CUNA has already written to the NCUA, urging our regulator to tackle improvements to supervision in two stages. First, we've proposed that the NCUA identify which changes it can make in time for the 2017 examination cycle to ensure credit unions receive regulatory relief from the supervision process immediately.

In our eyes, extending the examination cycle, right-sizing examination staff, and eliminating duplicative and overlapping examination procedures by coordinating with state supervisory authorities are well within reasonable bounds to accomplish by the 2017 cycle.

Second, in the long-term, the NCUA must turn to improving data and information collection from credit unions. It also must continue easing the burden on credit unions from the supervisory process in general, and work to improve the examination process so that examinations are consistent, efficient and with proper due process rights.

With our initial comments submitted, it's your turn. The NCUA and the working group it created, the majority of which includes CUNA members, will accept comments on an ongoing basis, even after this month's comment period deadline.

It's critical that we all participate in this process to ensure the improvement of our operating environment now and into the future.

You can submit comments directly to the NCUA, or you can submit them to CUNA at cuna.org/sip and we will make sure they are placed directly in front of the NCUA.

Credit unions have long acted in the best interests of their members. Safety and soundness were baked into the credit union philosophy when the industry was first established more than 80 years ago.

To be clear, it was unreasonable to require credit unions to submit to a 12-month examination cycle as a result of the financial crisis, which, without debate, we had no role in creating. And now we have the ability to rectify that decision.

We could not agree more with NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger's recent statements that it's critical for a regulated industry to collaborate closely with its regulator to ensure an optimal operating environment.

In this case, strengthening the environment in which credit unions work has the potential to benefit the credit union movement's 100 million members, who rely on credit unions for their consumer-friendly and affordable financial services.

That's why we must take advantage of this opportunity. For the betterment of the industry, and even more importantly, for the people we serve.

Ryan Donovan is chief advocacy officer at CUNA. He can be reached at 202-508-6750 or [email protected].