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April 2020 - Compliance Alert

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

CFPB Announces Remittance Transfer Guidance During Pandemic

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that it was taking action to ensure that customers can use remittance transfers without disruption during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many people use these transfers to send money to family and friends overseas and the CFPB issued a policy statement that would make the Bureau’s supervision of remittance transfers more flexible, enabling insured institutions to better serve their customers.

CFPB and FHFA Begin New Borrower Protection Program

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced a joint effort that allows these agencies to easily share service information, protecting borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the new program, called the Borrower Protection Program, the CFPB will share complaint information and analytical tools with the FHFA and the FFHA will share information about forbearance, modifications and other loss mitigation initiatives by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) 

Comptroller Releases FFIEC BSA/AML Manual Statement

The Comptroller of the Currency issued a statement that announced changes to the BSA/AML Examination Manual. The changes improve and clarify the examinations’ risk-focus by giving examiners more focused directions.

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

SEC Announces Formation of COVID-19 Market Monitoring Group

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that they were creating a temporary cross-divisional COVID-19 Market Monitoring Group internally. This senior-level group will focus on assisting with actions and analysis of the effects of COVID-19 markets, issuers, etc. and responding to requests from other agencies for information, analysis and help.


 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

FDIC and Other Regulators to Defer Appraisals and Evaluation for Real Estate Transactions

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other federal agencies announced an interim final rule that would temporarily defer real estate appraisals and evaluations as a temporary relief, allowing regulated institutions to finance creditworthy households and businesses as quickly as possible during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

National Credit Union Administration

NCUA Approves Regulatory Relief During COVID-19 Pandemic

The board of the National Credit Union Administration approved three items during their third open meeting of 2020 which included a temporary final rule allowing regulatory relief that helps federally insured credit unions stay operational during the COVID-19 emergency, a final rule increasing the appraisal requirement threshold for resident real estate-related transactions and the deferral of real estate evaluations and appraisals to help with social distancing measures.

COVID-19 and Your Financial Institution

 

COVID-19 and Your Financial Institution

The current situation our nation faces is unprecedented and something no one alive has seen in their lifetime. Considering that, it’s important for financial institutions to understand that the new coronavirus, COVID-19, is a very serious matter from a health standpoint foremost, but also from a financial standpoint as Americans lose work, businesses are shuttered or limited and most people, by order of the government or by their own good sense, stay at home over the next few weeks.

You are probably well aware that this virus has affected the entire world and that most governments, including U.S. local governments and the U.S. federal government, are restricting travel, business and more in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and stave off an unmanageable influx of patients to hospitals. This has put a serious strain on the financial industry in many ways and some financial institutions are likely feeling the pressure much more acutely.

The federal financial regulatory agencies that govern banking laws in the U.S. have released a statement encouraging all financial institutions to work with customers and borrowers as much as possible, particularly by granting loan modifications in a prudent and proactive manner. These federal regulators are working with institutions to ease some of the strain as much as possible with careful changes to some regulations and reporting requirements, keeping up with this changing situation as much as possible.

The National Credit Union Association is also making urgent needs grants available to low-income credit unions that may be particularly struggling at the moment. The grants give these institutions up to $7,500 to buy vital equipment used to service customers, consulting services to aid affected businesses and marketing materials to reassure credit union members.

As this situation develops, there may be more changes to regulations meaning it would be prudent for institutions to keep abreast of developments.

It’s also a good idea to limit risk to yourself, institution employees and customers by being careful, limiting exposure and following the CDC’s guidance for how to handle this situation at work and properly clean and disinfect your institution.

The Edcomm team is weathering this storm with you and are here to help you keep abreast with the best way to handle this situation. Keep an eye on our blog for the latest information and contact us if you have questions about compliance training for your institution.

 

 

  

 

 

March 2020 - Compliance Alert

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

CFPB Releases Report on Administration of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Extends Comment Period

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued their yearly report on the administration of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The report focuses on laws enforcement, consumer education, public outreach, policy proposals and other joint efforts of the CFPB and FTC to end illegal debt collection practices. The CFPB also announced an extension of the public comment period on its proposed rule that implements the FDCPA, which will now go to June 5, 2020.

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) 

OCC Makes Changes to Short-Term Investment Fund Rule

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced an interim final rule to change a short-term investment fund (STIF) rule that allows the OCC to grant banks the ability to extend maturity limits of these funds for a limited time. The hope is to alleviate stress on banks trying to operate in compliance with maturity limits in our current unprecedented situation.

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

SEC Extends Filing Periods Included Under Conditional Reporting Relief in Federal Securities Laws

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced an extension of filing periods previously outlined by the conditional reporting relief obligation of certain public companies under federal security laws. It will also extend relief on regulations formerly provided to funds and investment advisers affected by COVID-19.  


 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

The FDIC and Other Regulatory Agencies Issue Statement Encouraging Institutions to Work with Borrowers Affected by COVID-19

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other federal regulatory authorities and state banking regulators issued a joint statement urging financial institutions to work with borrowers during the current situation with the new coronavirus. The agencies are asking institutions to provide prudent and proactive loan modifications for costumers affected by COVID-19.

 

National Credit Union Administration

NCUA Makes Urgent Needs Grants Available to Financial Institutions Affected by COVID-19

The National Credit Union Association has made urgent needs grants of up to $7,500 available to low-income credit unions for hardware, software and equipment used to service customers, consulting services to assist businesses affected, marketing materials to reassure members that their insured deposits are safe. 

February 2020 - Compliance Alert

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

CFPB and U.S. Department of Education Coordinate to Better Serve Student Loan Borrowers

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Department of Education announced that the two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to better serve student loan borrowers. The MOU states that the two agencies will share information about borrower complaints and hold quarterly meetings to discuss the complaints and the resolution of those complaints.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) 

 

FDIC and OCC Extend Comment Period for CRA Rule Changes

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced a thirty-day extension to the comment period for proposed rule changes regarding the Community Reinvestment Act, which will now end on April 8th. The rule changes hope to increase banking activity in areas where credit, responsible lending and better access to banking services are more greatly needed.

 

FDIC Asks for Public Input on Updating Signage and Advertising Requirements

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Announced that it would be seeking public comment on ways to modernize the current regulations regarding signage and advertising. The idea is to better reflect the current operations of the industry and how customers use banking services, given that the last update was made in 2006 and the industry has changed dramatically since then.

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

SEC Proposes Modernization of Key Market Infrastructure

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced a proposal to modernize infrastructure used to collect, consolidate and distribute market data for exchange-listed national market system (NMS) stocks. To better serve investors in today’s equity markets, this proposal would expand NMS data and update the contents.


 

Federal Reserve Board (FRB)

FRB Releases Hypotheticals for 2020 Stress Tests

The Federal Reserve Board announced the release of the 2020 hypothetical scenarios that would be used for stress test exercises. These tests ensure that large banks have the resources to continue serving their customers and communities even if there is a severe recession. The most sever of these hypotheticals includes a global recession and increased stress on corporate debt markets and commercial real estate.

January 2020 - Compliance Alert

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

CFPB Announces Actions Against Fraudulent Debt Relief Companies

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed charges against several companies and individuals associated with illegal student debt relief practices. These companies and individuals were illegally obtaining consumer reports, charging illegal advance fees, and engaging in fraudulent conduct. These actions were filed against Chou Team Realty, LLC, which does business as Monster Loans, Land Tech Loans, and Docu Prep Center Inc.

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

OCC and Other Agencies Announce Annual CRA Asset-Size Threshold Adjustments for Small and Intermediate Small Institutions

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the other federal banking regulatory agencies announced the annual adjustments to the thresholds that are used to define which institutions are a small bank, small savings association, intermediate small bank, and intermediate small savings association. These definitions are based on asset-size thresholds set in the CRA, which requires they be adjusted each year.

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

SEC Proposes Improved Market Data Plan Governance

The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed a plan to modernize the governance of National Market System (NMS). The proposed order would require equities exchanges and FINRA to file a new NMS plan with the SEC to increase transparency and reduce conflicts of interest. The SEC is seeking public comment on this proposal.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The FDIC Updates Money Smart for Small Business Curriculum

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the US Small Business Association announced updates to the Money Smart for Small Business curriculum, which focuses on helping small business owners and entrepreneurs understand their relationship with their bank and how it can help them reach their goals. The updates focus on banking and credit and are now available.

 

 

Federal Reserve Board (FRB)

FRB Releases Preliminary Treasury Data for 2019

The Federal Reserve Board announced preliminary data showing that in 2019, Reserve Banks made approximately $54.9 Billion in payments to the US Treasury. The final financial statements for the 2019 audit of Reserve Banks will be published in March. The data released in March may adjust these preliminary figures. 

 

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