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CFPB appeals $10 million order in payday lender suit
On March 27, the CFPB filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in response to a district court’s order that an online loan servicer and its affiliates pay a $10 million penalty for offering high-interest loans in states with usury laws barring the transactions—a penalty which fell far short of the $50 million the CFPB had requested. As previously covered in InfoBytes, the district court found that a lower statutory penalty was more appropriate than the CFPB’s requested amount because the CFPB failed to show the company “knowingly violated the CFPA.” It further rejected the Bureau’s request for restitution and denied a request for a permanent injunction. The notice of appeal seeks review of all parts of the final judgment as well as the parts of the findings of facts and conclusions of law that are adverse to its position.
DOJ sues California subprime auto lender for alleged SCRA violations
On March 28, the DOJ filed a complaint in the Central District of California against a California-based indirect auto lending company (defendant) for allegedly repossessing servicemembers’ vehicles in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The allegations stem from an investigation into the defendant’s practices after an Army Private submitted a complaint to the DOJ in 2016. The DOJ’s investigation concluded that the defendant repossessed the vehicle without obtaining a court order or confirming whether the servicemember was SCRA-protected. According to the DOJ’s complaint, its investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly failed to have policies or practices in place to verify borrowers’ military status before repossessing vehicles. As such, the DOJ believes that the defendant may have repossessed vehicles of other servicemembers without obtaining the necessary court others or verifying military status. The DOJ contends that the defendant’s conduct was “intentional, willful, and taken in disregard for the rights of servicemembers.” In addition to monetary damages, the DOJ seeks civil monetary penalties and injunctive relief.
CFPB updates mortgage servicing Small Entity Compliance Guide, releases mortgage servicing coverage chart
On March 29, the CFPB released version 3.1 of its mortgage servicing Small Entity Compliance Guide. The updated guide supports the implementation of the 2016 Mortgage Servicing Final Rule, including the amendment to the Rule released earlier this month. The Rule replaces the previous single-billing-cycle exemption with a single-statement exemption when servicers transition to providing modified or unmodified periodic statements and coupon books to consumers entering or exiting bankruptcy. See previous InfoBytes coverage here. The Bureau also released a mortgage servicing coverage chart, which summarizes the mortgage servicing rules that will be in effect as of April 19.
Massachusetts securities division halts five initial coin offerings
On March 27, Massachusetts’s Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth Securities Division (Division) entered into separate consent orders with five companies that allegedly violated the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act by promoting initial coin offerings (ICOs) using unregistered securities. The five companies, which conduct business in Massachusetts, offered the ICOs via websites, including social media platforms. Under the terms of the consent orders, the companies are prohibited from selling unregistered or non-exempt securities in the state and are censured by the Division.
Visit here for additional InfoBytes coverage on ICOs.
OFAC sanctions Iranian nationals for malicious cyberattacks
On March 23, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the DOJ, imposed additional sanctions on an Iranian entity and 10 Iranian nationals, pursuant to Executive Order 13694, for conducting malicious cyberattacks against hundreds of U.S. and third-country universities for private financial gain. Nine of the identified individuals are connected to the Mabna Institute and are accused of misappropriating “economic resources or personal identifiers” to aid Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Pursuant to these sanctions, all property or interests in property of the designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are “generally prohibited” from participating in transactions with these individuals and entities. Additionally, as reported in a DOJ press release, the nine Iranians have also been indicted for engaging in malicious cyber-enabled activities. A tenth Iranian national was sanctioned for engaging in cyber-related actions targeting a U.S. media company.
Visit here for additional InfoBytes coverage on Iranian sanctions.
NYDFS updates cybersecurity regulation FAQs
On March 23, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) provided a second update to its answers to FAQs relating to 23 NYCRR Part 500, which took effect March 1, 2017 and establishes cybersecurity requirements for banks, insurance companies, and other financial services institutions. The original promulgation of the FAQs was covered in InfoBytes, as was the last update in February. The new update to the FAQs adds the following guidance:
- An individual filing a Certificate of Compliance for his or her own individual license with no Board of Directors is acting as a Senior Officer as defined by 23 NYCRR 500 and should complete the filing process in that manner; and
- Entity ID is defined as an entity’s state-issued unique license or charter number. Specific information is provided for insurance companies and mortgage loan originators in the FAQs.
Florida enacts legislation prohibiting the misrepresentation of a residential mortgage loan as a business purpose loan
On March 21, the Florida governor signed HB 935, which prohibits the misrepresentation of a residential mortgage loan as a business purpose loan. HB 935 defines “business purpose loan” and requires that “a person must refer to the official interpretation” of the CFPB under 12 C.F. R. Section 1026.3(a) to determine if a loan is for a “business purpose.” It also provides penalties for knowingly or willfully misrepresenting a residential mortgage loan as a business purpose loan. Additionally, HB 935 defines the phrase “hold himself or herself out to the public as being in the mortgage lending business” to include representing to the public through advertisements or solicitations that the individual or business is a licensed mortgage lender. The law is effective July 1.
Nebraska enacts legislation amending certain provisions related to the recording of real property interests
On March 21, the Nebraska governor signed Legislative Bill 750 (LB 750), which amends and clarifies provisions related to the rights and responsibilities of secured creditors and the recording of real property interests. Among other things, LB 750 addresses (i) recording requirements for licensed mortgage bankers and (ii) the liability of a secured creditor that fails to timely record a deed of reconveyance or a release of mortgage when the obligation has been satisfied and a written request to record it has been received from the trustor, mortgagor or grantor. It also provides that “the transfer of any debt secured by a mortgage shall also operate as a transfer of a security of such debt.” The bill takes effect July 18.
CFPB Succession: CFPB drops payday lawsuit, new CRA measures introduced in Congress
On March 22, Senator Moran, R-Kan, with 15 GOP co-sponsors introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to block the CFPB’s Bulletin 2013-02 (Bulletin) on indirect auto lending and compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). The resolution follows a December 2017 letter issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) stating that the Bulletin is a “general statement of policy and a rule” that is subject to override under the CRA, previously covered by InfoBytes here.
On the same day, Senator Graham, R-SC, introduced a resolution to overturn the CFPB’s final rule addressing payday loans, vehicle title loans, and certain other extensions of credit. A similar resolution was introduced in the House in December 2017 by a group of bipartisan lawmakers. As previously covered by InfoBytes, while acting Director Mick Mulvaney has suggested he would not seek his own repeal of the Bureau’s rule but may “reconsider” it, he has expressed his support for the Congressional measures to block the rule. Additionally, according to media reports, the CFPB has recently dropped a case against an online payday loan company and Mulvaney is currently reviewing whether to continue three other investigations into lenders of similar products.
CFPB releases RFI on guidance and implementation materials
On March 28, the CFPB released its tenth Request for Information (RFI) in a series seeking feedback on the Bureau’s operations. This RFI solicits public comment to assist the Bureau in “assessing the overall effectiveness and accessibility of its guidance materials and activities (including implementation support).” Specifically, the Bureau is seeking feedback regarding interpretive rules and general statements of policy that the CFPB determined do not need to go through the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) notice and comment process, as well as other “non-rule guidance” such as compliance guides and webinars. While the Bureau is seeking feedback on all aspects of its various guidance materials, the RFI specifically seeks comments related to (i) the regulatory inquiries function; (ii) regulatory implementation and compliance aids; (iii) official interpretations and standalone interpretive rules; (iv) SEFL guidance materials; (v) disclaimers included on non-rule guidance materials; and (vi) recommendations for new forms of written guidance. The RFI is expected to be published in the Federal Register on April 2. Comments will be due 90 days from publication.