InfoBytes Blog
Filter
Subscribe to our InfoBytes Blog weekly newsletter and other publications for news affecting the financial services industry.
Multiple States Reach Separate Settlements with Mortgage Servicers
On March 13, several major mortgage services notified the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that they have settled multiple suits brought by certain State Attorneys General (AGs). That court is tasked with approving or denying the multi-party servicer settlement between federal and state officials and the five largest residential mortgage servicers filed on March 12. The notice is intended to provide the court with “a more complete understanding of the terms of the proposed [Settlement] and related litigation.” According to the notice, the servicers have reached agreements with the California, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York AGs to resolve certain claims of those states that were preserved under the multi-party agreement. For example, New York settled for $25 million its lawsuit against all of the servicers and MERSCORP, Inc. The notice filed with the court also states that Bank of America is in the process of resolving litigation brought by the AGs of Arizona, Nevada, and Washington.
Multi-Party Mortgage Servicing Settlement Filed in Court
On March 12, federal and state officials filed documents in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia formalizing a previously announced settlement (the Settlement) of various government probes into alleged mortgage-related violations by the five largest residential mortgage servicers (collectively the Servicers). The Settlement resolves investigations and inquiries by numerous federal regulators and 49 state Attorneys General (AGs). The federal agencies that have signed on to the settlement include: the Department of Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the U.S. Trustee. With the filing of a consolidated complaint and a separate consent judgment for each Servicer, the details of the Settlement have been made available, including its provisions regarding: (i) restitution and other relief, (ii) new servicing standards, (iii) the scope of its releases, and (iv) implementation and enforcement. For a detailed analysis of the Settlement, please see BuckleySandler LLP’s recent Special Alert.
Federal Reserve Releases Additional Servicer Action Plans
On March 8, the Federal Reserve Board released action plans for three additional supervised financial institutions. The plans are designed to correct alleged deficiencies in mortgage servicing and foreclosure procedures. The release also included an additional engagement letter between one financial institution and a third-party foreclosure review firm retained by the financial institution to review foreclosures that were in process in 2009 and 2010. The action plans and engagement letters are required by formal enforcement actions issued by the Federal Reserve last year. The Federal Reserve first released a group of action plans and engagement letters on February 27, 2012.
CFPB Director Addresses State Attorneys General, Spotlight on Payday Lenders, Debt Collectors, and Servicing Rules
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) met this week in Washington, DC. Among the topics covered at the annual meeting was the ongoing and future coordination between federal and state law enforcement with regard to financial services. CFPB Director Cordray, a former state attorney general, noted that NAAG and the CFPB already have several working groups organized to address payday loans, foreclosure scams, auto loans, and debt collection. These efforts will be supported through a formal Memorandum of Understanding that is expected to be finalized soon. In his remarks and in follow up questioning, Director Cordray specifically addressed enforcement and supervision with regard to payday lenders and debt collectors. It was reported that Director Cordray indicated that the CFPB and the FTC are “zoning in” on issues related to payday lenders associated with Native American tribes. Regarding debt collectors, the Director stated that aggressive enforcement by the FTC and states is not enough, and that the CPFB would like federal and state regulators and enforcement agencies to develop a national strategic plan that leverages the CFPB’s supervision and enforcement capabilities. Finally, on planned rulemaking by the CFPB, the Director noted ongoing efforts to develop rules governing mortgage servicing, including force-placed insurance products and hybrid ARMs.
FHFA IG Recommends Improved Freddie Mac Servicer Oversight
On March 7, the Inspector General (IG) of the FHFA published a report related to the FHFA’s supervision of Freddie Mac’s controls over mortgage servicing contractors. The report found areas in which the FHFA could enhance its supervision of Freddie Mac’s controls over those contractors. Specifically, the report found with regard to servicer oversight that the FHFA has not (i) clearly defined its role, (ii) sufficiently coordinated with other federal banking agencies, or (iii) addressed emerging risks in a timely manner. The IG recommends that the FHFA (i) promulgate comprehensive regulations or guidance regarding servicer oversight, (ii) direct Freddie Mac to implement servicer performance metrics more broadly, and (iii) improve existing procedures for coordinating with other federal agencies. The report includes a response letter from the FHFA, which highlights the FHFA servicing oversight initiatives to date and indicates whether and how the FHFA plans to implement the IG’s recommendations.
Fannie Mae Gives Notices of Lender-Placed Insurance Changes
On March 6, Fannie Mae notified servicers that it will soon change its Lender-Placed Insurance (LPI) requirements. As reported by several media outlets, Fannie Mae has asked insurance companies to compete for Fannie Mae LPI business. Through the proposal Fannie Mae wants to ensure that insurance costs are significantly reduced. It plans to issue new policy guidelines regarding (i) when and how to procure LPI, and (ii) allowed reimbursable costs associated with LPI.
Fannie Mae Provides Guidance Regarding Hardest-Hit Fund
On March 6, Fannie Mae issued Servicing Guide Lender Letter LL-2012-02 to all single-family servicers to provide guidance in connection with transition assistance programs under the Hardest-Hit Fund (HHF). Effective immediately, servicers must facilitate the borrowers’ receipt of HHF funds in connection with transition assistance programs on Fannie Mae loans, including those held in a Fannie Mae portfolio or those in an MBS pool with the special servicing option or a shared-risk MBS pool for which Fannie Mae markets the acquired property. The Lender Letter also clarifies policies related to implementation of the HHF unemployment, reinstatement, and loan modification assistance programs, including clarifications regarding (i) collection and solicitation activity, (ii) foreclosure actions, and (iii) servicer obligations when dealing with housing finance agencies.
Ninth Circuit Holds Nevada AG Suit Against Bank Not Removable Under CAFA
On March 2, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that a parens patriae suit brought by Nevada’s Attorney General (AG) related to mortgage modification and foreclosure practices could not be removed from state court under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA). Nevada v. Bank of America Corp., No 12-15005, 2012 WL 688552 (9th Cir. Mar. 2, 2012). The AG alleges that Bank of America Corp. (BAC) violated state law by misleading Nevada consumers about the terms and operation of its home mortgage modification and foreclosure processes, and that it violated a consent judgment entered between the state and several of its subsidiaries. BAC removed the case to federal court under CAFA. The district court denied the state’s motion to remand, finding that (i) it had jurisdiction over the suit as a CAFA “class action,” but not as a “mass action,” and (ii) it had federal question jurisdiction because the allegations require interpretation of the federal HAMP program and the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. On appeal, the Ninth Circuit consistent with its opinion in Washington v. Chimei Innolux Corp., 659 F.3d 842 (9th Cir. 2011), which was issued after the district court ruled on Nevada’s motion, held that a parens patriae suit does not qualify as a class action removable under CAFA, and does not otherwise satisfy CAFA’s “mass action” requirements. The court reasoned that Nevada is the real party in interest and therefore held that the case could not qualify as a mass action removable under CAFA. The Ninth Circuit also held that, because only state law causes of action are alleged and there is no overriding federal interest, the district court does not have federal question jurisdiction.
Oregon Adopts Temporary Servicer Rules, Enacts Law Regarding Affordable Housing Covenants
Recently, Oregon adopted temporary rules that declare certain mortgage servicing practices to be unlawful trade practices. Effective January 27, 2012 through July 24, 2012, it is unfair and deceptive for a mortgage loan servicer to (i) assess late fees or delinquency charges for payments received by the payment’s due date or within any applicable grace period, (ii) assess or collect default-related fees that the servicer is not legally authorized to collect under the terms of the residential mortgage loan, deed of trust, or mortgage, (iii) fail to follow guidelines issued by the FHFA for loans made or held by government sponsored enterprises for borrowers pursuing an alternative to foreclosure, (iv) misrepresent any material information regarding a loan modification, (v) fail to provide a borrower with notice that the borrower’s request for loan modification has been denied or rejected within ten days of the denial or rejection, but in no event, less than twenty days before a scheduled trustee sale, (vi) fail to comply with certain provisions of RESPA, and (vii) fail to deal with a borrower in good faith.
Oregon also enacted, on February 27, 2012, SB 1535. The law authorizes affordable housing covenants contained in a recorded master form instrument to be incorporated by reference in a short form instrument recorded for a real property transaction. The change is effective immediately and is intended to reduce errors in the recording of affordable housing covenants.
Federal Reserve Board Releases Mortgage Servicing Action Plans
On February 27, the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) released final action plans to be implemented by nine financial institutions to correct alleged deficiencies in residential mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure procedures. The FRB also announced that it expects to release plans for additional institutions soon. The plans are required by consent orders issued by the FRB in April 2011, and describe how the institutions will alter their servicing and foreclosure procedures by, among other things, (i) providing each borrower the name of a primary point of contact at the servicer; (ii) establishing limits on foreclosures where loan modifications have been approved; (iii) establishing robust, third-party vendor controls, including local foreclosure counsel; and (iv) strengthening compliance programs. The announcement also included the release of engagement letters between certain servicers and the third-party vendors hired to conduct reviews of foreclosures processed in 2009 and 2010. Those reviews, also required by the April 2011 orders, will determine whether borrowers suffered a financial injury that the institutions will be required to remedy. The release of the action plans follows the agreement by five of the servicers to pay a combined $766.5 million in penalties to the FRB as part of the $25 billion multi-party servicing settlement.