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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

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  • CFPB: Supervisory Obligations Trump Nondisclosure Agreements

    Consumer Finance

    As previously reported in our Special Alert on January 29, the CFPB issued Compliance Bulletin 2015-01, which reminds supervised financial institutions of their obligations concerning the disclosure of confidential supervisory information to the CFPB and to third parties. For more information, please visit our CFPB Resource Center.

    CFPB Bank Supervision

  • OCC Appoints Comptroller of Troubled Banks

    Consumer Finance

    On January 26, the OCC named Michael Brickman as the Deputy Comptroller for Special Supervision. In his role, Brickman will manage the supervision of the OCC’s most problematic midsize and community banks, and will oversee the “development and implementation of rehabilitation or resolution strategies for assigned banks and savings associations.” Prior to joining the OCC in 2011 as Director for Special Supervision, Brickman held various positions at the Office of Thrift Supervision, including Conglomerate Examiner—Complex and International Organizations, Senior Advisor to the Managing Director of Supervision, and Director for Regional Activities.

    OCC Bank Supervision

  • Special Alert: CFPB States Supervisory Obligations Trump Nondisclosure Agreements

    On January 27, the CFPB issued Compliance Bulletin 2015-01 to remind supervised financial institutions of their obligations concerning the disclosure of confidential supervisory information (CSI) to the CFPB and to third parties. Specifically, the bulletin addresses the interaction between a financial institution’s obligations with respect to the CFPB and its contractual obligations under nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with a third party that restrict the sharing of information. Such NDAs typically (i) restrict sharing protected information with any third party (which would include a supervisory agency) other than in connection with a subpoena or similar legal requirement and (ii) require the institution to advise the third party before it shares information as required by law (which again would include sharing protected information with a supervisory agency).

    Supervised financial institutions and other persons, with limited exceptions outlined in the bulletin, are generally prohibited from disclosing CSI to third parties. According to the bulletin, a supervised financial institution should not rely on the provisions of an NDA to justify disclosing CSI in a manner not otherwise permitted, either through a valid exception or prior written approval from the CFPB. The bulletin appears to take the position that the fact that information has been shared with the CFPB is itself CSI.

    The bulletin also warns supervised financial institutions that an NDA between an institution and a third party does not alter or limit the CFPB’s supervisory authority, and that the failure based on an NDA to provide CSI or other information required by the CFPB to conduct its supervisory activities is a violation of law for which the CFPB will pursue all available remedies.

    In that supervised institutions such as banks and bank holding companies have been subject to the same issue for many years, this bulletin may be aimed at non-banks that are new to being subject to federal financial supervision.   Questions regarding the matters discussed in this Alert may be directed to any of our lawyers listed below, or to any other BuckleySandler attorney with whom you have consulted in the past.

     

    CFPB Nonbank Supervision Bank Supervision

  • CSBS Issues Policy, Draft Model Regulatory Framework, and Request for Comment Regarding State Regulation of Virtual Currency

    State Issues

    As previously reported in our January 8 Digital Commerce & Payments alert and in InfoBytes, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (“CSBS”) issued a Policy on State Regulation of Virtual Currency (the “Policy”), Draft Model Regulatory Framework, and a request for public comment regarding the regulation of virtual currency on December 16, 2014.  The Policy and Draft Model Regulatory Framework were issued through the work of the CSBS Emerging Payments Task Force (the “Task Force”). The Task Force was established to explore the nexus between state supervision and the development of payment systems and is seeking to identify where there are consistent regulatory approaches among states.

    CSBS Bank Supervision Virtual Currency

  • FDIC Publication Focuses on Interest Rate Risk

    Consumer Finance

    On December 18, the FDIC announced the release of its Winter 2014 issue of Supervisory Insights, which focuses on effective interest rate risk management at community and mid-size financial institutions. Specific articles included in the publication are (i)Effective Governance Processes for Managing Interest Rate Risk,” (ii) “Developing the Key Assumptions for Analysis of Interest Rate Risk,” (iii) “Developing an In-House Independent Review of Interest Rate Risk Management Systems,” and (iv) “What to Expect During an Interest Rate Risk Review."

    FDIC Bank Supervision

  • OCC Releases Semiannual Report on Key Risk Areas

    Consumer Finance

    On December 17, the OCC announced the release of its semiannual report on key risk areas affecting the federal banking system. Specifically regarding community and midsize banks, the report identifies areas where the OCC intends to heighten its supervisory attention including, but not limited to, corporate governance, operational risk, cyber risk, and compliance risk, specifically related to fair lending and BSA/AML. Other notable takeaways from the report include continued improvement in the overall financial condition of community and midsize banks. However, the report also indicated that smaller banks, due to increased competition for loan demand and low investment yields, continue to experience pressure on earnings.

    OCC Semiannual Risk Report Bank Supervision

  • State Bank Regulators Request Feedback On Model Framework for Virtual Currency Activities

    State Issues

    On December 16, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) announced its draft regulatory framework and requested public comment on specific questions intended to aid state regulators on the regulation of virtual currencies. The regulation of virtual currency activities currently varies from state to state. The draft framework is intended to create uniform state regulation. Comments are due by February 16, 2015.

    CSBS Bank Supervision Virtual Currency

  • NY DFS Advises Banks On New Cybersecurity Examination Process

    Privacy, Cyber Risk & Data Security

    On December 10, NY DFS Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky issued a bulletin to all New York state-chartered or licensed banking institutions regarding an updated IT examination process. Effective immediately, cybersecurity examinations will be included within the overall IT examination process. The DFS cybersecurity examinations will incorporate a number of new topics, including: (i) corporate governance; (ii) protections against intrusion, such as multi-factor or adaptive authentication, along with server and database configuration; (iii) information security testing and monitoring; and (iv) cybersecurity insurance coverage, along with other third-party protections. Ultimately, the new examination process will assess a bank’s cybersecurity protections, in addition to how it manages potential cyber risks and handles a cybersecurity attack.

    Bank Supervision Privacy/Cyber Risk & Data Security NYDFS

  • FFIEC Releases Updated BSA/AML Examination Manual

    Consumer Finance

    On December 2, the FFIEC announced the release of its revised BSA/AML examination manual. The updated revisions address supervisory expectations and include regulatory changes since the manual’s last publication in 2010. Significantly modified sections of the examination include (i) Suspicious Activity Reporting, (ii) Currency Transaction Reporting, (iii) Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Reporting, and (iv) Third-Party Payment Processors. The manual is available on the FFIEC BSA/AML InfoBase.

    Anti-Money Laundering Bank Secrecy Act FFIEC Bank Supervision

  • Illinois Legislature Directs State Regulator To Formalize Bank Exams

    State Issues

    On July 24, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed HB 5342, which amends numerous provisions of state law applicable to state banks and credit unions, including requiring the Illinois Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation to adopt formal rules that guarantee consistency and due process during the examination process of state-chartered banks. The bill also allows the Secretary to establish guidelines “that (i) define the scope of the examination process and (ii) clarify examination items to be resolved.” In addition, the bill provides that an existing loan secured by an interest in real estate shall not, under certain circumstances, require a new appraisal of the collateral during renewal, refinancing, or restructuring. The changes became effective immediately.

    Examination Bank Supervision

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