Regulatory Updates

ABA: Otting, McWilliams Discuss Next Steps on CRA Modernization Effort

Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting is moving forward with issuing a long-awaited notice of proposed rulemaking that would modernize how the agency evaluates banks’ Community Reinvestment Act performance, he said today. Otting said he expects to issue the NPR by the end of 2019 with a 60-day comment period and hopes to have the…

FHFA: Enterprise Capital Rule Will Be Re-Proposed in 2020

Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced plans to re-propose the entire regulation on capital requirements (Capital Rule) for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) sometime in 2020. “The 2018 Capital Rule was proposed before FHFA began the process of retaining capital at the Enterprises as a first step toward ending the conservatorships….

SBA: Direct Final Rule Issued that Will Allow Governors to Seek HUBZone Designation for Certain Rural Areas

The U.S. Small Business Administration today issued a direct final rule that will allow governors to petition the SBA’s Administrator to designate HUBZone status to certain covered areas.  A covered area is an area in a state that is located outside of an urbanized area, as determined by the Census Bureau, with a population of not more than…

FHFA: Deadline Extended for Input on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac UMBS Pooling Practices

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that it will extend, from Dec. 19. 2019 to Jan. 21, 2020 the deadline for interested parties to provide input on potential changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security (UMBS) pooling practices.  FHFA announced on Nov. 4, 2019 that it was seeking input on the Enterprises’…

CDFI Fund: Public Comments Sought on Uses of Award Report Form for BEA Program, CDFI Program and NACA Program Award Recipients

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the Community…

CDFI Fund: Public Comments Sought on FY 2020-2022 Bank Enterprise Award Program Application

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). Currently, the Community Development…

CFPB: Agency Issues Final HMDA Rule to Provide Relief to Smaller Institutions

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) today issued a rule which finalizes certain aspects of its May 2019 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). It extends for two years the current temporary threshold for collecting and reporting data about open-end lines of credit under HMDA. The rule also clarifies partial…

FFIEC: 2018 HMDA Data on Mortgage Lending Available

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today announced the availability of data on mortgage lending transactions at 5,683 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. Released today are loan-level HMDA data covering 2018 lending activity that were submitted on…

CFPB: FFIEC Announces Availability of 2018 HMDA Data on Mortgage Lending

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today announced the availability of data on mortgage lending transactions at 5,683 U.S. financial institutions covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. Released today are loan-level HMDA data covering 2018 lending activity that were submitted on…

HUD: Revised “Disparate Impact” Rule Proposed

New proposed disparate impact rule more appropriately reflects 2015 Supreme Court ruling  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today published a proposed rule to amend the HUD interpretation of the Fair Housing Act’s disparate impact standard. The proposed rule as amended would provide more appropriate guidance on what constitutes unlawful disparate impact…