Archive

CRA – UPDATED THRESHOLDS FOR SMALL AND INTERMEDIATE-SMALL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

On December 21st the federal bank regulatory agencies announced the annual adjustment to the asset-size thresholds used to define small bank, small savings association, intermediate small bank and intermediate small savings association under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations. The annual adjustments are required by the CRA rules. The annual adjustments are based on the change in the average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban wage earners and clerical workers, not seasonally adjusted, […]

The Federal Reserve Board’s Big Day

On Monday August 16th the Federal Reserve Board went crazy. They published a bunch of new and proposed regulations. These changes are huge and some of them are happening soon. A summary of each action is provided below. NEW PAYMENT INCREASE RISK DISCLOSURE The Fed issued an interim rule that revises the disclosure requirements for closed-end mortgage loans under Regulation Z (Truth in Lending). The interim rule implements provisions of the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act […]

Final SAFE Act Regulations Published

The first of two final steps for implementation of the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (the SAFE Act) has been completed. The final regulations are now in place; but we are still waiting for the Registry to open. FINAL REGULATIONS On July 28, 2010 the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Thrift Supervision, Farm Credit Administration, and National Credit Union Administration (jointly referred to as […]

New RESPA Settlement Cost Booklet

Rumor: HUD has published a new Settlement Cost Booklet This rumor is true. The new booklet appeared on HUD’s website on July 15th. Rumor: We have to throw out our existing supply of booklets and start using the new booklet immediately. This rumor is false. You may use the versions of the booklet published in December 2009 or January 2010, or you may use the new booklet. When you exhaust your existing supply of booklets […]

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Congress has completed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Next, the 2,300 page bill moves to the White House for the President’s signature, which is expected by July 21st. Then the real action begins: • An entire bureaucracy must be built for the new Bureau of Financial Protection and the new Financial Stability Oversight Counsel; and • Thousands of pages of regulations will be written. An area of particular concern […]