CUNA Policy on Conversions of Credit Unions RESOLVED, That the CUNA Board of Directors:

* Reaffirms its conviction that, in virtually all cases, the credit union charter presents the best vehicle yet devised for serving the needs of consumers of credit, thrift and financial services as demonstrated by the more favorable pricing credit unions provide the public and the unmatched consumer satisfaction expressed by credit union members relative to customers of banks and thrifts; * Urges any credit union that may be considering changing ownership and governance to a bank or thrift charter to decide the issue solely on the basis of what is best for the members of the credit union, not for management or directors; * Calls upon the credit union system to identify and recommend ways to keep the credit union’s net worth in the hands of its members; * Endorses plain language, full disclosure of all relevant information – including the pros and cons of a change in the ownership and governance of the credit union and the rights and privileges of credit union members that will be lost through such changes in ownership and governance – to credit union members who vote on the issue, including disclosure of any present intent to convert to a stock institution at a future time and any anticipated compensation to current board members and senior management; * In light of the tradition of democratic credit union governance, supports legislative, regulatory and legal measures that will ensure that senior management and directors are not unjustly enriched; and that appropriate penalties will be imposed for noncompliance with disclosure and other requirements designed to protect the interest of the members; and * Rededicates itself to the improvement of the credit union charter with regard to such matters as the ability to raise net worth needed to support growth, engage in member business lending and expand fields of membership; and calls upon credit unions and their leagues to do the same.