InfoBytes Blog
New York Announces Mortgage Discount Fees Enforcement Action
On October 23, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $3 million penalty against a mortgage lender that the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) determined engaged in deceptive practices concerning interest rate charges and related conduct. The DFS identified the violations during a 2010 examination. The consent order states that the lender (i) collected loan discount fees from certain borrowers to reduce the initial rate but failed to provide the discounted rates, (ii) facilitated originations through unlicensed originators, (iii) conducted business with unlicensed entities and through unauthorized websites and unlicensed branches, (iv) conducted business through improper “affiliated business arrangements,” (v) failed to disclose loan origination information, (vi) failed to issue commitment agreements to certain borrowers, and (vii) failed to properly maintain books and records. The lender consented to the penalty, agreed to refund $427,155 of unearned loan discount fees to 270 borrowers, and agreed to submit a written compliance program within 120 days, submit quarterly compliance progress reports over a three-year period, and take other corrective actions. The consent order noted that in 2011 the company entered into a $3.1M settlement with HUD over similar alleged conduct.