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Interagency Guidance on Mortgage Servicing Practices Concerning Military Homeowners with Permanent Change of Station Orders The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“the Agencies”) are issuing this guidance to mortgage servicers as part of their supervisory programs. This guidance is being issued to address mortgage servicer practices that may pose risks to homeowners who are serving in the military and to ensure compliance with applicable consumer laws and regulations. Specifically, this guidance addresses risks related to military homeowners who have informed the servicer that they have received military Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders (hereafter, “homeowners with PCS orders”). For military homeowners, PCS orders to move to a new duty station present unique challenges. Although PCS orders are non-negotiable and operate under short, strict timelines, homeowners with PCS orders remain obligated to honor their financial obligations, including their mortgages. If their homes have declined in value, they may be unable to sell the home and obtain sufficient funds to pay off the mortgage debt and may continue to be obligated to make monthly payments after relocating to the new duty station. The Agencies have particular concerns about the following practices which have the potential to mislead or otherwise cause harm to homeowners with PCS orders:
Mortgage servicers should ensure that their employees are adequately trained about the options available for homeowners with PCS orders. Information provided to homeowners with PCS orders regarding any available assistance options, such as the Making Home Affordable Program and other programs offered by or through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA, the VA, and the USDA-RD, should be accurate and readily understandable. The Agencies expect the institutions they supervise will maintain mortgage servicing policies and procedures appropriate to achieve these objectives, commensurate with the institution’s customer base and the size and the complexity of its operations. If the Agencies determine that a servicer has engaged in any acts or practices that are unfair, deceptive, or abusive, or that otherwise violate Federal consumer financial laws and regulations, the Agencies will take appropriate supervisory and enforcement actions to address violations that harm consumers and seek all appropriate corrective actions, including requiring the mortgage servicer to strengthen its programs and processes. 1 This guidance does not obligate servicers to offer any particular loss mitigation programs. 2 50 U.S.C. app. §§ 501-597b. Among the protections under SCRA are restrictions on foreclosures of servicemembers’ property securing pre-military-service mortgages for which the servicemember is still obligated, while the servicemember is in “military service,” as that term is defined in § 511(2), or within nine months thereafter. The period of nine months will revert to 90 days after December 31, 2012.
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Last Updated 6/21/2012 | communications@fdic.gov |