NCUA releases credit union system performance data for first quarter 2026
Federally insured credit unions in the U.S. continue to expand their balance sheets and membership base in the first quarter of 2026. Total assets reach $2.48 trillion and total loans outstanding rise to $1.73 trillion, while industry consolidation persists.
Highlights
- Total assets at federally insured credit unions rise $117 billion, or 4.9%, to $2.48 trillion in Q1 2026, with loans up 4.6%.
- Net income for federally insured credit unions hits $20.4 billion annualized in Q1 2026, up $4.8 billion or 30.5% year-over-year.
- Membership increases by 2.5 million to 145.8 million while the number of institutions declines to 4,250, indicating ongoing consolidation.
First-quarter balance sheet and earnings trends
As reported by the National Credit Union Administration, total assets at federally insured credit unions increase by $117 billion, or 4.9%, from a year earlier to $2.48 trillion in the first quarter of 2026. Total loans outstanding rise by $76 billion, or 4.6%, to $1.73 trillion, and the average outstanding loan balance reaches $19,557, up $858 from one year earlier.The agency says the loan-to-share ratio stands at 81.5% in the first quarter of 2026, slightly below 81.8% a year earlier. Net income totals $20.4 billion at an annual rate in the year to date through the first quarter, up $4.8 billion, or 30.5%, compared with the same period in 2025.
Membership growth and consolidation pressure
Membership at federally insured credit unions reaches 145.8 million in the first quarter of 2026 after these institutions add 2.5 million members over the year. The figures indicate continued customer growth across the sector even as the number of institutions declines.The number of federally insured credit unions falls to 4,250 from 4,411 a year earlier. Of the total, 2,672 are federal credit unions and 1,578 are federally insured, state-chartered credit unions, reflecting a long-running consolidation trend in the industry.
Our earlier coverage of the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index highlighted how small business confidence slipped below its long-term average as uncertainty and cost pressures intensified. The report also pointed to rising inflation risks, with a sharp jump in planned price hikes and more cautious hiring intentions despite broader job growth holding up.
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