WASHINGTON–The National Credit Union Administration officially now has a new board member.
The Senate has confirmed John Crews to a position on the NCUA board. While it’s all but a done-deal, the president must still officially appoint Crews as chairman. When sworn in Crews will become the 14th chairman of the agency, with a term that is to expire Aug. 2, 2031. For now, he will be the only member of the board.
“America’s Credit Unions congratulates John Crews on his confirmation to the National Credit Union Administration. An effective credit union regulator must be properly equipped to oversee the industry, while providing access to the tools to take on today’s modern financial landscape,” America’s Credit Unions President and CEO Scott Simpson said in a statement. “Throughout his career, Crews has shown a measured and thoughtful approach to innovation, stability, and expanding access to affordable financial services. His experience will be an asset to the agency. We look forward to working with Crews to advance modern regulatory framework, and we encourage President Trump to proceed with nominations to fill the three-person NCUA Board.”
DCUC: ‘Balanced Thoughtful Oversight Needed’
“We commend Congress for confirming John Crews as NCUA Board Chairman,” DCUC President and CEO Anthony Hernandez, Ret. U.S. Air Force colonel, said in a statement. “This decision provides the credit union system with the balanced, thoughtful oversight needed to advance our cooperative mission across communities nationwide and overseas. More than 40 million military, veteran, and defense-affiliated members rely on their credit union as a trusted partner for financial readiness, and we look forward to engaging with Chairman Crews to strengthen these vital services across the cooperative movement.”
“Chairman Crews brings a strong understanding of regulatory policy and public service to this leadership role,” Jason Stverak, DCUC chief advocacy officer, said in a statement. “As the credit union movement faces evolving economic shifts and technological innovations, DCUC remains committed to working alongside the NCUA to ensure regulatory framework empowers credit unions and their members to thrive.”
Letters Sent
DCUC noted, as the CU Daily reported, that during the confirmation process, DCUC sent letters to Congressional oversight committees highlighting several key priorities aligned with Crews’ testimony:
- Maintaining the foundational stability of the credit union system.
- Supporting efficient, risk-based regulation that accounts for institutional size and operational differences.
- Preparing for technological advancement while safeguarding member assets.
- Encouraging the growth of new credit unions to serve underbanked and military communities.
- Preserving an open, accessible, and collaborative dialogue between the NCUA and the credit union movement.
Serving at Treasury
Crews has been serving as the assistant secretary for financial institutions policy in the Treasury department. Crews was appointed to the position in mid-2025 and has a long history in Washington. Prior to joining the Treasury Department, he served as a policy advisor to Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), where he covered economic and financial services policy, and prior to that was the policy director of the Senate Banking Committee.
During the first Trump Administration, Crews has served on the National Economic Council as a special assistant to the President for Economic Policy.
Crews’ testimony during his confirmation hearing can be found here.
NSCUA Issues Statement
“The National Small Credit Union Association congratulates John Crews on his confirmation by the United States Senate as chairman of the National Credit Union Administration,” said NSCUA President Joshua Urbick, who also serves as president and CEO of Maryland-based IBEW26 Federal Credit Union, in a statement. “We look forward to working with Chairman Crews and the NCUA to advance policies that recognize the unique role and challenges of small credit unions. NSCUA remains committed to advocating on behalf of small credit unions and fostering a constructive, collaborative relationship with the agency to support a regulatory environment that enables small institutions to thrive while continuing to serve their members and communities.
“We look forward to engaging with Chairman Crews and the NCUA to share the perspectives and experiences of small credit unions as the agency addresses the opportunities and challenges facing the credit union system,” Urbick continued. “We wish Chairman Crews every success in his new role and stand ready to work together to ensure a safe, sound, and vibrant credit union system that continues to meet the needs of America’s communities through strong, locally focused credit unions.”
Hauptman to Exit
Crews will succeed Chairman Kyle Hauptman, who joined NCUA in 2020 and whose term expired in 2025. Hauptman plans to join the SEC’s Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, to which he has been appointed.
As the CU Daily has been reporting, the NCUA board remains a one-person operation, as Democrats Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, who were fired by President Trump in April of 2025, continue to challenge their firings in court.
