Links in “Banks”

QM rules that penalize lenders with affiliated title companies could be tweaked by the new Republican-controlled Congress. It is just one of a number of adjustments Congress is expected to consider this year. [1/6/15]

New breed of lawsuits stretches Fair Debt Collection Practices Act beyond its original intent of shielding borrowers from abusive and unfair debt collection practices. Now attorneys are challenging the validity of the venue of lawsuits brought where lenders have moved outside the state where the collateral for the mortgage is located. [1/5/15]

New York-based Golden First Mortgage's authority to originate, underwrite and certify mortgages for FHA insurance was abused on more than 1,000 mortgage loans. The company has settled for $36 million. [1/5/15]

Beginning Jan. 1, digital currencies, such as Bitcoin, became valid in California, where only US dollars were valid before. The new bill doesn't oblige vendors to accept alternative currencies, but allows them to. [1/5/15]

...is long and complex. Here's a law professor's analysis. [1/5/15]

FBI is looking into whether banks have enlisted the aid of hackers to disable servers used by Iran to attack banks. When it comes to cyber security, the best defense may be a good offense, but is it legal? [12/31/14]

DS News names its top five government headlines of 2014. Topping its list: Mel Watt sworn in as new director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency after months of contentious debate. [12/31/14]

Hopefully your new year is going to go better than November did for most of these banks. [12/30/14]

Of the top five stories of debt servicing in 2014, Wells Fargo and Ocwen are each featured in two, and in ways they are not likely to recall with fondness. [12/30/14]

'Tis the season of countdowns and we've got another one for you, this time commemorating our most viewed episodes of Risk Watch from five of our subject matter experts.