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IndyMac: What Went Wrong: How an “Alt-A” Leader Fueled Its Growth With Unsound and Abusive Mortgage Lending
CRL has uncovered substantial evidence that IndyMac Bank engaged in unsound and abusive lending during the mortgage boom, routinely making loans without regard to borrowers' ability to repay. CRL interviews with former employees and lawsuits in 10 states indicate that IndyMac: pushed through loans based on bogus appraisals and income data that exaggerated borrowers' finances, worked hand-in-hand with mortgage brokers...
Analysis of HR 6076
HR 6076: Home Retention and Economic Stabilization Act Why is H.R. 6076 needed? Approximately 20,000 subprime foreclosures are starting every week, and the situation is projected to get worse. The rate of foreclosures continues to accelerate, despite the efforts of programs like HOPE NOW, which encourage lenders and servicers to avoid unnecessary foreclosures by voluntarily modifying loan terms to make...
Shredded Security
Read the executive summary (pdf) >> Unfair bank practices threaten to shred the safety net of Social Security for older Americans New CRL research finds that unauthorized overdrafts strip fees from Americans 55 and older at the level of $4.5 billion per year. Nearly $1 billion of that comes from people who are heavily dependent on Social Security income. CRL's...
Require opt-in for overdraft
In May 2008, the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of Thrift Supervision, and the National Credit Union Administration issued a joint proposed rule governing overdrafts. The rule would allow financial institutions to continue giving customers expensive loans even though they never asked for them. Research shows that the vast majority of bank customers are automatically signed up to receive costly...
RESPA and its Impact on Small Business
Committee: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business For questions about this testimony, contact Julia Gordon at julia.gordon@responsiblelending.org or (202) 349-1878.
Improving Consumer Protections in Subprime Home Lending
Committee: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade and Tourism
Consumers Want Informed Choice on Overdraft Fees and Banking Options
A new CRL survey finds respondents prefer that their bank or credit union deny debit card purchases that are not covered by the funds in their checking account, whether their purchase is for $5, $20 or $40. More consumers are enrolled in the most expensive option than any other option for covering overdrafts, the survey also finds.
H.R. 5679: The Foreclosure Prevention and Sound Mortgage Servicing Act of 2008
Committee: U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity For questions about this testimony, contact Julia Gordon at julia.gordon@responsiblelending.org or (202) 349-1878.
Turmoil in U.S. Credit Markets: Examining Proposals to Mitigate Foreclosures and Restore Liquidity to the Mortgage Markets
Committee: U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Steered Wrong: Brokers, Borrowers, and Subprime Loans
"Steered Wrong" Executive Summary In recent years, a majority of subprime loans made in the United States have been originated by mortgage brokers, who can properly be characterized as the "engine" of the subprime market. The rapid growth of subprime lending was fueled by thousands of mortgage brokers across the country delivering billions of dollars of subprime loans to mortgage...
HB 2423 Regulate Mortgage Servicers
Full Session Law (pdf) Bill Summary (pdf) This legislation requires mortgage loan servicers doing business in North Carolina to be licensed and imposes new standards on their loan collection activities, providing more protection for North Carolina homeowners. This bill adds mortgage servicing regulation to the regulation of mortgage bankers and mortgage brokers. New duties for mortgage servicers include: Safeguarding and...
Subprime Spillover: Foreclosures Cost North Carolina Neighbors $861 Million
In this report, we estimate how many homes—including families who are paying their mortgage on time—will suffer a decline in property values because of foreclosures in their neighborhoods. We also estimate how much the average family will lose in home equity, and how much of an impact the foreclosure crisis will have on city and county coffers.
Overdraft Loans Trap Borrowers in Debt
OVERDRAFT LOAN = HIGH-COST NO-CHOICE CREDIT Protection? More like small loans with abusive terms. Banks and credit unions now enroll many of their account holders into the most expensive option for covering overdrafts—an option customers generally don't want and didn't ask for—and leave them without the information they need to protect their funds. Under these systems, financial institutions routinely approve...
Impact of and Reactions to Proposed Regulation Z Revisions
Committee: California State Senate Banking, Finance & Insurance Committee
The Subprime Mortgage Crisis and America’s Veteran
Committee: U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity