Harper named chairman of National Credit Union Administration

Todd Harper has been named chairman of the board of directors of the Alexandria, Virginia–based National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

Harper was first nominated to serve on the NCUA board in February 2019, confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2019 and sworn in as a board member in April 2019. 

Prior to joining the board, Harper served as director of the NCUA’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs. He was the first member of the NCUA staff to become an NCUA board member.

“The credit union system now sits at the intersection of several crossroads, and the agency faces many decisions ahead related to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to advance economic equality and justice,” Harper said in a Jan. 25 NCUA news release. “As NCUA board chairman, I will continue to focus on four policy priorities: capital and liquidity, consumer financial protection, cybersecurity, and diversity, equity and economic inclusion. Each of these priorities are vital in responding to current economic and marketplace realities.”

Harper replaces Rodney Hood, who was nominated to the NCUA board by President Donald Trump in January 2019. The U.S. Senate confirmed him in March 2019 and he took the oath of office in April 2019, when he was designated chairman by Trump. Hood will remain a member of the board, along with Kyle Hauptman, who was sworn in on Dec. 14, 2020.

“On behalf of the New York credit-union movement, I congratulate Todd M. Harper on his appointment as NCUA board chairman,” William Mellin, president and CEO of the New York Credit Union Association (NYCUA), said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the chairman in his new role, in addition to board members Rodney Hood and Kyle Hauptmann, as we continue to identify and advance the best interests of New York credit unions and their members. Board member Hood should be commended for his willingness to meet with and hear directly from the New York credit union community during his time as chairman. I have every reason to believe we will continue our strong working relationship with NCUA as Chairman Harper takes the helm of the agency.”