Fair Lending

CFPB: FFIEC Announces Availability of 2021 HMDA Data on Mortgage Lending

The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) today announced the availability of data on 2021 mortgage lending transactions reported under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) by 4,338 U.S. financial institutions. Covered institutions include banks, savings associations, credit unions, and mortgage companies. The HMDA data are the most comprehensive publicly available information on mortgage market…

CFPB: Inquiry Launched into Practices that Leave Workers Indebted to Employers

Emerging products require employees to sign up for debt The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has launched an inquiry into practices and financial products that may leave employees indebted to their employers. In today’s Request for Information, the CFPB seeks data about, and worker experiences with, these emerging practices and financial products referred to as…

HUD: 20th Anniversary of National Homeownership Month Commemorated

President Biden issues Proclamation marking June as National Homeownership Month The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mark June as National Homeownership Month following President Biden’s proclamation issued on Tuesday. This year’s Homeownership Month celebrates the 20th year of this opportunity to amplify the benefits of homeownership and…

CFPB: Agency Acts to Protect the Public from Black-Box Credit Models Using Complex Algorithms

Companies relying on complex algorithms must provide specific and accurate explanations for denying applications Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) confirmed that federal anti-discrimination law requires companies to explain to applicants the specific reasons for denying an application for credit or taking other adverse actions, even if the creditor is relying on credit models…

CFPB: Advisory Opinion on Coverage of Fair Lending Laws Issued

Equal Credit Opportunity Act continues to protect borrowers after they have applied for and received credit Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published an advisory opinion to affirm that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)—a landmark federal civil rights law protecting individuals and businesses against discrimination in accessing and using credit—bars lenders from discriminating…

CFPB: Agency Invokes Dormant Authority to Examine Nonbank Companies Posing Risks to Consumers

Bureau Seeks Comment on Updated Procedures The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it is invoking a largely unused legal provision to examine nonbank financial companies that pose risks to consumers. The CFPB believes that utilizing this dormant authority will help protect consumers and level the playing field between banks and nonbanks. The CFPB…

OCC: FFIEC’s 2022 “A Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting It Right!” Released

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is announcing the issuance of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s (FFIEC) revised “A Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting It Right!” (2022 guide). The 2022 guide provides resources to help banks1 comply with the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) and Regulation C, its implementing regulation (12 CFR…

CFPB: 2021 HMDA Data on Mortgage Lending Now Available

The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Modified Loan Application Register (LAR) data for 2021 are now available on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council’s HMDA Platform for approximately 4,316 HMDA filers. The published data contain loan-level information filed by financial institutions, modified to protect consumer privacy. To increase public accessibility, the annual loan-level (LAR) data…

CFPB: Supervisory Guidance Updated to Target Unfair Discrimination in Consumer Finance

Discrimination or improper exclusion can trigger liability under ban on unfair acts and practices Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced changes to its supervisory operations to better protect families and communities from illegal discrimination, including in situations where fair lending laws may not apply. In the course of examining banks’ and other companies’…

Interagency Statment Released on Special Purpose Credit Programs Under ECOA and Regulation B

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal…