State regulators turn out for dialogue, interaction in National Meeting ’21

Regulators and NASCUS staff meet via video conference for the 2021 National Meeting

(March 19, 2021) Two days of discussion and focus on key issues this week highlighted the 2021 National Meeting of state regulators, which featured a record turnout of state regulators from across the nation and held this week.

Meeting in a virtual session this year, the annual dialogue for state regulators only brings together state supervisors from around the country to take a close look at key issues, discuss common challenges, and exchange ideas in the NASCUS-sponsored event. The meeting is not open to the public; attendance, specific discussions and proceedings are for regulators only.

“State regulators came prepared to discuss and share ideas at this year’s event, as they do every year,” said NASCUS President and CEO Lucy Ito. “The virtual aspect of the meeting seemed to have little impact on the participation, as indicated by the record crowd of registrants. The key component of this annual gathering is the dialogue it generates among the state supervisors, particularly as they address common challenges and goals for the state credit union system. This year’s discussion, spanning more than seven hours including presentations, was both lively and thought-provoking.”

The Wednesday session of the event featured marijuana banking guidance (from the Washington Department of Financial Institutions), the future of payment systems, and the future of capital in credit unions. NASCUS’ Ito facilitated a look “around the states” to give the regulators an update from around the nation; Regulator Board Chairman Rose Conner opened the program.

The Thursday session featured sessions on climate change as a safety and soundness issue, and a “fireside chat” with NCUA Board Chairman Todd Harper.

Speakers at the event included:

• David Cotney, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Banks (2010-16), and now senior advisor for FS Vector, who addressed climate change;
• Steven M. Rothstein, managing director Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets (which focuses on reducing financial impact of the climate crisis) and who also presented on climate change;
• Mark Dixon, director of payments innovation for the New England Automated Clearing House (NEACH), who focused on payments systems;
• Mike Townsley, policy counsel and director of regulatory policy for CSBS (who also addressed payment systems and finch charter issues);
• Mark Debree, managing principal for Catalyst Strategic Solutions, which focuses on interest rate risk, liquidity risk, strategic planning and other key issues for credit unions (and who addressed capital issues in a session moderated by NASCUS Executive Vice President and General Counsel Brian Knight).

Presentations and other resources from the event are available to regulator members only at the link below.

LINK:
2021 National Meeting Resources (regulator members only)