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States offer relief to student loan borrowers not covered by CARES Act
On April 23 and 21, nine states announced a multi-state initiative to provide student loan relief options for borrowers with privately held student loans not covered by the CARES Act. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington outlined within their announcements specific measures for borrowers with commercially-owned Federal Family Education Loan Program loans and borrowers with private student loans who are struggling to make payments due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcements also noted that Virginia is participating in the initiative as well. These relief options, offered in conjunction with the listed private student loan servicers, include (i) a minimum 90-days of forbearance relief; (ii) a waiver of late fees; (iii) no negative credit reporting; (iv) a 90-day moratorium on collection lawsuits; and (v) enrollment in applicable borrower assistance programs, such as income-based repayment. The states cautioned that enrollment in these relief options is not automatic, and recommended borrowers contact their student loan servicer to see what options best suit their needs.
In addition, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, and Washington recommended that regulated student loan servicers with limited ability to take these actions due to investor restrictions or contractual obligations “should instead proactively work with loan holders whenever possible to relax those restrictions or obligations.”
Minnesota Commerce Department issues guidance to state banks and state credit unions regarding fraud with paper stimulus checks
On April 22, the Minnesota Commerce Department issued letters to officers of state banks and state credit unions alerting them of potential fraud that may arise in connection with the receipt of paper stimulus checks ordered under the CARES Act. The letters link to the Treasury and Secret Service guidance that highlights Treasury check security features and includes a link to a check verification application.
FHFA: Fannie, Freddie to temporarily buy mortgages in forbearance due to Covid-19
On April 22, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) will purchase “certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria” for a limited period in an effort to provide liquidity to ensure continued lending. Current policies dictate that the GSEs do not purchase loans that are in forbearance; however, due to the economic effects of Covid-19, FHFA will begin allowing the GSEs to buy certain mortgages that enter forbearance within the first month after loan closing, prior to delivery to the GSEs. The temporary selling requirements in Freddie Mac Bulletin 2020-12 allow lenders to sell to the GSE mortgages in forbearance only on mortgages for home purchases or “no cash-out” mortgage refinances. Further, the mortgages must have note dates between February 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020, the dates of settlement must be after May 1, and the mortgages must not be more than 30 days delinquent. Fannie Mae Lender Letter 2020-06 follows most of the same guidelines provided in the Freddie Mac bulletin, but Fannie Mae will also buy mortgages for limited cash-out refinances. To limit losses, the GSEs will charge sellers loan-level price adjustments of 5 percent for loans to first-time homebuyers, and 7 percent for all others.
NCUA amends capital regulation to conform to CARES Act
On April 22, the NCUA approved an interim final rule (IFR) amending its capital adequacy regulation to align with the CARES Act. The NCUA amended its risk-based capital requirements to provide for a zero percent risk weight for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Further, to neutralize the effect of the PPP loans on credit unions, the IFR will allow credit unions to omit covered loans from their total assets calculation when determining their net worth ratios. However, the covered loans must be “pledged as collateral for a non-recourse loan that is provided as part of the [Fed’s] PPP Lending Facility.” The IFR also amended “the definition of a commercial loan in the NCUA’s member business loans and commercial lending rule” to exclude PPP loans. This IFR is effective upon publication in the Federal Register, after which comments will be accepted for 30 days.
FHFA: Servicers obligated to advance only four months of payments on loans in forbearance
On April 21, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced it has aligned Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (GSEs) “policies regarding servicer obligations to advance scheduled monthly principal and interest payments for single-family mortgage loans.” The plan, which is applicable to all GSE servicers regardless of type or size, limits servicers’ obligations to advance scheduled principal and interest payments to mortgage-backed securities (MBS) investors after a servicer has advanced four months of missed borrower payments on a loan. FHFA further clarifies that loans in forbearance due to Covid-19 will not be purchased out of MBS pools by the GSEs, but will instead “be treated like a natural disaster event and will remain in the MBS pool,” reducing potential liquidity demands on the GSEs. FHFA notes that both the agency and the GSEs will continue to monitor Covid-19’s impact on the housing finance market and will make policy updates as necessary.
CFPB video instructs non-tax filers how to receive stimulus payments
On April 21, the CFPB announced the release of a video—aimed at consumers who do not file taxes—that describes the steps those consumers should take in order to receive their economic impact payments. The video explains that most Americans will automatically receive their economic stimulus payments from the IRS, but those who do not may need to submit their information and specify how they would like to receive their payments. Consumers are informed that if they do not submit their information, they will be mailed paper checks, which will take longer to receive than a direct deposit. In the announcement, Bureau Director Kathleen Kraninger states that the video “is intended to help consumers navigate the economic impact payments as well as helping them avoid scams related to the payments.” The announcement also provides eligibility guidelines for the stimulus payments, a link to frequently asked questions about the payments, and a link to additional Bureau information related to Covid-19.
Indiana Supreme Court issues order protecting stimulus payments from attachment or garnishment from creditors
On April 20, the Indiana Supreme Court issued an order in response to a petition for emergency rulemaking to protect stimulus payments under the CARES Act from attempts by private creditors to attach or garnish those payments during the Covid-19 emergency. Pursuant to the order, courts are prohibited from issuing new orders placing a hold on, attaching, or garnishing funds in a judgment-debtor’s account in a depository institution if those funds are attributable to a stimulus payment, with certain exceptions. With respect to previously issued court orders placing a hold on a judgment-debtor’s account in a depository institution, the judgement-debtor is entitled to a hearing, upon request, to determine what funds in the account are attributable to a stimulus payment and for the judgement-debtor to assert any exemption(s) under state or federal law. These measures are effective until the expiration of the Covid-19 public health emergency or until the Indiana Supreme Court suspends the order.
Banks face class actions for prioritizing large customers for PPP loans
On April 20, five class action lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against six of the nation’s largest banks, alleging that the banks prioritized existing, large customers over smaller businesses for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA's) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The suits claim that the banks submitted PPP applications for existing large customers first, failing to process applications in the order they were received. Moreover, pursuant to the CARES Act, the SBA provided PPP lenders with origination fees on a sliding scale, from 1 percent to 5 percent, based on the amount of each loan. The complaints allege that higher origination fees provided incentive for the banks to process higher dollar loans ahead of smaller dollar loans. See the complaints here, here, here, here, and here.
Fed provides FAQs on PPP liquidity facility
On April 20, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) released a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers relating to the agency’s newly launched Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (PPPLF). As previously covered by InfoBytes, the PPPLF was up and running on April 16 to provide liquidity to banks making loans to small businesses pursuant to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The SBA-guaranteed PPP loans are used as collateral for term financing provided by the PPPLF. The PPPLF extends credit to financial institutions participating in the PPP at a fixed rate of 35 basis points. Additional information regarding the PPPLF, including a term sheet, borrowing documentation, and operational documentation including samples can be found on the Fed website here.
OCC bulletin highlights Covid-19 assistance to businesses, consumers, and governments through Fed facilities
On April 20, the OCC issued a bulletin to spotlight the many Federal Reserve (Fed) lending programs established to provide relief from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to highlight how the programs benefit consumers, businesses, and state and local governments. The Fed has supported the economy in a number of ways, particularly through establishing or expanding loan, credit, and liquidity facilities including (i) the Paycheck Protection Liquidity Facility (PPPLF); (ii) the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF); (iii) the Primary and Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facilities (PMCCF) and (SMCCF); (iv) the Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF); and (v) the new Main Street Facility. As previously covered by a Buckley Special Alert, the PPPLF provides liquidity to banks to enable them to lend to small business owners so they can keep their businesses running and pay their employees. The TALF, PMCCF, and SMCCF ensure the flow of credit to consumers and businesses for things such as auto loans, credit card loans, and student loans. The MLF facilitates the flow of cash into states, counties, and cities so that their governments may continue to provide services to residents. Finally, the Main Street Facility—like the PPPLF—supports lending to businesses, in which banks originate Main Street Lending Program loans to small and medium-sized businesses by selling the majority of the loans to the Main Street Facility. Further details about the Main Street Facility can be found in a Buckley Special Alert here.