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NYDFS encourages insurance licensees to use E-Signatures
The NYDFS issued guidance encouraging regulated insurance persons to use and accept electronic signatures and records to facilitate insurance transactions in instances that cause no consumer harm. The NYDFS reminded licensees that both New York’s Electronic Signatures and Records Act and the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act permit the use of electronic signatures and records if the consumer consents. The NYDFS also stated it does not require consumer consent be obtained in any particular way.
NYDFS provides emergency relief to consumers
On March 24, NYDFS issued an emergency regulation providing financial relief to New Yorkers affected by Covid-19. Among other things, New York regulated institutions must (i) make applications for forbearance of any payment due on a residential mortgage of a property located in New York, widely available to any individual who resides in New York and who demonstrates financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and (ii) subject to the safety and soundness requirements of the regulated institution, grant such forbearance for a period of 90 days to any such individual. New York regulated banking organizations must also provide certain financial relief to individuals who can demonstrate financial hardship, including eliminating fees charged for use of certain ATMs, overdraft fees, and credit card late payment fees. The regulations also establish requirements for institutions regarding the criteria for individuals to qualify for relief, application processing, and record retention, including expedited timelines to process applications for relief.
New York issues executive order relating to financial institutions
On March 21, the New York governor issued an executive order stating that it is an “unsafe and unsound business practice” for banks to fail to “grant a forbearance to any person or business who has a financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for a period of 90 days.” The Order directs the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to promulgate emergency regulations to mandate that applications for forbearance be made widely available for consumers. Additionally, the order empowers the NYDFS to promulgate emergency regulations to direct that, solely for the period of the Covid-19 emergency, fees for the use of automated teller machines (ATMs), overdraft fees and credit card late fees, may be restricted or modified in accordance with the Superintendent’s regulation of licensed or regulated entities, “taking into account the financial impact on the New York consumer, the safety and soundness of the licensed or regulated entity, and any applicable federal requirements.”
NYDFS suspends license expiration for individual insurance producers for 60 days
On March 25, the NYDFS suspended the license expiration of all individuals who are licensed insurance producers – brokers, agents, intermediaries and other persons required to be licensed in order to sell, solicit or negotiate insurance in New York – for 60 days. The NYDFS issued the temporary suspension in light of the hardship that individuals may face obtaining the continuing education credits required for license renewals. At the end of this 60-day period, all licenses that would have expired without the extension will automatically expire unless the producer has submitted a license renewal application and completed all necessary continuing education credits.
New York regulator issues guidance urging financial institutions and mortgage servicers to work with borrowers
On March 19, the New York Department of Financial Services issued guidance urging its regulated institutions to work with members and communities affected by Covid-19. Efforts include, among other things, waiving fees, providing new loans on favorable terms, increasing ATM cash withdrawal limits, waiving early withdrawal penalties on time deposits, increasing credit card limits, and offering payment accommodations to assist borrowers having payment difficulty.
The issuance followed a similar guidance aimed at regulated and exempt mortgage servicers to work with borrowers adversely impacted by Covid-19. Among other things, servicers should consider (i) forbearing payments for 90 days, (ii) refraining from adverse credit reporting for 90 days; (iii) offering additional time for trial loan modifications; (iv) waiving late fees and online payment fees; and (v) postponing foreclosures and evictions for 90 days.
Each guidance recommends that institutions proactively reach out to customers via app, text, email or otherwise to identify the assistance being offered.
New York extends deadline for regulated institutions to submit Covid-19 response plans
On March 24, New York’s Department of Financial Services extended the deadlines for regulated institutions to respond to the Department’s March 10 requests for their plans to manage the financial and operational risk caused by Covid-19 until May 25.
New York regulator issues licensee work location guidance
On March 12, the Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services ordered temporary relief to New York certain financial institutions to temporarily relocate or close branch offices or places of business if adversely affected by Covid-19, “without complying with the prior notice or application requirements of the Banking Law or Financial Services Law.” However, licensed individuals may not conduct licensable activities in person with members of the public at or from their personal residence. Authorization was also given for 45-day extensions to filing deadlines for certain certifications and annual and quarterly filings.
New York requires regulated institutions to submit Covid-19 response plans by April 9
The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) has created a webpage providing information for industry and regulated entities.
On March 12, the New York Superintendent of Financial Services issued an order providing that regulated entities may temporarily relocate an authorized place of business and close any of their branch offices or locations if adversely affected by Covid-19 upon prompt written notice and compliance with the law, among other things.
On March 10, the New York State Department of Financial Services issued several industry letters related to the novel coronavirus known as “COVID-19.” Two of those letters require responses from New York regulated institutions no later than April 9, 2020. Responses must be submitted via e-mail to banking.covid19@dfs.ny.gov.
In one letter, the NYSDFS encourages New York licensed lenders, among others, to evaluate how they may assist businesses that have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, it suggests that such lenders consider easing new loan terms and waiving late fees, among other measures. Further, the NYSDFS explains that reasonable and prudent efforts to provide assistance to affected businesses are “consistent with safe and sound banking practices as well as in the public interest.”
In another letter, the NYSDFS requires New York regulated institutions to provide a response on the institution’s plans to manage the potential financial risk stemming from COVID-19. According to the letter, the plans should include, at a minimum, an assessment of the following:
- Credit risk ratings of the customers, counterparties, and business sectors impacted by COVID-19.
- Credit exposure to customers, counterparties, and business sectors impacted by COVID-19 arising from lending, trading, investing, hedging, and other financial transactions, including any credit modifications, extensions, and restructurings (including capitalizations of interest).
- Scope and size of credits adversely impacted by COVID-19 that currently are in, or potentially may move to, non-performing/delinquent status, including consideration of stress testing and/or sensitivity analysis of loan portfolios and the adequacy of loan loss reserves.
- Valuation of assets and investments that may be, or have been, impacted by COVID-19.
- Overall impact of COVID-19 on earnings, profits, capital, and liquidity (including impact on loan-to-deposit ratio) of the institution.
- Reasonable and prudent steps to assist those adversely impacted by COVID-19 (such as those described in the letter referenced immediately below).
In a third letter, the NYSDFS requires New York regulated institutions to provide a response on the institution’s plans to manage the risk of disruptions to its services and operations caused by COVID-19. According to the letter, the plans should include, at a minimum, the following:
- Preventative measures tailored to the institution’s specific profile and operations to mitigate the risk of operational disruption, which should include identifying the impact on customers and counterparts.
- A documented strategy addressing the impact of the outbreak in stages, so that the institution’s efforts can be appropriately scaled, consistent with the effects of a particular stage of the outbreak, which includes an assessment of how quickly measures could be adopted and how long operations could be sustained under different stages of the outbreak.
- Assessment of all facilities (including alternative or back-up sites), systems, policies, and procedures necessary to continue critical operations and services if members of the staff are unavailable for long periods or are working off-site, including an assessment and testing as to whether large scale off-site working arrangements can be activated and maintained to ensure operational continuity. This would also include an assessment and testing of the capacity of the existing information technology and systems in light of a potential increased remote usage.
- An assessment of potential increased cyber-attacks and fraud.
- Employee protection strategies, critical to sustaining an adequate workforce during the outbreak, including employee awareness and steps employees can take to reduce the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
- Assessment of the preparedness of critical outside-party service providers and suppliers.
- Development of a communication plan to effectively communicate with customers, counterparties, and the public, and to deliver important news and instructions to employees, along with establishing forums for questions to be asked and addressed.
- Testing the plan to ensure the plan policies, processes, and procedures are effective.
- Governance and oversight of the plan, including identifying the critical members of a response team, to ensure ongoing review and updates to the plan, including the tracking of relevant information from government sources and the institution’s own monitoring program.
DFS published a fourth industry letter to institutions engaged in virtual currency business activity setting forth guidance and a request for assurance to ensure that such regulated institutions have preparedness plans in place to address operational risk posed by Covid-19. In the guidance, DFS required every regulated institution to submit a response to DFS describing the plan of preparedness to manage the risk of disruption to its services and operations as soon as possible and no later than April 9, 2020 (30 days from the date of the guidance).
NYDFS allows increased licensed check casher fee
On February 28, NYDFS issued an industry letter to licensed check cashers in the state. Pursuant to Section 372.3 of the New York Banking Law and Part 400.11 of the Superintendent’s Regulations, the maximum fee that licensed check cashers may charge is increased to 2.23 percent of the face amount of the check, “except with respect to the cashing of checks, drafts, or money orders for payees of such checks, drafts, or money orders that are other than natural persons.” The increase takes effect March 2.
NYDFS: Financial innovation and inclusion symposium set for April 2
On February 7, NYDFS announced it will hold its first “Symposium on Financial Innovation and Inclusion” on April 2 during New York Fintech Week. The symposium seeks to connect stakeholders—including policymakers, regulators, innovators, established financial institutions, investors, and consumer representatives—to explore innovation and inclusion, while also exploring opportunities to benefit consumers and mitigate potential risks.