ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson announced last week that she has put together a working group to discuss operational and examinations issues. The group, comprised of NCUA staff and community development credit union leaders, spun out of a roundtable discussion hosted by the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions that Johnson attended. "I appreciated the concerns expressed to me regarding NCUA's approach to examinations for community development credit unions," she said. "The input received was valued and we will be addressing their concerns." Johnson added, "Community development credit unions across America have a unique role in our communities and neighborhoods. Understanding the operational challenges and membership are important in developing the appropriate examination guidelines for these institutions. These credit unions are truly making a difference for Americans who otherwise would be left behind. We need to support their compassionate mission and open dialogue to ensure more Americans have access to the services they readily provide in a safe and sound manner." CDCU members of the working group include Genesee Co-op Federal Credit Union ($6.6 million in assets) Loan Officer Melissa Marquez; St. John Dallas Federal Credit Union ($758,790) CEO Gustavia Cole; Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union ($3 million) CEO Suzette Cowell; Faith Community United Credit Union ($8.9 million) CEO Rita Haynes; and Shreveport Federal Credit Union ($64 million) CEO Helen Godfrey. All are members of NFCDCU's governmental affairs committee. The group, which will meet via teleconference, is tasked to develop a white paper to guide NCUA examination teams. "We need to take a fresh look at the challenges of community development institutions. In essence, we plan to create a more effective, not excessive examination process," Johnson concluded. The white paper is expected to be completed early next year.