Lending

FHFA: Latest Report on Non-Performing Loan Sales Released

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released the latest report on the sale of non-performing loans (NPLs) by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises). The Enterprise Non-Performing Loan Sales Report includes sales information about NPLs sold through December 31, 2021. Borrower outcomes reflect NPLs sold through June 30, 2021. The sale of NPLs…

HUD: FHA Expands Mortgage Eligiblity for Borrowers Previously Affected by COVID-19

Updated guidance issued today provides new flexibility for lenders when calculating “effective income” for borrowers with previous employment gaps or loss of income due to a COVID-19 economic event. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced on Thursday new flexibility for lenders when qualifying borrowers who experienced previous employment gaps or loss of income due to…

CFPB: Advisory Issued to Protect Privacy When Companies Compile Personal Data

Advisory affirms that “permissible purposes” are required to use and share credit reports and background reports Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a legal interpretation to ensure that companies that use and share credit reports and background reports have a permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The CFPB’s new advisory opinion…

CFPB: Special Regulatory Treatment for Payactiv Rescinded

Termination Follows Request by Company in Order to Change its Product The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an order today terminating Payactiv’s Sandbox Approval Order relating to its earned wage access products. The CFPB had given Payactiv special regulatory treatment, including as to liability under a relevant federal consumer financial law with respect to…

CFPB: Agency Moves to Reduce Junk Fees Charged by Debt Collectors

Advisory opinion explains that most “pay-to-pay” fees charged by debt collectors violate federal law Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an advisory opinion affirming that federal law often prohibits debt collectors from charging “pay-to-pay” fees. These charges, commonly described by debt collectors as “convenience fees,” are imposed on consumers who want to make…

FHFA: First Quarter 2022 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report Released

Nearly 6.5 million troubled homeowners helped since conservatorship The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its first quarter 2022 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance Report​. The report shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) completed 129,779 foreclosure prevention actions during the quarter, raising the total number of homeowners who have been helped to 6,494,057…

Agencies Issue Host State Loan-to-Deposit Ratios

Federal bank regulatory agencies today issued the host state loan-to-deposit ratios that are used to evaluate compliance with section 109 of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994. These ratios replace those from June 2021. By law, a bank is generally prohibited from establishing or acquiring branches outside of its home state…

CFPB: Agency Affirms Ability for States to Police Credit Reporting Markets

The Fair Credit Reporting Act does not stop states from enacting laws to tackle credit reporting problems related to medical debt, tenant screening, and other consumer risks Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an interpretive rule affirming states’ abilities to protect their residents through their own fair credit reporting laws. With limited preemption…

OCC: Overall Mortgage Performance Improvement Reported in First Quarter 2022

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported that the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system improved during the first quarter of 2022. The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, First Quarter 2022 showed that 96.9 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, compared…

CFPB: New Final Rule Issued with Credit Reporting Protections to Aid Survivors of Human Trafficking

CFPB Helps Survivors Mitigate the Financial Consequences of Human Trafficking Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a final rule to help survivors avoid some of the financial consequences of human trafficking. The CFPB has established, among other things, a method for survivors of trafficking to submit documentation to credit reporting companies that identifies…