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CFPB and Massachusetts AG sue credit-repair telemarketers
On May 22, the CFPB and the Massachusetts attorney general announced a joint lawsuit against a credit repair organization and the company’s president and owner (collectively, “defendants”) for allegedly committing deceptive acts and practices in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) and the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law. The complaint also alleges the defendants engaged in deceptive and abusive telemarketing acts or practices in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act’s (CFPA) prohibition against deceptive acts or practices and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the defendants allegedly enrolled tens of thousands of consumers by deceptively claiming that their credit-repair services could help consumers substantially improve their credit scores. The services also allegedly promised to fix “unlimited” amounts of negative items from consumers’ credit reports. However, the complaint asserts that in “numerous instances,” the defendants failed to achieve these results. The defendants also allegedly engaged in abusive acts and practices in violation of the TSR by requesting and collecting fees before achieving any results related to repairing a consumer’s credit. Among other things, the complaint further alleges that the defendants claimed to have more than 60 credit repair experts but actually only employed a handful of Boston-based employees, only some of whom interacted with consumers. The majority of the interactions, the complaint alleges, were conducted by telemarketers located in Central America who were paid “almost entirely by commission” based on the number of consumers they enrolled.
The complaint seeks injunctive relief; “damages and other monetary relief against [the defendants] as the Court finds necessary to redress injury to consumers resulting from [the defendants’] violations, which may include, among other things, rescission or reformation of contracts, refund of monies paid, and restitution; and civil money penalties.”
OCC releases recent enforcement actions
On May 21, the OCC released a list of recent enforcement actions taken against national banks, federal savings associations, and individuals currently and formerly affiliated with such entities. Included among the actions is an April 14 consent order to resolve the OCC’s claims that a California-based bank engaged in Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) compliance program violations. According to the consent order, an OCC examination identified deficiencies in the bank’s BSA/AML compliance program, including failure to implement a compliance program that “adequately covered the required BSA/AML program elements,” and failure to correct a previously identified BSA/AML compliance program problem. The consent order requires the bank to, among other things, (i) appoint a compliance committee of independent directors ; (ii) submit a written strategic plan to the OCC covering at least the next three years; (iii) ensure competent management and staff is in place to ensure compliance with the order, applicable laws, and rules and regulations; (iv) appoint a “permanent, qualified, and experienced BSA Officer”; (v) create and adopt a “written program of policies and procedures to provide for compliance with the BSA”; (vi) adopt a “written risk-based program of internal controls and processes to ensure compliance with the requirements to file SARs”; (vi) develop policies and procedures for performing customer due diligence; (vii) implement a program to manage BSA/AML and Office of Foreign Assets Control risk associated with processing wire transfers; and (viii) conduct a SAR “look-back” review, implement an independent BSA/AML audit program, and develop a comprehensive training program for bank employees.
SBA clarifies PPP loan forgiveness process, lender and borrower responsibilities
Recently, the Small Business Administration released two interim final rules (IFR) to provide guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness process, as well as directions on lender and borrower responsibilities. Both IFRs are effective immediately, and comments will be received for 30 days following publication in the Federal Register.
The loan forgiveness IFR outlines PPP loan forgiveness requirements for borrowers and lenders. Among other things, lenders must confirm that they received the borrower certifications in the loan forgiveness application form (covered by InfoBytes here) and verify the borrower’s calculations. The IFR also clarifies several questions, including those related to employee status, payroll calculations, and nonpayroll expenses eligible for forgiveness.
The lender and borrower responsibilities IFR provides additional guidance on the SBA PPP loan review, the loan forgiveness process for lenders, and lender eligibility for processing fees. While the IFR recommends that lenders work with borrowers to correct identified “errors in the borrower’s calculation or material lack of substantiation in the borrower’s supporting documents,” it does not require lenders to “independently verify the borrower’s reported information if the borrower submits documentation supporting its request for loan forgiveness and attests that it accurately verified the payments for eligible costs.” Lenders must report their decisions on forgiveness applications to the SBA and request payment from the SBA for borrowers that are eligible for forgiveness no later than 60 days after receiving a complete application. The SBA also has the authority to review any PPP loan, although it will evaluate a loan based on the “rules and guidance available at the time of the borrower’s PPP loan application.” In addition, the IFR notes that lenders may lose fees for any loans deemed to be ineligible, and that the SBA may claw back already issued-fees if it determines the lender has failed to fulfill its obligations under the PPP. According to the IFR, lenders will receive payment from the SBA on eligible loans, plus any accrued interest through the date of payment, no later than 90 days after a lender reports its decision to SBA.
FTC temporarily halts payday lending enterprise
On May 22, the FTC announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada granted a temporary restraining order against a group of 11 defendants operating a payday lending enterprise for allegedly deceptively overcharging consumers and withdrawing money from consumers’ accounts without permission. According to the complaint filed by the FTC, the defendants advertised loans with fixed payback terms, but in many cases, the payback terms would default to debiting the financial fee only. In some circumstances, consumers would receive an email with payback options, including “full payoff, loan extension, and loan buy down,” but the defendants would still require the consumer to notify them three days in advance if they wanted to pay off the entire loan amount, if not, only the “financial fee” would be debited. The FTC argues that the defendants violated the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, TILA/Regulation Z, and the Electronic Funds Transfer Act/Regulation E by, among other things, (i) marketing loan products as having a fixed number of payments when funds were only being applied to finance charges and payment withdrawals continued beyond the promised number of payments; (ii) failing to make the required loan disclosures; (iii) failing to obtain proper authorization for reoccurring bank account withdrawals; and (iv) unlawfully using remotely created checks. Beyond the temporary restraining order, the FTC is seeking a permanent injunction, contract rescission, restitution, and disgorgement.
Brian Brooks named acting Comptroller, Otting steps down
On May 21, the OCC announced that Comptroller of the Currency, Joseph Otting will step down from office on May 29, and Brian P. Brooks will become acting Comptroller of the Currency. Brooks currently serves as First Deputy and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the OCC, Brooks was Chief Legal Officer of a digital currency exchange, and prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Fannie Mae.
Federal agencies issue FAQs covering CRA and Covid-19
On May 27, the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC, and the FDIC posted Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) FAQs related to Covid-19. The FAQs acknowledge that while Covid-19 affected states are categorized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as Category B, which would normally not be considered designated disasters under the CRA, the agencies will grant consideration for activities that revitalize or stabilize affected areas by protecting public health and safety. The FAQs frequently cite to the joint statement on CRA consideration for activities in response to Covid-19, issued by the agencies in March (covered by InfoBytes here). Among other things, the FAQs discuss how Paycheck Protection Program and Main Street Lending Program loans may be eligible for CRA consideration and how bank examiners will consider affordable housing measures under the CRA.
Boston Fed releases Main Street Lending Program forms and agreements
On May 27, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston posted the necessary legal forms and agreements for eligible borrowers and eligible lenders to participate in the Main Street Lending Program on their website. The documents include, among other things, lender registration certifications and covenants, lender wire instructions, loan participation agreements, and servicing agreements. The Boston Fed has also updated the Main Street Lending Program’s FAQs.
Additional details about the Main Street Lending Program can be found in a previous InfoBytes post here, and a Buckley Special Alert here.
Fannie updates Covid-19 payment deferral lender letters
On May 27, Fannie Mae issued technical updates to Lender Letter LL-2020-07 and LL-2020-05 to include operational requirements related to reporting and completing a Covid-19 payment deferral, as well as the process for obtaining reimbursement for expenses related to the Covid-19 payment deferral. Among other things, servicers are required to pay any expenses associated with the execution of a Covid-19 payment deferral, such as required notary fees, recording costs, and title costs, but Fannie Mae will reimburse allowable expenses in accordance with F-1-05: Expense Reimbursement, in the Fannie Mae Servicing Guide.
As previously covered by InfoBytes, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced the new Covid-19 payment deferral option to “help borrowers impacted by a hardship related to Covid-19 return their mortgage to a current status after up to 12 months of missed payments.” The new option is for borrowers who (i) are on a Covid-19 related forbearance plan, or (ii) have a resolved financial hardship due to Covid-19. If a borrower is eligible for the Covid-19 payment deferral, the servicer must allow the borrower to resume their contractual monthly payments; however, the delinquency amount must be deferred as a non-interest bearing balance, due and payable at liquidation, refinance, or maturity.
Servicers must begin evaluating borrowers for the Covid-19 payment deferral beginning July 1.
SBA extends PPP safe harbor for a second time
On May 27, the Small Business Administration (SBA) in consultation with the Treasury Department issued an update to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Frequently Asked Questions to reflect the extension of the safe harbor deadline from May 14 to May 18. The SBA recently issued an interim final rule (IFR) to supplement the CARES Act and extend, for the second time, the PPP safe harbor for repayment from May 14 to May 18, to allow borrowers to avail themselves of a safe harbor with respect to the certification required by the CARES Act. The IFR also codifies the timeframe extension for submission of the initial SBA Form 1502 report for PPP loans. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the new timeframe for submission of Form 1502 is the later of (i) May 29, or (ii) 10 calendar days after disbursement or cancellation of the PPP loan.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York updates FAQs regarding loan facility program
On May 26, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York updated its frequently asked questions), previously covered here, regarding the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF). The changes clarify (i) requirements regarding certification of a TALF borrower’s inability to secure adequate credit accommodations, (ii) which nationally recognized statistical rating organizations are eligible rating agencies under the TALF, and (iii) how unsolicited credit ratings are treated.