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CSBS Proposes Uniform Reporting of Authorized Delegates for Money Service Businesses
On September 28, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) proposed a system for state-licensed money service businesses (MSBs) to report information concerning authorized delegates through NMLS. Licensed MSBs are permitted to contract with third-parties-authorized delegates-to perform the function of receiving and dispensing funds on behalf of the MSB. Most state regulators require that MSBs report information regarding their authorized delegates. NMLS currently is expanding to allow state agencies to manage filings by non-mortgage companies, including MSBs. To date, nine states have started to manage or have announced their intent to manage MSB licenses through NMLS. An NMLS working group has determined that the reporting of authorized delegate information is not supported by NMLS' existing platform. The instant proposal (i) identifies new NMLS functionality to facilitate reporting of authorized delegate information, (ii) outlines policies to implement such reporting, and (iii) describes the process by which an MSB would report such information through NMLS. The CSBS has requested comment from licensees and regulatory agencies by November 1, 2012.
CFPB Announces Enforcement Action Against Credit Card Issuer
On September 24, the CFPB announced that it resolved an investigation initiated by the FDIC and subsequently joined by the CFPB into telephone sales of certain ancillary or “add on” products marketed and sold by a major credit card issuer. The products related to (i) payment protection, (ii) credit monitoring, (iii) identity theft protection, and (iv) protection in the event of wallet loss. Pursuant to the Joint Consent Order released by the CFPB, the bank will pay a $14 million penalty and provide approximately $200 million in restitution to eligible consumers who purchased one or more ancillary products over a period of approximately four years. The order also calls for certain changes to the bank’s marketing and sales practices in connection with the products. During a press call to announce the consent order, CFPB Director Richard Cordray explained that the CFPB “expect[s] that more such actions will follow.” The CFPB is publishing the orders from its various actions on its administrative adjudication docket. Mr. Cordray also stated that “[i]n the meantime, [the CFPB is] signaling as clearly as [it] can that other financial institutions should review their marketing practices to ensure that they are not deceiving or misleading consumers into purchasing financial products or services.” In July, the CFPB issued Bulletin 2012-06, which outlines the CFPB’s expectations for the institutions it supervises, and their vendors, with regard to offering ancillary products in compliance with federal consumer financial laws. BuckleySandler represented the bank in this joint CFPB-FDIC investigation and enforcement action.
Sixth Circuit Allows Private FCRA Action To Proceed Against Bank
On September 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit revived an individual’s private action under FCRA against a bank, alleging that the bank failed to adequately investigate and respond to notices it received from several consumer reporting agencies regarding disputed car loan. Boggio v. USAA Fed. Savings Bank, No 11-4040, slip op. (6th Cir. Sep. 27, 2012). After experiencing credit problems caused by his ex-wife’s failure to make payments on a car she purchased during their marriage by signing both of their names to a check, the plaintiff wrote to several consumer reporting agencies to dispute his responsibility for the loan in light of the forgery, as well as the parties’ separation and divorce agreements that stated the ex-wife would be responsible for the car payments. The plaintiff alleges that the reporting agencies notified the bank of the dispute, which the bank refused to investigate without a police report or fraud affidavit from the plaintiff, as required by the bank’s fraud policy. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the bank, holding that the bank reasonably investigated the notices it received from credit reporting agencies, and that the plaintiff had ratified the debt. On appeal, the circuit court reversed and remanded the district court’s decision, holding that there is a genuine dispute of material fact with regard to the sufficiency of the bank’s investigation. The court added that the plaintiff’s failure to comply with the bank’s fraud policy does not alter its finding of a genuine dispute of material fact, holding that FCRA does not permit the bank to require independent confirmation of the reporting agencies’ notices before conducting an investigation. The court also held that the dispute over ratification requires resolution by a trier of fact given the ambiguity of the separation agreement, among other issues.
FHFA IG Clears Freddie Mac's Use of Inverse Floating-Rate Bonds
On September 26, the FHFA Inspector General (IG) reported that neither Freddie Mac nor the FHFA purposefully limited refinancing opportunities to influence the yields of Freddie Mac inverse floating-rate bonds (inverse floaters). Inverse floaters are a by-product of other variable rate bonds carved out of Freddie Mac’s securitized mortgages to capitalize on increasing investor demand. Because the value of inverse floaters decreases when the underlying mortgages are refinanced, U.S. lawmakers and others argued that inverse floaters created a conflict of interest for Freddie Mac’s investment and refinancing policies because Freddie Mac could intentionally limit refinances to protect the value of its retained inverse floaters. The FHFA IG reviewed the practice and Freddie Mac’s portfolio and determined that (i) inverse floaters represent a small portion of Freddie Mac’s capital markets portfolio, (ii) inverse floaters pose no greater conflict than do any other mortgages held by Freddie Mac, and (iii) Freddie Mac employs an “information wall” to prevent the use of nonpublic information—including information about refinancing activity—from being used in investment decisions.
CFPB Releases Five Year Strategic Plan
On September 25, the CFPB released a draft strategic plan for 2013-2018. The draft plan outlines the CFPB’s four strategic goals and desired outcomes, as well as its broad strategies for achieving those objectives. The CFPB states that it will strive to (i) “prevent financial harm to consumers while promoting good practices that benefit them,” (ii) “empower consumers to live better financial lives,” (iii) inform the public and policymaking with “data-driven analysis,” and (iv) advance the CFPB’s performance “by maximizing resource productivity and enhancing impact.” For each goal, the plan identifies metrics the CFPB will use to measure its performance. For example, to assess its progress in preventing financial harm to consumers and promoting good practices, the CFPB will consider, among other indicators, the number of fair lending supervision activities opened during the fiscal year and the percentage of fair lending cases filed that were “successfully resolved” through litigation, settlement, or default judgment. The CFPB has asked for comments by October 25, 2012.
California Enacts Remaining Parts of Homeowner Bill of Rights
On September 25, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the three outstanding bills proposed as part of the state’s Homeowner Bill of Rights. First, under Assembly Bill 2610, purchasers of foreclosed properties must provide ninety days’ written notice to quit before removing the tenant or subtenant from the property. Except in limited circumstances, tenants or subtenants holding possession of a rental housing unit under a fixed-term residential lease entered into before the purchase at foreclosure is permitted would have the right to possession until the end of the lease term. Second, Senate Bill 1474 allows the state attorney general to use a statewide grand jury to investigate and indict the perpetrators of financial crimes involving victims in multiple counties. Finally, Assembly Bill 1950 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting mortgage related crimes from one year to three years.
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.
FinCEN Repeals Special Requirements Regarding Two Burmese Banks
On September 26, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced that FinCEN is repealing a 2004 rule that required certain U.S. financial institutions to terminate correspondent or payable-through accounts for, or on behalf of, two Burmese banks, and to apply due diligence to guard against the banks’ indirect use of correspondent or payable-through accounts. The repeal takes effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
NMLS Announces System Enhancements
On September 26, the NMLS published a portfolio of targeted system enhancements scheduled for release on October 22, 2012. The release will include (i) credit report enhancements, (ii) updates to the federal registry disciplinary actions reporting pursuant to the SAFE Act, (iii) renewal enhancements, and (iv) other general system enhancements. One such enhancement would require federally registered mortgage loan originators to provide certain disciplinary action information related to any disclosure questions they answered in the affirmative.
FHFA Proposes State-Level Guarantee Fee Pricing
On September 25, the FHFA published a notice and request for comment on its proposal to set risk-based guarantee fees by state. The proposal identifies five states—Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York—that have substantially higher default-related costs than the national average. The proposed methodology for state-level guarantee fees considers three factors (i) the number of days it takes Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac to obtain marketable title, (ii) the average per-day carrying cost incurred by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and (iii) the national average default rate on single-family mortgages. The FHFA is proposing to charge lenders an upfront fee of between fifteen and thirty basis points on each new mortgage originated in the five higher-cost states, beginning in 2013. The actual increase in the upfront fee would vary for each state, depending on default data in the state and the state’s deviation from the mean of the state-level estimates of expected total default-related carrying costs. The proposed approach is based on the expected costs of defaults on mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the future given current underwriting standards, rather than actual default losses realized over the past decade. The FHFA also states that its methodology for determining increased state-level fees could change in the future to consider other factors, including the impact of recently-enacted laws and ordinances or a wider range of state actions. The FHFA has asked for comments on the proposal by November 26, 2012.