2010 Ended with 368 Problem Credit Unions

NCUA reported today that the number of problem credit unions declined by 4 in December to 368; but was up by 17 from a year ago. A problem credit union is defined as a credit union that has a CAMEL code of 4 or 5.

Between the end of November and the end of December, shares (deposits) and assets in problem credit unions rose by $600 million to $38.9 billion and $400 million to $43.8 billion, respectively. NCUA reported that problem credit unions held 5.08 percent of the credit union industry’s insured shares (down 64 basis points from a year ago) and 4.84 percent of the industry’s assets (down by 60 basis points from a year ago).

Between November and December, the number of problem credit unions with $1 billion or more in assets fell by 2; but shares in these credit unions increased by $900 million to $17.7 billion. The number of problem credit unions with between $500 million and $1 billion in assets was unchanged at 6; but shares rose by $400 million during the month to $3.9 billion. There were 4 fewer problem credit unions with between $100 million and $500 million in assets (57 credit unions) and shares declined by $1.1 billion to $12.5 billion.

Twenty-eight credit unions failed in 2010, the same as 2009.