When you commit fraud against a financial institution, there’s no “oops, my bad” that’s going to fix things. Just ask Jordan L. McCarthy, who learned this lesson the hard way.
In July 2026, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) issued a permanent prohibition order against McCarthy, a former employee of Educators Credit Union in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Translation? McCarthy is now banned for life from working at any federally insured depository institution. That’s every credit union, bank, and similar institution in the country—a complete industry blackout.
What Happened?
McCarthy was convicted and sentenced in the Circuit Court for Waukesha County on two serious charges: Misappropriating Identification Information to Obtain Money and Fraud Against a Financial Institution involving between $10,000 and $100,000. These aren’t parking tickets we’re talking about—these are felony-level offenses that strike at the heart of financial trust.
The Order of Prohibition is exactly what it sounds like: a lifetime ban from the industry. No second chances, no appeals, no working your way back in after a few years of good behavior. It’s the regulatory equivalent of being permanently ejected from the game.
How NCUA Enforcement Actually Works
The NCUA doesn’t just hand out prohibition orders for fun. They’re one tool in a broader enforcement toolkit designed to keep credit unions safe and protect members’ money. These administrative orders are legally binding actions issued under Section 206 of the Federal Credit Union Act, and they typically come into play when someone violates laws, breaches their fiduciary duty, or engages in unsafe practices.
Think of the NCUA as the industry’s referee—when you break the rules badly enough, they’ve got three main whistles they can blow:
The Three Most Common NCUA Enforcement Orders
- Order to Cease and Desist: This tells an institution or individual to stop doing something immediately (or start doing something they should be doing). It can also require restitution—fancy legal speak for paying back what you took.
- Order of Prohibition: The nuclear option. This permanently bars someone from working at any federally insured financial institution. It’s a career-ending move reserved for serious violations.
- Order Assessing Civil Money Penalties: Sometimes the punishment hits where it hurts most—the wallet. This order requires payment of fines on top of any other consequences.
Want to Know More?
The NCUA keeps all of this information public and searchable, because transparency matters when it comes to protecting your money. You can search enforcement orders and notices by name, institution, city, state, or year on the NCUA’s Administrative Orders webpage. The site also links to enforcement actions from other federal banking agencies, giving you a comprehensive view of who’s been shown the door across the entire financial industry.
If you prefer old-school research methods, you can request copies by mail from the NCUA at 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428. Though honestly, the website is probably faster—and doesn’t require a stamp.
The bottom line? Financial institutions run on trust, and when that trust is violated through fraud or theft, regulators take it seriously. Very seriously.