FDIC Board Governance Dispute on Review of Bank Mergers Aired Publicly -
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra on December 9 published on the CFPB’s website a blog post captioned “How Should Regulators Review Bank Mergers?” in...more
12/28/2021
/ Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) ,
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) ,
Banking Sector ,
Community Reinvestment Act ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Digital Assets ,
FDIC ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FSOC ,
Leverage Ratio ,
Libor ,
Mergers ,
OCC ,
Overdraft Fees ,
Regulation Z ,
Risk Assessment ,
Secured Overnight Funding Rate (SOFR) ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
Federal Banking Agencies Publish Policy Road Map for Crypto-Asset Activities -
The federal banking agencies have issued a joint statement summarizing their interagency “policy sprints” focused on crypto-asset activities...more
11/30/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Biden Administration ,
CARES Act ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cybersecurity ,
FDIC ,
Forbearance Agreements ,
Investment Funds ,
Mortgage Servicers ,
Mortgages ,
Notice Requirements ,
OCC ,
Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) ,
Regulation X ,
Stablecoins ,
Venture Capital ,
Volcker Rule ,
Working Groups
Federal and State Financial Regulators Publish New Guidance on LIBOR Transition -
The federal banking agencies, the NCUA and the CFPB, in conjunction with the state bank and state credit union regulators, have issued joint...more
10/28/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Biden Administration ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Debt Collection ,
Dividends ,
Electronic Communications ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Executive Orders ,
FDCPA ,
Federal Contractors ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinCEN ,
Libor ,
Ransomware ,
Regulation F ,
Stablecoins ,
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) ,
Vaccinations
Supreme Court Strikes Down Extension of CDC Moratorium on Evictions -
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a ruling that blocks the extension of the moratorium on evictions ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and...more
8/30/2021
/ Alabama Association of Realtors v Department of Health and Human Services ,
Banking Regulators ,
Banking Sector ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Due Diligence ,
Eviction ,
FDIC ,
Federal Reserve ,
FFIEC ,
FinTech ,
Libor ,
Moratorium ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Residential Leases ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
SCOTUS
CFPB Amends Mortgage Rule to Protect Borrowers Affected by COVID-19 The CFPB issued a final rule to amend its Regulation X—which implements the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act—to assist home mortgage loan borrowers...more
7/29/2021
/ AML/CFT ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Banking Sector ,
Community Reinvestment Act ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
FHFA ,
FinCEN ,
Foreclosure ,
Interagency Guidance ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgage Servicers ,
New Guidance ,
OCC ,
Refinancing ,
Regulation X ,
RESPA ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Third-Party Risk
CFPB Takes Steps to Avoid a Possible Wave of Home Mortgage Loan Foreclosures -
The CFPB has issued guidance to mortgage servicers, including banks that service mortgage loans for third-party noteholders, that the CFPB...more
4/29/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Eviction ,
Fannie Mae ,
FDCPA ,
FEMA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreclosure ,
Freddie Mac ,
Guidance Update ,
Moratorium ,
Mortgage Servicers ,
Mortgages ,
National Flood Insurance Program ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Proposed Rules ,
Qualified Mortgage Rule ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Stock Purchase Agreement ,
Tax Allocation Agreements
HUD, VA, and USDA Coordinate Extensions of COVID-19 Relief for Homeowners -
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture...more
2/25/2021
/ Bank Secrecy Act ,
Banking Sector ,
Benchmarks ,
Call Reports ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) ,
Deposit Insurance ,
Disparate Impact ,
Fair Housing Act (FHA) ,
FDIC ,
FFIEC ,
Financial Institutions ,
FinCEN ,
Guidance Update ,
HUD ,
Libor ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Time Extensions ,
USDA ,
Veterans Administration
Updated Annual Meeting Guidance for Mutual Banks and Mutual Holding Companies -
The Massachusetts Division of Banks has issued new guidance to mutual banks and mutual holding companies that have not yet held their 2020...more
1/28/2021
/ Annual Meeting ,
Bank Holding Company ,
BSA/AML ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Breach ,
FDIC ,
Final Rules ,
Guidance Update ,
Mortgage Escrow Account ,
Mortgages ,
Notice Requirements ,
OCC ,
Supervisory Guidance ,
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
A long-awaited bipartisan stimulus bill was signed into law by President Trump on December 27, 2020. Included in the law, known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”), are economic stimulus measures and a...more
12/29/2020
/ Accounting ,
Banking Sector ,
CARES Act ,
Community Development ,
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Depository Institutions ,
Eviction ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Minority-Owned Businesses ,
Moratorium ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
U.S. Treasury
SBA Adopts Streamlined Loan Forgiveness Procedures for PPP Loans of $50,000 or Less -
The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has adopted an interim final rule to streamline the loan forgiveness application process...more
10/29/2020
/ Appraisal ,
Bank Holding Company ,
Bank Secrecy Act ,
Banking Sector ,
Community Reinvestment Act ,
Compliance ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
FinCEN ,
Loan Forgiveness ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
SBA ,
True Lender
Federal Court in New York Dismisses Claims Against PPP Lenders for Agent Fees -
A federal court in New York has dismissed claims made in six class action lawsuits against several banks and other Small Business...more
10/1/2020
/ Banking Sector ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Dismissals ,
Disparate Impact ,
FDIC ,
Fees ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Agencies ,
Financial Services Industry ,
HUD ,
Main Street Lending Programs ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Transaction Fees
Federal Court Dismisses Class Action Claims Against PPP Lenders for Agent Fees -
A federal court in Florida has dismissed claims made in a class action lawsuit against several banks and other Small Business Administration...more
8/27/2020
/ Banking Regulators ,
Banking Sector ,
BSA/AML ,
Class Action ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
FDIC ,
FFIEC ,
Financial Institutions ,
New Guidance ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Qualified Mortgage Rule ,
Relief Measures
SBA Issues Instructions to Lenders on Submitting PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications The U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) has issued a procedural notice announcing that the SBA will begin accepting forgiveness...more
7/30/2020
/ BSA/AML ,
CARES Act ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Eviction ,
FinCEN ,
Foreclosure ,
Loan Forgiveness ,
Moratorium ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
SBA ,
Single Director
Federal Regulators Ease Restrictions on Volcker Rule Covered Funds The federal banking agencies, along with the SEC and the CFTC, have issued a final rule to amend the regulations that implement Section 13 of the Bank...more
6/30/2020
/ Bank Holding Company Act ,
CFTC ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Dodd-Frank ,
Federal Reserve ,
Main Street Lending Programs ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Preemption ,
SBA ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Valid When Made Doctrine ,
Volcker Rule
The Massachusetts Division of Banks has issued guidance to Massachusetts-chartered mutual savings banks, mutual co-operative banks, and mutual holding companies on postponement of their annual meetings and alternative...more
Division of Banks Updates Guidance on COVID-19 Forbearance Under Emergency Law
The Massachusetts Division of Banks has updated its guidance in the form of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Chapter 65 of...more
President Signs New COVID-19 Relief Bill into Law, Funding Additional PPP Loans -
The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on April 24, providing $484...more
5/1/2020
/ Banking Sector ,
CARES Act ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Credit Facilities ,
Electronic Notarization Standard ,
Eviction ,
Federal Reserve ,
Financial Institutions ,
Foreclosure ,
Governor Baker ,
HMDA ,
Leverage Ratio ,
Loan Modifications ,
Moratorium ,
Notarization ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
State and Local Government ,
Virtual Notarization Procedures
On April 9, 2020, the Federal Reserve established new liquidity facilities to support lending programs authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The Federal Reserve’s press release...more
The Massachusetts Division of Banks has issued guidance that grants immediate supervisory relief to Massachusetts-chartered banks from statutory lending limits on loans to one borrower for loans made pursuant to the U.S....more
President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) into law on March 27. The CARES Act includes broad economic stimulus measures, and a number of provisions designed to provide relief to...more
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has issued an emergency order closing the physical workplaces and facilities of all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services,” which does not apply to...more
Federal Reserve Announces Unlimited Quantitative Easing and New Emergency Lending Programs -
On March 23, the Federal Reserve announced new liquidity facilities, expanding its efforts to help shore up the U.S. economy....more
The FDIC, OCC, and Massachusetts Division of Banks (DOB) each have recently issued updated guidance on accommodations for customers that banks should consider to address the financial needs of borrowers and depositors who...more
3/18/2020
/ Banking Sector ,
Capital Controls ,
Commercial Loans ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Depository Institutions ,
Emergency Response ,
FDIC ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Hardship Distributions ,
Hardship Extensions ,
Joint Policy Statements ,
Liquidity ,
OCC ,
Relief Measures
The COVID – 19 virus and efforts intended to slow or stop the spread of the virus have presented numerous challenges for credit unions – including, in many cases, first-time execution of business continuity plans; protecting...more
The FFIEC recently issued updated guidance on actions that banks should take to minimize the potential adverse effects of a pandemic. The Interagency Statement on Pandemic Planning (“Interagency Statement”) released on March...more
3/16/2020
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Governance ,
Cybersecurity ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Emergency Response ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Financial Institutions ,
Interagency Guidance ,
Internal Communications ,
Public Communications ,
Public Health ,
Workplace Safety