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Texas Reorganizes Mortgage Licensing Laws
On May 24, Texas enacted SB 1004, which reorganizes and simplifies the state’s mortgage licensing regime. Under current law, mortgage loan originators who are employed by mortgage bankers are licensed under separate sections of the code, which together contain six individual types of licenses. Each of these licenses require the same set of qualifications, however, an originator licensed under one chapter must get a separate license to be qualified under the other chapter, and vice versa. SB 1004 creates a single license type for mortgage origination, which will enable a qualified individual to originate for a mortgage company or a mortgage banker, so long as the individual meets the statutory licensure requirements. The bill makes numerous other revisions relating to the regulation of residential mortgage loan originators, residential mortgage loan companies, mortgage bankers, and residential mortgage loan servicers and raises the fee cap for license applications and renewals. The changes become effective on September 1, 2013.
CFPB Bulletin Supports Uniform State Test for Mortgage Loan Originators
On May 20, the CFPB issued Bulletin 2013-05, which clarifies that the Uniform State Test (UST) developed by the NMLS may constitute a qualified written test under the federal SAFE Act for state-licensed mortgage loan originators if the UST covers all required areas, including state laws and regulations. The Bulletin further explains that a separate test for each state covering the particular laws and regulations of that state plus a National Test Component developed by the NMLS may also meet the qualified written test requirement under the SAFE Act.
Indiana Revises Numerous Licensing, Consumer Credit, and Banking Provisions
On May 9, Indiana enacted HB 1081, which makes numerous changes to the state’s consumer lending, licensing, and banking laws. Among those changes, the bill increases the threshold loan amounts under various definitions in the Uniform Consumer Credit Code, including “consumer credit sale,” “consumer loan,” and “consumer related loan.” With regard to mortgage originator licensing, the bill (i) revises the surety bond requirements for creditors and entities exempt from licensing that employ a licensed mortgage loan originator, (ii) prohibits an unlicensed individual or an unlicensed organization to act as a closing agent in a first lien mortgage transaction, and (iii) empowers the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to investigate any licensee or person that the DFI suspects is operating without a license or in violation of the First Lien Mortgage Lending Act. The bill provides additional guidelines for filing an article of dissolution of a bank, trust company, or a building and loan association. It also makes changes to the certain powers of banks and trust companies. In addition, the bill make numerous amendments related to debt management companies, lead generators, and other consumer financial service providers, and revises requirements for money transmitter licensing by, for example, authorizing the DFI to designate the NMLS for licensing purposes.
CSBS Seeks Comment on NMLS Licensing Forms, Mortgage Call Report
Earlier this month, the CSBS sought comment on potential revisions to (i) the uniform NMLS company, branch, and individual licensing forms and (ii) the quarterly NMLS Mortgage Call Report. The forms create a national standard of information collection for entities licensed through NMLS, while the quarterly call reports provide comprehensive and uniform information concerning the financial condition of licensed mortgage companies, their mortgage loan activities, and the production information of their mortgage loan originators. The state regulators are seeking comment on, among other things, potential improvements to form changes made in 2012. With respect to the call reports, the state regulators are seeking input on (i) the definition of “application” in the call report, (ii) criteria to be used when determining which companies file the different versions of the report, (iii) whether any policies, requirements, data fields, or definitions should be amended, and (iv) which aggregate call report data should be publicly reported. Comments are due by June 11, 2013.
State Law Update: Tennessee, Kansas Update Mortgage-Related Provisions
Tennessee Makes Minor Changes to Mortgage Licensing Rules. On April 11, Tennessee enacted HB 160, a bill that makes certain minor changes to the state’s mortgage licensing law. The bill removes current licensing exemptions for (i) a person who owns a vacant tract of real property which the person subsequently subdivides and sells the tracts, regardless of the number of individual tracts sold and the number of ultimate purchasers of such tracts of real property, and (ii) a person or agent engaged solely in commercial real estate lending or who provides financing on property which is not intended to be owner-occupied by the person receiving the financing. The bill continues to allow licensed real estate brokers to include in any contract, mortgage terms agreed upon by the parties without having to obtain mortgage licenses, but clarifies that such communications cannot include the offering or negotiating of any terms of a residential mortgage loan. The changes took effect immediately.
Kansas Increases Mortgage Interest Rate Cap. On April 4, Kansas enacted SB 52, which increases the maximum annual interest rate for certain mortgages from 1.5 percentage points to no more than 3.5 percentage points above a specified monthly floating rate set by Freddie Mac.
State Law Update: Idaho Amends Mortgage Licensing Provisions
On March 13, Idaho enacted HB 10, a bill to amend the licensing provisions of the Idaho Residential Mortgage Practices Act. The bill (i) provides a license exemption for individuals who originate mortgages on behalf of federal, state, or local government housing agencies, (ii) removes language inconsistent with federal interpretation of the SAFE Act relating to an exclusion from the definition of "mortgage loan originator," and (iii) makes it a prohibited practice for a person to violate license-related testing or education procedures. The bill also authorizes the director to subpoena records related to unlicensed activity by any person and also clarifies licensing exemptions for Idaho attorneys and accountants. By state rule, the law is set to take effect on July 1, 2013.
Special Alert: Report on 2013 NMLS Annual Conference
The Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) held its fifth annual NMLS User Conference and Training in San Antonio, Texas from February 26 through March 1, 2013. The Conference brought together state and federal mortgage regulators, industry professionals, compliance companies, top law firms, and education providers to learn about the latest developments in mortgage supervision and to discuss pressing issues confronting the industry.
The first day of the Conference included the bi-annual NMLS Ombudsman Meeting, which provided an opportunity for NMLS users to raise issues concerning the NMLS, state and/or federal regulation. NMLS Ombudsman Timothy Siwy, Deputy Secretary of Non-Depository Institutions with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, presided over the meeting, in which specific questions submitted by industry representatives were addressed. Several of the submitted questions focused on the new Uniform State Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) Exam or Uniform State Test (the UST) of which 24 agencies have already adopted. Concerns were raised by the regulators as some state statutes require that a state’s specific laws be tested as a pre-requisite of MLO licensure. Others, such as regulators from California and Utah, had concerns that MLOs would not adequately learn state specific laws and regulations prior to licensure. In light of these concerns, industry representatives indicated that the UST is only the first step in licensure, and continuing education requirements, monitoring, and examinations would also serve as opportunities to ensure MLOs are well-versed in applicable state specific licensing laws and regulations.
Other areas of focus included NMLS’s expansion to include non-mortgage licenses, such as payday lender and pawn broker licenses. Some industry representatives voiced concern that approval of a license via the NMLS now carries with it an image of legitimacy with the public and expanding licensure to non-mortgage, less regulated industries could undermine that image. Regulators responded that the NMLS is a tracking mechanism—a way for regulators to track licensees state-to-state and industry-to-industry—not an independent licensing credential.
Full details regarding the specific issues submitted for comment, as well as accompanying exhibits, will be available on the NMLS Website, Ombudsman Page. A recording of the Ombudsman Meeting should be posted to the NMLS Resource Center in the near future.
The remaining days of the Conference covered various federal and state regulatory rule implementation, updates for industry, and a look ahead at new initiatives and changes to the NMLS (please refer to the NMLS Conference Agenda, which also includes copies of presentations). Specifically, various sessions covered the following topics, among others:
- The collaboration of the CFPB and state regulators to level the playing field between banks and non-banks with respect to enforcing regulations and conducting examinations. David Liken, the Deputy Director of Supervision and Enforcement with the CFPB, explained that Dodd Frank contemplated a partnership between state regulators and the CFPB, which includes information sharing and joint examinations. The CFPB plans to provide state regulators with training conducted by CFPB personnel at no cost to state regulators.
- The future of the NMLS which includes a goal to initiate three system releases/ enhancements per year. 2013-2014 will include launching an advance change notice function, electronic surety bond management, and a requirement for annual volume reports for non-mortgage entities.
- The state of financial supervision, in particular, concerns about industry diversity and cooperation between state and federal agencies to leverage their resources to address emerging issues and trends in the financial market.
- Regulation of debt collectors as the “larger participant” rule giving the CFPB supervisory authority over debt collectors was issued in October 2012 and took effect on January 2, 2013. The CFPB has started looking at collection practices of creditors when the creditor collects in its own name and through third party collectors.
In addition, the Conference covered major changes to the NMLS and also included a presentation from the CFPB summarizing the CFPB’s final rules:
- Advance Change Notification—The NMLS will launch its Advance Change Notice functionality that will allow licensees to provide notice electronically to NMLS participating states of proposed changes to the company and its branches, including, but not limited to: name changes, address changes, and change of control. The initial roll out of this functionality is slated for June 2013.
- Money Services Regulator Panel—A Money Services Regulator Panel, which included Stephanie Newberg, Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking, and Deb Bortner of the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, discussed the benefits and challenges associated with the addition of money services licenses to the NMLS. The NMLS has provided money services business with a streamlined system to apply for licenses and keep regulators updated on license changes; however, licensees continue to struggle with certain aspects of the system (e.g., transmission of materials via the NMLS and confusion with completing certain control person and direct and indirect owner forms, given varying state interpretations).
- The New System of Dual Regulatory Supervision—A panel, which included Charlie Fields, Director, Non-Depository Entities Division, North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, Calvin Hagins, Program Manager, Supervision, Fair Lending & Enforcement with the CFPB, and various industry representatives, discussed the coordinated efforts of state regulators and the CFPB to conduct licensee examinations. The panel focused on (1) examination selection criteria—i.e., how the Multi-State Examination Committee or CFPB may decide to examine an entity, (2) factors weighed by the Multi-State Examination Committee when deciding whether to join CFPB in an examination, (3) CFPB examination process—i.e., CFPB’s preference to collect date on-site while processing and analyzing data off-site, and (4) encouraging entities to engage in “self-regulation” and “self-review.”
- 2013 Mortgage Final Rules Overview—Kelly Thompson Chochran, Assistant Director for Regulations of the CFPB summarized several recently issued CFPB rules, which are expected to be implemented in the next year, including: the Ability-to-Repay / Qualified Mortgages Final Rule, the Mortgage Servicing Final Rule, and the Loan Originator Compensation, HOEPA, Escrows, and Appraisal Final Rule.
BuckleySandler recently issued detailed summaries of the CFPB rules.
For more information about NMLS, visit the NMLS Resource Center, About NMLS.
State Law Update: Two Nebraska Bills Amend Lender Licensing Rules
On March 7, Nebraska enacted two bills intended to amend and clarify requirements for installment loan brokers, payday lenders, mortgage bankers, and mortgage loan originators (MLOs). The first, LB 279, makes nonsubstantive clarifications to the definition of a “loan broker” and narrows the exemption for accountants to certified public accountants only. The bill also authorizes the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance to share examination reports and other confidential information with the CFPB and other state regulators. The second, LB 290, removes many mortgage licensing requirements previously applicable to individuals and separately identifies MLO duties. Those duties include providing notification to the Department (i) within 10 days of events such as bankruptcy, criminal indictments, and suspension/revocation proceedings; and (ii) within 30 days of certain changes, including changes of employer and address. The bill also allows firms to electronically submit certain required reports and provides that the 120-day period for calculating abandonment of a license application runs from the date the Department sends the applicant electronic notice of deficient items. By state rule, both bills take effect three months after the end of the state’s legislative session, which scheduled to conclude May 30, 2013.
State Law Update: Virginia Amends Mortgage Originator Licensing Statute
On February 20, Virginia enacted HB 1803, which conforms Virginia law to federal SAFE Act regulations, as recommended by the Virginia Housing Commission. The bill (i) expands the definition of a mortgage loan originator to include an individual who represents to the public that he can or will take an application for, or offer or negotiate the terms of, a residential mortgage loan, (ii) exempts from licensing requirements any individual acting as a loan originator in financing the sale of his or her own residence, (iii) specifies conditions under which an attorney engaged in mortgage loan origination activities is exempt from licensing requirements, (iv) removes the definition of "federal banking agencies", and (v) defines the term "employee."
State Law Update: Virginia Amends Broker Licensing Rule
Recently, the Virginia State Corporation Commission adopted regulations proposed by the Bureau of Financial Institutions to clarify that individuals engaged in the business of a loan processor or underwriter, who do not otherwise engage in mortgage broker activities, are not mortgage brokers subject to state licensing requirements. The final rule also (i) broadens the scope of prohibited activities for licensees, (ii) establishes requirements for licensees’ outsourcing of loan processing and underwriting, (iii) requires licensees to update its NMLS loan originator sponsorship information following changes in originator status, (iv) adds a definition for “refinancing” that includes any loan modification, and (v) expands the Bureau’s enforcement authorities. The amended regulations took effect January 28, 2013.