2014 -- H 7997 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC004463/SUB A | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- LICENSED ACTIVITIES | |
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Introduced By: Representative Raymond H.Johnston | |
Date Introduced: March 27, 2014 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
(Business Regulation) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 19-14-1, 19-14-2, 19-14-4, 19-14-5 and 19-14-6 of the General |
2 | Laws in Chapter 19-14 entitled "Licensed Activities" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 19-14-1. Definitions. -- Unless otherwise specified, the following terms shall have the |
4 | following meanings throughout chapters 14, 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.6, 14.8, and 14.10, and |
5 | 14.11 of this title: |
6 | (1) "Check" means any check, draft, money order, personal money order, or other |
7 | instrument for the transmission or payment of money. For the purposes of check cashing, |
8 | travelers checks or foreign denomination instruments shall not be considered checks. "Check |
9 | cashing" means providing currency for checks; |
10 | (2) "Deliver" means to deliver a check to the first person who, in payment for the check, |
11 | makes, or purports to make, a remittance of, or against, the face amount of the check, whether or |
12 | not the deliverer also charges a fee in addition to the face amount, and whether or not the |
13 | deliverer signs the check; |
14 | (3) "Electronic money transfer" means receiving money for transmission within the |
15 | United States or to locations abroad by any means including, but not limited to, wire, facsimile, or |
16 | other electronic transfer system; |
17 | (4) (i) "Lender" means any person who makes or funds a loan within this state with the |
18 | person's own funds, regardless of whether the person is the nominal mortgagee or creditor on the |
19 | instrument evidencing the loan; |
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1 | (ii) A loan is made or funded within this state if any of the following conditions exist: |
2 | (A) The loan is secured by real property located in this state; |
3 | (B) An application for a loan is taken by an employee, agent, or representative of the |
4 | lender within this state; |
5 | (C) The loan closes within this state; |
6 | (D) The loan solicitation is done by an individual with a physical presence in this state; |
7 | or |
8 | (E) The lender maintains an office in this state. |
9 | (iii) The term "lender" shall also include any person engaged in a transaction whereby |
10 | the person makes or funds a loan within this state using the proceeds of an advance under a line |
11 | of credit over which proceeds the person has dominion and control and for the repayment of |
12 | which the person is unconditionally liable. This transaction is not a table-funding transaction. A |
13 | person is deemed to have dominion and control over the proceeds of an advance under a line of |
14 | credit used to fund a loan regardless of whether: |
15 | (A) The person may, contemporaneously with or shortly following the funding of the |
16 | loan, assign or deliver to the line of credit lender one or more loans funded by the proceeds of an |
17 | advance to the person under the line of credit; |
18 | (B) The proceeds of an advance are delivered directly to the settlement agent by the line- |
19 | of-credit lender, unless the settlement agent is the agent of the line-of-credit lender; |
20 | (C) One or more loans funded by the proceeds of an advance under the line of credit is |
21 | purchased by the line-of-credit lender; or |
22 | (D) Under the circumstances, as set forth in regulations adopted by the director or the |
23 | director's designee pursuant to this chapter; |
24 | (5) "Licensee" means any person licensed under this chapter; |
25 | (6) "Loan" means any advance of money or credit including, but not limited to: |
26 | (i) Loans secured by mortgages; |
27 | (ii) Insurance premium finance agreements; |
28 | (iii) The purchase or acquisition of retail installment contracts or advances to the holders |
29 | of those contracts; |
30 | (iv) Educational loans; |
31 | (v) Any other advance of money; or |
32 | (vi) Any transaction, such as those commonly known as "pay day payday loans," "pay |
33 | day payday advances," or "deferred-presentment loans," in which a cash advance is made to a |
34 | customer in exchange for the customer's personal check, or in exchange for the customer's |
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1 | authorization to debit the customer's deposit account, and where the parties agree either that the |
2 | check will not be cashed or deposited, or that customer's deposit account will not be debited, until |
3 | a designated future date. |
4 | (7) "Loan broker" means any person who, for compensation or gain, or in the expectation |
5 | of compensation or gain, either directly or indirectly, solicits, processes, negotiates, places, or |
6 | sells a loan within this state for others in the primary market, or offers to do so. A loan broker |
7 | shall also mean any person who is the nominal mortgagee or creditor in a table funding |
8 | transaction. A loan is brokered within this state if any of the following conditions exist: |
9 | (i) The loan is secured by real property located in this state; |
10 | (ii) An application for a loan is taken or received by an employee, agent, or |
11 | representative of the loan broker within this state; |
12 | (iii) The loan closes within this state; |
13 | (iv) The loan solicitation is done by an individual with a physical presence in this state; |
14 | or |
15 | (v) The loan broker maintains an office in this state. |
16 | (8) "Personal money order" means any instrument for the transmission or payment of |
17 | money in relation to which the purchaser or remitter appoints, or purports to appoint, the seller as |
18 | his or her agent for the receipt, transmission, or handling of money, whether the instrument is |
19 | signed by the seller or by the purchaser or remitter or some other person; |
20 | (9) "Primary market" means the market in which loans are made to borrowers by lenders, |
21 | whether or not through a loan broker or other conduit; |
22 | (10) "Principal owner" means any person who owns, controls, votes, or has a beneficial |
23 | interest in, directly or indirectly, ten percent (10%) or more of the outstanding capital stock |
24 | and/or equity interest of a licensee; |
25 | (11) "Sell" means to sell, to issue, or to deliver a check; |
26 | (12) "Small-loan" means a loan of less than five thousand dollars ($5,000), not secured |
27 | by real estate, made pursuant to the provisions of chapter 14.2 of this title; |
28 | (13) "Small loan lender" means a lender engaged in the business of making small loans |
29 | within this state; |
30 | (14) "Table-funding transaction" means a transaction in which there is a |
31 | contemporaneous advance of funds by a lender and an assignment by the mortgagee or creditor of |
32 | the loan to the lender; |
33 | (15) "Check casher" means a person or entity that, for compensation, engages, in whole |
34 | or in part, in the business of cashing checks; |
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1 | (16) "Deferred-deposit transaction" means any transaction, such as those commonly |
2 | known as "pay-day payday loans," "pay-day payday advances," or "deferred-presentment loans," |
3 | in which a cash advance is made to a customer in exchange for the customer's personal check or |
4 | in exchange for the customer's authorization to debit the customer's deposit account and where |
5 | the parties agree either that the check will not be cashed or deposited, or that the customer's |
6 | deposit account will not be debited until a designated future date; |
7 | (17) "Insurance premium finance agreement" means an agreement by which an insured, |
8 | or prospective insured, promises to pay to an insurance premium finance company the amount |
9 | advanced, or to be advanced, under the agreement to an insurer or to an insurance producer, in |
10 | payment of a premium, or premiums, on an insurance contract, or contracts, together with interest |
11 | and a service charge, as authorized and limited by this title; |
12 | (18) "Insurance premium finance company" means a person engaged in the business of |
13 | making insurance premium finance agreements or acquiring insurance premium finance |
14 | agreements from other insurance premium finance companies; |
15 | (19) "Simple interest" means interest computed on the principal balance outstanding |
16 | immediately prior to a payment for the actual number of days between payments made on a loan |
17 | over the life of a loan; |
18 | (20) "Nonprofit organization" means a corporation qualifying as a 26 U.S.C. section |
19 | §501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in the operation of which no member, director, officer, partner, |
20 | employee, agent, or other affiliated person profits financially other than receiving reasonable |
21 | salaries if applicable; |
22 | (21) "Mortgage loan originator" has the same meaning set forth in subdivision §19- |
23 | 14.10-3(6); |
24 | (22) "Mortgage loan" means a loan secured in whole, or in part, by real property located |
25 | in this state; |
26 | (23) "Loan solicitation" shall mean an effectuation, procurement, delivery and offer, and |
27 | advertisement of a loan. Loan solicitation also includes providing or accepting loan applications |
28 | and assisting persons in completing loan applications and/or advising, conferring, or informing |
29 | anyone regarding the benefits, terms and/or conditions of a loan product or service. Loan |
30 | solicitation does not include loan processing or loan underwriting as defined in this section. Loan |
31 | solicitation does not include telemarketing which that is defined, for purposes of this section, to |
32 | mean contacting a person by telephone with the intention of collecting such person's name, |
33 | address, and telephone number for the sole purpose of allowing a mortgage loan originator to |
34 | fulfill a loan inquiry; |
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1 | (24) "Processes" shall mean, with respect to a loan, any of a series of acts or functions, |
2 | including the preparation of a loan application and supporting documents, performed by a person |
3 | which that leads to, or results in, the acceptance, approval, denial, and/or withdrawal of a loan |
4 | application, including, without limitation, the rendering of services, including loan underwriting, |
5 | obtaining verifications, credit reports or appraisals, communicating with the applicant and/or the |
6 | lender or loan broker, and/or other loan processing and origination services, for consideration by |
7 | a lender or loan broker. Loan processing does not include the following: |
8 | (i) Providing loan closing services; |
9 | (ii) Rendering of credit reports by an authorized credit reporting agency; and |
10 | (iii) Rendering of appraisal services. |
11 | (25) "Loan underwriting" shall mean a loan process that involves the analysis of risk |
12 | with respect to the decision whether to make a loan to a loan applicant based on credit, |
13 | employment, assets, and other factors, including evaluating a loan applicant against a lender's |
14 | various lending criteria for creditworthiness, making a determination for the lender as to whether |
15 | the applicant meets the lender's pre-established credit standards and/or making a recommendation |
16 | regarding loan approval; |
17 | (26) "Negotiates" shall mean, with respect to a loan, to confer directly with, or offer |
18 | advice directly to, a loan applicant or prospective loan applicant for a loan product or service |
19 | concerning any of the substantive benefits, terms, or conditions of the loan product or service; |
20 | (27) "Natural person employee" shall mean any natural person performing services as a |
21 | bona-fide employee for a person licensed under the provisions of Rhode Island general laws |
22 | section §19-14-1, et. seq., in return for a salary, wage, or other consideration, where such salary, |
23 | wage, or consideration is reported by the licensee on a federal form W-2 payroll record. The term |
24 | does not include any natural person or business entity performing services for a person licensed |
25 | under the provisions of Rhode Island general laws in return for a salary, wage, or other |
26 | consideration, where such salary, wage, or consideration is reported by the licensee on a federal |
27 | form 1099; |
28 | (28) "Bona-fide employee" shall mean an employee of a licensee who works under the |
29 | oversight and supervision of the licensee; |
30 | (29) "Oversight and supervision of the licensee" shall mean that the licensee provides |
31 | training to the employee, sets the employee's hours of work, and provides the employee with the |
32 | equipment and physical premises required to perform the employee's duties; |
33 | (30) "Operating subsidiary" shall mean a majority-owned subsidiary of a financial |
34 | institution or banking institution that engages only in activities permitted by the parent financial |
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1 | institution or banking institution; |
2 | (31) "Provisional employee" means a natural person who, pursuant to a written |
3 | agreement between the natural person and a wholly owned subsidiary of a financial holding |
4 | company, as defined in The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, a bank-holding |
5 | company, savings-bank-holding company, or thrift holding company, is an exclusive agent for the |
6 | subsidiary with respect to mortgage loan originations, and the subsidiary: (a) hHolds a valid loan |
7 | broker's license and (b) eEnters into a written agreement with the director or the director's |
8 | designee to include: |
9 | (i) An "undertaking of accountability" in a form prescribed by the director or the |
10 | director's designee, for all of the subsidiary's exclusive agents to include full-and-direct financial |
11 | and regulatory responsibility for the mortgage loan originator activities of each exclusive agent as |
12 | if said exclusive agent was were an employee of the subsidiary; |
13 | (ii) A business plan, to be approved by the director or the director's designee, for the |
14 | education of the exclusive agents, the handling of consumer complaints related to the exclusive |
15 | agents, and the supervision of the mortgage loan origination activities of the exclusive agents; and |
16 | (iii) A restriction of the exclusive agents' mortgage loan originators' activities to loans to |
17 | be made only by the subsidiary's affiliated bank. ; and |
18 | (32) "Multi-state licensing system" means a system involving one or more states, the |
19 | District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico established to facilitate the sharing of |
20 | regulatory information and the licensing, application, reporting, and payment processes, by |
21 | electronic or other means, for mortgage lenders and loan brokers, and other licensees required to |
22 | be licensed under this chapter.; |
23 | (33) "Negative equity" means the difference between the value of an asset and the |
24 | outstanding portion of the loan taken out to pay for the asset, when the latter exceeds the former |
25 | amount.; |
26 | (34) "Loan-closing services" means providing title services, including title searches, title |
27 | examinations, abstract preparation, insurability determinations, and the issuance of title |
28 | commitments and title insurance policies, conducting loan closings, and preparation of loan |
29 | closing documents when performed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed attorney, licensed |
30 | title agency, or licensed title insurance company.; |
31 | (35) "Servicing" means receiving a scheduled periodic payment from a borrower pursuant |
32 | to the terms of a loan, including amounts for escrow accounts, and making the payments to the |
33 | owner of the loan or other third party of principal and interest and other payments with respect to |
34 | the amounts received from the borrower as may be required pursuant to the terms of the servicing |
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1 | loan documents or servicing contract. In the case of a home equity conversion mortgage or a |
2 | reverse mortgage, servicing includes making payment to the borrower; |
3 | (36) "Third-party loan servicer" means a person who, directly or indirectly, engages in |
4 | the business of servicing a loan made to a resident of Rhode Island, or a loan secured by |
5 | residential real estate located in Rhode Island, for a personal, family, or household purpose, owed |
6 | or due or asserted to be owed or due another; and |
7 | (37) "Writing" means hard-copy writing or electronic writing that meets the requirements |
8 | of § 42-127.1-1 et seq. |
9 | 19-14-2. Licenses required. -- (a) No person shall engage within this state in the |
10 | business of: (1) mMaking or funding loans or acting as a lender or small loan lender; (2) |
11 | bBrokering loans or acting as a loan broker; (3) sSelling checks for a fee or other consideration; |
12 | (4) cCashing checks for a fee or other consideration, which includes any premium charged for the |
13 | sale of goods in excess of the cash price of the goods; (5) pProviding electronic money transfers |
14 | for a fee or other consideration; (6) pProviding debt-management services; or (7) pPerforming the |
15 | duties of a mortgage-loan originator; (8) Servicing a loan, directly or indirectly, as a third-party |
16 | loan servicer without first obtaining a license or registration from the director or the director's |
17 | designee. The licensing requirement for any person providing debt-management plans shall apply |
18 | to all persons, without regard for state of incorporation or a physical presence in this state, who |
19 | initiate or service debt-management plans for residents of this state. Special exemptions from |
20 | licensing for each activity are contained in other chapters in this title. |
21 | (b) No lender or loan-broker licensee shall permit an employee to act as a mortgage loan |
22 | originator without first verifying that such originator is licensed under this chapter. No individual |
23 | may act as a mortgage-loan originator without being licensed, or act as a mortgage loan originator |
24 | for more than one person. The license of a mortgage-loan originator is not effective during any |
25 | period when such mortgage-loan originator is not associated with a lender or loan-broker |
26 | licensee. |
27 | (c) Each loan negotiated, solicited, placed, found, or made without a license as required |
28 | in subsection (a) of this section shall constitute a separate violation for purposes of this chapter. |
29 | (d) No person engaged in the business of making or brokering loans in this state, whether |
30 | licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or exempt from licensing, shall accept |
31 | applications, or referral of applicants from, or pay a fee to, any lender, loan broker or mortgage- |
32 | loan originator who is required to be licensed or registered under said sections but is not licensed |
33 | to act as such by the director or the director's designee. |
34 | 19-14-4. Annual fee. -- (a) Each licensee shall pay an annual license fee as follows: |
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1 | (1) Each small-loan lender license and each branch certificate, the sum of five hundred |
2 | fifty dollars ($550); |
3 | (2) Each loan-broker license and each branch certificate, the sum of five hundred fifty |
4 | dollars ($550); |
5 | (3) Each lender license and each branch certificate, the sum of one thousand one hundred |
6 | dollars ($1,100); |
7 | (4) Each sale of checks license, the sum of three hundred sixty dollars ($360); |
8 | (5) Each check cashing license, the sum of three hundred sixty dollars ($360); |
9 | (6) Each electronic money transfer license, the sum of three hundred sixty dollars ($360); |
10 | (7) Each registration to provide debt-management services, the sum of two hundred |
11 | dollars ($200); and |
12 | (8) Each mortgage-loan originator license, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100). ; and |
13 | (9) Each third-party loan-servicer license and each branch certificate, the sum of one |
14 | thousand one hundred dollars ($1,100). |
15 | (b) Any licensee who shall not pay the annual fee by December 31 of each year shall be |
16 | subject to a daily penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25) per day, subject to a maximum of seven |
17 | hundred fifty dollars ($750). The penalty shall be paid to the director to, and for the use of, the |
18 | state. The penalty may be waived for good cause by the director, or the director's designee, upon |
19 | written request. |
20 | 19-14-5. Minimum capital. -- Each licensee, licensed pursuant to an application for |
21 | license filed after June 30, 1995, shall maintain the following minimum-net worth to be |
22 | evidenced in accordance with regulations promulgated by the director or the director's designee. |
23 | (1) Small-loan lenders, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000); |
24 | (2) Loan brokers, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000); |
25 | (3) Lenders, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000); and |
26 | (4) Sale of checks, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). ; and |
27 | (5) Third-party loan servicers, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). |
28 | 19-14-6. Bond of applicant. -- (a) An applicant for any license shall file with the |
29 | director, or the director's designee, a bond to be approved by him or her in which the applicant |
30 | shall be the obligor. |
31 | (b) The amount of the bond shall be as follows: |
32 | (1) Small-loan lenders, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000); |
33 | (2) Loan brokers, the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000); |
34 | (3) Lenders, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); |
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1 | (4) Sale of checks and electronic money transfer licensees, the sum of fifty thousand |
2 | dollars ($50,000) subject to a maximum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) |
3 | when aggregated with agent locations; |
4 | (5) Check-cashing licensees who accept checks for collection with deferred payment, the |
5 | sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) subject to a maximum of one hundred and fifty thousand |
6 | dollars ($150,000) when aggregated with agent locations; |
7 | (6) Foreign-exchange licensees, the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000); |
8 | (7) Each The amounts listed above apply to licensees with zero (0) to three (3) branch or |
9 | agent locations location of a licensee, the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) Licensees with |
10 | four (4) to seven (7) branches shall post a bond, as indicated above, and an additional bond in the |
11 | sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Licensees with eight (8) or more branches shall post a |
12 | bond, as indicated above, and an additional bond in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars |
13 | ($25,000); or |
14 | (8) Each debt-management services registrant, the amount provided in section §19-14.8- |
15 | 13. ; or |
16 | (9) Each third-party loan servicer, the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). |
17 | (c) The bond shall run to the state for the use of the state and of any person who may |
18 | have cause of action against the obligor of the bond under the provisions of this title. The bond |
19 | shall be perpetual and shall be conditioned upon the obligor faithfully conforming to, and abiding |
20 | by, the provisions of this title and of all rules and regulations lawfully made, and the obligor will |
21 | pay to the state and to any person any and all money that may become due or owing to the state or |
22 | to the person from the obligor under, and by virtue of, the provisions of this title. |
23 | (d) The provisions of subsection (b)(6) of this section shall not apply to any foreign- |
24 | exchange business holding a valid electronic money-transfer license issued pursuant to section |
25 | §19-14-1 et seq., that has filed with the division of banking the bond required by subsections |
26 | (b)(4) and (b)(7) of this section. |
27 | (e) The bond shall remain in force and effect until the surety is released from liability by |
28 | the director, or the director's designee, or until the bond is cancelled by the surety. The surety |
29 | may cancel the bond and be released from further liability under the bond upon receipt by the |
30 | director or the director's designee, of written notice of the cancellation of the bond at least thirty |
31 | (30) days in advance of the cancellation of the bond. The cancellation shall not affect any liability |
32 | incurred or accrued under the bond before the termination of the thirty-(30) day (30) period. Upon |
33 | receipt of any notice of cancellation, the director shall provide written notice to the licensee. |
34 | (f) Upon receipt of any notice of cancellation, the director may provide written notice to |
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1 | the licensee requiring reinstatement or replacement of the bond. Unless the bond is reinstated by |
2 | the surety, or a satisfactory replacement bond is filed with the director prior to the cancellation of |
3 | the original bond, the license shall be suspended. The licensee will be provided notice of the |
4 | suspension and may request a hearing within thirty (30) days. If the licensee does not request a |
5 | hearing, the director, or director's designee, shall issue an order revoking the license for failure to |
6 | comply with this section. |
7 | SECTION 2. Title 19 of the General Laws entitled "FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS" is |
8 | hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
9 | CHAPTER 14.11 |
10 | THIRD-PARTY LOAN SERVICERS |
11 | 19-14.11-1. License required. – (a) No person shall act as a third-party loan servicer, |
12 | directly or indirectly, for a loan to a Rhode Island borrower without first obtaining a license under |
13 | this chapter from the director or the director’s designee. |
14 | (b) No license shall be required of: |
15 | (1) A depository institution, or an affiliate or subsidiary of a depository institution, that is |
16 | controlled by, or under common control with, the depository institution and subject to the |
17 | regulatory authority of the primary regulator of the depository institution. |
18 | (2) A lender licensed under chapter 14 of title 19 that retains the servicing rights on a |
19 | loan originally closed in the lender's name and subsequently sold, in whole or in part, to a third |
20 | party, provided that the provisions of §§ 19-14.11-2 (segregated accounts) and 19-14.11-4 |
21 | (prohibited acts and practices) of this chapter shall apply to such lender. |
22 | (3) A debt-management company licensed in this state when engaged in activities |
23 | permitted pursuant to its debt-management license. |
24 | (4) An attorney licensed in this state when collecting a debt on behalf of a client. |
25 | (5) Bona-fide nonprofit, organizations, exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the |
26 | Internal Revenue Code, that are approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development |
27 | as housing counseling agencies; that have a physical location in Rhode Island; and that lend state |
28 | or federal funds. |
29 | 19-14.11-2. Segregated accounts. -- (a) All amounts paid by borrowers to a licensee |
30 | subject to this chapter shall be deposited in one or more accounts maintained at a federally |
31 | insured depository institution, and with respect to such funds, the licensee shall act as a fiduciary. |
32 | Such account, or accounts, shall be segregated from all other accounts of the licensee. Such funds |
33 | shall not be used in the conduct of the licensee's personal affairs or in the licensee's business |
34 | affairs. |
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1 | (b) The licensee may withdraw funds from the segregated account for payment directly to |
2 | the owner of the loan or other third party of principal and interest and other payments as may be |
3 | required pursuant to the terms of the loan document or servicing contract. |
4 | (c) The licensee may withdraw funds from the segregated account for commissions to |
5 | which it is entitled for services actually performed. |
6 | (d) The licensee may return funds from the segregated account to the borrower if not |
7 | prohibited. |
8 | (e) The licensee shall maintain complete and accurate account records, including, at a |
9 | minimum, the source of all deposits, the nature and recipient of all disbursements, the date and |
10 | amount of each transaction, and the name of the borrower. All documents pertaining to account |
11 | activity shall be produced upon request of the director. |
12 | 19-14.11-3. Records required of licensee. -- The licensee shall keep, use in the |
13 | licensee's business, and make available to the director, or the director's designee upon request, |
14 | such books, accounts, records and data compilations as will enable the director, or director's |
15 | designee, to determine whether such licensee is complying with the provisions of this and other |
16 | applicable chapters and with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Every licensee |
17 | shall preserve such books, accounts, records, and data compilations in a secure manner and in |
18 | accordance with § 19-14-20 for at least three (3) years after making the final entry on any loan |
19 | recorded therein. |
20 | 19-14.11-4. Prohibited acts and practices. -- It is a violation of this chapter for a person |
21 | to: |
22 | (1) Directly or indirectly employ any scheme, device, or artifice to defraud or mislead |
23 | borrowers or lenders or to defraud any person. |
24 | (2) Engage in any unfair or deceptive practice toward any person. |
25 | (3) Obtain property by fraud or misrepresentation. |
26 | (4) Use any unfair or unconscionable means in servicing a loan. |
27 | (5) Knowingly misapply or recklessly apply loan payments to the outstanding balance of |
28 | a loan. |
29 | (6) Knowingly misapply or recklessly apply payments to escrow accounts. |
30 | (7) Require the unnecessary forced placement of insurance, when adequate insurance is |
31 | currently in place. |
32 | (8) Fail to provide loan payoff information within the time period set forth in chapter 19. |
33 | (9) Charge excessive or unreasonable fees to provide loan payoff information. |
34 | (10) Fail to manage and maintain escrow accounts in accordance with § 19-9-2. |
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1 | (11) Knowingly or recklessly provide inaccurate information to a credit bureau, thereby |
2 | harming a consumer's credit worthiness. |
3 | (12) Fail to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the consumer to |
4 | a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the servicer regularly reports |
5 | information to a credit bureau. |
6 | (13) Collect private mortgage insurance beyond the date for which private mortgage |
7 | insurance is required. |
8 | (14) Knowingly or recklessly facilitate the illegal foreclosure of real property collateral. |
9 | (15) Knowingly or recklessly facilitate the illegal repossession of chattel collateral. |
10 | (16) Fail to respond to consumer complaints in a timely manner. |
11 | (17) Conduct any business covered by this chapter without holding a valid license as |
12 | required under this chapter, or assist, or aid and abet, any person in the conduct of business under |
13 | this chapter without a valid license as required under this chapter. |
14 | (18) Fail to comply with any federal or state law, rule, or other legally binding authority |
15 | relating to the evaluation of loans for modification purposes or the modification of loans. |
16 | (19) Fail to comply with this chapter, or rules adopted under this chapter, or fail to |
17 | comply with any orders or directives from the director, or fail to comply with any other state or |
18 | federal law, including the regulations thereunder, applicable to any business authorized or |
19 | conducted under this chapter. |
20 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2015. |
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LC004463/SUB A | |
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| LC004463/SUB A - Page 12 of 13 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- LICENSED ACTIVITIES | |
*** | |
1 | This act would require that persons performing the functions of a debt collector, servicing |
2 | loans, directly or indirectly, owed or due or asserted to be owed or due to another, or making |
3 | deferred deposit loans obtain a license from the director of the department of business regulation. |
4 | This act would also establish annual fees for these persons, minimum capital requirements and |
5 | bonding amounts. |
6 | Additionally, this act would also require third-party loan servicers to be licensed by the |
7 | department of business regulation. |
8 | This act would take effect on July 1, 2015. |
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LC004463/SUB A | |
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| LC004463/SUB A - Page 13 of 13 |