On June 19, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) finalized the rule governing lending limits. The rule implements Section 610 of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Under the rule, the effective date has been extended to October 1st from July 1st, as proposed previously. OCC Release. Final Rule.
OCC
OCC Proposed Stress Test Reporting Requirements for Institutions with $10 Billion to $50 Billion in Assets
On March 15, the OCC published a notice of proposed information collection seeking comment on annual stress test reporting for covered institutions with consolidated assets of $10 billion to $50 billion. Comments are due by May 10. OCC Release.
Proposed Revisions to Interagency Q&As on Community Reinvestment
On March 18, the Fed, FDIC and OCC requested comment on proposed revisions to “Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment.” The Q&As provide guidance on the Community Reinvestment Act regulations. The proposed amendments would: (i) clarify how the agencies consider activities that benefit a statewide or regional area that includes an institution’s assessment area; (ii) provide guidance on investments in nationwide funds; (iii) clarify the consideration of certain community development services; (iv) address the treatment of qualified investments to organizations that use only a portion of the investment to support a community development purpose; and (v) clarify that community development lending should be evaluated so that it has a positive, neutral or negative effect on the large institution lending test rating. Comments are due within 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Interagency Release.
Agencies Issue Updated Leveraged Lending Guidance
On March 21, the Fed, FDIC and OCC released updated supervisory guidance on leveraged lending which covers transactions characterized by a borrower with a degree of financial leverage that significantly exceeds industry norms. The guidance applies to financial institutions supervised by the agencies that engage in leveraged lending activities and focuses on: (i) establishing a sound risk-management framework; (ii) underwriting standards; (iii) valuation standards; (iv) pipeline management; (v) reporting and analytics; (vi) risk rating leveraged loans; (vii) participants; and (viii) stress testing. Joint Release.
Amendments to Fed and OCC Foreclosure Consent Orders
On February 28, the OCC and the Fed released amendments to their consent orders against 13 mortgage servicers for deficient practices in mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure processing. The amendments memorialize the previously announced agreements with the mortgage servicers and require them to provide $9.3 billion in payments and other assistance (including loan modifications and forgiveness of deficiency judgments) to borrowers. Joint Release.
Joint Rule on Appraisals for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans
On January 18, the Fed, CFPB, FDIC, FHFA, NCUA and OCC issued a joint final rule, effective January 18, 2014, which establishes new appraisal requirements for “higher-priced mortgage loans”. For these loans, the rule requires creditors to: (i) use a licensed or certified appraiser who prepares a written appraisal report based on a physical visit of the interior of the property and (ii) disclose to applicants information about the purpose of the appraisal and provide consumers with a free copy of any appraisal report. Joint Release. Final Rule.
Independent Foreclosure Review Settlement
On January 7, the OCC and the Fed announced a settlement with 10 mortgage servicing companies which includes cash payments to eligible borrowers and other assistance, such as loan modifications and forgiveness of deficiency judgments. The settlement relates to mortgage servicers operating under enforcement actions issued in April 2011 by the OCC, the Fed, and the OTS. Joint Release.
Joint Annual CRA Asset-Size Threshold Adjustment
On December 19, 2012, the Fed, FDIC and OCC released the annual adjustment to asset-size thresholds used to define small bank, small savings association, intermediate small bank and intermediate small savings association under the CRA. The asset-size threshold adjustment was effective January 1. Joint Press Release. Joint Technical Amendment.
Interagency Statement on Restrictions on Conversions of Troubled Banks
On November 26, the Fed, the FDIC, and the OCC, in conjunction with the Conference of State Bank Supervisions, issued “Interagency Statement on Section 612 of the Dodd-Frank Act: Restrictions on Conversions of Troubled Banks”. The statement describes the general prohibition on charter conversions by certain insured depository institutions. Bulletin. Statement.
Joint Agency Guidance on Regulatory Capital Rulemakings
On November 9, the Fed, the FDIC, and the OCC indicated that they do not expect any of the new proposed regulatory capital rules to take effect on January 1, 2013, as was previously suggested in three notices of proposed rulemakings from June. These new requirements are in connection with the international Basel III capital agreement that has been scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2013. Joint Release.