The Federal Reserve announced Monday that it has named 10 new members to its Consumer Advisory Council and designated a new chair and vice chair for 2011. The council advises the Federal Reserve board on the exercise of its responsibilities under the Consumer Credit Protection Act and on other matters in the area of consumer financial services. Jim Park, CEO of the REO disposition firm New Vista Asset Management, has been selected to chair the council.
Read More »Rep. Bachmann Introduces Bill to Repeal Dodd-Frank
Members of the 112th Congress were sworn in just days ago, and already lawmakers are making big waves. Rep. Michele Bachmann introduced legislation Thursday to repeal the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill that calls for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to set tighter regulations for mortgage lending and servicing, and outlines new secondary market rules intended to curb risk-taking by mortgage lenders. Congressman Barney Frank rebuked Bachmann's move as a return to the days of irresponsible and over-leveraged lending.
Read More »Consumer Protection Bureau Inks Deal with State Regulators
The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau established under the Dodd-Frank Act will be working closely with state regulators to supervise mortgage lenders and servicers. The Bureau's implementation team and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday that establishes a cooperative state and federal effort for the sharing of information related to the supervision and policing of companies that provide consumer financial services.
Read More »Ohio AG to Head Enforcement at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
The U.S. Department of the Treasury added three members to its senior leadership lineup for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray will lead the enforcement team. In addition, Federal Reserve Director Leonard Chanin will oversee the rule writing team, and former AFL-CIO Director David Silberman will head the card markets division.
Read More »Treasury Hires Senior Leadership for CFPB Implementation Team
Senior technology leadership is now in place for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) implementation team, according to an announcement from the Treasury Department. Tim Duncan will lead technology operations, and David Forrest will lead the online engagement team. Currently housed at Treasury, the CFPB will have statutory oversight of mortgage lending and the power to set new rules for home loans and other consumer-facing credit products.
Read More »Treasury Department Releases Elizabeth Warren’s Daily Schedule
Last week the Treasury Department released a detailed report of Elizabeth Warren's schedule beginning October 20 when she became the White House advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The calendar confirms a few things: first of all, Warren has been extremely busy.
Read More »Treasury Makes Key Leadership Hires for CFPB Implementation Team
The Treasury has filled two key leadership positions for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) implementation team. The CFPB will have statutory oversight of mortgage lending and the power to set new rules for home loans and other consumer-facing credit products. Steve Antonakes will lead depository supervision, building the consumer supervision program for the nation's largest depository institutions. Peggy Twohig will lead the non-depository supervision team, spearheading efforts to conduct research and policy analysis.
Read More »MBA and Others Send Letter to Fed Regarding Consumer Disclosures
The Mortgage Bankers Association and six other industry groups sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Monday, voicing their concern that the Fed, which has jurisdiction over the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), and HUD, which oversees the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), will create regulatory rules that overlap. The Dodd-Frank Act created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will be overseen by yet another agency, the Treasury, and will have regulatory authority over consumer disclosures.
Read More »Survey: 54% of Americans Dissatisfied With Dodd-Frank Reforms
The turbulent financial crisis sparked overwhelming support by Americans for Congress to enact financial legislation to prevent future bailouts. But according to the findings of an academia study, the landmark Dodd-Frank Act failed to meet consumer expectations. Only 12 percent of survey respondents declared they were satisfied with the reform bill, while 54 percent of Americans were dissatisfied. Sentiment about real estate pricing and strategic defaults were also examined in the quarterly study.
Read More »Absent Automation, Lenders at Risk for Non-Compliance, Says LoanSifter
Insufficient automation could cause non-compliance issues for mortgage lenders, credit unions, and banks when it comes to the extensive regulatory changes emerging as a result of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act, according to Bruce Backer, president of LoanSifter. Mortgage lenders are most affected by title XIV of the act, which sets national underwriting standards for residential loans, and Backer says even more reforms are headed our way when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau begins establishing additional regulations for the industry.
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