The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued a final rule to allow more lenders to qualify as smaller creditors doing business in rural and underserved areas. The final rule, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2016, amends certain mortgage rules issued by the CFPB in 2013 under the Dodd-Frank Act. Specifically, the final rule lifts the current origination limit to qualify for “small creditor” status from 500 mortgage loans annually to 2,000 mortgage loans per year – a limit that also excludes loans retained in portfolio from the 2,000-loan cap. In addition, the rule now includes...