Blog

On May 9, 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion to affirm that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Regulation B protect not only those actively seeking credit but also those who sought and have received credit. This is not a new position, it is a reaffirmation of long standing law and regulation. The advisory opinion is effective upon publication in the Federal Register, which is expected soon.

On May 5, 2022, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the agencies) jointly issued a proposal to strengthen and modernize regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The 629-page proposal is intended to: Expand access to credit, investment, and basic banking services in low- and moderate-income communities. Under the proposal, the agencies would evaluate bank performance across the varied activities

On May 3, 2022, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will require lenders to use a Supplemental Consumer Information Form (SCIF) as part of the application process for loans that will be sold to the Enterprises. The purpose of the SCIF is to collect information about the borrower’s language preference, if any, and on any homebuyer education or housing counseling the borrower received, so lenders can better

On March 10, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued a consent order to Magnolia Bank, Magnolia, KY, which included a $425,000 civil monetary penalty for violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (UDAP). The FDIC found that the bank deceptively advertised “interest rates and fees for residential mortgage loans as the lowest on the market, with a promise of a ‘best rate guarantee,’ comparative shopping for such rates, and lower rates due

In late April, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued: Eight Spanish language version of several adverse action sample disclosures; Six Spanish language version of several prepaid account sample disclosures; and A reminder of financial institutions’ obligation to serve the communities where they do business, including communities with limited English proficiency and also encouraged them to use the translations as they work with Spanish-speakers in their community.