DCUC Calls for Action on Credit Union Access to Capital Ahead of House Hearing

By DCUC Staff — September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) has engaged the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions ahead of its September 18 hearing, “Main Street Capital Access Act: Empowering Community Banks to Drive Economic Growth,” outlining credit union priorities that should accompany broader efforts to expand access to capital for Main Street businesses and communities.

“Regulatory relief alone will not solve the access problem if credit unions remain legally prohibited from serving communities that need financial services,” says Jason Stverak, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer. In its comments, DCUC highlighted that the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, H.R. 507 and S. 110, would allow credit unions to consider additional qualified veteran-owned businesses for financing while maintaining underwriting, supervision, capital, and safety-and-soundness requirements. DCUC also supports modernization of field-of-membership rules to provide qualified federal credit unions with greater opportunity to seek approval to serve underserved communities, subject to NCUA review and a credible service plan. Stverak noted on behalf of DCUC that lending capacity and membership eligibility are complementary components of financial access. “Main Street businesses, veteran entrepreneurs and underserved communities benefit when responsible financial institutions have the ability to compete and serve them,” says Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO, Ret. U.S. Air Force Colonel. “Congress can advance meaningful community-bank reforms while also addressing the credit union-specific barriers that limit access to capital. These reforms do not require identical treatment of different charters; they require a deliberate legislative path for each institution to serve its communities effectively.” DCUC’s comments also identify additional areas for credit union legislative consideration, including cooperative charter formation and capitalization, permanent Central Liquidity Facility modernization, responsible credit union service organization and fintech authority, and more predictable application and merger processes. “We support the provisions of H.R. 6955 that provide meaningful relief to credit unions, including regulatory tailoring, examination reforms, indexed thresholds, and regulatory review provisions,” explains Stverak. DCUC further supports preserving Section 303, which provides qualifying, well-managed and well-capitalized insured credit unions with $6 billion or less in assets alternating full-scope and limited-scope examinations and opportunities to combine otherwise separate examinations. Stverak adds, “We are prepared to work with Congress and regulators on technically sound, bipartisan solutions that expand financial access while maintaining strong supervision and preserving the member-owned credit union model.”

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Originally reported by DCUC.