Description:
Escrow compliance is tough! Not many rules cover such a broad scope over the full life of the loan. Escrowing touches nearly every element of loan compliance in some way: RESPA, TILA, TRID, HPMLs, Flood, and Fair Lending. That’s an intimidating list! Moreover, it is a high-stakes endeavor. Getting it wrong causes consumer harm and potential reputational damage. Failing to accurately pay taxes when due will cause fines and penalties, and make your bank look inept in its fiduciary capacity. Failing to accurately disclose escrow items or properly analyze escrow accounts will bring regulatory violations and upset borrowers. There is a lot on the line!
Many people are involved in the escrow process, and each one of their touch points invites opportunity for error. Are staff members getting the right tax and insurance figures? Are lenders explaining it correctly to borrowers (especially if there will be a “shock” to come)? Are servicing staff disbursing correctly and on time? Are operations systems producing accurate statements? And overwhelmed compliance staff, do you understand how it all works, to help everyone else get their part right? Can you confirm the accuracy of the whole spectrum of escrow compliance – even the aggregate analysis?!
No? You are in good company. Join this two-hour on-demand class to gain the knowledge and confidence to come out on top! It will be time well spent covering:
- RESPA:
- Big picture: The difficulty of applying escrowing rules to taxes paid in arrears
- Escrow analysis: Why, when, and how
- The escrow account computation year – very important!
- Allowable figures to use
- Cushions
- Calculations
- Pre-accrual is a big no-no
- Payment shock: why it happens and what can be done about it
- Escrow statements: why, when, and how
- Escrow balances: The Goldilocks test:
- Too much
- Too little
- Just right
- Timely escrow payments
- TRID
- Escrow’s impact on the LE and CD
- Sometimes you use math prescribed by TRID rules
- Sometimes you use math prescribed by RESPA
- Aggregate adjustments
- Escrow’s impact on the LE and CD
- Reg Z
- Escrow Closing Notice
- HPML Escrow rules
- Flood Insurance
- Mandatory escrow rules
- Exceptions and exemptions
All topics will be presented clearly and concisely, from the perspective and real-life experience of a veteran compliance pro (25 years!) who, like you, is currently working in the trenches of her bank as the voice of compliance.
Presenters:
Rebekah Leonard, CRCM
Rebekah is the owner of Elucidate LLC, a compliance training and consulting company. Elucidate means to “make clear, explain, throw light upon”, and describes Rebekah’s desire to illuminate the complexities of compliance with passion and fun. She’s created and produced a TRID music video parody and several Compliance Breakout escape rooms, which she frequently provides at state banking compliance conferences. She is an accomplished speaker and regularly provides webinars through BOL and Compliance Resource. Rebekah is currently serving as the VP Director of Compliance for a $6 Billion community bank in Montana. She began her career in 1995 at a private lending company, but soon settled into banking, where she’s covered nearly all of it – customer service and teller work, loan processing and review, and security and business continuity. She now oversees CRA, BSA and all aspects of compliance as a senior leader. She has successfully navigated numerous FDIC Compliance, CRA, and BSA Exams. Rebekah has a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University (Magna cum Laude), attended the American Bankers Association National Compliance School in 2003, and has held her Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation since 2006. She is a BOL Compliance Guru.
January 15, 2026