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Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions announces remote notarization
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions announced remote notarization as a result of Covid-19 emergency measures. DFI has currently approved five remote notarization providers: Notarize.com, NotaryCam, Pavaso, DocVerify, and Nexsys. Additional approvals will be forthcoming.
Texas Joint Financial Regulators issue HELOC guidance
The State of Texas Joint Financial Regulatory Agencies issued guidance pertaining to HELOCs as part of the state’s broader Covid-19 emergency measures pursuant to the governor’s declaration of a state of disaster for Texas on March 13. The agencies’ statement anticipates that lenders may adjust or extend terms on HELOCs and offer new loans during the crisis period, but also clarified that all such modifications and newly-issued loans must comply with Article XVI, Section 50 of the Texas Constitution. The guidance confirmed that modifications that lower the interest rate or amount of installment payments, but that do not satisfy or replace the original note, advance new funds, or increase obligations created by the original note, would not be a new extension of credit under Section 50(a)(6) of the constitution. The State of Texas Joint Financial Regulatory Agencies is comprised of the Texas Department of Banking, Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, and Texas Credit Union Department.
Special Alert: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ease RON requirements
On March 31, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued bulletins updating and clarifying their respective requirements for remote online notarizations as they seek to reduce in-person notarizations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Remote online notarization allows a notary to use electronic tools — typically video conferencing — to notarize documents while the signatory is physically located somewhere else. About half the states authorize the use of remote online notarizations, while several additional states have taken emergency actions to allow them in response to the pandemic.
Fannie and Freddie previously had electronic notarization guidance in their Selling Guide and Seller/Servicer Guide, respectively, that limited the use of RONs, as they are called.[1] The March 31 updates ease those requirements and clarify the conditions under which Fannie and Freddie will accept RONs of loans sold to them. Among other things, the bulletins establish:
- Minimum requirements for authentication of signatories
- Security and document integrity requirements
- Restrictions on the physical location of the notary performing the notarial act
- Requirements to comply with certain aspects of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA)
- Specific representations and warranties of the lender
- A list of states (below) in which lenders may sell loans to the GSEs with remote online notarization
- Clarification that they will accept remotely notarized documents meeting the new requirements in any state that, subsequent to the publication of the bulletins, adopts a law that permits the use of RONs or accepts out-of-state RONs.
Montana Department of Administration provides relief to banks and credit unions regarding annual meetings
On April 2, the Montana Department of Administration adopted a temporary emergency rule regarding annual meetings held by banks and credit unions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The rule permits a bank or credit union to hold its annual meeting in the form of a virtual meeting during the Covid-19 pandemic. Such virtual meeting must be live, allow electronic or telephonic participation in the meeting in real-time, and provide simultaneous audio transmission of the meeting.
Hawaii regulator permits licensees to reduce office hours, temporarily close
The Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions issued guidance indicating that it will temporarily permit licensees with locations in Hawaii to reduce hours or close offices during Hawaii’s Covid-19 Emergency Period. The guidance clarifies that financial institutions and escrow depositories are required to provide notice of closures or reductions in hours to the Division and to customers as soon as practicable. While mortgage loan originators, mortgage servicers, and money transmitters are not required to provide notice, the Division requests a courtesy notification of any closure or reduction in hours, and mortgage loan originator branch managers must post signage at the branch office.
California secretary of state issues FAQs on notarizations, business entity filings
The secretary of state issued FAQs summarizing the impact of Governor Newsome’s Shelter in Place order on notarizations and business filings. The FAQs clarify that the Secretary of State’s Office remains operational, although it is only accepting business entity filings and notary oath filings by mail or electronically. The FAQs also provide that while California law does not permit California notaries to perform remote online notarizations, California citizens may utilize remote online notarization services provided by an out-of-state notary, if those services are performed in accordance with local state law. California citizens may also utilize the services of a “mobile notary,” that will travel to a customer’s location and perform notarizations.
Florida suspends mortgage foreclosures and certain evictions for 45 days
On April 2, the Florida governor issued an executive order suspending and tolling any statute providing for (i) a mortgage foreclosure cause of action under Florida law for 45 days and (ii) an eviction cause of action under Florida law solely as it relates to non-payment of rent by residential tenants due to the Covid-19 emergency for 45 days.
SEC announces $450,000 compliance-related whistleblower award
On March 30, the SEC announced a $450,000 award to a whistleblower in an enforcement action. According to the formal order, the whistleblower—who had compliance-related responsibilities at the company at issue in the enforcement action—suffered “unique hardships” after first attempting to report concerns within the company’s internal compliance structure. The whistleblower then reported the information to the SEC following the required 120-day time waiting period, which ultimately provided assistance to the SEC’s investigation and successful enforcement action. The SEC stated in its press release that this is the third whistleblower award given to an individual with compliance or internal audit responsibilities. As of March 30, the SEC has awarded 77 individuals a total of approximately $396 million in whistleblower awards since its first award in 2012.
FCC orders phone companies to deploy STIR/SHAKEN framework
On March 31, the FCC adopted new rules that will require phone companies in the U.S. to deploy STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication framework by June 30, 2021. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the STIR/SHAKEN framework addresses “unlawful spoofing by confirming that a call actually comes from the number indicated in the Caller ID, or at least that the call entered the US network through a particular voice service provider or gateway.” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai endorsed the value of widespread implementation, stating the framework will “reduce the effectiveness of illegal spoofing, allow law enforcement to identify bad actors more easily, and help phone companies identify—and even block—calls with illegal spoofed caller ID information before those calls reach their subscribers.” The new rules also contain a further notice of proposed rulemaking, which seeks comments on additional efforts to promote caller ID authentication and implement certain sections of the TRACED Act. Among other things, the TRACED Act—signed into law last December (covered by InfoBytes here)—mandated compliance with STIR/SHAKEN for all voice service providers.
Virginia outlines private student loan provider disclosure requirements
On March 23, the Virginia governor signed HB 743, which outlines disclosure requirements for private student loan providers to follow before issuance of a qualified education loan. The disclosure must contain contact information for the state’s Office of the Qualified Education Loan Ombudsman, as well as “a summary of the student loan information applicable to private education loans.” HB 743 further states that this disclosure may be “made in in conjunction with or incorporated into another disclosure” provided it is sent to a borrower prior to the issuance of a loan. The act takes effect July 1, 2021.