Board renewal spurs mutual mergers
APRA still "does not have a view on the 'right' size of the credit union industry or the 'right' number of credit unions", APRA chair John Laker told an industry convention yesterday.Repeating views stated in 2004, Laker said "the destiny of each mutual ADI is, fundamentally, in the hands of its board and members."Laker said he continued to hear "grumbling" that it had "an agenda to exit small ADIs"."We want, as you do, a vibrant and healthy mutual ADI sector."Laker suggested there may be a "correlation between board renewal and pressure to consolidate", and stressed that APRA was always "keen to test a board's openness to new ideas."Most mutuals may not face this pressure, given the level of their capital reserves.Laker said mutuals can "easily" expect to pass the next Basel III capital milestone in 2016.