Final HMDA Rule Still Too Costly Despite Changes, Industry Warns

American Banker
Thursday, October 15, 2015

The CFPB backed off some of its initial plans in its final rule requiring lenders to collect more data from mortgage borrowers, but industry representatives warned the agency had not gone far enough. Though the agency dropped some datasets it initially proposed to collect last year, some lenders said the final rule was still going to be overly burdensome, particularly for smaller institutions. There also remain privacy concerns from both industry and consumer groups. Lenders must now report the address of the home, which could pose additional risks. "The CFPB's final rule [adds] to the excessive regulatory burdens for many community banks, which will further restrict access to credit in local communities," said Camden R. Fine, president and chief executive of the Independent Community Bankers of America.