The Office of Inspector General (OIG) promotes the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of NCUA programs and operations, and detects and deters fraud, waste and abuse, thereby supporting NCUA’s mission of monitoring and promoting safe and sound federally insured credit unions. The OIG conducts independent audits, investigations and other activities, and keeps the NCUA Board and U.S. Congress fully and currently informed of their work. 

The NCUA Board established the Office of Inspector General (OIG) on March 20, 1989, in response to the Inspector General Act amendments of 1988. The amendments required NCUA and 32 other small federal agencies to establish and maintain such offices. The NCUA Board substituted the Inspector General's Office for its existing Office of Internal Audit.

What Should Be Reported to the OIG?

Employees should report any situation that involves suspected waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement of NCUA programs, operations or assets. 

Examples of matters that should be reported include:

• Contract and procurement fraud and collusion;
• Bribery and acceptance of gratuities;
• Gross mismanagement;
• Misuse, embezzlement or theft of government property or funds;
• Employee misconduct, such as misuse of official position or acceptance of unauthorized gifts and other illegal or unethical activities

Inspector General – William DeSarno

William DeSarno has served as NCUA’s Inspector General since 2005. Mr. DeSarno began his NCUA career in 1997 as assistant inspector general for audits and he was named deputy inspector general in 2001. Mr. DeSarno distinguished himself by establishing OIG’s first strategic plan and has been involved in all aspects of that office, including planning, budget, staffing and structure. He has extensive working experience within NCUA’s Inspector General’s Office and also has a clear understanding and working knowledge of NCUA’s operation and mission. 

Prior to NCUA, Mr. DeSarno served seven years with the Treasury Department’s OIG and 18 years with the General Accounting Office (GAO). He has over 14 years of management experience in an OIG office and over 20 years of experience supervising auditors. His government career began with the Army, where he served in Vietnam, and in total, his government career spans more than 41 years.

Mr. DeSarno holds a B.A. in accounting from the University of Scranton and an M.B.A. from George Washington University. He is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and is a “Certified Inspector General” by the Association of Inspectors General.