WASHINGTON — The credit unions and representative associations joining NCUA in its defense against a banker challenge to field of membership policies are filing a motion of summary judgment today, the organizations announced.

"Our brief takes head-on the banker-plaintiffs' arguments that NCUA's approvals were 'arbitrary,'" CUNA General Counsel Eric Richard said. "The statement presents a well-crafted analysis showing that NCUA carefully reviewed the facts and made a reasoned decision after appropriate deliberation. NCUA's approval of the charter applications was based on a review of the full record, which demonstrated sufficient evidence of community interests, as well as the agency's expertise in chartering and supervising credit unions."

The litigation challenges NCUA's approval of a six-county area in south central Pennsylvania for Members 1st Federal Credit Union as a "well-defined local community" under the Federal Credit Union Act. The American Bankers Association and the Credit Union Task Force of Pennsylvania–which is comprised of two state bank trade associations and local banks–filed the lawsuit two years ago.