Archive

ARE REGULATORS RENEGING ON CRA PROMISES?

On March 19, 2020, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal Reserve), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) (collectively, the agencies) published a Joint Statement of Policy (SOP) promising favorable consideration of retail banking services and retail lending activities in a financial institution’s assessment areas that are responsive to the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms affected […]

INTERAGENCY FLOOD FAQS

On June 26, 2020 the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration (collectively the Agencies) released proposed new and revised Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Flood Insurance (FAQs). The FAQs have not been updated since 2011, which is gross incompetence on the part of the Agencies. Since the last revisions Congress has passed the Biggert-Waters Act and the Affordability Act, […]

INTERAGENCY LENDING PRINCIPLES FOR OFFERING RESPONSIBLE SMALL-DOLLAR LOANS

On May 20, 2020 the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the National Credit Union Administration jointly issued the Interagency Lending Principles for Offering Responsible Small-Dollar Loans. The agencies: Recognize the important role that responsibly offered small-dollar loans can play in helping customers meet their ongoing needs for credit from temporary cash-flow imbalances, unexpected expenses, or income shortfalls, including during periods of economic stress, […]

SO WHERE IS CRA HEADED NOW?

News has been leaking all week, now it is official: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is publishing a final Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule today; Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting is resigning tomorrow; and The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is not joining the final CRA rule at this time. That leaves many unanswered questions, including what happens next to CRA?

AGENCIES DEFER APPRAISALS

On April 14, 2020 the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency,  National Credit Union Administration,  and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (jointly, the agencies) issued an interim final rule to temporarily defer real estate-related appraisals and evaluations under the interagency appraisal regulations. The agencies are providing this temporary relief to allow regulated institutions to extend financing to creditworthy households and businesses quickly […]