Big or Small, Does Your Data Have It All?

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Access to ever-increasing amounts of data can cause anxiety, and sometimes action paralysis. Many marketing professionals ask, “Is there more data I could look at before making a decision?” While large amounts of data may allow for progress on some business questions because more data is available, a recent Forrester Report indicates that while 74% of companies want to be more data driven, only 26% are good at connecting data to actions, citing a lack of resources for expert data interpretation, organization, and management.

How, then, should successful management teams utilize data to craft action plans that deliver tangible value from new knowledge? What are the different types of data that can be used for solution analyses? When is enough (data) enough?

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Primary Financial Institution: Moving from Definition to Execution

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Many credit unions find that a formal Primary Financial Institution (PFI) definition is an effective way to measure their most engaged, relevant, loyal, profitable, and “sticky” households (HHs). Whether formally defined or informally outlined, the combination of products and services used to define PFIs are as varied as the institutions themselves. When moving from PFI definition to the execution of an actionable strategy, it is worth noting why management teams go through the PFI process. Check out our latest article for CUInsight and learn how to move from definition to execution.

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

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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

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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.