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  • Fed announces flood insurance violations

    Federal Issues

    On July 1, the Federal Reserve Board announced an enforcement action against a Tennessee-based bank for alleged violations of the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) and Regulation H. The consent order does not specify the number or the precise nature of the alleged violations of the NFIA or Regulation H, and the bank was assessed a $8,000 civil money penalty for an alleged pattern or practice of violations.

    Federal Issues Federal Reserve Enforcement Flood Insurance National Flood Insurance Act Regulation H Mortgages Bank Regulatory

  • FDIC releases May enforcement actions

    Federal Issues

    On June 25, the FDIC released a list of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in May. During the month, the FDIC issued 10 orders and one notice consisting of “two Orders to Pay Civil Money Penalties, four Section 19 Applications, three Orders Terminating Consent Orders, one Order of Prohibition from Further Participation, and Notice of Intention to Prohibit from Further Participation, one Notice of Assessment of Civil Money Penalties, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Order to Pay, and Notice of Hearing.” Among the orders is a civil money penalty imposed against an Oregon-based bank concerning allegations of unfair and deceptive practices related to a wholly-owned subsidiary’s debt collection practices for commercial equipment financing. As previously covered by InfoBytes, the bank’s subsidiary allegedly violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by, among other things, unfairly and deceptively charging various undisclosed collection fees—such as collection call and letter fees and third-party collection fees—to borrowers with past due accounts. The bank, which did not admit or deny the violations, agreed to voluntarily pay an approximately $1.8 million civil money penalty.

    The FDIC also imposed a civil money penalty against an Iowa-based bank related to alleged violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act. Among other things, the FDIC claimed that the bank (i) “[m]ade, increased, extended or renewed loans secured by a building or mobile home located or to be located in a special flood hazard area without requiring that the collateral be covered by flood insurance”; (ii) “[f]ailed to timely notify the borrower that the borrower should obtain flood insurance, at the borrower’s expense, upon determining that the collateral was not covered by flood insurance at some time during the term of the loan”; and (iii) “[f]ailed to timely purchase flood insurance on the borrower’s behalf when the borrower failed to do so within 45 days of being advised to obtain adequate flood insurance.” The order requires the payment of a $8,000 civil money penalty.

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement FTC Act UDAP Unfair Deceptive Flood Insurance Flood Disaster Protection Act Mortgages Bank Regulatory

  • FDIC releases April enforcement actions

    Federal Issues

    On May 28, the FDIC released a list of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in April. During the month, the FDIC issued 10 orders consisting of “two Orders to Pay Civil Money Penalties, one Section 19 Application, one Order Terminating Consent Order, and one Order of Prohibition from Further Participation.” Among the orders is a civil money penalty imposed against a Washington-based bank related to alleged violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act (FDPA) for “failing to obtain adequate flood insurance on buildings and/or the buildings’ contents securing designated loans at the time the Bank made, increased, extended, or renewed the loans.” The order requires the payment of a $17,000 civil money penalty.

    The FDIC also imposed a civil money penalty against a California-based bank related to alleged violations of the FDPA. Among other things, the FDIC claims that the bank (i) failed to notify the borrower to obtain flood insurance; and (ii) failed to purchase flood insurance on the borrower’s behalf. The order requires the payment of a $281,000 civil money penalty.
     

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement Flood Insurance Flood Disaster Protection Act Mortgages Bank Regulatory

  • FDIC releases March enforcement actions

    Federal Issues

    On April 30, the FDIC released a list of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in March. During the month, the FDIC issued 10 orders consisting of “five Prohibition Orders, three Orders to Pay Civil Money Penalties, two Section 19 Applications, one Order to Correct Conditions, and one Order Terminating Consent Order.” Among the orders is a civil money penalty imposed against a Puerto Rico bank related to alleged violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act for failing to “timely force place insurance in connection with loans secured by a dwelling located within a special flood hazard area” on 27 occasions. The order requires the payment of a $40,500 civil money penalty.

    The FDIC also imposed a civil money penalty against a Tennessee bank related to alleged violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act. Among other things, the FDIC claims that the bank (i) failed to obtain flood insurance at or before the origination, increase, renewal, or extension of loans in 61 instances; (ii) failed to maintain an adequate amount of flood insurance in 88 instances; (iii) failed to provide required lender-placed flood insurance notices to borrowers within 45-days of force placement in 10 instances; (iv) provided an incomplete lender-placed flood insurance notice to a borrower; and (v) failed to provide timely notice of special flood hazards and the availability of federal disaster relief assistance in 37 instances. The order requires the payment of a $172,500 civil money penalty.

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement Flood Insurance Flood Disaster Protection Act Mortgages Bank Regulatory

  • Fed announces enforcement actions against Montana and Iowa state banks

    Federal Issues

    On April 22, the Federal Reserve Board announced enforcement actions against two state banks.  In a consent order with a Montana-based bank, the Fed alleged that the bank violated the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) and Regulation H. The order assesses a $9,500 penalty against the bank for an alleged pattern or practice of violations of Regulation H but does not specify the number or the precise nature of the alleged violations. The maximum civil money penalty under the NFIA for a pattern or practice of violations is $2,252 per violation.

    Separately, an Iowa-based bank entered a written agreement with the Fed and the Iowa Superintendent of Banking “to strengthen board oversight of the management and operations of the Bank, by improving the Bank’s condition and maintaining control of the Bank’s main operations and activities, including the Bank’s credit risk management, asset quality, capital, and earnings.” According to the agreement, the bank must provide an acceptable written plan designed to reinforce credit risk management practices to the Fed and the Superintendent within 60 days. In addition, the plan must include: “(i) a comprehensive budget for 2021, including income statement and balance sheet projections; and (ii) a description of the operating assumptions that form the basis for, and adequately support, major projected income, expense, and balance sheet components.”

    Federal Issues Federal Reserve Enforcement Regulation H Flood Insurance National Flood Insurance Act Bank Regulatory

  • Fed targets flood insurance violations

    Federal Issues

    On March 18, the Federal Reserve Board announced an enforcement action against a Pennsylvania-based bank for alleged violations of the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) and its implementing Regulation H. The consent order assesses a $105,000 penalty against the bank for an alleged pattern or practice of violations of Regulation H but does not specify the number or the precise nature of the alleged violations. The maximum civil money penalty under the NFIA for a pattern or practice of violations is $2,000 per violation.

    Federal Issues Federal Reserve Enforcement Flood Insurance National Flood Insurance Act Regulation H Bank Regulatory

  • Agencies propose new flood insurance Q&As

    Federal Issues

    On March 11, the FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve Board, NCUA, and the Farm Credit Administration issued a notice and request for public comment on 24 proposed interagency questions and answers regarding the 2019 private flood insurance rule (covered by InfoBytes here). The new Q&As supplement interagency questions and answers proposed last year (covered by InfoBytes here), which were intended to reduce compliance burdens for lenders related to flood insurance laws. The new Q&As are designed to help lenders comply with private flood insurance provisions found in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, and address mandatory and discretionary acceptance of private flood insurance policies by lenders if such insurance is required. Comments on the proposed additions to the interagency Q&As are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

    Federal Issues FDIC OCC Federal Reserve Farm Credit Administration NCUA Flood Insurance Mortgages Bank Regulatory

  • FDIC releases January enforcement actions

    Federal Issues

    On February 26, the FDIC released a list of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in January. During the month, the FDIC issued 11 orders consisting of “two consent orders, two section 19 orders, two prohibition orders, two orders to pay civil money penalties, one order terminating consent order, and two orders terminating consent orders and orders for restitution.” Among the orders is a civil money penalty issued against a Tennessee-based bank related to alleged violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act. Among other things, the FDIC claims that the bank (i) failed to provide required lender-placed flood insurance notices to borrowers about the availability of flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Act; (ii) provided an incomplete lender-placed flood insurance notice to a borrower; (iii) allowed flood insurance to lapse during the terms of several loans without placing flood insurance on borrowers’ behalf; (iv) failed to maintain an adequate amount of flood insurance; and (v) failed to provide timely notice of special flood hazards and the availability of federal disaster relief assistance. The order requires the payment of a $4,000 civil money penalty.

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement Flood Insurance Flood Disaster Protection Act National Flood Insurance Act Mortgages Bank Regulatory

  • FHA proposes private flood insurance option

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance

    On November 10, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued a proposed rule which would allow mortgagors the option to purchase private flood insurance on FHA-insured mortgages for properties located in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). Under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, property owners located in an SFHA, and a community participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, are required to purchase flood insurance as a condition of receiving a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Department of Agriculture, or the FHA. The proposed rule would allow the purchase of private mortgage insurance for properties in SFHAs for the first time. Additionally, the proposed rule seeks comment on a compliance aid, which would “help mortgagees evaluate whether a flood insurance policy meets the definition of ‘private flood insurance.’” According to the FHA, between three and five percent of FHA borrowers could obtain a private flood insurance policy if the option becomes available.

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance FHA Flood Disaster Protection Act Flood Insurance

  • Fed targets flood insurance violations

    Federal Issues

    On November 10, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) announced an enforcement action against an Arkansas-based bank for alleged violations of the National Flood Insurance Act (NFIA) and Regulation H, which implements the NFIA. The consent order assesses a $12,000 penalty against the bank for an alleged pattern or practice of violations of Regulation H, but does not specify the number or the precise nature of the alleged violations. The maximum civil money penalty under the NFIA for a pattern or practice of violations is $2,000 per violation.

    Federal Issues Federal Reserve Flood Insurance Enforcement National Flood Insurance Act Regulation H

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