Overview of Comments to CFPB’s Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection Proposed Rule

Compliance, , , ,

Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act has awaited implementation since 2010. Twelve years later, it is on its final lap to actualization. On October 1, 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). The period for public comment ended in January 2022.

When we first explored implementation of Section 1071 (The CFPB Small Business Lending Data Collection NPRM) in September 2021, we discussed the rule, its impact and what financial institutions should expect. With the rule projected to come out in just months, it’s time to think about what you and your financial institution can do to be ready for it. Section 1071’s size and complexity will require massive preparation and review of data points already collected. Understanding its nuances, putting it on your radar now and discussing it with your compliance team or partner is the first step in enabling your financial institution to be ready when the time comes.

Now that the comment period has ended, it’s important to be aware of what pundits like ABA, ICBA and NAFCU are concerned about. We’ll take a look at a few of their reactions to the NPRM and how that may affect the final ruling.

Cost Effect on Local Banks & Credit Unions

A main issue is cost. In a joint response, NAFCU and CUNA expressed concern that the complexity and cost will “weigh disproportionately on credit unions in ways that ultimately lead to fewer and less favorable outcomes for all small business borrowers.”1 The ABA and 51 state bankers associations feel Section 1071 will “be felt most acutely by community banks – that will negatively affect their small business customers.”2 The ICBA concurred and added that if the threshold for covered financial institutions remains as is, it will, “almost certainly raise the cost of credit …, as thousands of small lenders would be forced to shoulder the significant compliance costs associated with a major new data collection requirement.”3 Until the rule is final, it is uncertain what the final cost will be.

Small Business Definition

How Section 1071 defines a small business also raised numerous red flags. The proposed rule defines a small business as one with a gross annual revenue of $5 million. While most are onboard with setting a clear threshold, they feel the threshold is too high for smaller financial institutions and suggest a lower threshold of $1 million. The ICBA feels that a lower threshold will “streamline compliance, cover the vast majority of businesses, and correspond to the public’s general understanding of a small business.”3 In addition, the ABA, NAFCU and CUNA feel that the proposed threshold will cover businesses that are not, in reality, small businesses. The ABA added that it would, “exclude 270,000 businesses deemed small under SBA size standards … and cover 77,000 businesses that are not small under those standards.”2

Covered Financial Institutions

Perhaps one of the most pressing questions is what is considered a covered financial institution. Section 1071 defines a covered institution as one that has conducted 25 covered credit transactions over the last two years. The proposed threshold is considered too low by CUNA, ABA, NAFC, ICBA and others. NAFCU and CUNA’s joint letter echoed a universal concern: “The proposed 25 covered credit transactions threshold is far too low and would unjustifiably impact many smaller participants in the commercial lending market,”1 and called for a higher threshold of 100 covered credit transactions. The ABA also suggested that the proposal “lacks a compelling rationale for a 25-loan trigger”2 however, they do not endorse the 100-loan trigger.

On another note, the CFPB will broaden the scope of fair lending to cover more than traditional financial institutions. With the rise of alternative lending sources, Section 1071 will expand fair lending enforcements to include Fintech, insurance companies, capital equity firms and online lending institutions. They hope to not only level the playing field, but also to ensure that all relevant lenders are compliant with fair lending laws and regulations. These institutions should take note of the broader scope and begin preparing now.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the concerns covered during the comment period. Whether the CFPB will incorporate them or not is yet to be seen. And once the ruling is final, this doesn’t mean your financial institution will have to drop everything to comply with Section 1071’s data gathering demands. If all runs according to plan, financial institutions may begin collecting the necessary data in January 2023. Since final rule compliance is slated for January 2024, if you start examining your process now, you will have the time to test and iron out any bugs. Keep in mind that Section 1071 is a complicated and lengthy regulation, and dates may or may not exceed the expected timeline.

Taking a preliminary look now at what your financial institution will need to do to ensure compliance on data collection will help smooth the road to implementation in the future. Having a compliance partner like Marquis on your side will help alleviate the stress and confusion that are associated with implementing new rules and regulations.

 

1 Joint NAFCU and 0CUNA 0Section 1071 Comment Letter, January 6, 2022 https://www.nafcu.org/system/files/files/Joint%20NAFCU%20and%20CUNA%20Section%201071%20Comment%20Letter.pdf

2 Joint ABA and State Bankers Association 1071 Letter to CFPB, January 6, 2022 https://www.aba.com/advocacy/policy-analysis/1071-joint-comment-letter

3 ICBA Comments On 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection, January 6, 2022 https://www.icba.org/docs/default-source/icba/advocacy-documents/letters-to-regulators/comments-on-1071-small-business-lending-data-collection

 

The CFPB Small Business Lending Data Collection NPRM

Compliance, ,

What you need to know about the new rule of Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act was intended to facilitate fair lending laws by identifying business and community development lending needs and barriers for small, women-owned and minority businesses. Section 1071 amended the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), requiring financial institutions to:

  1. Inquire if the business is a small, women- or minority-owned business.
  2. Collect, maintain and annually report lending data.
  3. Restrict data access to relevant personnel.
  4. Make the data available for public disclosure.

It’s been more than ten years since the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act  (Dodd Frank Act) became public law. However, this is the first time Section 1071 is being fully addressed. Early this September, the Consumer Financial Protection Board published a 900+ page proposal. They also published a webpage with resources relevant to the rulemaking.

The intention is to gather data on whether the borrower is a small, women- or minority-owned business. The rule presents 23 data points, some of which you may already be collecting. If the borrower declines to self-identify, the lender should take visual or last name clues to supply the necessary data. The CFPB will also offer a Filing Instructions Guide to help simplify and streamline the data submission process.

Only covered financial institutions will be required to comply with section 1071’s data collection and reporting requirements. All other financial institutions can submit the data voluntarily in certain circumstances. But what constitutes a covered financial institution? According to the rule, a covered financial institution must have conducted at least 25 small business loans during each of the previous two years. Although a financial institution may be exempt from reporting by this definition, it may not be exempt from Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) reporting. It’s important to know where your institution stands and not to assume that if you are exempt from one, then you are exempt from both.

A small business will be defined as a business with a gross annual revenue of less than $5 million for its preceding fiscal year. Although based on the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), the rule relies on the definition set by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

A 90-day comment period begins once published in the Federal Register. If you have something to say, this is your opportunity to be heard. Mandatory compliance begins 18 months after the Federal Register publishes the final rule. There will be no immediate effect or need for action. However, it doesn’t hurt to start planning for this new rule now.

As Marquis Software Solutions continues to monitor the situation, we’ll learn more about the ruling. And once it is ratified, we’ll take a deep dive into what this means for financial institutions of all sizes and keep you up-to-date on what we find. By staying on top of the situation, we hope to make implementing this new rule a painless and stress-free process.

CFPB COVID-19 Policy Rescissions and What That Means to You

Compliance, , , , , , ,

When COVID-19 first made its appearance, it affected every part of our lives, including our financial health and well-being. The pandemic also caused a monumental pivot on how we conducted business. The financial industry’s shift to digital and drain on resources could become a compliance nightmare as more and more people and businesses sought relief through loans and other considerations.

To alleviate the strain and ensure that funding would continue to reach those who needed it, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released seven Statements of Policy that affected how banks handle their compliance responsibilities. For example, one revision temporarily created a hold on citing or enforcing any action against a financial institution that did not keep up with reporting their Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data quarterly. Another stated that the CFPB “…does not intend to cite a violation in an examination or bring an enforcement action against a creditor that takes longer than required by the regulation to resolve a billing error.”

These temporary measures allowed financial institutions to tend to their customers’ needs without placing an undue burden upon their employees. Banks and credit unions would still need to acquire the same data and follow the same regulations; they just had more time and increased flexibility.

Now that the country is opening up, the CFPB has determined it is time to get back to business as usual. On April 1, 2021, the Bureau rescinded these temporary Statements of Policy. However, business as usual will not be the same as experienced over the last four years. Under the new administration, the CFPB will be looking for non-compliance issues more “actively and aggressively” than the previous administration.

What does this mean for you and your financial institution? It means that when it comes to reporting time, your data must be clean and up-to-date. From your Compliance Management System (CMS) to considerations taken on approving and declining loans, you still have to present the necessary data to support your actions. You have to identify issues occurring over the past year and a half and create a plan that addresses correcting them. You have to be able to tell your story accurately and with confidence.

As banks, credit unions and mortgage companies return to their physical facilities, the drain on resources continues. While the CDC’s eviction moratorium was slated to end on July 31, 2021, President Biden announced on July 29 that federal agencies should use their authority to extend their respective eviction moratoria. Therefore, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Housing Administration extended their eviction moratoria through September 30 for foreclosed borrowers and other occupants. Meanwhile, more than $46 billion in emergency rental assistance has already been allocated by Congress and awaits distribution.

The influx of mortgage forbearance cases was supposed to begin in October of 2021. Financial institutions are still reallocating and training their employees as they continue to adapt to the changing landscape.

Even if your compliance team is still intact, the constantly changing regulations and Statement of Policy rescissions can put more pressure on already stressed team members. Partnering with compliance experts can help see you through the first hurdle – returning to pre-pandemic protocols and procedures.

Marquis Software Solutions offers a suite of compliance solutions to help you through your compliance issues. With CenTrax NEXT, you’ll have all you need for Fair Lending, HMDA and CRA. This Marquis flagship compliance software comes with customizable dashboards, intuitive reporting tools, advanced mapping technology, security management and demographics analysis to ensure accurate submissions and exams.

To pull everything together, Marquis compliance experts offer an array of services from HMDA/CRA file review, risk assessments, Compliance Management System reviews and self-assessments. We’ve stayed on top of how special considerations brought on by the pandemic affect compliance and what that means to your financial institution. We’ll give you all the support you need to tell your story and face regulators with confidence.

To learn more about Marquis’ comprehensive compliance solutions, contact us at [email protected].

NOTE: COVID-19 and the Delta variant continue to impact the ability of home-owners and renters to meet their obligations. Marquis will continue to monitor the situation and how that impacts your compliance efforts.

The End of the Moratorium on Mortgage Foreclosures and How It Affects Your Financial Institution

Compliance, , , , , , ,

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we had no idea of the effect it would have on the financial services industry. But we all knew one thing for sure: with so many people losing their jobs or having to endure a reduction in their hours, mortgage payments were going to fall behind on a massive scale. The government stepped up with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, putting a moratorium on foreclosures for federally funded mortgages until June 30, 2021.

What this means for financial institutions is there will be an influx of forbearance cases maturing in the fall of 2021. Unless the moratorium is extended once again, and there have been steps taken in that direction, an unprecedented 1.7 million cases will exit forbearance programs in the fall. Financial institutions will need to be ready to hit the ground running by September 2021 with properly trained personnel, resources and guidance in place.

In addition, the new administration has committed to increased scrutiny over Fair Lending and Fair Servicing practices. According to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) bulletin, the CFPB will “closely monitor how servicers engage with borrowers, respond to borrower requests and process applications for loss mitigation.” The CFPB has strongly encouraged financial institutions to be proactive, work with borrowers, address language access issues, fairly evaluate income, promptly handle inquiries and, above all, prevent avoidable foreclosures. “Our first priority is ensuring struggling families get the assistance they need,” stated CFPB Acting Director, Dave Uejio. “Servicers who put struggling families first have nothing to fear from our oversight, but we will hold accountable those who cause harm to homeowners and families.”

Over the past year, banks and credit unions of all sizes have developed new programs and practices to deal with the influx of forbearance cases. For some, the large number of cases, drain on resources and adaptation to a digital environment may have caused difficulty keeping up with standard compliance practices. A vital step in that direction is developing a standardized relief assessment program with well-defined, consistent eligibility requirements. With a standardized program, servicers across the enterprise will have the guidance they need to service those exiting forbearance and meet Fair Servicing criteria. Of course, there will always be cases that will deviate from standards. In those cases, the exceptions and reasoning behind them should be fully documented.

To further mitigate risk, conduct a review and analysis of your Fair Lending and Fair Servicing protocols and practices, even if a review is not scheduled at this time. This will allow you to identify any potential risk factors, address them early and tell your story with confidence. However, conducting a comprehensive review can cause undue stress and pressure on already overworked resources. Marquis can help.

The Marquis Compliance Professional Services team, known for their expertise and personal service, are well-versed in all aspects of compliance, including Fair Lending and Fair Servicing. They can perform audits and assessments to ensure you have the necessary policies, processes and procedures in place and define areas that need attention. Our turnkey solution combines industry-leading CenTrax NEXT compliance software with the experience and intuitive skills of the Marquis Compliance Professional Services experts. This powerful combination of data and specialists will enable you to identify risk factors and address them before they become an issue.

As Uejio stated, “There is no time to waste, and no excuse for inaction. No one should be surprised by what is coming.” Contact Marquis to learn more about our compliance solutions and how they can help you prepare your financial institution for the flood of maturing forbearance cases and the increased scrutiny that will follow.