The Compliance 911 Show

In Episode 81 of the podcast series "Red Warning on Redlining," Len and Dean continue their discussion with fair lending expert Lori Sommerfield, a partner at Troutman Pepper. They explore the future of redlining enforcement by DOJ and federal agencies through 2024 and beyond. Lori explains the Combatting Redlining Initiative's impact to date and coordination among the federal agencies, as well as advises financial institutions on best practices to monitor and manage redlining risks. Implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Loper Bright decision for redlining cases is also discussed. The episode emphasizes preparation and fair lending compliance for financial institutions.

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In Episode 80 of the podcast series on regulatory compliance, Len and Dean discuss the topic of redlining with Lori Sommerfield, a partner at Troutman Pepper, in a new two-part series “Red Warning on Redlining.” Lori, a seasoned fair lending attorney, explains the traditional and modern definitions of redlining, emphasizing how regulators now primarily use Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data to identify potential redlining activity without other evidence to support such claims. She also discusses the DOJ's "Combatting Redlining Initiative," which is a “whole of government” approach leveraging federal agencies, U.S. attorneys, and state attorneys general to eradicate redlining practices. The episode highlights the challenges financial institutions face under aggressive enforcement and the importance of monitoring for redlining risks.

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In a recent podcast, Len and Dean discuss the June 10 article "Manufacturing Fair Lending" from National Mortgage Professional, which delves into the "Modern Theory of Redlining" introduced by  bank regulators after AG Merrick Garland's 2021 Combatting Redlining Initiative was announced. The article includes insights from notable figures like Paul Hancock former chief of the Housing and Civil Enforcement at the DOJ  and Brian Montgomery, former deputy secretary of HUD highlighting concerns about the government's push for racial balance in loan originations. Len also mentions his follow-up article, "Redlining Isn’t What it Used to Be," which criticizes regulators' use of statistics to allege redlining. They discuss the complexity of redlining enforcement, the legal battles, and the importance of banks proactively assessing their risk of redlining accusations. Len advises banks to conduct internal risk assessments and seek expert legal and consulting help if unfairly accused, while emphasizing the need for industry unity in opposing regulatory overreach.

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Len and Dean discuss the alarming issue of elder abuse in their 78th and 79th podcasts. Dean expresses concern, especially since he has elderly parents, and highlights recent statistics from FinCEN and the FBI on elder exploitation. Financial institutions reported over $27 billion in elder exploitation between June 2022 and June 2023. The abuse is categorized into elder scams and theft, with scams being more prevalent. The FBI's report for 2023 shows a significant increase in scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older, causing over $3.4 billion in losses. Dean recommends reviewing FinCEN and CFPB guidelines to combat elder financial exploitation and acknowledges the FBI's efforts in recovering some of the lost funds. Both agree on the seriousness of the issue and thank their listeners for tuning in.

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In "Podcast 77: The Court Decides But it Ain’t Over Till It’s Over," Dean and Len discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)'s funding, which upheld its constitutionality, much to the disappointment of many bankers who hoped for its dissolution. Despite this decision, other legal challenges to CFPB's regulations remain unresolved. Specifically, the podcast delves into ongoing litigation concerning Section 1071, which involves the CFPB's new rules for small business lending data collection. The discussion covers the timeline for compliance, the complex issues around additional data points required by the CFPB, and the high costs of implementation. Len advises small business lenders to begin preparing their data collection systems and utilize the "free look period" to test these systems before mandatory reporting begins. The conversation highlights the ongoing legal battles and regulatory challenges facing the financial industry.

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This podcast discusses flood regulations for institutions lending money on properties. While there are many federal laws, some key ones being the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, institutions must comply to avoid penalties. This includes checking if a property is in a flood hazard area, notifying the borrower and requiring flood insurance if necessary, properly handling escrows and monitoring, and even force-placing insurance if the borrower lets it lapse. Common violations include weak internal controls, issues with contents coverage, mistakes in timing and notification, miscalculations of coverage amounts, and failing to properly monitor or force-place insurance.

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In this podcast episode, Dean and Len discuss the complexities surrounding redlining accusations faced by banks, particularly focusing on the implications of the 2020 Census data. Len explains that the increase in the number of census tracts and changes in their minority status have created challenges for banks, especially since these changes were announced late into 2022. He highlights how these complications can impact a bank’s compliance with anti-redlining regulations, as loan applications could be affected by tract status changes during processing. Len advises banks to proactively analyze the impact of new and altered tracts on their lending practices to better prepare for examinations and mitigate potential criticisms.

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In this podcast episode, Dean and Len discuss the timely issue of appraisal discrimination and bias within the context of Fair Lending. Dean highlights the FFIEC's recent guidance on mitigating risks related to discriminatory practices in property valuations and ensuring credible appraisals. Appraisal bias, which can result in minorities receiving lower property valuations, affects credit access and terms and violates anti-discrimination laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Housing Act. The guidance is relevant for both financial institutions and examiners, emphasizing the importance of internal controls and compliance to avoid legal risks and ensure fair lending practices. Dean provides practical suggestions for lenders, including thorough vendor due diligence, risk assessments, training on bias red flags, and establishing clear processes for appraisal reviews and complaints. Both hosts stress the necessity for financial institutions to address and mitigate appraisal bias actively.

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In Podcast 73, Dean and Len discuss a recent preliminary injunction issued by a Texas federal judge against the 2023 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule. This injunction has halted the implementation of the new rule, pending legal proceedings. The court found substantial grounds suggesting the federal banking regulators may have exceeded their authority in expanding CRA evaluation markets and including deposits and other retail banking products under the regulation. The court's decision highlighted four key reasons for this view: the inconsistent interpretation of "entire community" in the new rule, the questionable authority to regulate beyond credit activities, the application of the "Major Questions Doctrine," and a substantial likelihood of plaintiff’s success with irreparable harm due to compliance costs. Dean and Len predict a favorable outcome for the plaintiffs, with the case likely progressing to the Supreme Court, prolonging the legal process into 2025. They advise banks to comply with the current rule and suggest banks compute and target the proposed calibrated benchmarks for at least a satisfactory performance rating on the Lending Test. The episode ends with Dean and Len emphasizing the importance of staying informed and prepared as the situation develops.

This episode of the podcast, focusing on climate risk as an emerging regulatory compliance issue, features a dialogue between Len and Dean. They discuss how climate-related risks, especially in the financial sector, have gained attention in recent years. New York State is highlighted for its proactive stance in providing guidance for financial institutions on managing these risks, including a section published on the NYDFS website. Dean emphasizes the lack of specific regulations but notes earlier general principles issued by the OCC regarding climate-related financial risk management. They also delve into the use of data and mapping techniques to assess climate risks at a granular level, stressing the importance of geocoding records and correlating them with climate hazards. The discussion concludes with an emphasis on financial institutions starting to identify and assess climate risks, considering both physical and transition risks, and integrating these into their overall risk management frameworks. The episode promotes their consulting services for assisting institutions in managing climate risks.