WASHINGTON — Attorneys for credit union associations report that U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane asked well researched and considered questions when she heard oral arguments on Jan. 4 over whether NCUA should have granted certain expanded fields of membership to several federal credit unions in Pennsylvania.

American Bankers Association et al v. National Credit Union Administration pits the NCUA, the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association and credit union trade groups against the ABA and area banks. The banks are trying to convince the court to invalidate NCUA's decision to broaden a community charger for the $1.3 billion Members' 1st FCU, arguing that the agency's decision stitches a field of membership of disparate communities.

Judge Kane impressed the attorneys for both CUNA and NAFCU with the degree she had studied the administrative record and the careful consideration they believed underpinned her questions. Judge Kane reserved the right to contact parties from each side if she has further questions but said she expected to have a decision in the case within 90 days.