Lizeth GeorgeAn overflowing crowd met the National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) newest Board Member for her first meeting with League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU) credit unions since being sworn in on January 8. Tanya Otsuka spent almost an hour discussing her background, fielding questions from credit unions, expressing her appreciation for the credit union difference, and elaborating on her goals as a new board member.
“We were thrilled to hear from Board Member Otsuka and get a better idea of not just her priorities as a regulator, but to also get a real sense of her approach to credit unions,” said LSCU President, Samantha Beeler. “We look forward to working with Board Member Otsuka throughout her tenure and we look forward to welcoming her to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in the near future.”
Otsuka touched on several issues during her time with LSCU including sharing her focus on ensuring that small, low-income, and minority depository institutions can continue to offer affordable services and lauding credit unions for their work in rural communities that are often overlooked. She highlighted how both the 2008 financial crisis and last spring’s bank failures have helped shape her outlook on the importance of safety and soundness in the credit union system and the role that community based financial institutions serve in the overall economy. Otsuka also welcomed input and feedback from credit unions asking members to reach out if they can help NCUA improve any specific program or policy.
“This was a tremendous opportunity for our members to engage directly with the NCUA’s newest board member and the result was an open exchange where we covered considerable ground,” said Beeler. “We sincerely appreciate Board Member Otsuka’s willingness to spend time with our credit unions and answer every question even staying afterwards to chat more with our members. That type of dedication is noted and valued.”
