Archive

HMDA PROPOSAL PUBLISHED

On July 24, 2104 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published proposed rules to implement changes to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Some of the proposed changes are mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, others are part of a CFPB effort to modernize and streamline regulations. Comments on the 572-page proposal are due on or before October 22, 2014. Coverage There had been speculation that coverage would be expanded to all mortgage lenders that originated […]

ABILITY TO REPAY – SUCCESSORS-IN-INTEREST

On July 11, 2014 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a 10-page rule that clarifies that where a successor-in-interest (successor) who has previously acquired title to a dwelling agrees to be added as obligor or substituted for the existing obligor on a consumer credit transaction secured by that dwelling, the creditor’s written acknowledgement of the successor as obligor is not subject to the Ability-to-Repay Rule (ATR Rule), § 1026.43, because such a transaction does […]

EQUAL TREATMENT FOR SAME-SEX MARRIED COUPLES

On June 26, 2013, in United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has noted on its blog that the decision has important consequences for its work. In order to fully implement the decision, the CFPB has taken steps to clarify how the decision affects the rules for which the agency is responsible. Recently, CFPB Director Cordray issued a […]

A DIFFERNT KIND OF FAIR LENDING LAWSUIT

Recently the City of Providence, Rhode Island filed a federal lawsuit alleging that Santander Bank, N.A. has discriminated against Providence’s minority communities by refusing to make prime mortgage loans available in minority neighborhoods as required under the Fair Housing Act. Providence is seeking millions in damages from Santander, Mayor Angel Taveras said, and hopes that federal regulators open investigations into potential redlining. Santander denied the allegations. Santander is owned by Spanish banking giant, Banco Santander […]

INTERAGENCY STATEMENT – MAXIMUM FLOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR “OTHER RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS”

On May 30, 2014 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Farm Credit Administration (collectively, the agencies) issued a statement regarding the new National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) maximum limit of flood insurance coverage for non-condominium residential buildings designed for use for five or more families (classified by the NFIP as “Other Residential […]