All in Regulatory Update

On Jun 29, 2023, FinCEN issued a press release to inform U.S. financial institutions that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body that establishes international standards to combat money laundering, counter the financing of terrorism, and combat weapons of mass destruction proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF), has issued public statements updating its lists of jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT/CPF deficiencies following its plenary meeting this month.  U.S. financial institutions should consider the FATF’s stance toward these jurisdictions when reviewing their obligations and risk-based policies, procedures, and practices.

On June 27, 2023, the CFPB issued an order against ACI Worldwide and one of its subsidiaries, ACI Payments, for improperly initiating approximately $2.3 billion in unlawful mortgage payment transactions. According to the CFPB, ACI’s data handling practices negatively impacted nearly 500,000 homeowners with mortgages serviced by Mr. Cooper (formerly known as Nationstar).

On June 16, 2023, the FDIC updated its Supervisory Guidance on Multiple Re-Presentment NSF Fees (FIL-40-2022) to clarify its supervisory approach for corrective action when a violation of law is identified. In August of 2022, the FDIC issued the original guidance to address certain consumer compliance risks associated with assessing multiple non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees arising from the re-presentment of the same unpaid transaction.

On June 8, 2023, the FTC submitted its annual enforcement report to the CFPB on its enforcement efforts and related activities in 2022 on the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Consumer Leasing Act (CLA), and Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA). The report highlights the FTC’s enforcement actions related to the acts and their implementing regulations, including in the areas of automobile purchases and financing, payday lending, credit repair and debt relief, other credit, and electronic fund transfers.

On June 1, 2023, the federal regulatory agencies requested public comment on a proposed rule designed to ensure the credibility and integrity of models used in real estate valuations. Specifically, the proposed rule would implement quality control standards for automated valuation models (AVMs) used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers in valuing real estate collateral securing mortgage loans.