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  • California Department of Business Oversight will monitor licensees’ compliance with face covering guidance

    State Issues

    The California Department of Business Oversight announced that it will monitor licensees’ compliance with face covering guidance issued by the California governor and the California Department of Public Health. All customers must be required to wear appropriate face coverings under circumstances outlined in the guidance, and those who refuse to comply and do not meet the outlined exemptions should be refused entry to banks, credit unions, and other places of business.

    State Issues Covid-19 California CDBO Licensing Compliance Bank Compliance Credit Union

  • NCUA releases additional guidance to credit unions serving hemp businesses

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance

    Recently, the NCUA released updated guidance to federally insured credit unions on serving hemp businesses. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in August 2019, NCUA released interim guidance allowing federally insured credit unions to service hemp businesses. The guidance explained that the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) removed hemp from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, but noted that hemp could not be produced lawfully under federal law, beyond a 2014 pilot program, until the USDA promulgated regulations and guidelines to implement the hemp production provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill. In October 2019, the USDA issued an interim final rule, which outlined provisions to approve plans submitted by state or Native American tribes that want to retain primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp and a federal licensing plan for producers in states and tribal territories that do not have their own USDA-approved plans.

    The newly released guidance reminds credit unions to stay current with the federal, state, and Native American tribal laws and regulations that apply to any hemp-related businesses, as the interim final rule does not preempt or limit any law state or tribal law that that is more stringent than the 2018 Farm Bill. Among other things, the guidance notes that NCUA examiners will collect data concerning the types of services credit unions are providing to hemp-related businesses and states that the NCUA expects credit unions to employ sufficient customer due diligence procedures as part of their BSA/AML compliance program to ensure hemp growers possess a valid state or USDA license.

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance NCUA Credit Union Bank Secrecy Act Anti-Money Laundering Hemp Businesses

  • Massachusetts Division of Banks issues guidance to credit unions on annual meetings

    State Issues

    On June 12, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Division of Banks, issued industry guidance regarding annual meetings for Massachusetts chartered credit unions. Massachusetts credit unions that have not yet held their annual membership meeting may postpone the annual meeting until the state of emergency is lifted, the order declaring the state of emergency has expired or is rescinded, or such time as the credit union believes it may safely hold the meeting. Alternatively, a credit union may remotely hold the annual meeting, or may conduct a hybrid meeting consisting of a combination of remote communication in conjunction with a limited in-person meeting. A credit union may also utilize mail voting with either options. Credit unions that exercise a virtual meeting option must comply with certain requirements in the guidance.

    State Issues Covid-19 Massachusetts Credit Union Financial Institutions Banking

  • New Hampshire issues guidance for reopening of branches of financial institutions

    State Issues

    The New Hampshire Banking Department has issued guidance on the reopening of branches and other financial institution offices that were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Banks or credit unions planning to reopen branch offices or other offices are requested to provide notice to the in the manner specified in the guidance and must also ensure that customers and members are aware of any planned reopening. Banks and credit institutions are urged to consult Emergency Order 40 for guidance on precautions to protect the safety of the institutions’ staff and customers.

    State Issues Covid-19 New Hampshire Credit Union Financial Institutions Bank Compliance

  • NCUA approves interim final rule regarding corrective action regulations

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance

    On May 21, the NCUA approved an interim final rule (IFR) making two temporary changes to its prompt corrective action regulations to provide relief for credit unions that temporarily fall below the well-capitalized level due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first change will temporarily reduce the earnings retention requirement for “adequately capitalized” credit unions, and will allow these credit union to decrease earnings retention amounts without submitting a written application requesting approval. Credit unions that exhibit material safety and soundness concerns or pose an undue risk to the Share Insurance Fund may be required to submit an earnings transfer waiver request. The second change will temporarily allow undercapitalized credit unions to submit streamlined, “significantly simpler” net worth restoration plans, provided the credit union is able to demonstrate that the reduction in capital was primarily caused by share growth and that such share growth is a temporary condition due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The IFR’s temporary changes will expire December 31, 2020, and take effect upon publication in the Federal Register. Comments will be received for 30 days.

    The same day, the NCUA also approved a proposed rule to amend its share insurance regulation, which governs the requirements for a share account to be separately insured as a joint account. Specifically, the proposed rule will provide an alternative method for credit unions to satisfy the membership card or account signature card requirement by “explicitly provid[ing] that the signature-card requirement could be satisfied by information contained in the account records of the insured credit union establishing co-ownership of the share account.” Comments on the proposed rule are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance NCUA Credit Union Covid-19

  • Nebraska authorizes virtual annual meetings for credit unions

    State Issues

    On May 18, the director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance released guidance allowing state-chartered credit unions to hold their annual meetings and certain special member meetings virtually, provided that certain requirements are met. 

    State Issues Covid-19 Nebraska Credit Union

  • New Mexico issues public health order

    State Issues

    On May 15, the New Mexico Department of Health issued an order directing that essential businesses must operate in accordance with the applicable Covid-Safe Practices section of the All Together New Mexico: Covid-Safe Practices for Individuals and Employers. Essential businesses include banks, credit unions, insurance providers, brokerage services, and investment management firms, among others.

    State Issues Covid-19 New Mexico Credit Union Insurance Broker-Dealer Investment Adviser

  • Colorado issues guidance to critical financial institutions

    State Issues

    On May 12, Colorado issued additional guidance to critical financial institutions during the Safer at Home for Public Health Order 20-28. The guidance clarifies that financial and professional institutions are considered “Critical Business/Critical Service” under the public health order. It also provides responses to frequently asked questions, including how to follow guidance at the city, county, and state level, whether banks and credit union branches are considered “Critical Retailers,” the requirements for monitoring employee health, and cleaning procedures at the financial institutions’ facilities.

    State Issues Covid-19 Colorado Bank Compliance Credit Union

  • Fed, OCC, FDIC respond to Crapo’s PPP support letter

    Federal Issues

    In April, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, received replies to an April 8 letter he sent to the Federal Reserve (Fed), OCC, NCUA, and FDIC, which urged the regulators to “strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) and requested that they provide recommendations to assist the market as well as lenders and borrowers affected by Covid-19.

    The Fed highlighted how it has strengthened the PPP, stating it: (i) eased “leverage requirements for community banks”; (ii) “published rules delaying the impact on regulatory capital of new loan-loss accounting standards”; (iii) created a new lending facility for the PPP; (iv) jointly with the FDIC, and OCC, “issued an interim final rule to clarify that a zero percent risk weight applies to PPP loans and to neutralize the regulatory capital effects of participating in the new PPP lending facility, helping preserve the flow of credit to small businesses”; (v) “encouraged institutions to use their capital buffers for their primary purpose: to support safe and sound lending throughout the credit cycle”; and (vi) provided suggestions for “congressional action to improve regulatory flexibility.”

    The OCC’s replied that it has taken the following actions, among others, to support the PPP: (i) “encouraged banks to work with customers affected by” the pandemic; (ii) “encouraged banks to use the [Fed’s] discount window”; (iii) encouraged use of capital and liquidity buffers by banks; (iv) issued a joint statement with five regulatory agencies promoting “responsible small-dollar loans to consumers and small businesses”; (v) jointly issued interim final rules regarding regulatory capital and deferral of real estate appraisals; and (vi) coordinated listening sessions on the PPP.

    The FDIC stated it is working to provide “necessary flexibility to both banks and their customers.” The agency’s response also enumerated several other actions it has taken to promote the PPP, including that it: (i) created a PPP information page on their website; (ii) shared bank questions and concerns with the Small Business Administration (SBA); (iii) created bank frequently asked questions; (iv) issued a financial institution letter referencing resources from the SBA and the Treasury; (v) continues to “provid[e]…resources to our examination teams so they” can better answer questions from regulated institutions; and (vi) jointly with other regulatory agencies, issued guidance on current expected credit losses methodology and community bank leverage ratio. The FDIC also reported possible supplementary and tier 1 leverage ratio changes.

    Federal Issues Agency Rule-Making & Guidance FDIC Senate Banking Committee Credit Union NCUA OCC SBA Small Business Lending Federal Reserve Department of Treasury CARES Act Covid-19

  • Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issues guidance to credit unions regarding deferral of an appraisal or written estimate of market value

    State Issues

    On May 1, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issued guidance to credit unions regarding the deferral of an appraisal or written estimate of market value to allow credit unions to continue to extend loans to households and businesses during the Covid-19 crisis. The guidance notes that the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board promulgated an interim final rule allowing a federal credit union to temporarily defer certain appraisals and written estimates of market value for up to 120 days after closing when other alternatives are not available and when the appraisal or evaluation would delay the closing of the transaction, and states its intention to promulgate a substantially similar rule. Until the rule has been promulgated and finalized, the department does not intend to take adverse supervisory or enforcement action against an Illinois state-chartered credit union for deferring the appraisal or written estimate of market value for appropriate transactions up to 120 days from the date of closing, subject to certain exceptions. The guidance provides additional requirements for credit unions to follow when seeking to take advantage of this exemption.

    State Issues Covid-19 Illinois Credit Union NCUA Appraisal Bank Compliance

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