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FDIC Announces New Violations Classification System
On September 25, the FDIC issued Financial Institution Letter FIL-41-2012, which revises the classification system used to cite violations of consumer financial laws identified during compliance examinations. The new system features three levels of severity and will replace the current two-level system on October 1, 2012. The FDIC letter states that the change is intended to provide greater clarity regarding the severity of a violation by focusing on the most significant issues identified during an examination. For example, the new “Level 3/High Severity” classification will cover violations that result in significant harm to consumers or members of a community. These violations typically result in restitution in excess of $10,000 (in aggregate), and include any pattern or practice violations of anti-discrimination provisions.
State Regulators Urge Passage of CFPB Privilege Legislation
On August 23, the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, and other state financial regulators sent a letter to Representatives Jim Renacci (R-OH) and Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) in support of H.R. 6125. The recently introduced legislation seeks to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to ensure that information submitted by banks and nonbanks to the CFPB is treated as privileged and confidential information. The state regulators argue that the bill will allow state and federal regulators to share information to facilitate better collaboration and will support use of the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. The letter adds that other federal legislation to address the confidentiality of information submitted to the CFPB does not go far enough to support federal-state coordination.
NCUA Reorganizes Examination and Supervision Offices
On July 26, the NCUA announced the creation of the Office of National Examinations and Supervision, effective January 1, 2013. The new office will focus on consumer credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets. The NCUA is making the change to alter what it identifies as an imbalance in its current examination and supervision program by shifting resources from examination of smaller credit unions to the largest credit unions.
CFPB Finalizes Rule Governing Treatment of Privileged Information
On June 28, the CFPB released a final rule that will govern how it handles privileged information submitted by supervised financial institutions. In the final rule, the CFPB adopted the proposed rule without modification. The rule allows parties to submit information to the CFPB in the supervisory or regulatory process without waiving any applicable privileges; it further permits the CFPB to share that information with federal and state agencies without affecting federal or state privileges. The rule takes effect 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register.
State Law Update: North Carolina Overhauls Banking Statute
On June 21, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue signed Senate Bill 816, which rewrites substantial portions of the states banking laws. The bill derives from a Joint Legislative Study Commission report, which found several deficiencies in the states existing state banking laws. In particular, the report found that the states banking laws (i) needed to be modernized in the wake of the Dodd-Frank Act and other changes in federal law, (ii) encouraged banks to avoid the burden of the banking law by forming holding companies under the more liberal standards of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, and (iii) failed to address changes in banks capital needs. To remedy these and other issues, the bill revises several parts of the existing law, including: (i) the size and composition of the Banking Commission, (ii) the rules regarding bank governance, powers, and operations, and (iii) the framework for bank supervision and liquidation.
CFPB Finalizes Multiple Rules Governing Enforcement Activities, Issues New Interim Rule
On June 6, the CFPB released final versions of three rules governing aspects of the CFPB’s enforcement activities and issued a new interim rule. The three rules set forth, respectively, the CFPB’s (i) authority and procedures for conducting investigations, (ii) practices for adjudication proceedings, and (iii) procedures through which state officials update the CFPB on state enforcement activities. While the rules have been in effect since July 2011 (in interim form), the final versions include some changes in response to public comments received. For example, the final investigations rule (i) specifies the CFPB staff members that have authority to initiate or close an investigation, (ii) adds to the CID process a conference between the parties within 10 calendar days of service, (iii) provides CID recipients a number of procedural options when additional time is needed to respond, and (iv) clarifies the rights of witnesses and which objections are appropriate for counsel to make during investigations. Additionally, the CFPB issued a new interim final rule to implement the Equal Access to Justice Act and will accept public comments for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
CFPB, Prudential Regulators Release Supervisory Coordination Memorandum
On June 4, the CFPB and the federal banking prudential regulators the Federal Reserve Board, the National Credit Union Administration, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of Comptroller of the Currency jointly released a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) meant to facilitate coordination of supervisory activities. The Dodd-Frank Act grants the CFPB exclusive authority to examine insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with more than $10 billion of total assets (and their affiliates) for compliance with federal consumer financial laws. The prudential regulators retained supervisory authority for all other applicable laws for such institutions, and all supervisory responsibilities for institutions with $10 billion or less in total assets. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFPB and the prudential regulators to share supervisory information and work to minimize regulatory burden by coordinating examinations. The recent MOU seeks to implement those statutory requirements by establishing guidelines for simultaneous examinations and a framework for sharing certain supervisory information. The MOU also sets forth, among other things, a process by which covered institutions can request separate examinations.
CFPB Releases SAFE Act Exam Procedures
On March 7, the CFPB updated its Supervision and Examination Manual with SAFE Act examination procedures. The procedures set forth the background and requirements of the SAFE Act, and its federal implementing regulations, for use in examining federally regulated depository institutions for compliance with the SAFE Act.
Legislators Move Forward on Bill to Address Non-Waiver of Privileged Documents Submitted to CFPB
On February 16, the House Financial Services Committee approved H.R. 4014, which would mandate that providing information to the CFPB for any purpose as part of the supervisory process will not be construed as waiving, destroying, or otherwise affecting any privilege applicable to such information. The bill would accomplish this by amending the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to create the same non-waiver of privilege protections already afforded to information submitted by supervised entities to federal, state, and foreign banking regulators. A substantially identical bill, S. 2099, recently was introduced in the Senate by Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Shelby of the Senate Banking Committee.
- SEC Complaint, Pfizer
- SEC Complaint, Wyeth
- Pfizer Deferred Prosecution Agreement
- Pfizer DPA Excerpt: Enhanced Compliance Obligations
Senate Banking Chairman Requests Audits of Community Bank and Credit Union Exam Processes
On February 10, Senator Tim Johnson, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, sent a letter to the inspectors general of the Department of Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration seeking audits of each agency's exam process for community banks and credit unions. The letter cites community bank and credit union complaints of unclear standards and inconsistent application of policies and procedures. Sen. Johnson asked that the audit review (i) the overall exam process, (ii) examination timelines, and (iii) the ability of an institution to question or appeal exam results. The House Financial Services Committee has been considering legislation, H.R. 3461, that would mandate changes to the examination process. To date, no corresponding bill has been introduced in the Senate.