InfoBytes Blog
Filter
Subscribe to our InfoBytes Blog weekly newsletter and other publications for news affecting the financial services industry.
CFPB issues 2019 fair lending report to Congress
On April 30, the CFPB issued its annual fair lending report to Congress, which outlines the Bureau’s efforts in 2019 to fulfill its fair lending mandate. According to the report, in 2019 the Bureau continued to focus on promoting fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory access to credit, highlighting several fair lending priorities that continued from years past such as mortgage lending, student loans, and small business lending. The Bureau also highlighted three policies released over the last year to promote innovation and to facilitate compliance: the No-Action Letter Policy, the Trial Disclosure Program Policy, and the Compliance Assistance Sandbox Policy (covered by InfoBytes here). Additionally, the report discussed the Bureau’s efforts in encouraging consumer-friendly innovation to expand access to unbanked and underbanked consumers and communities. These include: (i) using alternative data in credit underwriting to expand credit access responsibly; (ii) issuing a request for information on the use of “Tech Sprints” (covered by InfoBytes here) to encourage regulatory innovation and stakeholder collaboration; (iii) continuing to enforce fair lending laws such as ECOA and HMDA, including reaching a settlement with one of the largest HDMA reporters nationwide to resolve HMDA reporting allegations; and (iv) engaging with stakeholders to discuss fair lending compliance, issues related to credit access, and policy decisions. The report also provides information related to supervision, enforcement, rulemaking, and education efforts.
CFPB issues FAQs on ECOA and PPP applications
On May 6, the CFPB issued three clarifying FAQs regarding ECOA and Regulation B loan denial and adverse action notice requirements as they relate to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The three FAQs provide the following clarifications of the requirements for notification of action:
- Notice of Action Taken. A PPP application is not determined to be a “completed application” under Regulation B for purposes of a notice of action taken until a creditor receives a loan number from the SBA or a response about the availability of funds. Once the creditor has received a loan number from the SBA or a response about the availability of funds, the creditor has 30 days to notify the applicant of the action taken on the application.
- Adverse Action Notice. If a creditor “refus[es] to grant” a PPP credit request without ever submitting the loan to the SBA, the creditor is still required under Regulation B to provide an adverse action notice within 30 days and provide the applicant with the specific reason for the denial.
- Denial for Incompleteness. If the creditor has received sufficient information from the applicant for a credit decision, but has not received a loan number from the SBA or a response about the availability of funds, under Regulation B, the creditor may not deny the application based on incompleteness. An application can only be denied for incompleteness if the application is missing information the applicant can provide—not the SBA.
District Court enjoins Massachusetts AG from enforcing emergency debt collection regulation
On May 6, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the Massachusetts attorney general from enforcing an emergency regulation that made numerous standard debt collection actions an unfair or deceptive act or practice during the Covid-19 pandemic. As previously covered by InfoBytes, a debt collection trade association filed a complaint last month contending that the emergency regulation is a content-based restriction on free speech and unconstitutional because it, among other things, excludes six classes of collectors from the prohibition on placing collection calls, and does not treat all “communications” equally by excluding certain types of collections communications. The trade association argued that the emergency regulation, among other things, bars debt collectors from being able to initiate phone conversations with individuals who have unpaid debts. In granting the TRO, the court wrote that the measure violates debt collection agencies’ First Amendment rights without adding meaningful consumer protections, and that, “[w]hile the [r]egulation promises some relief from unwanted telephone calls, it does not pretend to offer any relief from the debt itself or the obligation to repay it in full.” The court also noted that the emergency regulation “singles out one group debt collectors and imposes a blanket suppression order on their ability to use what they believe is their most effective means of communication, the telephone. If what the Attorney General meant to accomplish by way of the [r]egulation was a strict liability ban on all deceptive and misleading debt collection calls, the [r]egulation is redundant as that is already the law, both state and federally.”
Freddie Mac issues bulletin regarding selling requirements and guidance related to Covid-19
On May 5, Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2020-14 to Freddie Mac sellers to provide guidance relating to selling requirements in light of Covid-19. The bulletin sets out temporary requirements related to mortgage purchase eligibility and self-reporting requirements for mortgages in Covid-19 related forbearance. It also extends certain previously announced temporary requirements for credit underwriting, and appraisal, condominium project, and power of attorney flexibilities until June 30. Further, Freddie Mac provided guidance and reminders relating to, among other things, furloughs and layoffs, unemployment compensation, and automated income assessment with Loan Product Advisor using tax return data.
Fannie Mae updates Single-Family Lender Letter 2020-03 regarding impact of Covid-19 on originations
On May 5, Fannie Mae issued updates to Lender Letter 2020-03. The letter is addressed to all Fannie Mae single-family sellers, and addresses the impact of Covid-19 on originations. Among other things, Fannie Mae extended temporary origination-related policies to June 30, 2020, reminded lenders of policies regarding the use of unemployment benefits as qualifying income, and clarified policies surrounding furloughed borrowers. Fannie Mae also updated guidance regarding age of documentation, verification of self-employment, market-based assets, powers of attorney, remote online notarization, and verbal verification of employment.
Fannie Mae updates Lender Letter 2020-04 to extend relief relating to appraisals
On May 5, Fannie Mae updated Lender Letter 2020-04, extending certain previously issued flexibilities until June 30, 2020. The extended flexibilities relate to, among other things, condominium project reviews, new construction loans, HomeStyle Renovation loans, and appraisal requirements.
FINRA reminds firms to be aware of fraud during Covid-19
On May 5, FINRA issued Regulatory Notice 20-13, reminding firms to be aware of the heightened threat of frauds and scams during the Covid-19 pandemic. The notice sets forth practices that firms may wish to implement to address risks relating to fraudulent account openings and money transfers, including a customer identification program, steps to monitor for fraud during account opening, bank account verification and restrictions on funds transfers, ongoing monitoring of accounts, collaboration with clearing firms, and compliance with Suspicious Activity Report filing requirements. The notice also sets forth methods that firms may employ to address risks relating to firm imposter scams and IT help desk scams.
FHFA extends loan processing flexibilities offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
On May 5, FHFA announced that it extended several loan processing flexibilities offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to assist borrowers during the Covid-19 emergency. The flexibilities include permitting alternative appraisals for certain loans, alternative methods for verifying employment before loan closing, flexibilities for providing documentation related to renovation draws, and expanding the use of power of attorney and remote online notarization. The flexibilities are extended until at least June 30.
Regulators modify liquidity coverage rule for MMM and PPP participants
On May 5, the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC, and the FDIC announced an interim final rule that modifies the agencies’ Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) rule to support participation in the Federal Reserve's Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility and the Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility (previously covered by InfoBytes here and here). The LCR rule requires large banks to hold a certain amount of “high-quality liquid assets” in order to meet their short-term liquidity needs. The interim final rule modifies the agencies’ capital rules to neutralize the effects of participation. The rule is effective immediately and comments will be accepted within 30 days of publication in the Federal Register.
SEC issues Covid-19-related FAQs regarding the filing of reports
On May 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued FAQs responding to questions regarding disclosures that take advantage of extended filing deadlines under a March 25, 2020 Covid-19 Order and Form S-3. The issuances notes that staff may supplement or amend the responses to the FAQs.