NCUA: More Than Half Of Credit Unions Lost Members Despite Growth In Assets, Deposits
By CU Today Staff —
ALEXANDRIA, Va.—Credit unions posted stronger asset, deposit and loan growth during the first quarter of 2026, but the industry's membership challenges persisted, with more than half of federally insured credit unions reporting fewer members than a year earlier, according to new state-level data released by the NCUA.
The NCUA's Quarterly U.S. Map Review found median asset growth accelerated to 2.8% during the year ending March 31, up from 1.9% a year earlier, while median share and deposit growth improved to 2.4% from 1.8%. Loan growth also returned to positive territory, rising 0.6% after declining 0.3% during the prior year. Nationally, the median loan-to-share ratio stood at 68%, down slightly from 69% a year earlier.
Despite those gains, membership remained a weak spot. While aggregate membership continued to increase nationwide, median membership declined 0.5% for the second consecutive year, with approximately 55% of federally insured credit unions reporting fewer members than they had a year earlier. According to the NCUA, credit unions experiencing membership declines tended to be smaller institutions, with more than half holding less than $50 million in assets.
The report also showed modest improvement in profitability, with 85% of federally insured credit unions reporting positive year-to-date net income during the first quarter, up from 84% a year earlier. Median return on average assets rose to 66 basis points from 62 basis points, although asset quality weakened somewhat as the median delinquency rate increased to 63 basis points from 58 basis points a year earlier.
Loan-to-share ratios are rounded to the nearest percentage point.
Shares of credit unions with positive net income are rounded to the nearest percentage point.
Originally reported by CU Today.