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Banking regulators urge small-dollar lending during Covid-19 crisis
On March 26, the FDIC, Federal Reserve Board, CFPB, NCUA, and OCC issued a joint statement encouraging banks, savings associations, and credit unions to offer responsible, small-dollar loans to consumers and small businesses affected by Covid-19. The agencies recognize that small-dollar lending can play an important role in meeting credit needs during this time period, and recommend that financial institutions offer loans “through a variety of structures including open-end lines of credit, closed-end installment loans, or appropriately structured single payment loans.” For borrowers experiencing unexpected circumstances who cannot repay a loan as structured, financial institutions are “further encouraged to consider workout strategies designed to help borrowers to repay the principal of the loan while mitigating the need to re-borrow.” All loans, however, should be offered in a manner “consistent with safe and sound practices” that “provides fair treatment of consumers, and complies with applicable statutes and regulations, including consumer protection laws.”
CFPB outlines regulatory flexibility related to Covid-19
On March 26, the CFPB announced several regulatory flexibility measures to help financial companies work with consumers affected by Covid-19. Specifically, the measures postpone certain industry data collections on Bureau-related rules. These include:
- HMDA. Quarterly information reporting by certain mortgage lenders as required under HMDA and Regulation C will not be expected during this time. However, entities should continue collecting and recording HMDA data in anticipation of making annual submissions. Entities will be provided information by the Bureau on when and how to commence new quarterly HMDA data submissions. (See statement here.)
- TILA. During this time, annual submissions required under TILA, Regulation Z, and Regulation E “concerning agreements between credit card issuers and institutions of higher education; quarterly submission of consumer credit card agreements; collection of certain credit card price and availability information; and submission of prepaid account agreements and related information” will not be expected. (See statement here.)
- Section 1071. A survey seeking information from financial institutions on the cost of compliance in connection with pending rulemaking on Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act has been postponed. As previously covered by InfoBytes, under the terms of a stipulated settlement resolving a 2019 lawsuit that sought an order compelling the Bureau to issue a final rule implementing Section 1071, the Bureau agreed to outline a proposal for collecting data and studying discrimination in small-business lending.
- PACE Financing. A survey of firms providing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to consumers for the purposes of implementing Section 307 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act has been postponed.
- Supervision and Enforcement. The Bureau’s policy statement provides “that it does not intend to cite in an examination or initiate an enforcement action against any entity for failure to submit to the Bureau” specified information related to credit card and prepaid accounts. However, the Bureau’s announcement advises entities to “maintain records sufficient to allow them to make delayed submissions pursuant to Bureau guidance.” With respect to operational challenges facing institutions due to Covid-19, the Bureau states that it will work with institutions when scheduling examinations and other supervisory activities to minimize disruption and burden. “[W]hen conducting examinations and other supervisory activities and in determining whether to take enforcement action, the Bureau will consider the circumstances that entities may face as a result of the [Covid-19] pandemic and will be sensitive to good-faith efforts demonstrably designed to assist consumers,” the announcement states.
Fed extends small financial institutions' filing deadline
On March 26, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced that it will not take action against small financial institutions that miss the deadline for filing their March 31 “Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies (FR Y-9C) or Financial Statements of U.S. Nonbank Subsidiaries of U.S. Bank Holding Companies (FR Y-11).” Pursuant to the Fed’s guidance, small financial institutions with $5 billion or less in assets must file their financial statements within 30 days of the official deadline. The Fed also encouraged institutions to communicate with their Reserve Bank if they anticipate the need for additional time to file their statements. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the federal regulatory agencies issued a similar 30-day grace period for institutions that must submit call reports.
Special Alert: California governor releases Covid-19 relief package
On March 25, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a financial relief package (Proposal) and related guidance to assist borrowers in California experiencing financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. According to the news release, the relief efforts are being supported by several of the nation’s largest national banks, as well as by nearly 200 state-chartered banks, credit unions, and other servicers operating in California (Participating Financial Institutions). Under the Proposal, California borrowers of residential mortgage loans may be eligible for relief with respect to mortgage payments, credit reporting, foreclosures, evictions, and late fees and charges.
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Click here to read the full special alert
If you have any questions regarding California’s financial relief package, or other related issues, please contact a Buckley attorney with whom you have worked in the past. You can also visit our Covid-19 News & Resources page for a compendium of issuances by federal and state agencies, as well as GSEs and other sources.
Idaho issues stay at home order
On March 25, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare issued an Order to Self-Isolate for all individuals living in Idaho except for those providing or receiving certain services or activities or engaged in essential businesses. Banks, credit unions, and financial institutions, including processing and maintaining systems for processing financial transactions and services are deemed essential business. Idaho also has published a List of Essential Services.
Kentucky governor orders closing of all non-life-sustaining businesses
On March 25, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear issued an executive order mandating that only “life-sustaining businesses” may remain open and encouraged citizens to remain “healthy at home.” The list of life-sustaining businesses includes banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, payday lenders, check cashers, money transmitters, and securities institutions.
Federal Reserve Board delays changes to provision of intraday credit to foreign banks
On March 24, the Federal Reserve Board announced that it will delay planned revisions to their procedures that govern providing intraday credit to U.S. branches of foreign banking organizations. The amendments were originally approved on April 1, 2019, and were scheduled to become effective on April 1, 2020. The FRB is delaying implementation for six months, until October 1, 2020, to provide foreign banking organizations and the Federal Reserve Banks allow additional time to allow both the with additional time to focus on “heightened priorities” instead of establishing new arrangements to comply with the proposed amendments.
NYDFS provides emergency relief to consumers
On March 24, NYDFS issued an emergency regulation providing financial relief to New Yorkers affected by Covid-19. Among other things, New York regulated institutions must (i) make applications for forbearance of any payment due on a residential mortgage of a property located in New York, widely available to any individual who resides in New York and who demonstrates financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and (ii) subject to the safety and soundness requirements of the regulated institution, grant such forbearance for a period of 90 days to any such individual. New York regulated banking organizations must also provide certain financial relief to individuals who can demonstrate financial hardship, including eliminating fees charged for use of certain ATMs, overdraft fees, and credit card late payment fees. The regulations also establish requirements for institutions regarding the criteria for individuals to qualify for relief, application processing, and record retention, including expedited timelines to process applications for relief.
Pennsylvania expands stay at home order to include Erie County
On March 24, the Pennsylvania governor extended Pennsylvania’s stay at home order to Erie County. The stay at home order previously only applied to certain other Pennsylvania counties.
Minnesota issues executive order suspending evictions and writs of recovery, requesting moratorium on foreclosures
On March 23, the Minnesota governor issued an executive order suspending evictions and writs of recovery during the Covid-19 pandemic. The order also requests that financial institutions holding home mortgages implement an immediate moratorium on all pending and future foreclosures and related evictions when the foreclosure or foreclosure-related eviction is caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Financial institutions are also strongly urged not to impose late fees or other penalties for late mortgage payments related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The executive order will remain in effect until the declared emergency is terminated or rescinded.