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  • OCC launches Project REACh to help underserved populations access capital and credit

    Federal Issues

    On July 10, the OCC launched an initiative to promote greater financial inclusion of underserved populations. Project REACh (Roundtable for Economic Access and Change) brings together leaders from the banking industry, national civil rights organizations, and various businesses and technology organizations who will identify and reduce barriers to accessing capital and credit. REACh program participants will focus on “inherent policy and structural issues at the national and local levels” to expand financial inclusion, and convened on July 10 to discuss which financial inclusion projects to address.

    Federal Issues OCC Underserved Consumer Finance

  • SBA updates guidance on collecting PPP lender processing fees

    Federal Issues

    On July 13, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued Procedural Notice 5000-20036 concerning Form 1502 that lenders must file in order to report fully disbursed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and request payment of eligible PPP processing fees. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the SBA began accepting Form 1502 on fully disbursed or cancelled PPP loans on May 22. Among other things, the notice provides updated guidance to lenders on (i) the amount of lenders fees the SBA will pay for processing PPP loans; (ii) the process for submitting Form 1502 and how to report loans that are fully disbursed or cancelled; (iii) the procedure for reporting PPP loans that are voluntarily terminated and repaid after disbursement; (iv) situations in which a lender is not eligible to receive a processing fee, as well as clawback circumstances; (v) lender service provider responsibilities; and (vi) ongoing PPP loan reporting requirements.

    Federal Issues SBA Covid-19 Small Business Lending

  • SBA completes $20 billion in funding for EIDL Advance program

    Federal Issues

    On July 11, the Small Business Administration announced the conclusion of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance program after the agency allocated the full $20 billion appropriated by Congress. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the EIDL Advance program provided up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that were experiencing temporary difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The emergency funds under the EIDL Advance program do not have to be repaid. While the EIDL Advance program is now discontinued, non-Advance EIDL loan applications are still being processed. These loans carry interest rates of 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for non-profits and have terms up to 30 years, with the first payment deferred for one year.

    Federal Issues Covid-19 SBA Small Business Lending

  • Senators introduce E-SIGN modernization bill

    Federal Issues

    On July 2, three Republican senators introduced a bill that would make electronic transactions easier by simplifying how consumers signal their acceptance of them. Sens. John Thune, Jerry Moran, and Todd Young introduced S.4159, the “E-SIGN Modernization Act,” which would allow companies to use electronic documents instead of paper ones if they secure the consumer’s consent to the substitution. Under the original E-SIGN Act passed 20 years ago, consumers also had to demonstrate to the company that they could access the records in the electronic form.

    “Computers, smart phones, and other devices are more reliable and accessible than ever before,” Thune said in a press release accompanying the bill. “This legislation makes necessary updates to E-Sign to reflect these advancements in technology and make it easier for consumers to receive documents electronically.”

    The bill also would no longer require transaction parties to obtain new consents when hardware or software changes. Instead, the company would simply disclose the updated requirements and notify the consumer of their right to withdraw consent without penalty.

    Federal Issues Federal Legislation E-SIGN Act E-Signature U.S. Senate

  • CFPB proposes settlement with student debt-relief operation

    Federal Issues

    On July 8, the CFPB announced a proposed settlement with a Florida-based student debt-relief company and three of its owners and officers (collectively, “defendants”), which would resolve allegations that the defendants violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by charging advance fees for services to renegotiate, settle, reduce, or alter the terms of federal student loans. According to the complaint, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on the same day as the proposed order, the Bureau alleges that from 2016 through October 2019, the defendants used telemarketing campaigns to solicit over 7,300 consumers to pay up to $699 in fees to have their federal student loan monthly payments reduced or eliminated through government-offered programs. The Bureau alleges that—not only are government programs (such as loan consolidation, income-based repayment, or certain loan-forgiveness options) available without charge—the defendants violated the TSR by charging and receiving upfront fees from consumers for their services before the terms of the student debt had been altered or settled.

    On August 12, the court entered a stipulated final judgment and order, which permanently bans the defendants from providing debt-relief services and imposes a suspended $3.8 million in consumer redress, upon the owners and officers each paying between $5,000 and $10,000 individually. Additionally, each defendant is required to pay $1 in civil money penalties.

    Federal Issues CFPB Settlement Telemarketing Sales Rule Student Lending Debt Relief Enforcement

  • CFPB sues company for marketing of high-yield CDs

    Federal Issues

    On July 6, the CFPB filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against a Delaware financial-services company operating in Florida and New York along with its owner (collectively, “defendants”) for allegedly violating the Consumer Financial Protection Act’s prohibition against deceptive acts or practices by making misleading marketing representations when advertising its high yield CD accounts. The Bureau's complaint alleges that since August 2019, the company took more than $15 million from at least 400 consumers.  According to the complaint, the defendants engaged in four separate deceptive acts or practices by: (i) falsely representing that consumers’ deposits into the high yield CD accounts would be used to originate loans for healthcare professionals, when in fact, the company never used the deposits to originate loans for healthcare professionals, never sold a loan to a bank or secondary-market investor, and never entered into a contract with a buyer or investor to purchase a loan; (ii) concealing the company’s true business model by falsely representing that the consumers’ deposits, when not being used to originate healthcare loans, would be held in an FDIC- or Lloyd’s of London-insured account or a “cash alternative” or “cash equivalent” account, when in reality, consumers’ deposits were, among other things, invested in securities; (iii) falsely describing the company as a commercial bank and claiming their high yield CD accounts were comparable to a traditional savings accounts with a guaranteed return, when in fact, the company was not a commercial bank, and consumers’ deposits were actively traded in the stock market or used in securities-backed investments; and (iv) falsely representing that past high yield CD accounts allegedly paid interest at rates between 5 percent and 6.25 percent prior to 2019; however, the company did not offer CDs until August 2019, and “consumers’ principals was neither guaranteed nor insured.” Among other things, the Bureau seeks monetary relief, consumer redress, injunctive relief, and a civil money penalty.

    Federal Issues CFPB Enforcement CFPA UDAAP Deceptive

  • Fed enforcement action targets flood insurance

    Federal Issues

    On July 2, the Federal Reserve Board announced an enforcement action against a West Virginia-based bank for alleged violations of the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) and Regulation H, which implements the NFIA. The consent order assesses a $24,500 penalty against the bank for an alleged pattern or practice of violations of Regulation H, but does not specify the number or the precise nature of the alleged violations. The maximum civil money penalty under the NFIA for a pattern or practice of violations is $2,000 per violation.

    Federal Issues Federal Reserve Enforcement Flood Insurance National Flood Insurance Act Regulation H

  • SBA releases PPP borrower information

    Federal Issues

    On July 6, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in conjunction with the Treasury Department, released the business information of certain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan recipients. For any loan over $150,000, the SBA data release includes business names, addresses, NAICS codes, zip codes, business type, demographic data, non-profit information, name of lender, jobs supported, and a loan amount range. For loans under $150,000, the SBA withheld the business names and addresses in the release. The data release also includes overall statistics regarding dollars lent per state, loan amounts, top lenders, and distribution by industry.  According to data, the PPP has approved over $4.8 million loans, with the average loan size of approximately $106,000. Currently, there are 5,460 participating lenders.

    Federal Issues SBA Small Business Lending Covid-19 Department of Treasury

  • CFPB announces Consumer Financial Protection Week

    Federal Issues

    On July 6, the CFPB announced the launch of Consumer Financial Protection Week from July 14 through July 17. Over the course of four days, the Bureau is hosting or participating in multiple virtual events, including (i) a tutorial and overview of the HMDA data browser; (ii) a discussion on the Bureau’s supervisory and enforcement prioritized assessment approach; and (iii) a discussion on the Bureau’s Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law.

    Federal Issues CFPB Consumer Finance HMDA Supervision Enforcement

  • FHFA extends Covid-19 origination flexibilities to August 31

    Federal Issues

    On July 9, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the extension of several loan origination flexibilities put in place to assist borrowers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, FHFA has extended until August 31, the following provisions: “(i) alternative appraisals on purchase and rate term refinance loans; (ii) alternative methods for documenting income and verifying employment before loan closing; and (iii) expanding the use of power of attorney and remote online notarizations to assist with loan closings.” The extensions are reflected in updates to Fannie Mae Lender Letters LL-2020-03 and LL 2020-04 and Freddie Mac Guide Bulletin 2020-27.

    Federal Issues Covid-19 FHFA GSE Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Mortgages Mortgage Origination

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