Description:
Register by May 20th and take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing!
All registrations to Compliance Resource webinars include five live connections AND the recording of the webinar (guaranteed for one year).
RESPA – Section 8 Unearned Fees and Kickbacks Violations has been submitted to ABA Professional Certifications for CE credit review and is pending approval. Once we receive notification of the credit approval, we will notify attendees.
WHAT?
Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) prohibits unearned fees and kickbacks. Until recently, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had not been active in Section 8 enforcement. Now the CFPB has shifted gears, and has become a very active but unpredictable enforcer. In recent years, a significant portion of reported CFPB mortgage-related enforcement actions were focused on Section 8, and the penalties imposed have reached huge totals.
The enforcement actions under the CFPB, while fewer in number over the years, have been jaw dropping in dollar amounts. The settlements of these actions range from a few thousand dollars to many millions of dollars. Failure to comply with Section 8 can lead to jail terms, in addition to the penalties.
On October 7, 2020, the CFPB published guidance in the form of fourteen Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the RESPA Section 8 issues. The FAQs provide an overview of the provisions of RESPA Section 8 and respective Regulation X sections, and address the application of certain provisions to common scenarios described in CFPB inquiries involving gifts and promotional activities, and marketing services agreements (MSAs).
In addition, the CFPB determined that Compliance Bulletin 2015-05, RESPA Compliance and Marketing Services Agreements, does not provide the regulatory clarity needed on how to comply with RESPA and Regulation X and therefore is rescinding it. The CFPB’s rescission of the Bulletin does not mean that MSAs are per se or presumptively legal. Whether a particular MSA violates RESPA Section 8 will depend on specific facts and circumstances, including the details of how the MSA is structured and implemented.
Previous guidance from the CFPB on Section 8 has been limited and less than enlightening. Most of the CFPB guidance has been in the form of consent decrees. CFPB consent decrees typically include significant penalties, well past $20 million in one case. The approach, high-dollar enforcement activities, personal liability for management, and a lack of regulatory guidance, has created an atmosphere of intimidation and fear in the industry.
WHY?
Every financial institution has potential violations of Section 8. This program:
- Explains violations and steps to eliminate them.
- Reviews:
- The RESPA/Regulation X rules that prohibit unearned fees and kickbacks;
- Many of the recent consent decrees brokered by the CFPB; and
- The recent Frequently Asked Questions issued by the CFPB.
TOPICS
Upon completion of the program participants understand:
- What transactions are covered by RESPA’s prohibition against unearned fees and kickbacks;
- What actions are prohibited;
- What constitutes a referral fee, or an unearned fee or kickback;
- What compensation is permissible;
- What constitutes an affiliated business arrangement and the rules that apply to such arrangements;
- How to properly handle broker arrangements;
- The 2020 CFPB FAQs related to Section 8; and
- Recent CFPB consent decrees related to Section 8.
WHO?
The program is designed for loan officers, compliance officers, loan processors and clerks, auditors, and anyone else with responsibilities related to federally related mortgage loans.
This program will start at 2:00 PM EDT, 1:00 PM CDT, 12:00 PM MDT, or 11:00 AM PDT
Recording Included
This webinar will be recorded and sent to all registrants. You will receive links to the recording following the program. These recordings have unlimited viewings and are available for up to one year.
Register by May 20th and take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing!
Presenters:
Jack Holzknecht
Jack Holzknecht is the CEO of Compliance Resource, LLC. He has been delivering the word on lending compliance for 45 years. In 40 years as a trainer over 150,000 bankers (and many examiners) have participated in Jack’s live seminars and webinars. Jack’s career began in 1976 as a federal bank examiner. He later headed the product and education divisions of a regional consulting company. There he developed loan and deposit form systems and software. He also developed and presented training programs to bankers in 43 states. Jack has been an instructor at compliance schools presented by a number of state bankers associations. As a contractor he developed and delivered compliance training for the FDIC for ten years. He is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager and a member of the National Speakers Association.
Kimberly Boatwright
Kimberly Boatwright is a frequent speaker on compliance topics and has more than a two decades of experience working in the financial services industry.
Ms. Boatwright is a well-regarded financial industry risk and compliance professional with a strong background in program development and implementation. She is a thought leader who specializes in Fair Lending, Anti-Money Laundering, OFAC and consumer compliance. During her career she has worked for and consulted with all types of financial institutions helping to establish and evolve compliance and risk programs. She is a frequent public speaker, trainer, and author on compliance and risk management topics
July 12, 2022