The NCUA is making efforts to streamline that can often go unnoticed when so many other compliance issues have been hitting credit unions. Some, such as Dodd-Frank requirements, are beyond the agency's control. Others like the CUSO and participations rules are seemingly in perpetual limbo, lurking in a corner for a year or more.

The NCUA made it easier for low-income credit unions to become business lenders as part of the Obama administration's efforts for drought relief and expanded the definition of a fleet for the purposes of business vehicle loans.

In one of its most recent moves, the agency's Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives reached out to small credit unions that were still filing their 5300 Call Reports manually and offered to buy them computers. The computers were nothing fancy, just IBM T500 laptops purchased after the NCUA examiners' lease contract was to be renewed. The machines came out in 2008 and sell for around $350 used. The NCUA is also offering training and support. Fourteen credit unions took the deal.