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FTC provides 2022 ECOA summary to CFPB
On February 9, the FTC announced it recently provided the CFPB with its annual summary of activities related to ECOA enforcement, focusing specifically on the Commission’s activities with respect to Regulation B. The summary discussed, among other things, the following FTC enforcement, research, and policy development initiatives:
- Last June, the FTC released a report to Congress discussing the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and warning policymakers to use caution when relying on AI to combat the spread of harmful online conduct. The report also raised concerns that AI tools can be biased, discriminatory, or inaccurate, could rely on invasive forms of surveillance, and may harm marginalized communities. (Covered by InfoBytes here.)
- The FTC continued to participate in the Interagency Task Force on Fair Lending, along with the CFPB, DOJ, HUD, and federal banking regulatory agencies. The Commission also continued its participation in the Interagency Fair Lending Methodologies Working Group to “coordinate and share information on analytical methodologies used in enforcement of and supervision for compliance with fair lending laws, including the ECOA.”
- The FTC initiated an enforcement action last April against an Illinois-based multistate auto dealer group for allegedly adding junk fees for unwanted “add-on” products to consumers’ bills and discriminating against Black consumers. In October, the FTC initiated a second action against a different auto dealer group and two of its officers for allegedly engaging in deceptive advertising and pricing practices and discriminatory and unfair financing. (Covered by InfoBytes here and here.)
- The FTC engaged in consumer and business education on fair lending issues, and reiterated that credit discrimination is illegal under federal law for banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, retailers, and companies that extend credit. The FTC also issued consumer alerts discussing enforcement actions involving racial discrimination and disparate impact, as well as agency initiatives centered around racial equity and economic equality.
Barr says AI should not create racial disparities in lending
On February 7, Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision, Michael S. Barr, delivered remarks during the “Banking on Financial Inclusion” conference, where he warned financial institutions to make sure that using artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms does not create racial disparities in lending decisions. Banks “should review the underlying models, such as their credit scoring and underwriting systems, as well as their marketing and loan servicing activities, just as they should for more traditional models,” Barr said, pointing to findings that show “significant and troubling disparities in lending outcomes for Black individuals and businesses relative to others.” He commented that “[w]hile research suggests that progress has been made in addressing racial discrimination in mortgage lending, regulators continue to find evidence of redlining and pricing discrimination in mortgage lending at individual institutions.” Studies have also found persistent discrimination in other markets, including auto lending and lending to Black-owned businesses. Barr further commented that despite significant progress over the past 25 years in expanding access to banking services, a recent FDIC survey found that the unbanked rate for Black households was 11.3 percent as compared to 2.1 percent for White households.
Barr suggested several measures for addressing these issues and eradicating discrimination. Banks should actively analyze data to identify where racial disparities occur, conduct on-the-ground testing to identify discriminatory practices, and review AI or other algorithms used in making lending decisions, Barr advised. Banks should also devote resources to stamp out unfair, abusive, or illegal practices, and find opportunities to support and invest in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, small businesses, and community infrastructure. Meanwhile, regulators have a clear responsibility to use their supervisory and enforcement tools to make sure banks resolve consumer protection weaknesses, Barr said, adding that regulators should also ensure that rules provide appropriate incentives for banks to invest in LMI communities and lend to such households.
NYDFS implements state CRA revisions
On February 8, NYDFS announced the adoption of updates to the state’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulation. The final regulation implements amendments to Banking Law § 28-b, and allows the Department to obtain necessary data to evaluate how well regulated banking institutions are serving minority- and women-owned businesses in their communities. These findings will be integrated into institutions’ CRA ratings, NYDFS said. As previously covered by InfoBytes, NYDFS issued proposed revisions last October, announcing that the modifications are intended to minimize compliance burdens by making sure the regulation’s proposed language complements requirements in the CFPB’s proposed rulemaking for collecting data on credit access for small and minority- and women-owned businesses. The final regulation details how regulated institutions must collect and submit the necessary data to NYDFS while abiding by fair lending laws. Regulated institutions must inquire as to whether a business applying for a loan or credit is minority- or women-owned or both, and submit a report to the Department providing application details, such as the date of application, type of credit applied for and the amount, whether the application was approved or denied, and the size and location of the business. The final regulation also includes a form for regulated institutions to use to obtain the required data from business loan applications. NYDFS said it will publish a data submission template in the coming months for regulated institutions to use during CRA evaluations. The final regulation takes effect August 8, and provides for a compliance date six months following the publication of the Notice of Adoption in the State Register. Regulated institutions will also have an additional transition period of three months from the compliance date to comply with certain provisions.
District Court dismisses CFPB redlining action against nonbank lender
On February 3, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois dismissed with prejudice claims that a Chicago-based nonbank mortgage company and its owner violated ECOA by engaging in discriminatory marketing and applicant outreach practices. The CFPB sued the defendants in 2020 alleging fair lending violations, including violations of ECOA and the CFPA, predicated, in part, on statements made by the company’s owner and other employees during radio shows and podcasts from 2014 through 2017. (Covered by a Special Alert.) The complaint (which was later amended) marked the first time a federal regulator has taken a public enforcement action against a nondepository institution based on allegations of redlining.
The Bureau claimed that the defendants discouraged African Americans from applying for mortgage loans from the company and redlined African American neighborhoods in the Chicago area by (i) discouraging their residents from applying for mortgage loans from the company; and (ii) discouraging nonresidents from applying for loans from the company for homes in these neighborhoods. The defendants moved to dismiss with prejudice, arguing that the Bureau improperly attempted to expand ECOA’s reach “beyond the express and unambiguous language of the statute.” The defendants explained that while the statute “regulates behavior towards applicants for credit, it does not regulate any behavior relating to prospective applicants who have not yet applied for credit.” The Bureau countered that courts have consistently recognized Regulation B’s discouragement prohibition even when applied to prospective applicants.
In dismissing the action with prejudice, the court applied step one of Chevron framework (which is to determine “whether Congress has directly spoken to the precise question at issue”) when reviewing whether the Bureau’s interpretation of ECOA in Regulation B is permissible. Explaining that ECOA’s plain text “clearly and unambiguously prohibits discrimination against applicants”—defined as a person who applies for credit—the court concluded (citing to case law in support of its decision) that Congress’s directive only prohibits discrimination against applicants and does not apply to prospective applicants. The court stressed that the agency’s authority to enact regulations is not limitless and that the statute’s use of the term “applicant” clearly marks the boundary of ECOA.
The court also rejected the Bureau’s argument that ECOA’s delegation of authority to the Bureau to adopt rules to prevent evasion means the anti-discouragement provision must be sustained provided it reasonably relates to ECOA’s objectives. The Bureau pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Mourning v. Fam. Publ’ns Serv., Inc. (upholding the “Four Installment Rule” under similar delegation language in TILA), but the court held that Mourning does not permit it to avoid Chevron’s two-step framework. Because the anti-discouragement provision does not survive the first step, the court did not reach whether the provision is reasonably related to ECOA’s objectives and dismissed the action with prejudice. The remaining claims, which depend on the ECOA claim, were also dismissed with prejudice.
The firm will be sending out a Special Alert in the next few business days providing additional thinking on this decision.
HUD proposes streamlined AFFH rule
Recently, HUD announced plans to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” (AFFH). The new rule will update a 2015 final rule that was intended to implement the Fair Housing Act’s statutory mandate that HUD ensure that recipients of its funding work to further fair housing, which was repealed by the Trump administration. In 2021, the Biden administration published an interim final rule to restore certain definitions and certifications to its regulations implementing the Fair Housing Act’s requirement to affirmatively further fair housing (covered by InfoBytes here). “This proposed rule is a major step towards fulfilling the law’s full promise and advancing our legal, ethical, and moral charge to provide equitable access to opportunity for all,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in an announcement.
The NPRM incorporates much of the 2015 AFFH rule and will streamline the required fair housing analysis for states, local communities, and public housing agencies. Program participants would be required to ensure protected classes have equitable access to affordable housing opportunities, by, for example, submitting an equity plan to HUD every five years. HUD-accepted equity plan analysis, goals, and strategies would then be incorporated into program participants’ subsequent planning documents. Program participants would also be required to conduct and submit annual progress evaluations. Both the equity plans and annual progress evaluations would be made available online.
HUD further explained that the NPRM is intended to simplify required fair housing analysis, increase transparency for public review and comment, improve compliance oversight, provide a process for regular progress evaluations, and enhance accountability, among other things. Comments on the NPRM are due April 24. HUD’s quick reference guide provides additional information.
OCC updates fair lending booklet of Comptroller’s Handbook
On January 12, the OCC released a revised version of the “Fair Lending” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. The revised booklet replaces the prior booklet issued in January 2010. The revised booklet also rescinds related OCC Bulletin 2010-4, “Compliance Policy: Fair Lending – Revised Booklet.” The revised booklet includes new and clarified details and risk factors for a variety of examination scenarios, and updates references to supervisory guidance, sound risk management practices, and applicable legal standards, including changes to laws and regulations since the prior booklet was published, as well as the OCC's current approach to fair lending examinations.
District Court grants summary judgment to bank in discriminatory lending suit
On December 19, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted summary judgment in favor of a national bank with respect to discriminatory lending allegations brought by the County of Cook in Illinois (County). As previously covered by InfoBytes, the County alleged that the bank’s lending practices were discriminatory and led to an increase in foreclosures among Black and Latino borrowers, causing the County to incur financial injury, including foreclosure-related and judicial proceeding costs and municipal expenses due to an increase in vacant properties. In 2021, the court denied the bank’s motion to dismiss the alleged Fair Housing Act violations after determining that all the County had to do was show a reasonable argument that the bank’s lending practices resulted in foreclosures, and that the bank failed to dispute that the County properly alleged a financial injury sufficient to support standing.
The court explained in its December 19 order, however, that two of the County’s expert witnesses did not make valid comparisons when measuring the denial rate for minority borrowers compared to white borrowers. According to the court, the expert witnesses failed to properly account for the financial conditions of the borrowers seeking mortgage modifications, leaving the County with “no other evidentiary basis to establish that [the bank] engaged in intentionally discriminatory servicing practices that caused minority borrowers to disproportionately suffer default and foreclosure.” The court found that, accordingly, the County cannot demonstrate “intentional discrimination against minority borrowers that proximately caused the County’s injuries, and its disparate treatment claim accordingly cannot survive summary judgment.” Additionally, the court found that the County failed to cite authority for its arguments that the bank can be liable for loans it purchased “and for which it did not commit any discriminatory acts in servicing” or for loans it originated but sold and never serviced.
NYDFS releases proposed guidance for mitigating climate-related risks
On December 21, NYDFS proposed guidance for regulated banking and mortgage institutions to support efforts for responding to evolving risks stemming from climate change. The proposed guidance—which was developed to align with the climate-related work of federal and international banking regulators—will aid institutions in identifying, measuring, monitoring, and controlling material climate-related financial risks, consistent with existing risk management principles. Institutions should “minimize and affirmatively mitigate adverse impacts on low- and moderate-income communities while managing climate-related financial risks,” NYDFS said, explaining that the proposed guidance focuses on areas of risk management related to corporate governance, internal control frameworks, risk management processes, data aggregation and reporting, and scenario analysis that also accounts for unknown future risks. Among other things, the proposed guidance warned institutions of the importance of ensuring fair lending is provided to all communities, including low- to moderate-income neighborhoods that may face heightened risks, when managing climate-related financial risks. The proposed guidance also outlined tools institutions should use to measure and protect against climate change risks. NYDFS warned institutions that they may have to directly absorb a greater portion of losses and should plan for insurance coverage premiums to either increase or be withdrawn entirely in areas where climate risks are prevalent.
NYDFS commented that the proposed guidance serves as a basis for supervisory dialogue and instructed interested parties to provide input as it undertakes a data-driven approach to formulating the final guidance. Comments are due by March 21, 2023. A webinar will be held on January 11, 2023 to provide an overview of the proposed guidance.
“Regulators must anticipate and respond to new risks to operational resiliency and safety and soundness, jeopardizing an institution’s future,” Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris said. “NYDFS is committed to working with all stakeholders to further refine expectations and finalize guidance appropriate for institutions to address material climate-related financial risks.”
CFPB issues HMDA technical amendment
On December 12, the CFPB issued a technical amendment to the HMDA Rule to reflect the closed-end mortgage loan reporting threshold of 25 mortgage loans in each of the two preceding calendar years. As previously covered by InfoBytes, in September, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted partial summary judgment to a group of consumer fair housing associations (collectively, “plaintiffs”) that challenged changes made in 2020 that permanently raised coverage thresholds for collecting and reporting data about closed-end mortgage loans and open-end lines of credit under HMDA. The 2020 Rule, which amended Regulation C, permanently increased the reporting threshold from the origination of at least 25 closed-end mortgage loans in each of the two preceding calendar years to 100, and permanently increased the threshold for collecting and reporting data about open-end lines of credit from the origination of 100 lines of credit in each of the two preceding calendar years to 200 (covered by InfoBytes here). The plaintiffs sued the CFPB in 2020, arguing, among other things, that the final rule “exempts about 40 percent of depository institutions that were previously required to report” and undermines HMDA’s purpose by allowing potential violations of fair lending laws to go undetected. (Covered by InfoBytes here.) As a result of the September 23 order, the threshold for reporting data about closed-end mortgage loans is 25, the threshold established by the 2015 HMDA Rule.
NYDFS finds racial disparities in mortgage lending
On December 8, NYDFS announced a second report in an ongoing statewide inquiry into redlining and other forms of housing discrimination by mortgage lenders, particularly non-depository lenders. This report focuses on racial disparities in mortgage lending in Long Island, Rochester, and Syracuse, and follows one on Buffalo (covered by InfoBytes here). The report maps lending activity and details individual institutions' lending in majority-minority neighborhoods and to borrowers identifying as members of a minority group.
Analyzing HMDA data, NYDFS’s recent report concluded that: “ In Nassau county, where the population is 41.8 percent non-white, on average, lenders make 35.32 percent of their loans to borrowers identifying as people of color. Among lenders operating in the county, lending to borrowers identifying as people of color ranges from 14.9 percent to 50.22 percent. In Suffolk county, where the population is 33.7 percent non-white, on average, lenders make 22.44 percent of their loans to borrowers identifying as people of color. Among lenders operating in the county, lending to borrowers identifying as people of color ranges from 13.07 percent to 36.85 percent. In the Rochester metro area, where 23.9 percent of the population is non-white, on average lenders make 11.32 percent of their loans to borrowers identifying as people of color, less than half of what would be expected based solely on population make-up. Similarly in the Syracuse metro area, 18.7 percent of the population is non-white, but on average lenders make 8.67 percent of their loans to borrowers identifying as people of color.”
In the announcement, NYDFS noted that it is currently developing regulations to implement the updated New York Community Reinvestment Act, which expands oversight to non-depository mortgage lenders operating in the state. The insights uncovered through these reports’ investigations will be reflected in these proposed regulations which will be published for public comment in 2023.