ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Credit Union Administration said its 2026 Annual Performance Plan will focus on risk-based supervision, responsible financial innovation and internal operational improvements as the agency works to carry out its newly released five-year strategic plan.
Jim Holm, supervisory budget analyst in the NCUA’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer, told the agency’s board the annual plan is directly derived from the broader 2026–2030 strategic plan and translates long-term goals into measurable, year-by-year targets.
“The annual plan … demonstrates to stakeholders and employees the specific work we expect to do over the next year to fulfill our mission and make progress toward achieving our strategic goals,” Holm said.
Holm said the agency uses the performance plan to establish annual milestones and hold itself accountable for results delivered to credit union members and the public. Federal law requires the NCUA to produce the plan each year.
The 2026 plan was developed through collaboration between management analysts, executives and staff across the agency, with Holm noting the process included “constructive and insightful contributions” from across the organization.
Performance Targets
The plan outlines performance targets tied to the agency’s three primary strategic goals:
- Safeguarding federally insured credit unions:
The NCUA will track how it prioritizes examinations based on risks to the Share Insurance Fund, including:- Timeliness of follow-up exams for higher-risk credit unions
- Efforts to eliminate unnecessary or overly burdensome examination steps
- Deployment of new technology to better identify risks
Holm said there are seven performance targets tied to this goal.
- Expanding access and encouraging responsible innovation:
The agency plans to measure progress in improving access to credit union services while supporting innovation, including:- Issuing new regulations related to permissible stablecoin activities for federally insured credit unions
- Ongoing engagement with credit union stakeholders and other regulators
- Improving efficiency in chartering and field-of-membership expansion processes
This goal also includes seven performance targets.
- Strengthening internal capabilities and performance:
The NCUA will continue reorganizing operations to align with administration priorities and enhance internal functions such as financial management, information technology and human capital.
Holm said this internally focused goal includes nine performance targets.
Holm said the CFO’s office is responsible for measuring and reporting results, working with program managers across the agency to collect quarterly performance data. Those results are reported to the NCUA board and executive director and later published in the agency’s annual report.
He added that while the 2026 plan is being issued in April, the agency expects to return to a more typical timeline next year, with the 2027 Annual Performance Plan scheduled for release in January.
Where to Get More Info
Holm also noted that current and historical strategic plans, performance plans, budgets and financial statements are available to the public through the agency’s website.
