Policy and Regulation

The CFPB's practice of "regulation by enforcement" forces mortgage companies to develop compliance standards based on the mistakes of their peers, rather than clear guidance from the enforcement agency, said David Motley, the new chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Federal regulators’ 2013 guidance on leveraged lending should have been treated as a rule under the Congressional Review Act – and is now eligible for Congress to repeal, the Government Accountability Office said Thursday.

Ocwen Financial Corp. is settling allegations by Alabama and Minnesota that it engaged in improper mortgage activities, bringing the total of states it has settled with to 17.

The Treasury Department is expanding its calls for overhauling regulation of the financial services sector, this time focusing on changes to the most significant rules surrounding securitization and derivatives.

Ocwen Financial Corp. received more breathing room on the legal front as the Securities and Exchange Commission is not pursuing an enforcement action against the company regarding its debt collection practices.

Though FHFA Director Mel Watt stopped short of saying he would break with a Treasury agreement that forces all profits of the GSEs to go to the government, he emphasized that it couldn’t continue indefinitely.

The House passed a bill Thursday making it easier to obtain private flood insurance policies, but moments later the Senate took a pass on the legislation.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.), is modeled on an exemption that allows sponsors of residential mortgage bonds to avoid holding risk in their deals.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika on Monday gave a ringing endorsement to online lenders seeking to expand into banking, suggesting they should consider taking deposits and seek out national bank charters as they mature.

Lawmakers like Sen. Tim Scott may feel differently about some elements in a Senate regulatory relief bill depending on whether CFPB Director Cordray is remaining in office until his term expires in July.