# ESSENTIAL
Baton Rouge, LA · NCUA charter 68736 · asset band $200-500M · latest filing 2026-03 · live
Share link (named URL with a preview card): https://getbookiq.com/cu/essential-68736

Who the members are: state charter, organized 1972, low-income designated. 31,118 members of 815,812 potential (3.8% of the field); checking penetration 71% (share draft accounts per 100 members); loans per 100 members 45.

**Verdict on the desk:** this could be *stressed*. Composite score 5 of 18 (one point per flag across 17 flags, capital below 7% counted twice).

## What the filing shows

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Total assets | $429.8M |
| Members | 31,118 (-27.8% YoY) |
| Full-time staff | 88 |
| Net worth | $38.9M |
| Net worth ratio | 9.0% (p15 of band) |
| ROA (annualized) | 0.48% (p34 of band) |
| Total delinquency | 1.12% (p84 of band) |
| Net charge-offs (annualized) | 0.66% (p75 of band) |
| Loans / shares | 93% (p92 of band) |
| Cash / assets | 8.4% |
| Borrowings / assets | 7.54% |
| Net interest margin | 3.76% (p63 of band) |
| Operating expense / assets | 4.92% (p93 of band) |
| Vehicles % of loans | 46% (p74 of band) |
| Indirect vehicle % of vehicle (all-channel basis before 2022) | 84% |
| Third-party paper % of net worth | 369% (p96 of band) |
| Vehicle delinquency | 1.32% (p85 of band) |
| Vehicle NCO | 1.28% (p79 of band) |
| Repossessed % of vehicle book | 0.28% (p90 of band) |
| Real estate % of loans | 33% |
| Credit cards % of loans | 0% |
| Unsecured % of loans | 8% |
| Commercial % of net worth | 33% |
| Core shares % of member funds | 54% |
| Certificates % of member funds | 21% |
| Average share balance | $5,814 |
| Participations bought / yr | $98.4M |
| Participations sold / yr | $0 |
| Participations outstanding | $57.1M |
| Loans outstanding per 100 members | 45% |
| Loans granted per 100 members, annualized | 15% |
| Average loan balance | $24,343 |
| Loans granted, annualized | $149.8M |

## Participation posture (from the same filings)

Bought $98.4M and sold $0 in the latest annualized quarter; $57.1M outstanding purchased (146.9% of net worth), $1.4M sold and retained. Sold in 4 and bought in 3 of the last 8 quarters. Shares 2.4% year over year.

## Flags firing in the latest filing

- **net worth falling** (`cap_falling`)
- **expense trap** (`earn_opex`)
- **members leaving** (`shrink_members`)
- **leaning on borrowings** (`str_borrowings`)
- **3rd-party paper>100% NW** (`str_thirdparty`)

## Warning timeline

| Quarter | Score | Flags that first fired | Flags that cleared |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12 | 2 | expense trap, 3rd-party paper>100% NW |  |
| 2023-03 | 2 |  |  |
| 2023-06 | 1 |  | expense trap |
| 2023-09 | 1 |  |  |
| 2023-12 | 1 |  |  |
| 2024-03 | 2 | losing money |  |
| 2024-06 | 3 | expense trap |  |
| 2024-09 | 3 |  |  |
| 2024-12 | 6 | thin capital, net worth falling, members leaving |  |
| 2025-03 | 6 |  |  |
| 2025-06 | 6 | delinquency 2x band, delinquency rising | thin capital, net worth falling |
| 2025-09 | 7 | leaning on borrowings |  |
| 2025-12 | 7 | net worth falling | losing money |
| 2026-03 | 5 |  | delinquency 2x band, delinquency rising |

## In the news (Google News, unfiltered, newest first; check the city)

- 2026-07-08 [Gonzales' Essential Credit Union reopens at new La. 30 location with upgraded ATM technology - WBRZ](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxPSmtHMFFBVURTS2tSY1RnZXFUNUhndkxJUFpKeWJORlpKTU1aS1EyaGdxS0ZzUGt4V1oxTWpybnNnbkdFMkhGWG5Md1hwOHFCUGZuWXpFNHZ3clNqbzc5UVExY0RtVlM3U3NROUlONU12akJlUFZqZnR3ZG5WVV9md1VSd05hUjg3Wjk0bTk4VnNQV2lpQlk1RVhDYUNJT0hKNXdQOUk0WmpRQXViMEw5bElYQ3g5blpH?oc=5) · WBRZ
- 2026-03-13 [Essential Credit Union to open full-service Towne Center branch and tag office - Baton Rouge Business Report](https://news.google.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?oc=5) · Baton Rouge Business Report
- 2026-02-11 [Seven suspects from transnational crime organization arrested in complex heist attempt at Essential Credit Union - WAFB](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxPYXFoTWpLNjNLNXVFWWdtRmFoYllfbzdhTmRfSElicHpEb2x2MTFKRTlHVmhOSGRxVnRIaXdpcm9GUlF6eG1qUWVoekdDT1JsejBfRGpEaHk0RThacEd5cTZDLTlxc1Z0d2VJX2VUMVFRZWwxVUNLSVVVYU9SLWk0c21acEg1T1F6c21DYXpieGo1bDl0bk5fYzVnTUgwQlhpVzlpN18tUTBoV2lLRzZ1aEhpVVgtbEltSzMzSGVOWlJaejU1TW96dGE0UHhUbm_SAeMBQVVfeXFMT3AyZ1RBNHo5X2pFUVE2eThjeUdWT2Utd2o1UDRuTnlBYkNwcUhDczlHQjdLQUQtTWQ5bk5IRmk4NUtyQUNQVG1OZUhmQVQ3TnVmVEQyNm5pWldZWEFhYnFaeHNEQnN2YkFwaS1Lb1hMZ2Z6Vk1RaEJSQzZ5SVJLTVBpV3g4WTY2ZDNhaTBYUHFWU3NCTnhTU1hSYnZtaUstMDkyeWFfSmV6dldyMmJHTlRJcXd2TEh2WVRyWW04cTJNanJLUnBaVW9sUTdrYTRkRHdxa09FMzE4TDNIdFNLZ1dTOTA?oc=5) · WAFB
- 2026-08-30 [Loyola hires new top lawyer; ex-Saints staffer picked to tourism post; homecoming for new CFO - theadvocate.com](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi8wFBVV95cUxORkhoNEl2dkhkUFNzbkxlajdIcnBoUUlENkpDaldWZXNKVlZ0VEcwZWQ0YVhhYWtFQVI1VGtqenZMUzUwdkpwSW5HUVNmU0FJSFlHS2dlUlJUcnZVbzdWeVBDVDBxLU4zQVlMaHJsMVNMZW1wa29QclFYMms2TDg3Mk42eVU1XzlFbmp1dVVtNlJPZUl3RGtudXhIY2ozbU9vUDAxLU9fRG1yV3hQQjhxbzctdHk2V2RIbUxuS3pTdW9HeFlnbnp3Z0RDUnlXTS1XZVBqUDZTbDNsOFBVb0dHejNnNnFaTVcyUkNsQ0RMYUt6a1U?oc=5) · theadvocate.com
- 2026-08-26 [Get Ready for Fuerza Regida: Essential Info for Their 2026 Tour - Ticketmaster Blog](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMib0FVX3lxTE1xaTZ1OGRFMFlydU56MDlYTUZuVDBYTkF5eU41Z0ZFdHcwSGlDVTYySmw0TXZJU3BlUEl4SHdLYUlPSEdLM0IwS0w4ejRFb204MW0zQ0NuVktHd2FNek53SzFoRW82RlM3R1h6Wlp3cw?oc=5) · Ticketmaster Blog
- 2026-02-07 [LSP: Seven Venezuelan nationals arrested for allegedly tampering with ATM in Baton Rouge - WBRZ](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPaERDRnBPaGluX0tOUF8wNms5TlcycVRMUGdQZXB1Yy1GMzFwLUQtSDdHQmJKcVVIYUZKZjdxQVNHOWJjOXpIT1BHUzBVdjFVTjlsWW90NHdGckVIMVNSNERtMnpBYmFNelhWMjRyMUN4VzJMWEF2Vmc4eDVlYzRnOTZNbno4LU92MVczMDM3SkpVSnNYQ2dHMEhOWTBQX0lyR2dzcTZib3pSdGdSd2lBZ2lfdHo?oc=5) · WBRZ
- 2026-06-30 [What’s being built, bought and planned in Ascension Parish - Baton Rouge Business Report](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxNZFJZMEdZdHJzbHRZaGNJNjItT2xyclZhdlYwX3FrM0NKa1Z1UVVMMU13S2VEWTQ4dGpTVGpTeGhfQ3h0UFhCYjVMbGZYLWJ1MVdzcktibl9qQUpvOUVieUdndURTTnByNDV4MzYwU2R5X3dseGJiT2l5MkQxdDZzTXhGTHVlQ3RKTnFHTnMwdGt2ZmJVWEROZEJ6bmx2SW5l0gGoAUFVX3lxTE1tR3R6Y3cwQjNnOE8zMjVTZkVxNnVHQkwtaWwxV05Pa1Bfbm4yaHNSZjZfUV9xOGx1Y3pMMkdEZTBRNjZqRUl3bFFHb2RiNmo0eXkyc19reWZWaVVOUGgwUVFBSVdEdmZxRjZlME1oWFBKOFVzczRvRXgyeDFycFRzbnNKT0xzM2ViSjVhczhqdmdJNzRwQVUtX0NRSkFlR0FZN1E4T01VbQ?oc=5) · Baton Rouge Business Report
- 2025-10-30 [Cars are essential in most of the U.S. They're also increasingly unaffordable - NPR](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE1SR0F4MnhUcGw0VE1iNkM4N29pQkJZWmxxM0IyRGl5d2I3YklqLVBKcDBqZ1FCSmRVZm9iVnNiVE1QSmFFaXpSTzl1MHB6bGNYVG5YeVlnNy1aSjRRV2lwcDUzMEFDUjZXWDMyaWx3Q2pLdw?oc=5) · NPR

## How to verify

- Page: https://getbookiq.com/cu-intel/#cu=68736 (every cell opens its formula and NCUA account codes; the News tab is the same search)
- Latest row, JSON: https://getbookiq.com/cu-intel/data/summary.json · history: https://getbookiq.com/cu-intel/data/h/0.json (key "68736", columns cycle, assets, loans, shares, networth, nwr, roa, total_dq_pct, total_nco_pct, vehicle, veh_pct_loans, indirect, ind_pct_veh, ind_veh, ind_re, ind_comm, ind_other, ind_pct_loans, loans_n, granted_n_ytd, granted_ann, loan_pen, granted_pen, avg_loan_bal, loans_per_fte, veh_part, tp_pct_nw, veh_dq_pct, veh_nco_pct, repo_pct_veh, members_yoy, ltos, cash_pct, borrow_pct, nim_pct, opex_pct, risk_score, members, fte, cash_total, invest_sec, allowance_eff, int_income_ytd, int_exp_ytd, provision_eff_ytd, nonint_income_ytd, nonint_exp_ytd, net_income_ytd, n_flags, re_pct_loans, cc_pct_loans, comm_pct_loans, cert_pct_shares, core_pct_shares, part_buy_ann, part_sell_ann, pot_members, sh_draft_n, chk_pen, fom_pen, flags)
- Participation history: https://getbookiq.com/participation-desk/#cu=68736
- Field definitions: https://getbookiq.com/dictionary/#cu-ltos and the rest of the credit union dictionary
- Source: NCUA 5300 call report bulk files. Income fields are annualized by cycle month (Mar x4, Jun x2, Sep x4/3, Dec x1). Percentiles are within the asset band in the same quarter.

---
Rendered 2026-09-10 from the desks' own data files. Full guide: https://getbookiq.com/guide