Four summaries outline key, recent issues
(Feb. 19, 2021) Four new summaries have been posted by NASCUS, looking at recent actions from NCUA, which include: two regulatory alerts, a final rule on supervisory guidance, and (along with other federal regulators) answers to questions about anti-money laundering activities.
All four of the summaries are available to members only.
The summaries on regulatory alerts from NCUA look at two issued earlier this month: the first on 2021 threshold adjustments under Regs C, Z and V; the second on submission of 2020 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. The first alert (21-RA-02) notes that, in January, the bureau published annual adjustments for exemption thresholds under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA, Regulation C) and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA, Regulation Z). The asset-size thresholds, the alert points out, exempt some credit unions from data collection under Regulation C and from escrow account requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans and specific qualified mortgages under Regulation Z.
The alert also notes that the CFPB published an annual adjustment to the maximum amount consumer reporting agencies may charge consumers for making a file disclosure to a consumer under Regulation V.
The second alert (21-RA-03) reminds credit unions with $47 million or more in assets that they have until March 1 to file reports on home mortgage loan applications made last year under HMDA (as implemented by the CFPB’s Reg C). There are some limiting provisions for reporting under the rule, the agency pointed out in the alert. For example, the closed-end mortgage loan threshold increased from 25 to 100 effective July 1, 2020. “Credit unions that originated fewer than 100 covered closed-end mortgage loans in 2018 or 2019 are not required to report any closed-end mortgage loan information for 2020,” the agency wrote, noting that Section 1003.3(c) of Regulation C lists excluded (not covered) transactions.
The third summary from NASCUS looks at the agency’s final rule on supervisory guidance. Issued early this month. Under the rule, aimed at clarifying and codifying the role of supervisory guidance, the meaning of “supervisory guidance” is clarified as meaning, essentially, it doesn’t have the force of law. As finalized, it codifies an interagency statement issued by NCUA and other federal financial institution regulators in September 2018.
The final summary from NASCUS this week outlines “frequently asked questions” (FAQs) about suspicious activity reporting and other anti-money laundering considerations released by NCUA, Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and federal banking agencies. According to the agencies, the FAQs clarify the regulatory requirements related to suspicious activity reporting to assist credit unions and other financial institutions with their compliance obligations. The FAQs also enable financial institutions to focus resources on activities that produce the greatest value to law enforcement agencies and other government users of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reporting, the agencies said.
NASCUS Summary: Final Rule Summary: Role of Supervisory Guidance (Part 791, Subpart D) (member only)