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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

California Cautions Lenders Regarding Vendor Vetting and Management

CFPB Vendors

Consumer Finance

On December 5, the California Department of Corporations issued Bulletin No: 001-12 to caution lenders and other institutions about the vetting and management of third-party service providers. The bulletin explains that in response to guidance from the CFPB earlier this year regarding supervision of vendors, third-party risk management companies have emerged to pre-screen potential vendors for bank and nonbank financial service providers.  The bulletin generally advises lenders to be cautious about delegating vendor vetting to third-parties and mindful of their ultimate responsibilities for such vendors. The bulletin specifically (i) reminds escrow agents of the prohibition in California Financial Code section 17420 against the payment of referral fees for soliciting escrow accounts, (ii) advises lenders that mandating the use of a particular service provider on a third-party risk management company’s list, or prohibiting the use of a service provider not appearing on such list, may be violating the California Buyer’s Choice Act, and (iii) highlights potential RESPA violations and unfair business practices.