National Credit Union Administration

independent agency in the executive branch responsible for chartering, insuring, supervising, and examining federal credit unions. The NCUA grants federal credit union charters to groups sharing a common bond of occupation or association, or to groups within a well-defined neighborhood, community, or rural district. It issues policies and regulations, conducts annual examinations, and maintains a warning system designed to identify problems. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund insures deposits up to $250,000 in federally insured credit unions.