts of interest that 
may impact the objectivity of the Committee member as well as that 
individual's experience with the subject matter of the appeal.
    (e) Interested staff ineligible. Members of the Committee pool from 
the program office that made the material supervisory determination 
that is the subject of the appeal are ineligible to serve on the 
Committee for that appeal. Members of the Committee pool from the 
Office of Examination and Insurance are ineligible to serve on the 
Committee for appeals where the insured credit union previously 
requested review by the Director of the Office of Examination and 
Insurance pursuant to Sec.  746.106.
    (f) Role of the Special Counsel. The Special Counsel to the General 
Counsel shall serve as a permanent nonvoting member of the Committee to 
advise on procedural and legal matters.
    (g) Quorum; meetings. A quorum of two Committee members (excluding 
the Special Counsel to the General Counsel) shall be present at each 
Committee meeting and a majority vote of a quorum is required for an 
action on an appeal. Meetings of the Committee will not be open to the 
public.


Sec.  746.109  Procedures for appealing to the NCUA Board.

    (a) Request for appeal. An insured credit union may file an appeal 
with the Board challenging a decision by the Committee within 30 
calendar days after receiving that decision. An appeal must be in 
writing and filed with the Secretary of the Board, National Credit 
Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428.
    (b) Granting an appeal. At least one Board Member must agree to 
consider an appeal from a decision by the Committee. If a request for 
an oral hearing pursuant to Sec.  746.111 is granted, the Secretary of 
the Board will notify the parties of the time and location where the 
oral hearing shall be heard. Except in unusual circumstances, any 
appeal shall be held at NCUA headquarters. If at least one Board Member 
does not agree to consider an appeal from a decision by the Committee 
within 20 days of receiving a request, the request will be deemed to 
have been denied.
    (c) Failure to file a timely appeal. An insured credit union that 
fails to file an appeal within the specified 30-day period shall be 
deemed to have waived all claims pertaining to the matters in issue.
    (d) Certain actions not reviewable. Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this subpart, Committee decisions on the denial of a 
technical assistance grant reimbursement are final decisions of NCUA 
and may not be appealed to the Board.
    (e) Content of appeal. Any request for appeal must include:
    (1) A statement of the facts on which the appeal is based;
    (2) A statement of the basis for the determination to which the 
insured credit union objects and the alleged error in such 
determination; and
    (3) A certification that the board of directors of the insured 
credit union has authorized the appeal to be filed.
    (f) Amending or supplementing the appeal. The insured credit union 
may amend or supplement the appeal in writing within 15 calendar days 
from the date the Secretary of the Board receives an appeal. If the 
insured credit union amends or supplements the appeal, the program 
office will be permitted to file responsive materials within 15 
calendar days.
    (g) Request for oral hearing. In accordance with Sec.  746.111, the 
insured credit union may request an opportunity to appear before the 
Board to make an oral presentation in support of the appeal.


Sec.  746.110  Administration of the appeal.

    (a) Conduct of appeal. Except as otherwise provided in Sec.  
746.111, the following procedures shall govern the conduct of an appeal 
to the Board:
    (1) Review based on written record. The appeal of a material 
supervisory determination shall be entirely based on the written 
record.
    (2) Submission of written materials. The Board or the Special 
Counsel to the General Counsel may request additional information to be 
provided in writing from either of the parties within 15 calendar days 
after the filing of an appeal, any amendments or supplementary 
information to the appeal documents by the insured credit union, or any 
responsive materials by the program office, whichever is later. The 
parties must submit the requested information to the Board or the 
Special Counsel within 15 calendar days of receiving a request for 
additional information.
    (b) Decision. The Board shall issue a decision within 90 calendar 
days, unless there is an oral hearing, from the date of receipt of an 
appeal by the Secretary of the Board. The decision by the Board shall 
be in writing, stating the reasons for the decision, and shall 
constitute a final agency action for purposes of chapter 7 of title 5 
of the United States Code. Failure by the Board to issue a decision on 
an appeal within the 90-day period, unless there is an oral hearing, 
shall be deemed to be a denial of the appeal.
    (c) Publication. The Board shall publish its decisions on NCUA's 
Web site with appropriate redactions to protect confidential or exempt 
information. In cases where redaction is insufficient to prevent 
improper disclosure, published decisions may be presented in summary 
form. Published decisions may be cited as precedent. Publication shall 
include a synopsis of each appeal and a summary of the final result.


Sec.  746.111  Oral hearing.

    (a) Request for oral hearing. The insured credit union may request 
to appear before the Board to make an oral presentation in support of 
the appeal. The request must be submitted with the initial appeal 
documents and should be in the form of a separate written document 
titled ``Request for Oral Hearing.'' The request must show good cause 
for an oral presentation and state reasons why the appeal cannot be 
presented adequately in writing.
    (b) Action on the request. The Board shall determine whether to 
grant the request for oral hearing and shall direct the Secretary of 
the Board to serve

[[Page 50285]]

notice of the Board's determination in writing to the parties. A 
request for oral hearing shall be granted with the approval of any 
Board Member within 20 days of receiving a request for an oral hearing.
    (c) Effect of denial. In the event a request for an oral hearing is 
denied, the appeal shall be reviewed by the Board on the basis of the 
written record.
    (d) Procedures for oral hearing. The following procedures shall 
govern the conduct of any oral hearing:
    (1) Scheduling of oral hearing; location. The Secretary of the 
Board shall notify the parties of the date and time for the oral 
hearing, making sure to provide reasonable lead time and schedule 
accommodations. The oral hearing will be held at NCUA headquarters; 
provided, however, that on its own initiative or at the request of the 
insured credit union, the NCUA Chairman may in his or her sole 
discretion allow for an oral hearing to be conducted via teleconference 
or video conference facilities.
    (2) Appearances; representation. The parties shall submit a notice 
of appearance identifying the individual(s) who will be representing 
them in the oral presentation. The insured credit union shall designate 
not more than two officers, employees, or other representatives 
including counsel, unless authorized by the NCUA Chairman. The program 
office shall designate not more than two individuals one of whom may be 
an enforcement attorney from NCUA's Office of General Counsel, unless 
authorized by the NCUA Chairman.
    (3) Conduct of oral hearing. The oral hearing shall consist 
entirely of oral presentations. The introduction of written evidence or 
witness testimony shall not be permitted at the oral hearing. The 
insured credit union shall argue first. Each side shall be allotted a 
specified and equal amount of time for its presentation, of which a 
portion may be reserved for purposes of rebuttal. This time limit shall 
be set by the Board and will be based on the complexity of the appeal. 
Members of the Board may ask questions of any individual appearing 
before the Board.
    (4) Transcript. The oral hearing shall be on the record and 
transcribed by a stenographer, who will prepare a transcript of the 
proceedings. The stenographer will make the transcript available to the 
insured credit union upon payment of the cost thereof.
    (e) Confidentiality. An oral hearing as provided for herein 
constitutes a meeting of the Board within the meaning of the Government 
in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b). The Chairman shall preside over 
the conduct of the oral hearing. The meeting will be closed to the 
public to the extent that one or more of the exemptions from public 
meetings apply as certified by NCUA's Office of General Counsel. The 
Board shall maintain the confidentiality of any information or 
materials submitted or otherwise obtained in the course of the 
procedures outlined herein, subject to applicable law and regulations.
    (f) Conclusion of the oral hearing. The Board shall take the oral 
presentations under advisement. The Board shall render its decision on 
the appeal in accordance with Sec.  746.110.


Sec.  746.112  Retaliation prohibited.

    (a) Retaliation prohibited. NCUA staff may not retaliate against an 
insured credit union making any type of appeal. Alleged acts of 
retaliation should be reported to the NCUA Office of Inspector General, 
which is authorized to receive and investigate complaints and other 
information regarding abuse in agency programs and operations.
    (b) Submission of complaints. Insured credit unions may submit 
complaints of suspected retaliation to the NCUA Office of Inspector 
General, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428. Complaints should 
include an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the complaint 
and evidence of any retaliation. Information submitted as part of a 
complaint shall be kept confidential.
    (c) Disciplinary action. Any retaliation by NCUA staff will subject 
the employee to appropriate disciplinary or remedial action by the 
appropriate supervisor. Such disciplinary or remedial action may 
include oral or written warning or admonishment, reprimand, suspension 
or separation from employment, change in assigned duties, or 
disqualification from a particular assignment, including prohibition 
from participating in any examination of the insured credit union that 
was the subject of the retaliation.


Sec.  746.113  Coordination with State supervisory authority.

    (a) Coordination when request for review by the Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance filed. In the event that a material 
supervisory determination subject to a request for review by the 
Director of the Office of Examination and Insurance is the joint 
product of NCUA and a State supervisory authority, the Director of the 
Office of Examination and Insurance will promptly notify the 
appropriate State supervisory authority of the request for review, 
provide the State supervisory authority with a copy of the request for 
review and any other related materials, solicit the State supervisory 
authority's views regarding the merits of the request for review before 
making a determination, and notify the State supervisory authority of 
the Director's determination.
    (b) Coordination when appeal to Supervisory Review Committee filed. 
In the event that a material supervisory determination appealed to the 
Committee is the joint product of NCUA and a State supervisory 
authority, the Committee will promptly notify the State supervisory 
authority of the appeal, provide the State supervisory authority with a 
copy of the appeal and any other related materials, solicit the State 
supervisory authority's views regarding the merits of the appeal before 
making a determination, and notify the State supervisory authority of 
the Committee's determination. Once the Committee has issued its 
determination, any other issues that may remain between the insured 
credit union and the State supervisory authority will be left to those 
parties to resolve.
    (c) Coordination when appeal to board filed. In the event that a 
material supervisory determination appealed to the Board is the joint 
product of NCUA and a State supervisory authority, the Board will 
promptly notify the State supervisory authority of the appeal, provide 
the State supervisory authority with a copy of the appeal and any other 
related materials, solicit the State supervisory authority's views 
regarding the merits of the appeal before making a determination, and 
notify the State supervisory authority of the Board's determination. 
Once the Board has issued its determination, any other issues that may 
remain between the insured credit union and the State supervisory 
authority will be left to those parties to resolve.

Subpart B--[Reserved]

[FR Doc. 2017-23213 Filed 10-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7535-01-P