ALEXANDRIA, Va.–The operating fee charged to federal credit unions by NCUA will decrease by an average of approximately 24.65% in 2026, according to the agency.
NCUA provided an update on its operating fee schedule in a letter sent to federal credit unions (26-FCU-01) last week. The letter further notes the operating fee exemption threshold increased to $2.16 million (from $2.08 million), meaning federal credit unions with a four-quarter average of $2.16 million or less in total assets are exempt from paying an operating fee.
As the CU Daily reported earlier, during an earlier board meeting NCUA had indicated the operating fee reduction of approximately 24% was coming.
The fee reduction follows a significant downsizing of the agency’s staffing of approximately 20% following an Executive Order from the White House. That order also led to the elimination of some programs.
Other Budget Factor
As the CU Daily also reported, the 2026 budget for the agency also includes:
- Approximately $49.3 million in funding from prior years’ budgets that has not been spent
- An approximate $1 million credit to the 2026 operating fee as a result of unspent collections from prior years.
According to the agency, the decrease comes primarily from:
- Reductions to NCUA staffing and program levels.
- Repurposing approximately $49.3 million of unspent, past years’ budgets for 2026; and,
- Crediting $1 million to the 2026 operating fee, resulting from past years’ unspent collections.
Lower on Relative Basis
In its letter, NCUA also said that because assets at federal credit unions grew by 3.72% in 2025, the operating fee revenue required to finance the NCUA budget is lower on a relative basis than in the last year.
NCUA will send invoices to credit unions with the specific amount due in March. Operating fees are due to the NCUA no later than April 17.
The full letter can be found here.
