A new analysis by Inside the CFPB found that consumer complaints to the bureau about their mortgages fell sharply in the second quarter, which likely reflects a continued stabilization in the housing and mortgage markets. In 15 out of 16 metrics tracked, customer gripes declined by double digits, with the remaining metric showing only a modest rise year-over-year. And in terms of the sole metric that showed a slight rise – a 3.6 percent increase in criticisms about mortgage servicing year over year – even there the data show a double-digit improvement (20.6 percent) from the first quarter of 2014 to the second.However, upon closer examination, the data also reveal that the double-digit rates of decline in consumer complaints slowed during ...

The CFPB is now collecting consumer complaints about seven different segments of the financial services sector, and its latest cumulative report on the subject indicates the Dodd-Frank Act’s cop on the beat is only going to continue to expand its dragnet. So far, the CFPB is accepting complaints about credit cards (as of July 21, 2011), mortgages (Dec. 1, 2011), bank accounts and services (March 1, 2012), credit reporting (Oct. 22, 2012), money transfers (April 4, 2013), debt collection (July 10, 2013), and payday loans (Nov. 6, 2013). “The CFPB continues to work toward expanding its complaint handling to include other products and services under its authority, such as prepaid cards. Consumers may also contact the CFPB about other products ...

The CFPB is proposing to allow consumers to publicly disclose their complaint narratives – unvetted – when making a submission to the bureau’s consumer complaint database. “In many ways, the narratives are the most insightful part of a complaint,” the bureau said. “They provide a first-hand account of the consumer’s experience and the problem they would like resolved.” Further, “By giving consumers an option to publicly share their stories, the CFPB would greatly enhance the utility of the database, a platform designed to provide consumers with valuable information needed to make better financial choices for themselves and their families.” According to the bureau, the benefits of sharing the narratives include providing context to the complaint, spotlighting specific trends, helping consumers make informed ...

The CFPB’s proposal to simplify the annual privacy notice requirement under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act would fail to accomplish its goal, a handful of industry trade groups said. They suggested an alternative approach that would eliminate the annual mailed notice requirement for institutions that have not changed their privacy practices and do not share information under the GLBA in a way that gives customers a right to opt out. This approach is compatible with some pending legislation in Congress, S. 635 and H.R. 749.“The key distinction between the legislative solutions pending in Congress and the CFPB approach is that the congressional solutions would only require that information sharing be limited to the current statutory exceptions, that the information disclosed in ...

Small financial institutions are in favor of the CFPB expanding its small creditor exemptions in its final rules having to do with establishing a borrower’s ability to repay and escrow requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans. The Independent Community Bankers of America and a coalition of 45 state and regional banking associations urged the bureau to expand the exceptions for small creditors to ensure community banks can continue to meet their communities’ mortgage needs. In a joint letter, the organizations called on the CFPB to allow community bank loans held in portfolio for the life of the loan to automatically receive qualified mortgage safe harbor status and an exemption from the escrow requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans. The trade groups noted ...

As of July 21, 2014, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is now four years old and the CFPB three, after imposing more than $21 billion in costs and 60.7 million paperwork burden hours, according to a new study by American Action Forum, which identifies itself as a center-right policy institute. “As time passes, the law becomes more expensive as regulatory agencies like the CFPB and the Federal Housing Finance Agency grow with the mission to implement burdensome rules,” the report said. “Meanwhile, small financial services firms continue to struggle as the law restricts the availability of financial products. With about one-quarter of the law still left to implement, one can only expect the costs to continue ...

Bureau Moves to Ensure Equal Treatment for Same-Sex Marrieds. The CFPB is synchronizing its internal policies with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor, striking down as unconstitutional Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which holds that the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman. According to a staff memorandum from CFPB Director Richard Cordray, the CFPB will regard a person who is married under the laws of any jurisdiction to be married nationwide for purposes of the federal statutes and regulations under the bureau’s jurisdiction regardless of the person’s place of residency. However, consistent with other federal regulatory agencies, the bureau will not regard persons who are joined ...

Over five years, Fannie and Freddie would be wound down, but would be allowed to be sold and recapitalized as private entities with different business plans.

The line of companies rolling out new loan menus for non-qualified mortgages is growing longer each week, but it remains to be seen which firm will be the first to issue a non-agency MBS. Citadel Servicing Corp., Irvine, CA, is working on a bond, but has been noncommittal about when it might come to market – and whether its first deal will be public or private. The privately-held nonbank is now funding more than $15 million a month in non-QM/nonprime products. Meanwhile, Impac Mortgage Holdings – an Alt A lender of yesteryear – has just entered...

After hearing from some market participants about certain unintended consequences, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority decided to revise its earlier proposal to establish margin requirements for to-be-announced transactions to accommodate smaller players in the market. Last week, its board authorized FINRA to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the revised amendments to FINRA Rule 4210 (Margin Requirements) to establish margin requirements for TBA transactions (including adjustable-rate mortgage transactions), specified pool transactions, and transactions in collateralized mortgage obligations, with forward settlement dates. The proposal is...