Tanya Otsuka Sworn in as 25th NCUA Board Member

A little more than three months after her nomination by President Joe Biden, Tanya Otsuka was sworn in Monday to become the NCUA’s 25th Board member, as well as the first Asian American in the agency’s Board history.

Otsuka was sworn in by NCUA Board Chairman Todd Harper during a private ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Alexandria, Va.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Otsuka said, “As a career public servant, it was the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for this important role.

Otsuka added, “I look forward to serving with Chairman Harper and Vice Chairman Hauptman to ensure a fair, competitive and resilient credit union system and am committed to the millions of credit union members who rely on the NCUA to safeguard their hard-earned money.”

Otsuka’s nomination to the Board was announced by President Biden on Sept. 21, 2023. After testifying in front of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in October, the full Senate approved her nomination on Dec. 20.

Prior to the NCUA Board position, Otsuka served on Chairman Sherrod Brown’s staff of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, managing a range of financial services issues, including credit union policy and oversight.

According to the NCUA, Otsuka previously served as an attorney at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), gaining experience in supervision, enforcement, resolution, assessments and deposit insurance. Additionally, she worked on FDIC policy actions related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155).

Otsuka’s first NCUA Board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18. An agenda for that meeting has not been published by the NCUA. Otsuka’s term on the Board runs through Aug. 2, 2029.