80_FR_44053 80 FR 43911 - 2013 Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Rule Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z) and Amendments; Delay of Effective Date

80 FR 43911 - 2013 Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Rule Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z) and Amendments; Delay of Effective Date

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 142 (July 24, 2015)

Page Range43911-43921
FR Document2015-18239

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is delaying until October 3, 2015, the effective date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the related TILA-RESPA Amendments. In light of certain procedural requirements under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the TILA-RESPA Amendments cannot take effect on August 1, 2015, as originally provided by those rules. To comply with the CRA and to help ensure the smooth implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, the Bureau is extending the effective date of both the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the TILA-RESPA Amendments beyond the additional minimum period required by the CRA to October 3, 2015, as proposed. The Bureau is also making certain technical amendments to the Official Interpretations of Regulation Z to reflect the new effective date and technical corrections to two provisions of Regulation Z adopted by the TILA-RESPA Final Rule.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 142 (Friday, July 24, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 142 (Friday, July 24, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43911-43921]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18239]



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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 43911]]



BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

12 CFR Parts 1024 and 1026

[Docket No. CFPB-2015-0029]
RIN 3170-AA48


2013 Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Rule Under the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the Truth in Lending Act 
(Regulation Z) and Amendments; Delay of Effective Date

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Final rule; official interpretations; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is delaying until 
October 3, 2015, the effective date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and 
the related TILA-RESPA Amendments. In light of certain procedural 
requirements under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule and the TILA-RESPA Amendments cannot take effect on August 
1, 2015, as originally provided by those rules. To comply with the CRA 
and to help ensure the smooth implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule, the Bureau is extending the effective date of both the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule and the TILA-RESPA Amendments beyond the additional minimum 
period required by the CRA to October 3, 2015, as proposed. The Bureau 
is also making certain technical amendments to the Official 
Interpretations of Regulation Z to reflect the new effective date and 
technical corrections to two provisions of Regulation Z adopted by the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule.

DATES: The amendments in this final rule are effective on October 3, 
2015. Effective July 24, 2015, this final rule delays the effective 
date from August 1, 2015, until October 3, 2015, for the final rules 
amending 12 CFR parts 1024 and 1026 published December 31, 2013, at 78 
FR 79730, and February 19, 2015, at 80 FR 8767; and for amendatory 
instruction 5 amending Supplement I to 12 CFR part 1026, appearing on 
page 65325 in the Federal Register on November 3, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pedro De Oliveira, David Friend, or 
Joel Singerman, Counsels; or Laura Johnson or Amanda Quester, Senior 
Counsels, Office of Regulations, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 
1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552, at (202) 435-7700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary of the Final Rule

    In November 2013, pursuant to sections 1098 and 1100A of the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank 
Act),\1\ the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) 
issued the Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Under the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the Truth in Lending Act 
(Regulation Z) (TILA-RESPA Final Rule), combining certain disclosures 
that consumers receive in connection with applying for and closing on a 
mortgage loan.\2\ On January 20, 2015, the Bureau issued the Amendments 
to the 2013 Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Rule Under the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the Truth in Lending Act 
(Regulation Z) and the 2013 Loan Originator Rule Under the Truth in 
Lending Act (Regulation Z) (TILA-RESPA Amendments or Amendments).\3\ As 
published in the Federal Register, the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the 
TILA-RESPA Amendments (together, the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and 
Amendments) are effective on August 1, 2015. Because of an 
administrative error on the Bureau's part in complying with the 
Congressional Review Act (CRA) with respect to the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule, the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments cannot take effect 
until, at the earliest, August 15, 2015 (CRA Effective Date).
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    \1\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376, 2007, 2103-04, 2107-09 
(2010).
    \2\ 78 FR 79730 (Dec. 31, 2013). The TILA-RESPA Final Rule 
finalized a proposal the Bureau had issued on July 9, 2012, 77 FR 
51116 (Aug. 23, 2012) (2012 TILA-RESPA Proposal).
    \3\ 80 FR 8767 (Feb. 19, 2015). The TILA-RESPA Amendments 
finalized a proposal the Bureau had issued on October 10, 2014, 79 
FR 64336 (Oct. 29, 2014).
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    On June 24, 2015, the Bureau issued a proposed rule to delay the 
effective date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments to October 
3, 2015 (Proposed Rule). The Proposed Rule also included certain 
technical amendments to the Official Interpretations to Regulation Z to 
reflect the proposed new effective date.\4\
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    \4\ For purposes of this final rule, these technical amendments 
include a change to amendatory instruction 5, appearing at 79 FR 
65325 (Nov. 3, 2014), which will change the effective date of 
comment 43(e)(3)(iv)-2. The Amendments to the 2013 Mortgage Rules 
Under the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z) revised that comment 
to coordinate the points and fees cure with the tolerance cure 
available under the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. The Bureau proposed to 
change amendatory instruction 5 to conform with the new effective 
date for the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments and is finalizing 
that proposal in this final rule.
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    The Bureau is now issuing this final rule to delay the effective 
date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments to October 3, 2015, 
and to finalize the related technical amendments in the Proposed Rule. 
As discussed in more detail in parts VI and VII below, this final rule 
also makes certain technical corrections to the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. 
Specifically, the Bureau is: (1) Amending Sec.  1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and 
(iii)(A) to include, in the amount disclosed as ``Final'' for 
Adjustments and Other Credits, the amount disclosed under Sec.  
1026.38(j)(1)(iii) for certain personal property sales, thus conforming 
the calculation of Adjustments and Other Credits on the Closing 
Disclosure and Loan Estimate; and (2) amending Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv) 
to include, in the amount disclosed as Closing Costs Paid at Closing, 
lender credits disclosed under Sec.  1026.38(h)(3), thus conforming the 
disclosure of the borrower's cash to close in the Calculating Cash to 
Close and the Summaries of Transactions tables on the Closing 
Disclosure. These technical corrections are in line with existing 
industry expectations and informal Bureau guidance.

II. Background

A. The TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures Rulemaking

    Dodd-Frank Act sections 1032(f), 1098, and 1100A mandated that the 
Bureau establish a single disclosure scheme for use by lenders and 
creditors

[[Page 43912]]

in complying with the disclosure requirements of both the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Truth in Lending Act 
(TILA).\5\ Section 1098(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act amended RESPA section 
4(a) to require that the Bureau publish a single, integrated disclosure 
for mortgage loan transactions, including ``the disclosure requirements 
of this section and section 5, in conjunction with the disclosure 
requirements of [TILA].'' \6\ Similarly, section 1100A(5) of the Dodd-
Frank Act amended TILA section 105(b) to require that the Bureau 
publish a single, integrated disclosure for mortgage loan transactions, 
including ``the disclosure requirements of this title in conjunction 
with the disclosure requirements of [RESPA].'' \7\ The Bureau issued 
proposed integrated disclosure forms and rules for public comment on 
July 9, 2012, and issued the TILA-RESPA Final Rule on November 20, 
2013.\8\
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    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 5532(f), 2603; 15 U.S.C. 1604(b).
    \6\ 12 U.S.C. 2603(a).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 1604(b). The amendments to RESPA and TILA 
mandating a single, integrated disclosure are among numerous 
conforming amendments to existing Federal laws found in subtitle H 
of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (the Consumer 
Financial Protection Act of 2010 is title X of the Dodd-Frank Act). 
Subtitle C of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, ``Specific 
Bureau Authorities,'' codified at 12 U.S.C. chapter 53, subchapter 
V, part C, contains a similar provision. Specifically, section 
1032(f) of the Dodd-Frank Act provides that, by July 21, 2012, the 
Bureau ``shall propose for public comment rules and model 
disclosures that combine the disclosures required under [TILA] and 
sections 4 and 5 of [RESPA] into a single, integrated disclosure for 
mortgage loan transactions covered by those laws.'' 12 U.S.C. 
5532(f). The Bureau issued the 2012 TILA-RESPA Proposal pursuant to 
that mandate and the parallel mandates established by the conforming 
amendments to RESPA and TILA, discussed above.
    \8\ 77 FR 51116 (Aug. 23, 2012) (2012 TILA-RESPA Proposal); 78 
FR 79730 (Dec. 31, 2013) (TILA-RESPA Final Rule); see also CFPB, 
CFPB Proposes ``Know Before You Owe'' Mortgage Forms (July 9, 2012), 
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/pressreleases/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-proposes-know-before-you-owe-mortgage-forms/; Know 
Before You Owe: Introducing Our Proposed Mortgage Disclosure Forms, 
CFPB Blog (July 9, 2012), http://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/know-before-you-owe-introducing-our-proposed-mortgage-disclosure-forms/.
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    Upon issuing the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, the Bureau initiated 
extensive efforts to support industry implementation.\9\ Information 
regarding the Bureau's TILA-RESPA implementation initiative and 
available resources can be found on the Bureau's regulatory 
implementation Web site at www.consumerfinance.gov/regulatory-implementation/tila-respa.
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    \9\ These ongoing efforts include: (1) The publication of a 
small entity compliance guide and a guide to forms to help industry 
understand the new rules, including updates to the guides, as 
needed; (2) the publication of a readiness guide for institutions to 
evaluate their readiness and facilitate compliance with the new 
rules; (3) the publication of a disclosure timeline that illustrates 
the process and timing requirements of the new disclosure rules; (4) 
an ongoing series of webinars to address common interpretive 
questions, including an index of questions answered during those 
webinars; (5) roundtable meetings with industry, including 
creditors, settlement service providers, and technology vendors, to 
discuss and support their implementation efforts; (6) participation 
in dozens of conferences and forums; and (7) close collaboration 
with State and Federal regulators on implementation of the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule and Amendments, including coordination on 
consistent examination procedures. There were over 30,000 downloads 
of the Bureau's small entity compliance guide and other regulatory 
implementation support materials during June 2015 alone. 
Additionally, the Bureau has provided extensive informal guidance to 
support implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.
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B. Proposed Effective Date

    As adopted, the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments are effective 
on August 1, 2015. Section 801 of the CRA precludes a rule from taking 
effect until the Federal agency promulgating the rule submits a rule 
report, including a copy of the rule, to each House of Congress and to 
the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO).\10\ The TILA-RESPA Final Rule is a major rule under the CRA. 
Major rules, as defined under the CRA, have several additional 
procedural requirements, including that they cannot take effect until 
60 days after (1) publication in the Federal Register or (2) receipt by 
Congress, whichever is later.\11\ Although the TILA-RESPA Final Rule 
was published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2013, and 
received widespread public and Congressional attention, the Bureau 
discovered on June 16, 2015, that it inadvertently had not submitted 
the rule report to Congress. Later that day, the Bureau submitted the 
report to both Houses of Congress and the GAO. Under the CRA, the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule cannot take effect until, at the earliest, August 15, 
2015, two weeks after the originally scheduled effective date. The 
TILA-RESPA Amendments cannot take effect before the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule, as they amend the TILA-RESPA Final Rule.
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    \10\ 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    \11\ 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3), 804(2).
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    Given that the TILA-RESPA Final Rule would not take effect until 
the CRA Effective Date, the Bureau proposed a brief additional delay to 
October 3, 2015. In doing so, the Bureau discussed whether this 
additional delay could potentially benefit both consumers and industry 
more than having the new rules take effect on the CRA Effective Date. 
The Bureau recognized that adjusting operational systems from a target 
readiness date of August 1 to a target readiness date of August 15 
would likely pose implementation challenges for many organizations. The 
Bureau also recognized that a mid-month effective date could create 
additional challenges. Moreover, the Bureau noted that delays in the 
delivery of system updates had left some creditors with limited time to 
fully test all of their systems and system components to ensure that 
each system works with the others in an effective manner. These delays 
pose risks to smooth implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule when 
combined with the challenges for institutions of adjusting operational 
systems to a new effective date.
    The Bureau also explained in the Proposed Rule that a Saturday 
effective date could allow for smoother implementation by affording 
industry time over a weekend to launch new systems configurations and 
to test systems. The Bureau noted that a Saturday launch would be 
consistent with existing industry plans tied to the original Saturday 
August 1 effective date. The Bureau explained its concern that a longer 
delay in implementation would impose unnecessary costs both on 
consumers and on those segments of industry that have worked diligently 
for a timely implementation. A longer delay would also be inconsistent 
with the Bureau's goal of implementing the new disclosures on the 
earliest practically feasible date to support consumer understanding of 
mortgage loan transactions.

III. Summary of the Rulemaking Process

    On June 24, 2015, the Bureau issued the Proposed Rule with a 
request for public comment. The Proposed Rule was published in the 
Federal Register on June 26, 2015.\12\
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    \12\ 80 FR 36727 (June 26, 2015).
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    The Bureau solicited comment on all aspects of the Proposed Rule. 
In particular, the Bureau asked commenters to provide specific detail 
and any available data regarding current and planned practices, as well 
as relevant knowledge and specific facts about any benefits, costs, or 
other impacts on both industry and consumers of the Proposed Rule. The 
Bureau solicited comment regarding the proposed extension of the 
effective date to October 3, 2015, as well as alternative dates for 
extension, including the prospect of allowing the new rules to take 
effect on the CRA Effective Date.
    The comment period closed on July 7, 2015. In response to the 
Proposed Rule, the Bureau received more than 1,300

[[Page 43913]]

comments from industry trade associations, creditors, technology 
vendors, and other industry representatives, as well as consumer 
advocacy groups and others. In adopting this final rule, the Bureau has 
considered and discussed relevant comments in parts V and VI below. 
Many of the comments urged the Bureau to take actions beyond the scope 
of the Proposed Rule.

IV. Legal Authority

    The Bureau is issuing this final rule pursuant to its authority 
under TILA, RESPA, and the Dodd-Frank Act. Specifically, the Bureau is 
exercising its rulemaking authority pursuant to TILA section 105(a), 
RESPA section 19(a), and Dodd-Frank Act section 1022(b)(1) to delay the 
effective date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments, including 
related technical amendments in the Proposed Rule.
    The legal authority for the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the TILA-
RESPA Amendments is described in detail in the Legal Authority parts of 
the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the TILA-RESPA Amendments, 
respectively.\13\ As amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, TILA section 105(a) 
directs the Bureau to prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes 
of TILA and provides that such regulations may contain additional 
requirements, classifications, differentiations, or other provisions, 
and may provide for such adjustments and exceptions for all or any 
class of transactions, that the Bureau judges are necessary or proper 
to effectuate the purposes of TILA, to prevent circumvention or evasion 
thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith.\14\ Section 19(a) of 
RESPA authorizes the Bureau to prescribe such rules and regulations and 
to make such interpretations and grant such reasonable exemptions for 
classes of transactions as may be necessary to achieve the purposes of 
RESPA.\15\ Additionally, under Dodd-Frank Act section 1022(b)(1), the 
Bureau has general authority to prescribe rules ``as may be necessary 
or appropriate to enable the Bureau to administer and carry out the 
purposes and objectives of the Federal consumer financial laws, and to 
prevent evasions thereof.'' \16\ TILA and RESPA are Federal consumer 
financial laws.\17\ Accordingly, in issuing this final rule, the Bureau 
is exercising its authority under Dodd-Frank Act section 1022(b)(1) to 
prescribe rules under TILA, RESPA, and title X of the Dodd-Frank Act 
that carry out the purposes and objectives and prevent evasion of those 
laws. The Bureau believes that delaying the effective date to October 
3, 2015, will facilitate compliance with--and help ensure the smooth 
implementation of--the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments. Section 
1022(b)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act prescribes certain standards for 
rulemaking that the Bureau must follow in exercising its authority 
under section 1022(b)(1).\18\
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    \13\ 78 FR 79730, 79753-56 (Dec. 31, 2013); 80 FR 8767, 8768-70 
(Feb. 19, 2015).
    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 1604(a).
    \15\ 12 U.S.C. 2617(a).
    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(1).
    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 5481(12), (14).
    \18\ 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(2).
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    The Bureau is also making technical corrections to Sec.  
1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and (iii)(A) and Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv), relying on 
the same authority used to implement Sec.  1026.38(i) and (j) in the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule: TILA section 105(a); RESPA section 19(a); and 
Dodd-Frank Act sections 1032(a) and 1405(b).\19\
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    \19\ See 78 FR 79730, 80016, 80020 (Dec. 31, 2013). Sections 
1032(a) and 1405(b) of the Dodd-Frank Act are codified, 
respectively, at 15 U.S.C. 5532 and 15 U.S.C. 1601 note.
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V. Effective Date

    In the Proposed Rule, the Bureau requested comment specifically 
regarding the proposed extension of the effective date to October 3, 
2015, as well as alternative dates for extension, including allowing 
the new rules to take effect on the CRA Effective Date.

A. Comments Received

Extending the Effective Date Beyond the CRA Effective Date
    The vast majority of commenters who opined on the effective date--
including banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, industry service 
providers, trade associations, and individual commenters--supported 
extending the effective date beyond the CRA Effective Date. Consumer 
advocacy groups did not oppose the extension beyond the CRA Effective 
Date. Many commenters supported the proposed October 3, 2015, effective 
date without requesting any additional delay in the effective date. 
Other commenters recommended extending the effective date to various 
other dates, including September 3, 2015; November 1, 2015; December 
31, 2015; January 1, 2016; January 2, 2016; January 4, 2016; January 
14, 2016; or February 1, 2016.
    However, some commenters expressed concern about any delay of the 
effective date. For example, a few industry commenters suggested that 
their institutions or creditors more generally would be prepared for an 
August 1 effective date and that they consequently would not need or 
want any further delays. Several commenters were concerned about costs 
associated with any delay, including costs related to staffing, 
communications, scheduling, programming, and training, but they did not 
provide sufficient information about those costs from which to develop 
a reliable estimate of the costs on industry.
    Several commenters opposed any further delay beyond an early 
October effective date. For example, consumer advocacy groups urged 
that the effective date should not be delayed any further, in order to 
maximize the benefits of the new disclosures. Consumer advocacy groups 
commented that the new integrated disclosures will improve the format, 
content, and timing of information provided to many consumers in 
connection with the biggest purchase of their lives. Several industry 
commenters, including various trade associations, a technology vendor, 
and two banks, stated that adjusting operational systems from an 
effective date of August 1, 2015, to a later date poses extensive 
implementation challenges. As a result, industry has begun the process 
of making operational systems adjustments, even before finalization of 
the Proposed Rule, based on the proposed October 3, 2015, effective 
date.
    Support for extending the effective date was most often justified 
by commenters on the basis that industry needs more time to prepare. In 
particular, many commenters from industry, both individuals and 
institutions, cited delays in updating software and systems that 
industry relies on for compliance and also cited related delays in 
testing and training on such systems. Several industry commenters noted 
that extending the effective date would provide more time for creditors 
and service providers to clarify their understanding of the rule's 
extensive provisions, including through additional guidance issued by 
the Bureau. Some commenters, including trade organizations and a 
technology vendor, supported extending the effective date because 
implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments has been 
occurring while industry is implementing or adjusting to various other 
legal and regulatory changes, and at least one commenter noted that 
their resources are stretched thin as a result. Some industry 
commenters expressed the opinion that a delay in implementation would 
benefit consumers because industry would be better prepared to 
implement

[[Page 43914]]

the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments with more time.
    Industry commenters who sought a further delay in the effective 
date beyond October 3, 2015, generally relied on the same arguments 
raised by other commenters for any extension of the effective date. 
Among commenters who requested an additional delay in the effective 
date beyond October 3, 2015, the most common alternative date fell 
sometime near the beginning of 2016 (e.g., January 1, 2016; January 2, 
2016; or January 4, 2016). Industry commenters argued that they expect 
mortgage origination activity to slow during the end of the calendar 
year and the beginning of the new year, based on historical patterns, 
and a delay until early 2016 would thus permit a smoother transition. 
Some commenters, including a community bank and a credit union, 
requested a February 1, 2016, effective date instead of a date in 
January because implementation could be difficult around the end-of-
the-year holidays.
Specific Day of the Week or Time During the Month for the Effective 
Date
    Some industry commenters, including a national trade association, 
specifically supported a Saturday effective date (for example, October 
3, 2015) because it would allow companies to migrate their systems over 
a weekend. At least one commenter, a state trade association, supported 
a Friday effective date for similar reasons. Other commenters favored 
different days of the week for the effective date, such as a Monday or 
Thursday. For example, a credit union commenter favored a Thursday 
effective date because the TILA-RESPA Final Rule allows a three-
business-day window for delivering or placing the Loan Estimate in the 
mail, and thus a Thursday effective date would provide additional time 
to work through potential systems issues before the start of the 
following workweek. A credit union association commenter stated that a 
weekend effective date would require additional staff overtime costs 
and would therefore be undesirable.
    Several commenters, including a credit union and an individual 
commenter, stated that an effective date on the first day of the month 
would simplify implementation. However, a bank commenter stated that 
there would be additional staff challenges if the effective date is 
within the first few days after the end of a quarterly reporting 
period.
Technical Comments on the Effective Date
    The Bureau also received a number of technical comments about the 
effective date. One commenter suggested that the Bureau should amend an 
additional amendatory instruction, as discussed further below. Some 
commenters, including consumer advocacy groups, requested clarification 
as to whether all or only parts of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and 
Amendments will have a new effective date. Additionally, other 
commenters requested clarification that the proposal for the final rule 
to take effect immediately upon publication referred to the delay of 
the effective date, not to the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.
Other Comments
    The Bureau also received a number of comments that did not relate 
directly to the date when the TILA-RESPA Final Rule should become 
effective. Many banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, industry 
service providers, trade associations, and individual commenters from 
industry--including many who did not request an additional delay in the 
effective date beyond October 3, 2015--requested a safe harbor period, 
hold-harmless period, or other formal grace period after the effective 
date to insulate creditors from private liability or public 
enforcement. Many suggested that a grace period could apply to 
creditors that demonstrate good faith efforts to comply with the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule and Amendments. Some commenters arguing for an 
effective date later than October 3, 2015, asked for a grace period if 
the Bureau maintained the October 3, 2015, effective date. Some 
commenters supporting a grace period stated that it should last for a 
specific duration.
    Consumer advocacy groups opposed a formal grace period, expressing 
concerns about consumer protection, precedential value, and the 
Bureau's legal authority to implement a formal grace period. The 
consumer advocacy groups noted that regulators already have the 
discretion not to sanction creditors and that various existing 
provisions of TILA protect creditors acting in good faith.
    Some industry commenters, including various credit unions and their 
trade associations, requested an optional ``dual compliance'' period 
before the effective date. During such a dual compliance period, the 
commenters stated that creditors should have the option to test their 
systems by using the new integrated disclosures in real-life 
transactions or continue using the current disclosures. A law firm 
commenter that supported an optional dual compliance period stated that 
creditors that are already prepared for an August 2015 effective date 
should not be penalized by being forced to wait until October or later.
    Other industry commenters, including a technology vendor and a 
title underwriter, opposed a dual compliance period and stated that it 
would increase the risk of errors, create a competitive disadvantage 
for some (likely smaller) industry members not using the new 
disclosures, complicate the flow of information for secondary market 
investors, and increase the risk of consumer confusion.
    The Bureau also received a number of other comments that did not 
relate, even indirectly, to the effective date and therefore are not 
discussed in this preamble.\20\
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    \20\ For example, the Bureau received a large number of comments 
asking it to revisit the requirement to identify owner's title 
insurance as ``optional'' and the method of disclosure of owner's 
and lender's title insurance when there is a discount for 
simultaneous issuance of both policies. A large number of commenters 
also suggested that the Bureau should require creditors' disclosures 
to separately itemize an appraiser's charge versus related charges 
for an appraisal management company. The Bureau considered the same 
arguments presented by these commenters in the TILA-RESPA Final Rule 
and did not open its decisions to notice-and-comment rulemaking in 
the Proposed Rule. Therefore, these comments are outside the scope 
of this rulemaking.
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B. Final Rule

Effective Date of October 3, 2015
    The Bureau is adopting an October 3, 2015, effective date for the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments, as proposed.
    The Bureau concludes that implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule and Amendments will provide significant benefits to consumers and 
that the earliest practically feasible implementation date remains 
essential to aid consumer understanding of mortgage loan transactions. 
The TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments significantly strengthen and 
streamline the mortgage loan disclosures provided to consumers. The 
Bureau believes the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments will deliver 
significant value to consumers, among other ways, by helping: (1) To 
ensure that consumers understand the costs, risks, and benefits of 
their loans at a time when they can still negotiate the terms of, or 
walk away from, the transaction; and (2) to minimize changes at the 
closing table and make it easier for consumers to understand how and 
why any costs may have changed.\21\
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    \21\ 78 FR 79730, 80071 (Dec. 31, 2013).

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[[Page 43915]]

    However, given the CRA requirements discussed above, the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule and Amendments cannot take effect on August 1, 2015, and 
therefore the effective date must be moved to the CRA Effective Date or 
later. Having reviewed and considered the comments, the Bureau 
continues to believe that a brief delay beyond the CRA Effective Date 
may minimize costs to consumers and those segments of industry that 
have worked diligently to implement on time, while allowing all 
industry participants time to adjust their operations to a new 
effective date. The Bureau recognizes that the unusual circumstances of 
this rulemaking place extensive implementation challenges on industry 
in stopping and restarting progress toward implementation.
    The Bureau has considered comments supporting both earlier and 
later effective dates than October 3, 2015. The Bureau continues to 
believe that a date before the beginning of October would pose large 
implementation challenges for much of industry, given the time required 
to adjust to a new effective date. Further delaying implementation to 
the beginning of 2016, as many commenters suggested, would impose large 
costs on consumers denied the benefits of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. 
Moreover, multiple commenters indicated that industry would incur 
additional costs should the Bureau finalize a different effective date 
than October 3, 2015, because many industry participants of necessity 
have relied on the Bureau's proposed October 3, 2015, date in taking 
steps towards adjusting their implementation schedules and operations. 
Absent compelling evidence demonstrating the objective superiority of a 
different effective date, the Bureau is reluctant to impose further 
costs on industry.
    The Bureau has also considered the comments regarding the day of 
the week and time during the month. While industry commenters did not 
express a uniform preference for Saturday, many expressed a preference 
for a weekend day. Additionally, the Bureau notes that, since November 
2013, industry has been preparing for implementation of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule with the understanding that implementation would occur on a 
Saturday, at the beginning of the month. Again, absent compelling 
arguments to the contrary, the Bureau believes it is preferable to 
minimize disruptions to settled industry expectations.
    The Bureau acknowledges that at least one commenter expressed 
concern about an implementation date near the start of a quarter. 
However, this view was not widely expressed. Many commenters who 
expressed a preference for another effective date, e.g., January 1, 
2016, also recommended one near the start of a quarter. Taking into 
account the various opinions expressed in the comments, the Bureau 
believes that an effective date near the start of a quarter will not 
pose unreasonable implementation challenges to industry. Moreover, the 
Bureau must balance the costs of additional delay to consumers and 
those segments of industry that have worked diligently to prepare, the 
general concern about mid-month implementation, and the need for some 
additional time for industry to adjust to the new effective date. 
Balancing those concerns, the Bureau believes that an effective date of 
October 3, 2015, is the earliest practically feasible date.
    The Bureau recognizes, as it always has, that the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule and Amendments require major operational changes for industry and 
close coordination among many different parties. At the same time, the 
Bureau concludes that the original nearly 21-month implementation 
period together with two additional months, coupled with the Bureau's 
extensive regulatory implementation support efforts, should afford all 
participants a reasonable opportunity to come into compliance with the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments by October 3, 2015.
Technical Issues Regarding Effective Date
    In response to some commenters' requests for clarification, this 
final rule changes the effective date to October 3, 2015, for all 
provisions of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.\22\ The 
technical amendments also take effect on October 3, 2015, the same 
effective date as the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.\23\ Some 
commenters specifically asked whether the change in effective date to 
October 3, 2015, applies to the post-consummation notice requirements 
including Sec. Sec.  1026.20(e) and 1026.39(d)(5). As discussed in the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule, implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act disclosures 
in Sec. Sec.  1026.20(e) and 1026.39(d)(5) becomes mandatory on the 
effective date, now October 3, 2015.\24\ As discussed further in part 
VII below, the portions of this final rule related to the delay in the 
effective date to October 3, 2015, are effective immediately upon 
publication in order to move the effective date for the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule and Amendments and the amendatory instruction discussed in 
note 4 from August 1, 2015 to October 3, 2015. As a result of this 
final rule, the provisions of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments, 
as well as the technical amendments and corrections made in this final 
rule, are not effective immediately upon publication, but on October 3, 
2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ As explained in the section-by-section analysis of Sec.  
1026.43 below, this final rule also delays from August 1, 2015, 
until October 3, 2015, an amendatory instruction issued in 
conjunction with the Amendments to the 2013 Mortgage Rules Under the 
Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z).
    \23\ This final rule also makes technical corrections to two 
provisions in Sec.  1026.38, which are effective on October 3, 2015, 
the same effective date as the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.
    \24\ 78 FR 79730, 79753 (Dec. 31, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to one law firm commenter's assertion that the Proposed 
Rule fails to amend the amendatory instruction to Sec.  
1026.36(g)(2)(ii) in the TILA-RESPA Amendments by revising the 
effective date from August 1, 2015, to October 3, 2015, the Bureau 
disagrees. The Bureau proposed to change the effective date of both the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule and the TILA-RESPA Amendments to October 3, 2015. 
The proposed change to the effective date would apply to all amendatory 
instructions for both rules, including the TILA-RESPA Amendments' 
amendatory instruction to Sec.  1026.36(g)(2)(ii).
Requests for a Formal Grace Period or a Dual Compliance Period
    With regard to some commenters' requests for a formal grace period 
or a dual compliance period, the Bureau considered and rejected similar 
arguments when it finalized the TILA-RESPA Final Rule.\25\ The Bureau 
did not seek comments on these issues in this rulemaking and, for the 
reasons expressed in the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and herein, is not 
instituting either a formal grace period or a dual compliance period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See, e.g., 78 FR 79730, 80066-68, 80072-73 (2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Although many commenters requested a formal grace period, the 
Bureau continues to believe that the original implementation period 
from November 2013 to August 2015, coupled with the Bureau's extensive 
regulatory implementation support initiative, afforded creditors 
adequate time to implement the TILA-RESPA Final Rule under the original 
effective date. The Bureau also believes that the additional time 
afforded by the October 3 effective date adequately accounts for the 
challenges of adjusting to a new date.
    At the same time, the Bureau recognizes, as it always has, that the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule poses

[[Page 43916]]

significant implementation challenges for industry. The Bureau 
continues to believe that the approach expressed in Director Cordray's 
letter to members of Congress on June 3, 2015, remains appropriate:

    [O]ur oversight of the implementation of the Rule will be 
sensitive to the progress made by those entities that have squarely 
focused on making good-faith efforts to come into compliance with 
the Rule on time. My statement . . . is consistent with the approach 
we took to implementation of the Title XIV mortgage rules in the 
early months after the effective dates in January 2014, which has 
worked out well.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Letter from Director Richard Cordray, CFPB, to 
Representatives Andy Barr and Carolyn B. Maloney, U.S. House of 
Representatives (June 3, 2015). See also Know Before You Owe: You'll 
Get 3 Days to Review Your Mortgage Closing Documents, CFPB Blog 
(June 3, 2015), http://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/know-before-you-owe-youll-get-3-days-to-review-your-mortgage-closing-documents/.

    The Bureau considered arguments regarding dual compliance when it 
issued the TILA-RESPA Final Rule in November 2013 in the context of 
evaluating whether different creditors should be subject to different 
effective dates.\27\ While the Bureau recognizes that the delay in the 
effective date imposes costs on the many creditors who have worked 
diligently to be ready for the original August 1 effective date, the 
Bureau continues to share the concerns of commenters both to the 2012 
TILA-RESPA Proposal and to the Proposed Rule finalized here that dual 
compliance could be confusing to consumers and complicated for 
industry, including vendors, the secondary market, and institutions who 
act both as correspondent lenders and originators. The Bureau is not 
persuaded that a dual compliance period would be beneficial. For these 
reasons, the Bureau declines to institute a dual compliance period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See, e.g., 78 FR 79730, 80066, 80068, 80073 (2013) 
(discussing comments requesting a bifurcated implementation period 
depending on the size of the institution).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Section-by-Section Analysis

Section 1026.1 Authority, Purpose, Coverage, Organization, Enforcement, 
and Liability

1(d) Organization
1(d)(5)
    Comment 1(d)(5)-1 provides clarity regarding the application of the 
effective date to transactions covered by the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and 
Amendments. The Bureau proposed conforming amendments to comment 
1(d)(5)-1 to reflect the proposed change in effective date to October 
3, 2015. The Bureau received no comments specifically relating to 
comment 1(d)(5)-1, other than the general comments relating to the 
effective date that are discussed in part V above. The Bureau is 
finalizing comment 1(d)(5)-1 as proposed.

Section 1026.19 Certain Mortgage and Variable-Rate Transactions

19(g) Special Information Booklet at Time of Application
19(g)(2) Permissible Changes
    Comment 19(g)(2)-3 refers to the general restriction on changing 
the settlement cost booklet's title under Sec.  1026.19(g)(2)(iv). The 
Bureau proposed conforming amendments to comment 19(g)(2)-3 to reflect 
the proposed change in effective date to October 3, 2015. The Bureau 
received no comments specific to the amendments to comment 19(g)(2)-3, 
other than the general comments relating to the effective date that are 
discussed in part V above. The Bureau is finalizing the amendments to 
comment 19(g)(2)-3 as proposed.

Section 1026.38 Content of Disclosures for Certain Mortgage 
Transactions (Closing Disclosure)

38(i) Calculating Cash to Close
38(i)(8) Adjustments and Other Credits
    The Calculating Cash to Close table in the Closing Disclosure under 
Sec.  1026.38(i) generally mirrors the format of, and updates the 
amounts shown on, the Calculating Cash to Close table in the Loan 
Estimate under Sec.  1026.37(h). To determine the amount of cash or 
other funds the consumer is to provide at consummation, the tables must 
account for the sales price of any tangible personal property being 
sold in a purchase real estate transaction that is excluded from the 
contract sales price, as disclosed under Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iii). The 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule does not specify a place within the Calculating 
Cash to Close table on the Closing Disclosure for this amount. However, 
comment 37(h)(1)(vii)-6, relating to the Calculating Cash to Close 
table on the Loan Estimate, indicates that the sales price of 
additional personal property can be included in the Adjustments and 
Other Credits amount. To conform this aspect of the Closing Disclosure 
to the Loan Estimate, the Bureau is amending Sec.  1026.38(i)(8)(ii) to 
include the amount disclosed under Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iii) in the 
amount disclosed as ``Final'' for Adjustments and Other Credits. This 
change will ensure that the Calculating Cash to Close table on the 
Closing Disclosure accurately reflects the total amount of cash or 
other funds that the consumer must provide at consummation and will 
complete the alignment of the disclosure of Adjustments and Other 
Credits between the Closing Disclosure and the Loan Estimate. The 
Bureau believes this is consistent with industry expectations of the 
proper disclosure of the Adjustments and Other Credits on both the Loan 
Estimate and Closing Disclosure and will reduce uncertainty in 
implementation by confirming that the calculation of Adjustments and 
Other Credits is the same on both the Closing Disclosure and the Loan 
Estimate.
    The Bureau is also making a conforming change to Sec.  
1026.38(i)(8)(iii)(A). That paragraph requires creditors to disclose 
the basis for any difference between the Adjustments and Other Credits 
disclosed on the Loan Estimate and the Adjustments and Other Credits 
disclosed as ``Final'' on the Closing Disclosure (unless the difference 
is due to rounding). As explained in comment 38(i)-3, creditors may 
disclose the basis for the difference by providing a general or 
specific line cross-reference to the Summaries of Transactions table. 
This conforming change will permit creditors to cross-reference to the 
personal property sales price disclosed under Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iii) 
as a basis for the calculation of the amount disclosed under Sec.  
1026.38(i)(8)(ii). This modification is unlikely to change creditors' 
practice because creditors may provide consumers with a more general 
cross-reference to the Summaries of Transactions table and need not 
provide a specific line cross-reference.
    These changes to Sec.  1026.38(i)(8) will also ensure that the 
amount disclosed as due to or from the consumer in the Calculating Cash 
to Close table on the Closing Disclosure matches the amount disclosed 
as due to or from the consumer in the Summaries of Transactions table 
on the Closing Disclosure. As alignment between these two disclosures 
is required by existing comment 38(i)(9)(ii)-1, this change should 
facilitate implementation and is consistent with existing industry 
preparations and informal guidance provided by the Bureau.
38(j) Summary of Borrower's Transaction
38(j)(1) Itemization of Amounts Due From Borrower
38(j)(1)(iv)
    In the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, Sec.  1026.38(j) provides for a 
summary of

[[Page 43917]]

the borrower's transaction on the Closing Disclosure. The total amount 
due from or to the consumer at the real estate closing in this 
Summaries of Transactions table should match the disclosure of the 
``Final'' cash to close on the Calculating Cash to Close table pursuant 
to Sec.  1026.38(i)(9)(ii) (as explained in comment 38(i)(9)(ii)-1).
    For the Summaries of Transactions table, the disclosure of the 
total amount of closing costs that are designated borrower-paid at 
closing is specified in Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv). In the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule, Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv) provides that the total amount of 
closing costs disclosed that are designated borrower-paid at closing is 
calculated pursuant to Sec.  1026.38(h)(2). As originally proposed in 
the 2012 TILA-RESPA Proposal, Sec.  1026.38(h)(2) included the lender 
credits described in Sec.  1026.38(h)(3).\28\ In the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule, however, the Bureau removed the lender credits set forth in Sec.  
1026.38(h)(3) from the calculation in Sec.  1026.38(h)(2) in order to 
reconcile the Calculating Cash to Close table in Sec.  1026.38(i). In 
doing so, the Bureau inadvertently failed to adjust Sec.  
1026.38(j)(1)(iv) to include the lender credits disclosed pursuant to 
Sec.  1026.38(h)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ 77 FR 51116, 51324 (Aug. 23, 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As a result, under the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, the total amount due 
from or to the consumer at the real estate closing in the Summaries of 
Transactions table may not match the ``Final'' amount of cash to close 
disclosed in the Calculating Cash to Close table under Sec.  
1026.38(i)(9)(ii). To correct this, the Bureau is modifying Sec.  
1026.38(j)(1)(iv) to require disclosure of the sum of the amount 
disclosed under Sec.  1026.38(h)(2) and the amount of any lender 
credits disclosed as a negative number under Sec.  1026.38(h)(3). The 
lender credits described in Sec.  1026.38(h)(3) are appropriately and 
necessarily included in the summary of the borrower's transaction as an 
offsetting credit to the amount due from the borrower at closing. This 
change makes the Summaries of Transactions table accurately reflect the 
total amount due from or to the consumer at the real estate closing; 
comports the disclosure of the ``Final'' amount of cash to close in the 
Calculating Cash to Close table with the amount disclosed in the 
Summaries of Transactions table as required by existing comment 
38(i)(9)(ii)-1; and is consistent with informal guidance provided by 
the Bureau.

Section 1026.43 Minimum Standards for Transactions Secured by a 
Dwelling

43(e) Qualified Mortgages
43(e)(3) Limits on Points and Fees for Qualified Mortgages
43(e)(3)(iv)
    In addition to proposing the amendments discussed above, the Bureau 
proposed one amendment to an amendatory instruction that relates to the 
Amendments to the 2013 Mortgage Rules Under the Truth in Lending Act 
(Regulation Z).\29\ Specifically, the Bureau proposed to amend 
instruction 5, which is drafted so the comment referenced would take 
effect on August 1, 2015, to coordinate with the original effective 
date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. The amendatory instruction relating 
to comment 43(e)(3)(iv)-2, Relationship to RESPA tolerance cure, will 
replace an existing comment clarifying the relationship between 
tolerance cures under RESPA and Regulation Z points and fees cures with 
a comment that incorporates the tolerance cure provisions of Sec.  
1026.19(f)(2)(v) under the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. The Bureau proposed 
to have the instruction take effect on October 3, 2015, instead of 
August 1, 2015, to preserve this coordination. The Bureau received no 
comments specifically relating to this proposed amendment. The Bureau 
is finalizing this change to the amendatory instruction as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 79 FR 65300, 65325 (Nov. 3, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VII. Administrative Procedure Act

5 U.S.C. 553(b)

    In the Proposed Rule, the Bureau provided notice and an opportunity 
for public comment with respect to its proposal to delay the effective 
date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments and to make certain 
technical amendments to the Official Interpretations of Regulation Z 
related to the proposed new effective date. In this final rule, the 
Bureau is also finalizing technical corrections to Sec.  
1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and (iii)(A) and Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv). The Bureau 
did not seek public comment on these technical corrections but finds 
that there is good cause to publish them without notice and comment. 
Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), notice and opportunity 
for public comment are not required if the Bureau finds that notice and 
public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.\30\ The Bureau has determined that notice and 
comment are unnecessary because the technical corrections to Sec.  
1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and (iii)(A) and Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv) in this 
final rule correct inadvertent, technical errors and merely align and 
harmonize those provisions with other provisions of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule. Furthermore, the technical corrections clarify the 
operation of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule in a way that is consistent with 
informal guidance provided by the Bureau and with industry 
preparations. The Bureau believes that there is minimal, if any, basis 
for substantive disagreement with these technical corrections. 
Therefore, the technical corrections to Sec.  1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and 
(iii)(A) and Sec.  1026.38(j)(1)(iv) are adopted in final form.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 U.S.C. 553(d)

    Section 553(d) of the APA generally requires that the effective 
date of a final rule be at least 30 days after publication of that 
final rule, except for (1) a substantive rule which grants or 
recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction; (2) interpretive 
rules or statements of policy; or (3) as otherwise provided by the 
agency for good cause found and published with the rule.\31\ The Bureau 
finds that there is good cause for making the portions of this final 
rule related to delaying the effective date effective immediately upon 
publication in the Federal Register. These portions do not establish 
any requirements; instead, they delay the effective date of the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule and Amendments and the amendatory instruction 
referenced in note 4 until October 3, 2015. Therefore, under section 
553(d)(1) of the APA, the Bureau is publishing these portions less than 
30 days before the effective date of this final rule because they are 
substantive rules which grant or recognize an exemption or relieve a 
restriction. Further, delaying the effective date of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule and Amendments will ensure an orderly change to the new 
integrated disclosures and will synchronize the effective date of the 
Amendments with that of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. Thus, this final 
rule will facilitate compliance and help reduce industry and consumer 
confusion and market disruption. Therefore, the Bureau also finds it 
has good cause pursuant to section 553(d)(3) of the APA to dispense 
with the 30-day delayed effective date requirement for this final rule 
because, on balance, the need to implement immediately the delay of the 
August 1, 2015, effective

[[Page 43918]]

date to October 3, 2015, outweighs the need for affected parties to 
prepare for this delay.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

VIII. Section 1022(b)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act

A. Overview

    In developing this final rule, the Bureau has considered potential 
benefits, costs, and impacts.\32\ The Bureau has consulted, or offered 
to consult, with the prudential regulators; the Federal Housing Finance 
Agency; the Federal Trade Commission; the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; the 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the 
Inspector General; the U.S. Department of the Treasury; the U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs; and the U.S. Securities and Exchange 
Commission. The Bureau's consultation and offer of consultation 
included assessing consistency with any prudential, market, or systemic 
objectives administered by such agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Specifically, section 1022(b)(2)(A) of the Dodd-Frank Act 
calls for the Bureau to consider the potential benefits and costs of 
a regulation to consumers and covered persons, including the 
potential reduction of access by consumers to consumer financial 
products or services; the impact on depository institutions and 
credit unions with $10 billion or less in total assets as described 
in section 1026 of the Dodd-Frank Act; and the impact on consumers 
in rural areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Bureau requested comment on the preliminary analysis presented 
in the Proposed Rule, as well as submissions of additional data that 
could inform the Bureau's analysis of the benefits, costs, and impacts 
of the Proposed Rule. Because the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments 
cannot take effect before the CRA Effective Date, the Bureau has 
evaluated the benefits, costs, and impacts of this final rule, assuming 
that the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments would become effective on 
August 15 absent this final rule. The Bureau has relied on a variety of 
data sources to consider the potential benefits, costs, and impacts of 
this final rule. In some instances, the requisite data are not 
available or are quite limited. Data with which to quantify the 
benefits of this final rule are particularly limited. As a result, 
portions of this analysis rely in part on general economic principles 
to provide a qualitative discussion of the benefits, costs, and impacts 
of this final rule.
    As a result of this final rule, affected covered persons will incur 
costs associated with delaying implementation from the CRA Effective 
Date until October 3, 2015. These costs include communication with and 
training of staff, software programming, vendor and outside supplier 
coordination, advertising and product development costs, and broker and 
settlement agent coordination. The Bureau believes that these costs are 
likely higher for larger creditors and creditors that rely primarily on 
proprietary systems rather than on third-party software vendors.\33\ 
While many of these costs are largely incurred with the initial delay 
to the CRA Effective Date, affected entities may incur additional costs 
for subsequent delay beyond the CRA Effective Date, including ongoing 
training, testing, and opportunity costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ As in the section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule, the Bureau believes that approximately 5 percent of 
creditors do not rely on third-party vendors. See 78 FR 79730, 
80081, 80101 (Dec. 31, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, consumers will incur costs associated with delaying the 
effective date. These costs will consist mostly of delayed benefits 
described in the section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule, primarily improved consumer understanding of mortgage loan 
transactions and an increased ability to shop for a mortgage loan. The 
longer the delay in the implementation of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and 
Amendments, the greater will be the cost to consumers from not 
receiving the benefits of the new integrated disclosures.
    This final rule amends the effective date of the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule and Amendments. In the section 1022(b)(2) analyses of the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule and Amendments, the Bureau previously considered the 
costs, benefits, and impact of the rules. This final rule also contains 
technical corrections to two provisions of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. 
These technical corrections are necessary to resolve minor 
inconsistencies in the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and are consistent with 
informal guidance provided by the Bureau. Thus, the Bureau believes 
that creditors will not be adversely affected by these technical 
corrections and will enjoy additional certainty when originating loans. 
Given that the Bureau believes that the vast majority of creditors 
would have implemented their systems in a manner consistent with these 
technical corrections regardless of this final rule, the Bureau does 
not believe that these technical corrections will have a discernible 
impact on consumers.

B. Potential Benefits and Costs to Consumers and Covered Persons

    The primary consumers who will be affected by this final rule are 
consumers that engage in mortgage shopping between the CRA Effective 
Date and October 3, 2015. Those consumers will be harmed by not 
receiving the benefits of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments. 
Consumers shopping for a mortgage during the period of delay in the 
effective date will not receive those benefits, even if they close on 
their loans after the delayed effective date. The benefits of the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule and Amendments include easier-to-understand 
disclosures and the requirement that the creditor deliver the Closing 
Disclosure containing the settlement information as well as the TILA 
disclosures at least three days before closing.\34\ Some consumers may 
benefit if the delay results in the industry using the time before 
October 3 for more system testing or other preparation, leading to a 
smoother transition to the new integrated disclosures. As in the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule, the Bureau cannot quantify either the benefit or the 
cost of this final rule to consumers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ These and other benefits are described in detail in the 
section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule. 78 FR 
79730, 80073-89 (Dec. 31, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As in the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, for purposes of this section 
1022(b)(2) analysis, the Bureau has considered three categories of 
affected covered persons that will benefit or incur adjustment costs: 
Creditors that engage in mortgage lending, mortgage brokers, and 
settlement agents.\35\ The Bureau estimates that, in 2014, there were 
about 11,150 creditors engaged in mortgage lending, about 7,000 
mortgage brokers, and about 7,700 settlement agent firms.\36\ As noted 
in part V above, due

[[Page 43919]]

to industry's implementation challenges, the Bureau believes that the 
delay of the effective date beyond the CRA Effective Date could benefit 
many of these creditors, mortgage brokers, and settlement agents, by 
allowing them more time to transition to the new integrated disclosures 
required by the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments and by diminishing 
the magnitude of any potential disruptions associated with the 
transition. The delay in the effective date could also benefit them to 
the extent that it allows them to delay incurring any of the costs 
described in the TILA-RESPA Final Rule section 1022(b)(2) analysis.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ Some service providers, such as software vendors, will 
incur costs, as well, as they update their products to comply with 
this final rule, but these are not covered persons for the purposes 
of this analysis.
    \36\ The primary source of data used in this analysis is 2013 
data collected under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). The 
empirical analysis also uses data from the 4th quarter 2013 bank and 
thrift Call Reports, and the 4th quarter 2013 credit union Call 
Reports from the National Credit Union Administration, to identify 
financial institutions and their characteristics. Unless otherwise 
specified, the numbers provided include appropriate projections made 
to account for any missing information, for example, any 
institutions that do not report under HMDA. The Bureau also utilizes 
data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of 
Labor.
    The Bureau analyzes data from all creditors, both the ones that 
report under HMDA and the ones that do not, with the exception of 
non-depository institutions that do not report under HMDA. For HMDA 
reporters, the Bureau uses the data reported. For HMDA non-
reporters, the Bureau uses projections based on the match of the 
Call Report data with HMDA.
    \37\ See 78 FR 79730, 80073-89 (Dec. 31, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Creditors and other affected persons might also incur costs due to 
the delay of the effective date of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and 
Amendments. The Bureau estimated in its section 1022(b)(2) analysis of 
the TILA-RESPA Final Rule that 95 percent of creditors (about 10,600) 
rely on third-party vendors for their software, and the Bureau 
estimates that these creditors will not incur significant software 
programming costs.\38\ However, for the 5 percent of creditors 
(approximately 560) that do not rely on third-party vendors, the change 
of the effective date will require additional programming expense. 
While a portion of this cost is already imposed by the delay in the 
effective date to the CRA Effective Date and therefore is not imposed 
by this final rule, the Bureau believes that some of this cost might be 
greater with the delay of the effective date to October 3. The Bureau 
specifically requested comment on the extent of programming expense but 
received no specific comments thereon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ Id. at 80081, 80101.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Moreover, the delay might also require rearranging already 
established operational schedules and business processes. This 
potential disruption might be costly and require additional effort from 
employees and additional expenses due to, for example, overtime pay. 
This potential disruption might especially affect creditors not relying 
primarily on third-party vendors. The Bureau believes that mortgage 
brokers and settlement agents will incur similar coordination and 
implementation costs.
    Finally, affected covered persons will incur costs in internal 
communications, training, and software re-programming, among other 
costs. The Bureau believes that the change in the effective date might 
require communicating with any external suppliers of forms and booklets 
and potentially ordering additional forms in the current format. Any 
pre-ordered Loan Estimates or Closing Disclosures that comply with the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments will still be usable after October 
3, and the Bureau does not believe that the current forms are 
significantly more expensive than the ones that are required by the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments; thus, there should be no net 
increase in expense of procuring forms and booklets. While many of 
these costs are already imposed as a result of the delay in the 
effective date to the CRA Effective Date (and therefore are not costs 
imposed by this final rule), the Bureau believes that some of the costs 
may be greater because this final rule further delays the effective 
date until October 3.
    The Bureau is uncertain as to the extent of the foregoing costs. 
The Bureau requested comments on the magnitude of such costs, but there 
were no comments submitted that provided a representative basis for 
quantification. The Bureau is therefore unable to quantify the costs 
for industry participants associated with delaying the effective date 
from the CRA Effective Date to October 3, 2015.

C. Impact on Depository Institutions With No More Than $10 Billion in 
Assets

    The vast majority of the creditors described above have no more 
than $10 billion in assets. The Bureau believes that depository 
institutions with no more than $10 billion in assets will not be 
differentially affected by the extension of the effective date.

D. Impact on Access to Credit

    The Bureau does not believe that there will be an adverse impact on 
credit availability resulting from this final rule.

E. Impact on Rural Areas

    The Bureau does not believe that this final rule will have a unique 
impact on consumers in rural areas.

IX. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),\39\ as amended by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996,\40\ requires each 
agency to consider the potential impact of its regulations on small 
entities, including small businesses, small governmental units, and 
small nonprofit organizations. The RFA defines a ``small business'' as 
a business that meets the size standard developed by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) pursuant to the Small Business Act.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ Public Law 96-354, 94 Stat. 1164 (1980).
    \40\ Public Law 104-121, section 241, 110 Stat. 847, 864-65 
(1996).
    \41\ 5 U.S.C. 601(3). The Bureau may establish an alternative 
definition after consultation with SBA and an opportunity for public 
comment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The RFA generally requires an agency to conduct an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis and a final regulatory flexibility 
analysis of any proposed rule subject to notice-and-comment rulemaking 
requirements, unless the agency certifies that the proposed rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The Bureau also is subject to certain additional procedures 
under the RFA involving the convening of a panel to consult with small 
business representatives prior to proposing a rule for which an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required.
    In the Proposed Rule, the Bureau concluded that the proposed 
extension of the effective date, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
and that an initial regulatory flexibility analysis was therefore not 
required. This final rule adopts the Proposed Rule substantially as 
proposed.\42\ Therefore, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ In addition to adopting the Proposed Rule substantially as 
proposed, this final rule also includes technical corrections to two 
provisions of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule to resolve potential 
inconsistencies in the TILA-RESPA Final Rule requirements that could 
have resulted in creditors being inadvertently out of compliance. 
Under section 601(2) of the RFA, ``rule'' means ``any rule for which 
the agency publishes a general notice of proposed rulemaking 
pursuant to section 553(b) of this title, or any other law[.]'' As 
discussed in Part VII above, the Bureau has found that notice and 
comment are unnecessary for the issuance of these technical 
corrections. Therefore, these technical corrections are not 
considered in the Bureau's RFA certification analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed above, this final rule extends the effective date of 
the TILA-RESPA Final Rule and Amendments and technical amendments to 
October 3, 2015.

A. Number and Classes of Affected Entities

    The following table summarizes the estimated number and type of 
entities that will be affected by this final rule.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ The Bureau assumes that all mortgage creditor non-
depository institutions are below the Small Business 
Administration's threshold for small entities (annual receipts of 
$38.5 million). See 13 CFR 121.201 (listing applicable size standard 
for NAICS code 522292). Consistent with the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, 
the Bureau has not reviewed the impact on software vendors for the 
purposes of this analysis. 78 FR 79730, 80089-100 (Dec. 31, 2013).

[[Page 43920]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Affected     Small affected
                   Category                                NAICS codes               entities        entities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortgage Creditors............................  522110, 522120, 522130, 522292..          11,150          10,403
Mortgage Brokers..............................  522310..........................           7,007           6,895
Settlement Agents.............................  541191..........................           7,719           7,580
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Bureau believes that, as in the section 1022(b)(2) analysis of 
the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, 5 percent of all creditors, including small 
creditors, do not utilize software vendors.\44\ Small creditors who do 
not use software vendors could incur greater costs, but the fraction of 
small creditors incurring these costs (at most 5 percent) is not 
substantial.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ 78 FR 79730, 80081 (Dec. 31, 2013).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Certification

    Accordingly, the undersigned hereby certifies that this final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

X. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.), Federal agencies are generally required to seek Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for information collection 
requirements prior to implementation. Under the PRA, the Bureau may not 
conduct or sponsor and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
person is not required to respond to an information collection unless 
the information collection displays a currently valid control number 
assigned by OMB. The collections of information related to the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule, Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Under the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the Truth In Lending Act 
(Regulation Z) (78 FR 79730), have been previously reviewed and 
approved by OMB in accordance with the PRA and assigned OMB Control 
Numbers 3170-0015 (Regulation Z) and 3170-0016 (Regulation X). These 
OMB approvals will become active on October 3, 2015, the effective date 
of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule as established herein.
    The Bureau has determined that this final rule would not have any 
new or revised information collection requirements (recordkeeping, 
reporting, or disclosure requirements) on covered entities or members 
of the public that would constitute collections of information 
requiring OMB approval under the PRA.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1026

    Advertising, Consumer protection, Credit, Credit unions, Mortgages, 
National banks, Recordkeeping and recordkeeping requirements, 
Reporting, Savings associations, Truth in lending.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Bureau amends 
Regulation Z, 12 CFR part 1026, as set forth below:

PART 1026--TRUTH IN LENDING (REGULATION Z)

0
1. The authority citation for part 1026 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 2601, 2603-2605, 2607, 2609, 2617, 5511, 
5512, 5532, 5581; 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.


0
2. In amendatory instruction 5 appearing on page 65325 in the Federal 
Register on November 3, 2014, change ``Effective August 1, 2015'' to 
read ``Effective October 3, 2015.''

Subpart E--Special Rules for Certain Home Mortgage Transactions

0
3. Section 1026.38 is amended by revising paragraphs (i)(8)(ii), 
(i)(8)(iii)(A), and (j)(1)(iv) to read as follows:


Sec.  1026.38  Content of disclosures for certain mortgage transactions 
(Closing Disclosure).

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (8) * * *
    (ii) Under the subheading ``Final,'' the amount equal to the total 
of the amounts disclosed under paragraphs (j)(1)(iii) and (v) through 
(x) of this section reduced by the total of the amounts disclosed under 
paragraphs (j)(2)(vi) through (xi) of this section.
    (iii) * * *
    (A) If the amount disclosed under paragraph (i)(8)(ii) of this 
section is different than the amount disclosed under paragraph 
(i)(8)(i) of this section (unless the difference is due to rounding), a 
statement of that fact, along with a statement that the consumer should 
see the details disclosed under paragraphs (j)(1)(iii) and (v) through 
(x) and (j)(2)(vi) through (xi) of this section; or
* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iv) The total amount of closing costs disclosed that are 
designated borrower-paid at closing, as the sum of the amounts 
calculated pursuant to paragraphs (h)(2) and (3) of this section, 
labeled ``Closing Costs Paid at Closing'';
* * * * *

0
4. In Supplement I to Part 1026--Official Interpretations, as amended 
by 78 FR 79730 (Dec. 31, 2013):
0
A. Under Section 1026.1--Authority, Purpose, Coverage, Organization, 
Enforcement and Liability, under Paragraph 1(d)(5), paragraph 1 is 
revised.
0
B. Under Section 1026.19--Certain Mortgage and Variable-Rate 
Transactions, under 19(g)(2) Permissible changes, paragraph 3 is 
revised.
    The revisions read as follows:

Supplement I to Part 1026--Official Interpretations

* * * * *

Subpart A--General

Section 1026.1--Authority, Purpose, Coverage, Organization, Enforcement 
and Liability
* * * * *
1(d) Organization
Paragraph 1(d)(5)
    1. Effective date. The Bureau's revisions to Regulation X and 
Regulation Z published on December 31, 2013 (the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule), apply to covered loans (closed-end credit transactions secured 
by real property) for which the creditor or mortgage broker receives an 
application on or after October 3, 2015 (the ``effective date''), 
except that new Sec.  1026.19(e)(2), the amendments to Sec.  
1026.28(a)(1), and the amendments to the commentary to Sec.  1026.29, 
become effective on October 3, 2015, without respect to whether an 
application has been received. The provisions of Sec.  1026.19(e)(2) 
apply prior to a consumer's receipt of the disclosures required by 
Sec.  1026.19(e)(1)(i), and therefore, restrict activity that may occur 
prior to receipt of an application by a creditor or mortgage broker 
under Sec.  1026.19(e). These provisions include Sec.  
1026.19(e)(2)(i), which restricts the fees that may be imposed on a 
consumer, Sec.  1026.19(e)(2)(ii), which requires a statement to be 
included on written estimates of terms or costs

[[Page 43921]]

specific to a consumer, and Sec.  1026.19(e)(2)(iii), which prohibits 
creditors from requiring the submission of documents verifying 
information related to the consumer's application. Accordingly, the 
provisions under Sec.  1026.19(e)(2) are effective on October 3, 2015, 
without respect to whether an application has been received on that 
date. In addition, the amendments to Sec.  1026.28 and the commentary 
to Sec.  1026.29 govern the preemption of State laws and thus, the 
amendments to those provisions and associated commentary made by the 
TILA-RESPA Final Rule are effective on October 3, 2015, without respect 
to whether an application has been received on that date. The following 
examples illustrate the application of the effective date for the TILA-
RESPA Final Rule.
    i. General. Assume a creditor receives an application, as defined 
under Sec.  1026.2(a)(3) of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, for a 
transaction subject to Sec.  1026.19(e) and (f) on October 3, 2015, and 
that consummation of the transaction occurs on October 31, 2015. The 
amendments of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, including the requirements to 
provide the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure under Sec.  1026.19(e) 
and (f), apply to the transaction. The creditor would also be required 
to provide the special information booklet under Sec.  1026.19(g) of 
the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, as applicable. Assume a creditor receives an 
application, as defined under Sec.  1026.2(a)(3) of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule, for a transaction subject to Sec.  1026.19(e) and (f) on 
September 30, 2015, and that consummation of the transaction occurs on 
October 30, 2015. The amendments of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, 
including the requirements to provide the Loan Estimate and Closing 
Disclosure under Sec.  1026.19(e) and (f), do not apply to the 
transaction, except that the provisions of Sec.  1026.19(e)(2), 
specifically Sec.  1026.19(e)(2)(i), (e)(2)(ii), and (e)(2)(iii), do 
apply to the transaction beginning on October 3, 2015, because they 
become effective on October 3, 2015, without respect to whether an 
application, as defined under Sec.  1026.2(a)(3) of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule, has been received by the creditor or mortgage broker on 
that date. The creditor does not provide the Closing Disclosure so that 
it is received by the consumer at least three business days before 
consummation; instead, the creditor and the settlement agent provide 
the disclosures under Sec.  1026.19(a)(2)(ii) and Sec.  1024.8, as 
applicable, under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act, respectively. The requirement to provide the 
special information booklet under Sec.  1026.19(g) of the TILA-RESPA 
Final Rule would also not apply to the transaction. But the creditor 
would provide the special information booklet under Sec.  1024.6, as 
applicable.
    ii. Predisclosure written estimates. Assume a creditor receives a 
request from a consumer for a written estimate of terms or costs 
specific to the consumer on October 3, 2015, before the consumer 
submits an application to the creditor, and thus before the consumer 
has received the disclosures required under Sec.  1026.19(e)(1)(i). The 
creditor, if it provides such written estimate to the consumer, must 
comply with the requirements of Sec.  1026.19(e)(2)(ii) and provide the 
required statement on the written estimate, even though the creditor 
has not received an application for a transaction subject to Sec.  
1026.19(e) and (f) on that date.
    iii. Request for preemption determination. Assume a creditor 
submits a request to the Bureau under Sec.  1026.28(a)(1) for a 
determination of whether a State law is inconsistent with the 
disclosure requirements of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule on October 3, 
2015. Because the amendments to Sec.  1026.28(a)(1) are effective on 
that date and do not depend on whether the creditor has received an 
application as defined under Sec.  1026.2(a)(3) of the TILA-RESPA Final 
Rule, Sec.  1026.28(a)(1), as amended by the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, is 
applicable to the request on that date and the Bureau would make a 
determination based on the amendments of the TILA-RESPA Final Rule, 
including, for example, the requirements of Sec.  1026.37.

Subpart C--Closed End Credit

* * * * *
Section 1026.19--Certain Mortgage and Variable-Rate Transactions
* * * * *
    19(g)(2) Permissible changes.
* * * * *
    3. Permissible changes to title of booklets in use before October 
3, 2015. Section 1026.19(g)(2)(iv) provides that the title appearing on 
the cover of the booklet shall not be changed. Comment 19(g)(1)-1 
states that the Bureau may, from time to time, issue revised or 
alternative versions of the special information booklet that address 
transactions subject to Sec.  1026.19(g) by publishing a notice in the 
Federal Register. Until the Bureau issues a version of the special 
information booklet relating to the Loan Estimate and Closing 
Disclosure under Sec. Sec.  1026.37 and 1026.38, for applications that 
are received on or after October 3, 2015, a creditor may change the 
title appearing on the cover of the version of the special information 
booklet in use before October 3, 2015, provided the words ``settlement 
costs'' are used in the title. See comment 1(d)(5)-1 for guidance 
regarding compliance with Sec.  1026.19(g) for applications received on 
or after October 3, 2015.
* * * * *

    Dated: July 20, 2015.
Richard Cordray,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
[FR Doc. 2015-18239 Filed 7-22-15; 11:15 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                        43911

                                             Rules and Regulations                                                                                          Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                            Vol. 80, No. 142

                                                                                                                                                            Friday, July 24, 2015



                                             This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                     rules amending 12 CFR parts 1024 and                  the earliest, August 15, 2015 (CRA
                                             contains regulatory documents having general             1026 published December 31, 2013, at                  Effective Date).
                                             applicability and legal effect, most of which            78 FR 79730, and February 19, 2015, at                   On June 24, 2015, the Bureau issued
                                             are keyed to and codified in the Code of                 80 FR 8767; and for amendatory                        a proposed rule to delay the effective
                                             Federal Regulations, which is published under            instruction 5 amending Supplement I to                date of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.                                                                          Amendments to October 3, 2015
                                                                                                      12 CFR part 1026, appearing on page
                                             The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by               65325 in the Federal Register on                      (Proposed Rule). The Proposed Rule
                                             the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of               November 3, 2014.                                     also included certain technical
                                             new books are listed in the first FEDERAL                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      amendments to the Official
                                             REGISTER issue of each week.                             Pedro De Oliveira, David Friend, or Joel              Interpretations to Regulation Z to reflect
                                                                                                      Singerman, Counsels; or Laura Johnson                 the proposed new effective date.4
                                                                                                      or Amanda Quester, Senior Counsels,                      The Bureau is now issuing this final
                                             BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL                             Office of Regulations, Consumer                       rule to delay the effective date of the
                                             PROTECTION                                               Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G                   TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                                                                                      Street NW., Washington, DC 20552, at                  Amendments to October 3, 2015, and to
                                             12 CFR Parts 1024 and 1026                               (202) 435–7700.                                       finalize the related technical
                                             [Docket No. CFPB–2015–0029]                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                            amendments in the Proposed Rule. As
                                                                                                                                                            discussed in more detail in parts VI and
                                             RIN 3170–AA48                                            I. Summary of the Final Rule                          VII below, this final rule also makes
                                                                                                         In November 2013, pursuant to                      certain technical corrections to the
                                             2013 Integrated Mortgage Disclosures                                                                           TILA–RESPA Final Rule. Specifically,
                                             Rule Under the Real Estate Settlement                    sections 1098 and 1100A of the Dodd-
                                                                                                      Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer                 the Bureau is: (1) Amending
                                             Procedures Act (Regulation X) and the                                                                          § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and (iii)(A) to include,
                                             Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z)                      Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act),1 the
                                                                                                      Consumer Financial Protection Bureau                  in the amount disclosed as ‘‘Final’’ for
                                             and Amendments; Delay of Effective                                                                             Adjustments and Other Credits, the
                                             Date                                                     (Bureau or CFPB) issued the Integrated
                                                                                                      Mortgage Disclosures Under the Real                   amount disclosed under
                                             AGENCY:  Bureau of Consumer Financial                    Estate Settlement Procedures Act                      § 1026.38(j)(1)(iii) for certain personal
                                             Protection.                                              (Regulation X) and the Truth in Lending               property sales, thus conforming the
                                                                                                      Act (Regulation Z) (TILA–RESPA Final                  calculation of Adjustments and Other
                                             ACTION: Final rule; official
                                                                                                      Rule), combining certain disclosures                  Credits on the Closing Disclosure and
                                             interpretations; delay of effective date.
                                                                                                      that consumers receive in connection                  Loan Estimate; and (2) amending
                                             SUMMARY:    The Consumer Financial                       with applying for and closing on a                    § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv) to include, in the
                                             Protection Bureau is delaying until                      mortgage loan.2 On January 20, 2015,                  amount disclosed as Closing Costs Paid
                                             October 3, 2015, the effective date of the               the Bureau issued the Amendments to                   at Closing, lender credits disclosed
                                             TILA–RESPA Final Rule and the related                    the 2013 Integrated Mortgage                          under § 1026.38(h)(3), thus conforming
                                             TILA–RESPA Amendments. In light of                       Disclosures Rule Under the Real Estate                the disclosure of the borrower’s cash to
                                             certain procedural requirements under                    Settlement Procedures Act (Regulation                 close in the Calculating Cash to Close
                                             the Congressional Review Act (CRA),                      X) and the Truth in Lending Act                       and the Summaries of Transactions
                                             the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and the                        (Regulation Z) and the 2013 Loan                      tables on the Closing Disclosure. These
                                             TILA–RESPA Amendments cannot take                        Originator Rule Under the Truth in                    technical corrections are in line with
                                             effect on August 1, 2015, as originally                  Lending Act (Regulation Z) (TILA–                     existing industry expectations and
                                             provided by those rules. To comply                       RESPA Amendments or Amendments).3                     informal Bureau guidance.
                                             with the CRA and to help ensure the                      As published in the Federal Register,                 II. Background
                                             smooth implementation of the TILA–                       the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and the
                                             RESPA Final Rule, the Bureau is                          TILA–RESPA Amendments (together,                      A. The TILA–RESPA Integrated
                                             extending the effective date of both the                 the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                         Disclosures Rulemaking
                                             TILA–RESPA Final Rule and the TILA–                      Amendments) are effective on August 1,                  Dodd-Frank Act sections 1032(f),
                                             RESPA Amendments beyond the                              2015. Because of an administrative error              1098, and 1100A mandated that the
                                             additional minimum period required by                    on the Bureau’s part in complying with                Bureau establish a single disclosure
                                             the CRA to October 3, 2015, as                           the Congressional Review Act (CRA)                    scheme for use by lenders and creditors
                                             proposed. The Bureau is also making                      with respect to the TILA–RESPA Final
                                             certain technical amendments to the                      Rule, the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                      4 For purposes of this final rule, these technical

                                                                                                      Amendments cannot take effect until, at               amendments include a change to amendatory
                                             Official Interpretations of Regulation Z                                                                       instruction 5, appearing at 79 FR 65325 (Nov. 3,
                                             to reflect the new effective date and                                                                          2014), which will change the effective date of
                                                                                                         1 Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376, 2007,
                                             technical corrections to two provisions                                                                        comment 43(e)(3)(iv)–2. The Amendments to the
                                                                                                      2103–04, 2107–09 (2010).                              2013 Mortgage Rules Under the Truth in Lending
                                             of Regulation Z adopted by the TILA–
rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                                                                         2 78 FR 79730 (Dec. 31, 2013). The TILA–RESPA
                                                                                                                                                            Act (Regulation Z) revised that comment to
                                             RESPA Final Rule.                                        Final Rule finalized a proposal the Bureau had        coordinate the points and fees cure with the
                                             DATES: The amendments in this final                      issued on July 9, 2012, 77 FR 51116 (Aug. 23, 2012)   tolerance cure available under the TILA–RESPA
                                             rule are effective on October 3, 2015.                   (2012 TILA–RESPA Proposal).                           Final Rule. The Bureau proposed to change
                                                                                                         3 80 FR 8767 (Feb. 19, 2015). The TILA–RESPA       amendatory instruction 5 to conform with the new
                                             Effective July 24, 2015, this final rule                 Amendments finalized a proposal the Bureau had        effective date for the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             delays the effective date from August 1,                 issued on October 10, 2014, 79 FR 64336 (Oct. 29,     Amendments and is finalizing that proposal in this
                                             2015, until October 3, 2015, for the final               2014).                                                final rule.



                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   14:07 Jul 23, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\24JYR1.SGM   24JYR1


                                             43912                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                             in complying with the disclosure                          the Bureau’s TILA–RESPA                               target readiness date of August 15
                                             requirements of both the Real Estate                      implementation initiative and available               would likely pose implementation
                                             Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and                     resources can be found on the Bureau’s                challenges for many organizations. The
                                             the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).5                         regulatory implementation Web site at                 Bureau also recognized that a mid-
                                             Section 1098(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act                     www.consumerfinance.gov/regulatory-                   month effective date could create
                                             amended RESPA section 4(a) to require                     implementation/tila-respa.                            additional challenges. Moreover, the
                                             that the Bureau publish a single,                                                                               Bureau noted that delays in the delivery
                                                                                                       B. Proposed Effective Date
                                             integrated disclosure for mortgage loan                                                                         of system updates had left some
                                             transactions, including ‘‘the disclosure                     As adopted, the TILA–RESPA Final                   creditors with limited time to fully test
                                             requirements of this section and section                  Rule and Amendments are effective on                  all of their systems and system
                                             5, in conjunction with the disclosure                     August 1, 2015. Section 801 of the CRA                components to ensure that each system
                                             requirements of [TILA].’’ 6 Similarly,                    precludes a rule from taking effect until             works with the others in an effective
                                             section 1100A(5) of the Dodd-Frank Act                    the Federal agency promulgating the                   manner. These delays pose risks to
                                             amended TILA section 105(b) to require                    rule submits a rule report, including a               smooth implementation of the TILA–
                                             that the Bureau publish a single,                         copy of the rule, to each House of                    RESPA Final Rule when combined with
                                             integrated disclosure for mortgage loan                   Congress and to the Comptroller General               the challenges for institutions of
                                             transactions, including ‘‘the disclosure                  of the Government Accountability                      adjusting operational systems to a new
                                             requirements of this title in conjunction                 Office (GAO).10 The TILA–RESPA Final                  effective date.
                                             with the disclosure requirements of                       Rule is a major rule under the CRA.                      The Bureau also explained in the
                                             [RESPA].’’ 7 The Bureau issued                            Major rules, as defined under the CRA,                Proposed Rule that a Saturday effective
                                             proposed integrated disclosure forms                      have several additional procedural                    date could allow for smoother
                                             and rules for public comment on July 9,                   requirements, including that they                     implementation by affording industry
                                             2012, and issued the TILA–RESPA Final                     cannot take effect until 60 days after (1)            time over a weekend to launch new
                                             Rule on November 20, 2013.8                               publication in the Federal Register or                systems configurations and to test
                                                Upon issuing the TILA–RESPA Final                      (2) receipt by Congress, whichever is                 systems. The Bureau noted that a
                                             Rule, the Bureau initiated extensive                      later.11 Although the TILA–RESPA                      Saturday launch would be consistent
                                             efforts to support industry                               Final Rule was published in the Federal               with existing industry plans tied to the
                                             implementation.9 Information regarding                    Register on December 31, 2013, and                    original Saturday August 1 effective
                                                                                                       received widespread public and                        date. The Bureau explained its concern
                                               5 12  U.S.C. 5532(f), 2603; 15 U.S.C. 1604(b).          Congressional attention, the Bureau                   that a longer delay in implementation
                                               6 12  U.S.C. 2603(a).                                   discovered on June 16, 2015, that it                  would impose unnecessary costs both
                                                7 15 U.S.C. 1604(b). The amendments to RESPA
                                                                                                       inadvertently had not submitted the rule              on consumers and on those segments of
                                             and TILA mandating a single, integrated disclosure        report to Congress. Later that day, the
                                             are among numerous conforming amendments to
                                                                                                                                                             industry that have worked diligently for
                                             existing Federal laws found in subtitle H of the          Bureau submitted the report to both                   a timely implementation. A longer delay
                                             Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (the            Houses of Congress and the GAO. Under                 would also be inconsistent with the
                                             Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 is title        the CRA, the TILA–RESPA Final Rule                    Bureau’s goal of implementing the new
                                             X of the Dodd-Frank Act). Subtitle C of the               cannot take effect until, at the earliest,
                                             Consumer Financial Protection Act, ‘‘Specific                                                                   disclosures on the earliest practically
                                             Bureau Authorities,’’ codified at 12 U.S.C. chapter       August 15, 2015, two weeks after the                  feasible date to support consumer
                                             53, subchapter V, part C, contains a similar              originally scheduled effective date. The              understanding of mortgage loan
                                             provision. Specifically, section 1032(f) of the Dodd-     TILA–RESPA Amendments cannot take                     transactions.
                                             Frank Act provides that, by July 21, 2012, the
                                             Bureau ‘‘shall propose for public comment rules
                                                                                                       effect before the TILA–RESPA Final
                                                                                                       Rule, as they amend the TILA–RESPA                    III. Summary of the Rulemaking
                                             and model disclosures that combine the disclosures
                                             required under [TILA] and sections 4 and 5 of             Final Rule.                                           Process
                                             [RESPA] into a single, integrated disclosure for             Given that the TILA–RESPA Final                       On June 24, 2015, the Bureau issued
                                             mortgage loan transactions covered by those laws.’’       Rule would not take effect until the CRA
                                             12 U.S.C. 5532(f). The Bureau issued the 2012
                                                                                                                                                             the Proposed Rule with a request for
                                             TILA–RESPA Proposal pursuant to that mandate              Effective Date, the Bureau proposed a                 public comment. The Proposed Rule
                                             and the parallel mandates established by the              brief additional delay to October 3,                  was published in the Federal Register
                                             conforming amendments to RESPA and TILA,                  2015. In doing so, the Bureau discussed               on June 26, 2015.12
                                             discussed above.                                          whether this additional delay could                      The Bureau solicited comment on all
                                                8 77 FR 51116 (Aug. 23, 2012) (2012 TILA–RESPA

                                             Proposal); 78 FR 79730 (Dec. 31, 2013) (TILA–
                                                                                                       potentially benefit both consumers and                aspects of the Proposed Rule. In
                                             RESPA Final Rule); see also CFPB, CFPB Proposes           industry more than having the new                     particular, the Bureau asked
                                             ‘‘Know Before You Owe’’ Mortgage Forms (July 9,           rules take effect on the CRA Effective                commenters to provide specific detail
                                             2012), http://www.consumerfinance.gov/                    Date. The Bureau recognized that                      and any available data regarding current
                                             pressreleases/consumer-financial-protection-              adjusting operational systems from a
                                             bureau-proposes-know-before-you-owe-mortgage-
                                                                                                                                                             and planned practices, as well as
                                             forms/; Know Before You Owe: Introducing Our              target readiness date of August 1 to a                relevant knowledge and specific facts
                                             Proposed Mortgage Disclosure Forms, CFPB Blog                                                                   about any benefits, costs, or other
                                             (July 9, 2012), http://www.consumerfinance.gov/           creditors, settlement service providers, and          impacts on both industry and
                                             blog/know-before-you-owe-introducing-our-                 technology vendors, to discuss and support their
                                             proposed-mortgage-disclosure-forms/.                      implementation efforts; (6) participation in dozens
                                                                                                                                                             consumers of the Proposed Rule. The
                                                9 These ongoing efforts include: (1) The               of conferences and forums; and (7) close              Bureau solicited comment regarding the
                                             publication of a small entity compliance guide and        collaboration with State and Federal regulators on    proposed extension of the effective date
                                             a guide to forms to help industry understand the          implementation of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and       to October 3, 2015, as well as alternative
                                             new rules, including updates to the guides, as            Amendments, including coordination on consistent
                                                                                                       examination procedures. There were over 30,000        dates for extension, including the
                                             needed; (2) the publication of a readiness guide for
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                                             institutions to evaluate their readiness and facilitate   downloads of the Bureau’s small entity compliance     prospect of allowing the new rules to
                                             compliance with the new rules; (3) the publication        guide and other regulatory implementation support     take effect on the CRA Effective Date.
                                             of a disclosure timeline that illustrates the process     materials during June 2015 alone. Additionally, the      The comment period closed on July 7,
                                             and timing requirements of the new disclosure             Bureau has provided extensive informal guidance to
                                                                                                       support implementation of the TILA–RESPA Final
                                                                                                                                                             2015. In response to the Proposed Rule,
                                             rules; (4) an ongoing series of webinars to address
                                             common interpretive questions, including an index         Rule and Amendments.                                  the Bureau received more than 1,300
                                                                                                         10 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
                                             of questions answered during those webinars; (5)
                                             roundtable meetings with industry, including                11 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3), 804(2).                        12 80   FR 36727 (June 26, 2015).



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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                          43913

                                             comments from industry trade                             its authority under Dodd-Frank Act                      August 1 effective date and that they
                                             associations, creditors, technology                      section 1022(b)(1) to prescribe rules                   consequently would not need or want
                                             vendors, and other industry                              under TILA, RESPA, and title X of the                   any further delays. Several commenters
                                             representatives, as well as consumer                     Dodd-Frank Act that carry out the                       were concerned about costs associated
                                             advocacy groups and others. In adopting                  purposes and objectives and prevent                     with any delay, including costs related
                                             this final rule, the Bureau has                          evasion of those laws. The Bureau                       to staffing, communications, scheduling,
                                             considered and discussed relevant                        believes that delaying the effective date               programming, and training, but they did
                                             comments in parts V and VI below.                        to October 3, 2015, will facilitate                     not provide sufficient information about
                                             Many of the comments urged the Bureau                    compliance with—and help ensure the                     those costs from which to develop a
                                             to take actions beyond the scope of the                  smooth implementation of—the TILA–                      reliable estimate of the costs on
                                             Proposed Rule.                                           RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.                        industry.
                                                                                                      Section 1022(b)(2) of the Dodd-Frank                       Several commenters opposed any
                                             IV. Legal Authority
                                                                                                      Act prescribes certain standards for                    further delay beyond an early October
                                                The Bureau is issuing this final rule                 rulemaking that the Bureau must follow                  effective date. For example, consumer
                                             pursuant to its authority under TILA,                    in exercising its authority under section               advocacy groups urged that the effective
                                             RESPA, and the Dodd-Frank Act.                           1022(b)(1).18                                           date should not be delayed any further,
                                             Specifically, the Bureau is exercising its                  The Bureau is also making technical                  in order to maximize the benefits of the
                                             rulemaking authority pursuant to TILA                    corrections to § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and                  new disclosures. Consumer advocacy
                                             section 105(a), RESPA section 19(a), and                 (iii)(A) and § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv), relying on            groups commented that the new
                                             Dodd-Frank Act section 1022(b)(1) to                     the same authority used to implement                    integrated disclosures will improve the
                                             delay the effective date of the TILA–                    § 1026.38(i) and (j) in the TILA–RESPA                  format, content, and timing of
                                             RESPA Final Rule and Amendments,                         Final Rule: TILA section 105(a); RESPA                  information provided to many
                                             including related technical amendments                   section 19(a); and Dodd-Frank Act                       consumers in connection with the
                                             in the Proposed Rule.                                    sections 1032(a) and 1405(b).19                         biggest purchase of their lives. Several
                                                The legal authority for the TILA–                                                                             industry commenters, including various
                                                                                                      V. Effective Date
                                             RESPA Final Rule and the TILA–RESPA                                                                              trade associations, a technology vendor,
                                             Amendments is described in detail in                        In the Proposed Rule, the Bureau                     and two banks, stated that adjusting
                                             the Legal Authority parts of the TILA–                   requested comment specifically                          operational systems from an effective
                                             RESPA Final Rule and the TILA–RESPA                      regarding the proposed extension of the                 date of August 1, 2015, to a later date
                                             Amendments, respectively.13 As                           effective date to October 3, 2015, as well              poses extensive implementation
                                             amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, TILA                      as alternative dates for extension,                     challenges. As a result, industry has
                                             section 105(a) directs the Bureau to                     including allowing the new rules to take                begun the process of making operational
                                             prescribe regulations to carry out the                   effect on the CRA Effective Date.                       systems adjustments, even before
                                             purposes of TILA and provides that                       A. Comments Received                                    finalization of the Proposed Rule, based
                                             such regulations may contain additional                                                                          on the proposed October 3, 2015,
                                             requirements, classifications,                           Extending the Effective Date Beyond the                 effective date.
                                             differentiations, or other provisions, and               CRA Effective Date
                                                                                                                                                                 Support for extending the effective
                                             may provide for such adjustments and                        The vast majority of commenters who                  date was most often justified by
                                             exceptions for all or any class of                       opined on the effective date—including                  commenters on the basis that industry
                                             transactions, that the Bureau judges are                 banks, credit unions, mortgage                          needs more time to prepare. In
                                             necessary or proper to effectuate the                    companies, industry service providers,                  particular, many commenters from
                                             purposes of TILA, to prevent                             trade associations, and individual                      industry, both individuals and
                                             circumvention or evasion thereof, or to                  commenters—supported extending the                      institutions, cited delays in updating
                                             facilitate compliance therewith.14                       effective date beyond the CRA Effective                 software and systems that industry
                                             Section 19(a) of RESPA authorizes the                    Date. Consumer advocacy groups did                      relies on for compliance and also cited
                                             Bureau to prescribe such rules and                       not oppose the extension beyond the                     related delays in testing and training on
                                             regulations and to make such                             CRA Effective Date. Many commenters                     such systems. Several industry
                                             interpretations and grant such                           supported the proposed October 3,                       commenters noted that extending the
                                             reasonable exemptions for classes of                     2015, effective date without requesting                 effective date would provide more time
                                             transactions as may be necessary to                      any additional delay in the effective                   for creditors and service providers to
                                             achieve the purposes of RESPA.15                         date. Other commenters recommended                      clarify their understanding of the rule’s
                                             Additionally, under Dodd-Frank Act                       extending the effective date to various                 extensive provisions, including through
                                             section 1022(b)(1), the Bureau has                       other dates, including September 3,                     additional guidance issued by the
                                             general authority to prescribe rules ‘‘as                2015; November 1, 2015; December 31,                    Bureau. Some commenters, including
                                             may be necessary or appropriate to                       2015; January 1, 2016; January 2, 2016;                 trade organizations and a technology
                                             enable the Bureau to administer and                      January 4, 2016; January 14, 2016; or                   vendor, supported extending the
                                             carry out the purposes and objectives of                 February 1, 2016.                                       effective date because implementation
                                             the Federal consumer financial laws,                        However, some commenters                             of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             and to prevent evasions thereof.’’ 16                    expressed concern about any delay of                    Amendments has been occurring while
                                             TILA and RESPA are Federal consumer                      the effective date. For example, a few                  industry is implementing or adjusting to
                                             financial laws.17 Accordingly, in issuing                industry commenters suggested that                      various other legal and regulatory
                                             this final rule, the Bureau is exercising                their institutions or creditors more                    changes, and at least one commenter
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                                                                                                      generally would be prepared for an                      noted that their resources are stretched
                                               13 78 FR 79730, 79753–56 (Dec. 31, 2013); 80 FR

                                             8767, 8768–70 (Feb. 19, 2015).
                                                                                                                                                              thin as a result. Some industry
                                                                                                           18 12
                                                                                                             U.S.C. 5512(b)(2).
                                               14 15 U.S.C. 1604(a).
                                                                                                           19 See
                                                                                                                                                              commenters expressed the opinion that
                                                                                                               78 FR 79730, 80016, 80020 (Dec. 31, 2013).
                                               15 12 U.S.C. 2617(a).
                                                                                                      Sections 1032(a) and 1405(b) of the Dodd-Frank Act
                                                                                                                                                              a delay in implementation would
                                               16 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(1).
                                                                                                      are codified, respectively, at 15 U.S.C. 5532 and 15    benefit consumers because industry
                                               17 12 U.S.C. 5481(12), (14).                           U.S.C. 1601 note.                                       would be better prepared to implement


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                                             43914                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                             the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                            Technical Comments on the Effective                   current disclosures. A law firm
                                             Amendments with more time.                               Date                                                  commenter that supported an optional
                                                Industry commenters who sought a                         The Bureau also received a number of               dual compliance period stated that
                                             further delay in the effective date                      technical comments about the effective                creditors that are already prepared for
                                                                                                      date. One commenter suggested that the                an August 2015 effective date should
                                             beyond October 3, 2015, generally relied
                                                                                                      Bureau should amend an additional                     not be penalized by being forced to wait
                                             on the same arguments raised by other
                                                                                                      amendatory instruction, as discussed                  until October or later.
                                             commenters for any extension of the                                                                               Other industry commenters, including
                                             effective date. Among commenters who                     further below. Some commenters,
                                                                                                                                                            a technology vendor and a title
                                             requested an additional delay in the                     including consumer advocacy groups,
                                                                                                                                                            underwriter, opposed a dual compliance
                                             effective date beyond October 3, 2015,                   requested clarification as to whether all
                                                                                                                                                            period and stated that it would increase
                                             the most common alternative date fell                    or only parts of the TILA–RESPA Final                 the risk of errors, create a competitive
                                             sometime near the beginning of 2016                      Rule and Amendments will have a new                   disadvantage for some (likely smaller)
                                             (e.g., January 1, 2016; January 2, 2016;                 effective date. Additionally, other                   industry members not using the new
                                             or January 4, 2016). Industry                            commenters requested clarification that               disclosures, complicate the flow of
                                                                                                      the proposal for the final rule to take               information for secondary market
                                             commenters argued that they expect
                                                                                                      effect immediately upon publication                   investors, and increase the risk of
                                             mortgage origination activity to slow
                                                                                                      referred to the delay of the effective                consumer confusion.
                                             during the end of the calendar year and
                                                                                                      date, not to the TILA–RESPA Final Rule                   The Bureau also received a number of
                                             the beginning of the new year, based on                  and Amendments.
                                             historical patterns, and a delay until                                                                         other comments that did not relate, even
                                             early 2016 would thus permit a                           Other Comments                                        indirectly, to the effective date and
                                             smoother transition. Some commenters,                                                                          therefore are not discussed in this
                                                                                                         The Bureau also received a number of               preamble.20
                                             including a community bank and a                         comments that did not relate directly to
                                             credit union, requested a February 1,                    the date when the TILA–RESPA Final                    B. Final Rule
                                             2016, effective date instead of a date in                Rule should become effective. Many                    Effective Date of October 3, 2015
                                             January because implementation could                     banks, credit unions, mortgage
                                             be difficult around the end-of-the-year                  companies, industry service providers,                   The Bureau is adopting an October 3,
                                             holidays.                                                trade associations, and individual                    2015, effective date for the TILA–RESPA
                                                                                                      commenters from industry—including                    Final Rule and Amendments, as
                                             Specific Day of the Week or Time                         many who did not request an additional                proposed.
                                             During the Month for the Effective Date                  delay in the effective date beyond                       The Bureau concludes that
                                                                                                      October 3, 2015—requested a safe                      implementation of the TILA–RESPA
                                                Some industry commenters, including                                                                         Final Rule and Amendments will
                                                                                                      harbor period, hold-harmless period, or
                                             a national trade association, specifically                                                                     provide significant benefits to
                                                                                                      other formal grace period after the
                                             supported a Saturday effective date (for                                                                       consumers and that the earliest
                                                                                                      effective date to insulate creditors from
                                             example, October 3, 2015) because it                                                                           practically feasible implementation date
                                                                                                      private liability or public enforcement.
                                             would allow companies to migrate their                                                                         remains essential to aid consumer
                                                                                                      Many suggested that a grace period
                                             systems over a weekend. At least one                                                                           understanding of mortgage loan
                                                                                                      could apply to creditors that
                                             commenter, a state trade association,                                                                          transactions. The TILA–RESPA Final
                                                                                                      demonstrate good faith efforts to comply
                                             supported a Friday effective date for                                                                          Rule and Amendments significantly
                                                                                                      with the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             similar reasons. Other commenters                                                                              strengthen and streamline the mortgage
                                                                                                      Amendments. Some commenters
                                             favored different days of the week for                                                                         loan disclosures provided to consumers.
                                                                                                      arguing for an effective date later than              The Bureau believes the TILA–RESPA
                                             the effective date, such as a Monday or                  October 3, 2015, asked for a grace period
                                             Thursday. For example, a credit union                                                                          Final Rule and Amendments will
                                                                                                      if the Bureau maintained the October 3,               deliver significant value to consumers,
                                             commenter favored a Thursday effective                   2015, effective date. Some commenters                 among other ways, by helping: (1) To
                                             date because the TILA–RESPA Final                        supporting a grace period stated that it              ensure that consumers understand the
                                             Rule allows a three-business-day                         should last for a specific duration.                  costs, risks, and benefits of their loans
                                             window for delivering or placing the                        Consumer advocacy groups opposed a                 at a time when they can still negotiate
                                             Loan Estimate in the mail, and thus a                    formal grace period, expressing                       the terms of, or walk away from, the
                                             Thursday effective date would provide                    concerns about consumer protection,                   transaction; and (2) to minimize changes
                                             additional time to work through                          precedential value, and the Bureau’s                  at the closing table and make it easier
                                             potential systems issues before the start                legal authority to implement a formal                 for consumers to understand how and
                                             of the following workweek. A credit                      grace period. The consumer advocacy                   why any costs may have changed.21
                                             union association commenter stated that                  groups noted that regulators already
                                             a weekend effective date would require                   have the discretion not to sanction                      20 For example, the Bureau received a large

                                             additional staff overtime costs and                      creditors and that various existing                   number of comments asking it to revisit the
                                             would therefore be undesirable.                          provisions of TILA protect creditors                  requirement to identify owner’s title insurance as
                                                                                                                                                            ‘‘optional’’ and the method of disclosure of owner’s
                                                                                                      acting in good faith.                                 and lender’s title insurance when there is a
                                                Several commenters, including a                          Some industry commenters, including                discount for simultaneous issuance of both policies.
                                             credit union and an individual                           various credit unions and their trade                 A large number of commenters also suggested that
                                             commenter, stated that an effective date                 associations, requested an optional                   the Bureau should require creditors’ disclosures to
                                             on the first day of the month would                                                                            separately itemize an appraiser’s charge versus
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                                                                                                      ‘‘dual compliance’’ period before the                 related charges for an appraisal management
                                             simplify implementation. However, a                      effective date. During such a dual                    company. The Bureau considered the same
                                             bank commenter stated that there would                   compliance period, the commenters                     arguments presented by these commenters in the
                                             be additional staff challenges if the                    stated that creditors should have the                 TILA–RESPA Final Rule and did not open its
                                                                                                                                                            decisions to notice-and-comment rulemaking in the
                                             effective date is within the first few days              option to test their systems by using the             Proposed Rule. Therefore, these comments are
                                             after the end of a quarterly reporting                   new integrated disclosures in real-life               outside the scope of this rulemaking.
                                             period.                                                  transactions or continue using the                       21 78 FR 79730, 80071 (Dec. 31, 2013).




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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                    43915

                                                However, given the CRA requirements                   commenters who expressed a preference                   2015.24 As discussed further in part VII
                                             discussed above, the TILA–RESPA Final                    for another effective date, e.g., January               below, the portions of this final rule
                                             Rule and Amendments cannot take                          1, 2016, also recommended one near the                  related to the delay in the effective date
                                             effect on August 1, 2015, and therefore                  start of a quarter. Taking into account                 to October 3, 2015, are effective
                                             the effective date must be moved to the                  the various opinions expressed in the                   immediately upon publication in order
                                             CRA Effective Date or later. Having                      comments, the Bureau believes that an                   to move the effective date for the TILA–
                                             reviewed and considered the comments,                    effective date near the start of a quarter              RESPA Final Rule and Amendments
                                             the Bureau continues to believe that a                   will not pose unreasonable                              and the amendatory instruction
                                             brief delay beyond the CRA Effective                     implementation challenges to industry.                  discussed in note 4 from August 1, 2015
                                             Date may minimize costs to consumers                     Moreover, the Bureau must balance the                   to October 3, 2015. As a result of this
                                             and those segments of industry that                      costs of additional delay to consumers                  final rule, the provisions of the TILA–
                                             have worked diligently to implement on                   and those segments of industry that                     RESPA Final Rule and Amendments, as
                                             time, while allowing all industry                        have worked diligently to prepare, the                  well as the technical amendments and
                                             participants time to adjust their                        general concern about mid-month                         corrections made in this final rule, are
                                             operations to a new effective date. The                  implementation, and the need for some                   not effective immediately upon
                                             Bureau recognizes that the unusual                       additional time for industry to adjust to               publication, but on October 3, 2015.
                                             circumstances of this rulemaking place                   the new effective date. Balancing those                    In response to one law firm
                                             extensive implementation challenges on                   concerns, the Bureau believes that an                   commenter’s assertion that the Proposed
                                             industry in stopping and restarting                      effective date of October 3, 2015, is the               Rule fails to amend the amendatory
                                             progress toward implementation.                          earliest practically feasible date.                     instruction to § 1026.36(g)(2)(ii) in the
                                                The Bureau has considered comments                       The Bureau recognizes, as it always                  TILA–RESPA Amendments by revising
                                             supporting both earlier and later                        has, that the TILA–RESPA Final Rule                     the effective date from August 1, 2015,
                                             effective dates than October 3, 2015.                    and Amendments require major                            to October 3, 2015, the Bureau
                                             The Bureau continues to believe that a                   operational changes for industry and                    disagrees. The Bureau proposed to
                                             date before the beginning of October                     close coordination among many                           change the effective date of both the
                                             would pose large implementation                          different parties. At the same time, the                TILA–RESPA Final Rule and the TILA–
                                             challenges for much of industry, given                   Bureau concludes that the original                      RESPA Amendments to October 3, 2015.
                                             the time required to adjust to a new                     nearly 21-month implementation period                   The proposed change to the effective
                                             effective date. Further delaying                         together with two additional months,                    date would apply to all amendatory
                                             implementation to the beginning of                       coupled with the Bureau’s extensive                     instructions for both rules, including the
                                             2016, as many commenters suggested,                      regulatory implementation support                       TILA–RESPA Amendments’ amendatory
                                             would impose large costs on consumers                    efforts, should afford all participants a               instruction to § 1026.36(g)(2)(ii).
                                             denied the benefits of the TILA–RESPA                    reasonable opportunity to come into
                                             Final Rule. Moreover, multiple                                                                                   Requests for a Formal Grace Period or a
                                                                                                      compliance with the TILA–RESPA Final                    Dual Compliance Period
                                             commenters indicated that industry                       Rule and Amendments by October 3,
                                             would incur additional costs should the                  2015.                                                      With regard to some commenters’
                                             Bureau finalize a different effective date                                                                       requests for a formal grace period or a
                                             than October 3, 2015, because many                       Technical Issues Regarding Effective                    dual compliance period, the Bureau
                                             industry participants of necessity have                  Date                                                    considered and rejected similar
                                             relied on the Bureau’s proposed October                     In response to some commenters’                      arguments when it finalized the TILA–
                                             3, 2015, date in taking steps towards                    requests for clarification, this final rule             RESPA Final Rule.25 The Bureau did not
                                             adjusting their implementation                           changes the effective date to October 3,                seek comments on these issues in this
                                             schedules and operations. Absent                         2015, for all provisions of the TILA–                   rulemaking and, for the reasons
                                             compelling evidence demonstrating the                    RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.22                      expressed in the TILA–RESPA Final
                                             objective superiority of a different                     The technical amendments also take                      Rule and herein, is not instituting either
                                             effective date, the Bureau is reluctant to               effect on October 3, 2015, the same                     a formal grace period or a dual
                                             impose further costs on industry.                        effective date as the TILA–RESPA Final                  compliance period.
                                                The Bureau has also considered the                                                                               Although many commenters
                                                                                                      Rule and Amendments.23 Some
                                             comments regarding the day of the week                                                                           requested a formal grace period, the
                                                                                                      commenters specifically asked whether
                                             and time during the month. While                                                                                 Bureau continues to believe that the
                                                                                                      the change in effective date to October
                                             industry commenters did not express a                                                                            original implementation period from
                                             uniform preference for Saturday, many                    3, 2015, applies to the post-
                                                                                                      consummation notice requirements                        November 2013 to August 2015,
                                             expressed a preference for a weekend                                                                             coupled with the Bureau’s extensive
                                             day. Additionally, the Bureau notes                      including §§ 1026.20(e) and
                                                                                                      1026.39(d)(5). As discussed in the                      regulatory implementation support
                                             that, since November 2013, industry has                                                                          initiative, afforded creditors adequate
                                             been preparing for implementation of                     TILA–RESPA Final Rule,
                                                                                                      implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act                    time to implement the TILA–RESPA
                                             the TILA–RESPA Final Rule with the                                                                               Final Rule under the original effective
                                             understanding that implementation                        disclosures in §§ 1026.20(e) and
                                                                                                      1026.39(d)(5) becomes mandatory on                      date. The Bureau also believes that the
                                             would occur on a Saturday, at the                                                                                additional time afforded by the October
                                             beginning of the month. Again, absent                    the effective date, now October 3,
                                                                                                                                                              3 effective date adequately accounts for
                                             compelling arguments to the contrary,                      22 As explained in the section-by-section analysis    the challenges of adjusting to a new
                                             the Bureau believes it is preferable to                  of § 1026.43 below, this final rule also delays from    date.
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                                             minimize disruptions to settled industry                 August 1, 2015, until October 3, 2015, an                  At the same time, the Bureau
                                             expectations.                                            amendatory instruction issued in conjunction with       recognizes, as it always has, that the
                                                The Bureau acknowledges that at least                 the Amendments to the 2013 Mortgage Rules Under
                                                                                                                                                              TILA–RESPA Final Rule poses
                                             one commenter expressed concern                          the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z).
                                                                                                        23 This final rule also makes technical corrections
                                             about an implementation date near the                    to two provisions in § 1026.38, which are effective       24 78   FR 79730, 79753 (Dec. 31, 2013).
                                             start of a quarter. However, this view                   on October 3, 2015, the same effective date as the        25 See,  e.g., 78 FR 79730, 80066–68, 80072–73
                                             was not widely expressed. Many                           TILA–RESPA Final Rule and Amendments.                   (2013).



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                                             43916                Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                             significant implementation challenges                    Bureau received no comments                           amount of cash or other funds that the
                                             for industry. The Bureau continues to                    specifically relating to comment 1(d)(5)–             consumer must provide at
                                             believe that the approach expressed in                   1, other than the general comments                    consummation and will complete the
                                             Director Cordray’s letter to members of                  relating to the effective date that are               alignment of the disclosure of
                                             Congress on June 3, 2015, remains                        discussed in part V above. The Bureau                 Adjustments and Other Credits between
                                             appropriate:                                             is finalizing comment 1(d)(5)–1 as                    the Closing Disclosure and the Loan
                                                [O]ur oversight of the implementation of              proposed.                                             Estimate. The Bureau believes this is
                                             the Rule will be sensitive to the progress                                                                     consistent with industry expectations of
                                                                                                      Section 1026.19 Certain Mortgage and
                                             made by those entities that have squarely                                                                      the proper disclosure of the
                                                                                                      Variable-Rate Transactions
                                             focused on making good-faith efforts to come                                                                   Adjustments and Other Credits on both
                                             into compliance with the Rule on time. My                19(g) Special Information Booklet at                  the Loan Estimate and Closing
                                             statement . . . is consistent with the                   Time of Application                                   Disclosure and will reduce uncertainty
                                             approach we took to implementation of the                                                                      in implementation by confirming that
                                             Title XIV mortgage rules in the early months             19(g)(2) Permissible Changes
                                             after the effective dates in January 2014,
                                                                                                                                                            the calculation of Adjustments and
                                                                                                         Comment 19(g)(2)–3 refers to the                   Other Credits is the same on both the
                                             which has worked out well.26
                                                                                                      general restriction on changing the                   Closing Disclosure and the Loan
                                                The Bureau considered arguments                       settlement cost booklet’s title under                 Estimate.
                                             regarding dual compliance when it                        § 1026.19(g)(2)(iv). The Bureau                          The Bureau is also making a
                                             issued the TILA–RESPA Final Rule in                      proposed conforming amendments to                     conforming change to
                                             November 2013 in the context of                          comment 19(g)(2)–3 to reflect the                     § 1026.38(i)(8)(iii)(A). That paragraph
                                             evaluating whether different creditors                   proposed change in effective date to                  requires creditors to disclose the basis
                                             should be subject to different effective                 October 3, 2015. The Bureau received                  for any difference between the
                                             dates.27 While the Bureau recognizes                     no comments specific to the                           Adjustments and Other Credits
                                             that the delay in the effective date                     amendments to comment 19(g)(2)–3,                     disclosed on the Loan Estimate and the
                                             imposes costs on the many creditors                      other than the general comments                       Adjustments and Other Credits
                                             who have worked diligently to be ready                   relating to the effective date that are               disclosed as ‘‘Final’’ on the Closing
                                             for the original August 1 effective date,                discussed in part V above. The Bureau                 Disclosure (unless the difference is due
                                             the Bureau continues to share the                        is finalizing the amendments to                       to rounding). As explained in comment
                                             concerns of commenters both to the                       comment 19(g)(2)–3 as proposed.                       38(i)–3, creditors may disclose the basis
                                             2012 TILA–RESPA Proposal and to the                                                                            for the difference by providing a general
                                             Proposed Rule finalized here that dual                   Section 1026.38 Content of Disclosures
                                                                                                      for Certain Mortgage Transactions                     or specific line cross-reference to the
                                             compliance could be confusing to                                                                               Summaries of Transactions table. This
                                             consumers and complicated for                            (Closing Disclosure)
                                                                                                                                                            conforming change will permit creditors
                                             industry, including vendors, the                         38(i) Calculating Cash to Close                       to cross-reference to the personal
                                             secondary market, and institutions who                                                                         property sales price disclosed under
                                                                                                      38(i)(8) Adjustments and Other Credits
                                             act both as correspondent lenders and                                                                          § 1026.38(j)(1)(iii) as a basis for the
                                             originators. The Bureau is not                              The Calculating Cash to Close table in
                                                                                                                                                            calculation of the amount disclosed
                                             persuaded that a dual compliance                         the Closing Disclosure under
                                                                                                                                                            under § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii). This
                                             period would be beneficial. For these                    § 1026.38(i) generally mirrors the format
                                                                                                                                                            modification is unlikely to change
                                             reasons, the Bureau declines to institute                of, and updates the amounts shown on,
                                                                                                                                                            creditors’ practice because creditors
                                             a dual compliance period.                                the Calculating Cash to Close table in
                                                                                                                                                            may provide consumers with a more
                                                                                                      the Loan Estimate under § 1026.37(h).
                                             VI. Section-by-Section Analysis                                                                                general cross-reference to the
                                                                                                      To determine the amount of cash or
                                                                                                                                                            Summaries of Transactions table and
                                             Section 1026.1 Authority, Purpose,                       other funds the consumer is to provide
                                                                                                                                                            need not provide a specific line cross-
                                             Coverage, Organization, Enforcement,                     at consummation, the tables must
                                                                                                                                                            reference.
                                             and Liability                                            account for the sales price of any                       These changes to § 1026.38(i)(8) will
                                                                                                      tangible personal property being sold in              also ensure that the amount disclosed as
                                             1(d) Organization                                        a purchase real estate transaction that is            due to or from the consumer in the
                                             1(d)(5)                                                  excluded from the contract sales price,               Calculating Cash to Close table on the
                                               Comment 1(d)(5)–1 provides clarity                     as disclosed under § 1026.38(j)(1)(iii).              Closing Disclosure matches the amount
                                             regarding the application of the effective               The TILA–RESPA Final Rule does not                    disclosed as due to or from the
                                             date to transactions covered by the                      specify a place within the Calculating                consumer in the Summaries of
                                             TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                                Cash to Close table on the Closing                    Transactions table on the Closing
                                             Amendments. The Bureau proposed                          Disclosure for this amount. However,                  Disclosure. As alignment between these
                                             conforming amendments to comment                         comment 37(h)(1)(vii)–6, relating to the              two disclosures is required by existing
                                             1(d)(5)–1 to reflect the proposed change                 Calculating Cash to Close table on the                comment 38(i)(9)(ii)–1, this change
                                             in effective date to October 3, 2015. The                Loan Estimate, indicates that the sales               should facilitate implementation and is
                                                                                                      price of additional personal property                 consistent with existing industry
                                               26 Letter from Director Richard Cordray, CFPB, to      can be included in the Adjustments and                preparations and informal guidance
                                             Representatives Andy Barr and Carolyn B. Maloney,        Other Credits amount. To conform this                 provided by the Bureau.
                                             U.S. House of Representatives (June 3, 2015). See        aspect of the Closing Disclosure to the
                                             also Know Before You Owe: You’ll Get 3 Days to           Loan Estimate, the Bureau is amending                 38(j) Summary of Borrower’s
                                             Review Your Mortgage Closing Documents, CFPB
                                                                                                      § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii) to include the amount             Transaction
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                                             Blog (June 3, 2015), http://
                                             www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/know-before-you-            disclosed under § 1026.38(j)(1)(iii) in               38(j)(1) Itemization of Amounts Due
                                             owe-youll-get-3-days-to-review-your-mortgage-            the amount disclosed as ‘‘Final’’ for                 From Borrower
                                             closing-documents/.                                      Adjustments and Other Credits. This
                                               27 See, e.g., 78 FR 79730, 80066, 80068, 80073
                                                                                                      change will ensure that the Calculating               38(j)(1)(iv)
                                             (2013) (discussing comments requesting a
                                             bifurcated implementation period depending on the        Cash to Close table on the Closing                      In the TILA–RESPA Final Rule,
                                             size of the institution).                                Disclosure accurately reflects the total              § 1026.38(j) provides for a summary of


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                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                              43917

                                             the borrower’s transaction on the                          Section 1026.43 Minimum Standards                         unnecessary because the technical
                                             Closing Disclosure. The total amount                       for Transactions Secured by a Dwelling                    corrections to § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and
                                             due from or to the consumer at the real                                                                              (iii)(A) and § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv) in this
                                                                                                        43(e) Qualified Mortgages
                                             estate closing in this Summaries of                                                                                  final rule correct inadvertent, technical
                                             Transactions table should match the                        43(e)(3) Limits on Points and Fees for                    errors and merely align and harmonize
                                             disclosure of the ‘‘Final’’ cash to close                  Qualified Mortgages                                       those provisions with other provisions
                                             on the Calculating Cash to Close table                     43(e)(3)(iv)                                              of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule.
                                             pursuant to § 1026.38(i)(9)(ii) (as                                                                                  Furthermore, the technical corrections
                                                                                                           In addition to proposing the                           clarify the operation of the TILA–
                                             explained in comment 38(i)(9)(ii)–1).                      amendments discussed above, the                           RESPA Final Rule in a way that is
                                                For the Summaries of Transactions                       Bureau proposed one amendment to an                       consistent with informal guidance
                                             table, the disclosure of the total amount                  amendatory instruction that relates to                    provided by the Bureau and with
                                             of closing costs that are designated                       the Amendments to the 2013 Mortgage                       industry preparations. The Bureau
                                             borrower-paid at closing is specified in                   Rules Under the Truth in Lending Act                      believes that there is minimal, if any,
                                             § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv). In the TILA–RESPA                     (Regulation Z).29 Specifically, the                       basis for substantive disagreement with
                                             Final Rule, § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv) provides                   Bureau proposed to amend instruction                      these technical corrections. Therefore,
                                             that the total amount of closing costs                     5, which is drafted so the comment                        the technical corrections to
                                             disclosed that are designated borrower-                    referenced would take effect on August                    § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and (iii)(A) and
                                             paid at closing is calculated pursuant to                  1, 2015, to coordinate with the original                  § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv) are adopted in final
                                             § 1026.38(h)(2). As originally proposed                    effective date of the TILA–RESPA Final                    form.
                                             in the 2012 TILA–RESPA Proposal,                           Rule. The amendatory instruction
                                                                                                        relating to comment 43(e)(3)(iv)–2,                       5 U.S.C. 553(d)
                                             § 1026.38(h)(2) included the lender
                                                                                                        Relationship to RESPA tolerance cure,                        Section 553(d) of the APA generally
                                             credits described in § 1026.38(h)(3).28 In
                                                                                                        will replace an existing comment                          requires that the effective date of a final
                                             the TILA–RESPA Final Rule, however,                        clarifying the relationship between
                                             the Bureau removed the lender credits                                                                                rule be at least 30 days after publication
                                                                                                        tolerance cures under RESPA and                           of that final rule, except for (1) a
                                             set forth in § 1026.38(h)(3) from the                      Regulation Z points and fees cures with                   substantive rule which grants or
                                             calculation in § 1026.38(h)(2) in order to                 a comment that incorporates the                           recognizes an exemption or relieves a
                                             reconcile the Calculating Cash to Close                    tolerance cure provisions of                              restriction; (2) interpretive rules or
                                             table in § 1026.38(i). In doing so, the                    § 1026.19(f)(2)(v) under the TILA–                        statements of policy; or (3) as otherwise
                                             Bureau inadvertently failed to adjust                      RESPA Final Rule. The Bureau                              provided by the agency for good cause
                                             § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv) to include the lender                  proposed to have the instruction take                     found and published with the rule.31
                                             credits disclosed pursuant to                              effect on October 3, 2015, instead of                     The Bureau finds that there is good
                                             § 1026.38(h)(3).                                           August 1, 2015, to preserve this                          cause for making the portions of this
                                                As a result, under the TILA–RESPA                       coordination. The Bureau received no                      final rule related to delaying the
                                             Final Rule, the total amount due from or                   comments specifically relating to this                    effective date effective immediately
                                             to the consumer at the real estate closing                 proposed amendment. The Bureau is                         upon publication in the Federal
                                             in the Summaries of Transactions table                     finalizing this change to the amendatory                  Register. These portions do not
                                             may not match the ‘‘Final’’ amount of                      instruction as proposed.                                  establish any requirements; instead,
                                             cash to close disclosed in the                             VII. Administrative Procedure Act                         they delay the effective date of the
                                             Calculating Cash to Close table under                                                                                TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             § 1026.38(i)(9)(ii). To correct this, the                  5 U.S.C. 553(b)                                           Amendments and the amendatory
                                             Bureau is modifying § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv)                       In the Proposed Rule, the Bureau                       instruction referenced in note 4 until
                                             to require disclosure of the sum of the                    provided notice and an opportunity for                    October 3, 2015. Therefore, under
                                             amount disclosed under § 1026.38(h)(2)                     public comment with respect to its                        section 553(d)(1) of the APA, the Bureau
                                             and the amount of any lender credits                       proposal to delay the effective date of                   is publishing these portions less than 30
                                             disclosed as a negative number under                       the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                             days before the effective date of this
                                             § 1026.38(h)(3). The lender credits                        Amendments and to make certain                            final rule because they are substantive
                                             described in § 1026.38(h)(3) are                           technical amendments to the Official                      rules which grant or recognize an
                                             appropriately and necessarily included                     Interpretations of Regulation Z related                   exemption or relieve a restriction.
                                                                                                        to the proposed new effective date. In                    Further, delaying the effective date of
                                             in the summary of the borrower’s
                                                                                                        this final rule, the Bureau is also                       the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             transaction as an offsetting credit to the
                                                                                                        finalizing technical corrections to                       Amendments will ensure an orderly
                                             amount due from the borrower at
                                                                                                        § 1026.38(i)(8)(ii) and (iii)(A) and                      change to the new integrated disclosures
                                             closing. This change makes the                                                                                       and will synchronize the effective date
                                                                                                        § 1026.38(j)(1)(iv). The Bureau did not
                                             Summaries of Transactions table                                                                                      of the Amendments with that of the
                                                                                                        seek public comment on these technical
                                             accurately reflect the total amount due                                                                              TILA–RESPA Final Rule. Thus, this
                                                                                                        corrections but finds that there is good
                                             from or to the consumer at the real                                                                                  final rule will facilitate compliance and
                                                                                                        cause to publish them without notice
                                             estate closing; comports the disclosure                    and comment. Under the Administrative                     help reduce industry and consumer
                                             of the ‘‘Final’’ amount of cash to close                   Procedure Act (APA), notice and                           confusion and market disruption.
                                             in the Calculating Cash to Close table                     opportunity for public comment are not                    Therefore, the Bureau also finds it has
                                             with the amount disclosed in the                           required if the Bureau finds that notice                  good cause pursuant to section 553(d)(3)
                                             Summaries of Transactions table as
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                                                                                                        and public procedure thereon are                          of the APA to dispense with the 30-day
                                             required by existing comment                               impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary                   delayed effective date requirement for
                                             38(i)(9)(ii)–1; and is consistent with                     to the public interest.30 The Bureau has                  this final rule because, on balance, the
                                             informal guidance provided by the                          determined that notice and comment are                    need to implement immediately the
                                             Bureau.                                                                                                              delay of the August 1, 2015, effective
                                                                                                             29 79   FR 65300, 65325 (Nov. 3, 2014).
                                               28 77   FR 51116, 51324 (Aug. 23, 2012).                      30 5   U.S.C. 553(b)(B).                               31 5   U.S.C. 553(d).



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                                             43918                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                             date to October 3, 2015, outweighs the                   Date until October 3, 2015. These costs               B. Potential Benefits and Costs to
                                             need for affected parties to prepare for                 include communication with and                        Consumers and Covered Persons
                                             this delay.                                              training of staff, software programming,                 The primary consumers who will be
                                             VIII. Section 1022(b)(2) of the Dodd-                    vendor and outside supplier                           affected by this final rule are consumers
                                             Frank Act                                                coordination, advertising and product                 that engage in mortgage shopping
                                                                                                      development costs, and broker and                     between the CRA Effective Date and
                                             A. Overview                                              settlement agent coordination. The                    October 3, 2015. Those consumers will
                                                In developing this final rule, the                    Bureau believes that these costs are                  be harmed by not receiving the benefits
                                             Bureau has considered potential                          likely higher for larger creditors and                of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and
                                             benefits, costs, and impacts.32 The                      creditors that rely primarily on                      Amendments. Consumers shopping for
                                             Bureau has consulted, or offered to                      proprietary systems rather than on                    a mortgage during the period of delay in
                                             consult, with the prudential regulators;                 third-party software vendors.33 While                 the effective date will not receive those
                                             the Federal Housing Finance Agency;                      many of these costs are largely incurred              benefits, even if they close on their
                                             the Federal Trade Commission; the U.S.                   with the initial delay to the CRA                     loans after the delayed effective date.
                                             Department of Agriculture; the U.S.                      Effective Date, affected entities may                 The benefits of the TILA–RESPA Final
                                             Department of Housing and Urban                          incur additional costs for subsequent                 Rule and Amendments include easier-
                                             Development; the U.S. Department of                      delay beyond the CRA Effective Date,                  to-understand disclosures and the
                                             Housing and Urban Development, Office                    including ongoing training, testing, and              requirement that the creditor deliver the
                                             of the Inspector General; the U.S.                       opportunity costs.                                    Closing Disclosure containing the
                                             Department of the Treasury; the U.S.                                                                           settlement information as well as the
                                             Department of Veterans Affairs; and the                     Similarly, consumers will incur costs
                                                                                                      associated with delaying the effective                TILA disclosures at least three days
                                             U.S. Securities and Exchange                                                                                   before closing.34 Some consumers may
                                             Commission. The Bureau’s consultation                    date. These costs will consist mostly of
                                                                                                      delayed benefits described in the                     benefit if the delay results in the
                                             and offer of consultation included                                                                             industry using the time before October
                                             assessing consistency with any                           section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA–
                                                                                                                                                            3 for more system testing or other
                                             prudential, market, or systemic                          RESPA Final Rule, primarily improved
                                                                                                                                                            preparation, leading to a smoother
                                             objectives administered by such                          consumer understanding of mortgage
                                                                                                                                                            transition to the new integrated
                                             agencies.                                                loan transactions and an increased
                                                                                                                                                            disclosures. As in the TILA–RESPA
                                                The Bureau requested comment on                       ability to shop for a mortgage loan. The
                                                                                                                                                            Final Rule, the Bureau cannot quantify
                                             the preliminary analysis presented in                    longer the delay in the implementation                either the benefit or the cost of this final
                                             the Proposed Rule, as well as                            of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                      rule to consumers.
                                             submissions of additional data that                      Amendments, the greater will be the                      As in the TILA–RESPA Final Rule, for
                                             could inform the Bureau’s analysis of                    cost to consumers from not receiving the              purposes of this section 1022(b)(2)
                                             the benefits, costs, and impacts of the                  benefits of the new integrated                        analysis, the Bureau has considered
                                             Proposed Rule. Because the TILA–                         disclosures.                                          three categories of affected covered
                                             RESPA Final Rule and Amendments                             This final rule amends the effective               persons that will benefit or incur
                                             cannot take effect before the CRA                        date of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                 adjustment costs: Creditors that engage
                                             Effective Date, the Bureau has evaluated                 Amendments. In the section 1022(b)(2)                 in mortgage lending, mortgage brokers,
                                             the benefits, costs, and impacts of this                 analyses of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule                 and settlement agents.35 The Bureau
                                             final rule, assuming that the TILA–                      and Amendments, the Bureau                            estimates that, in 2014, there were about
                                             RESPA Final Rule and Amendments                          previously considered the costs,                      11,150 creditors engaged in mortgage
                                             would become effective on August 15                      benefits, and impact of the rules. This               lending, about 7,000 mortgage brokers,
                                             absent this final rule. The Bureau has                   final rule also contains technical                    and about 7,700 settlement agent
                                             relied on a variety of data sources to                   corrections to two provisions of the                  firms.36 As noted in part V above, due
                                             consider the potential benefits, costs,                  TILA–RESPA Final Rule. These
                                             and impacts of this final rule. In some                  technical corrections are necessary to
                                                                                                                                                              34 These and other benefits are described in detail

                                             instances, the requisite data are not                                                                          in the section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA–
                                                                                                      resolve minor inconsistencies in the                  RESPA Final Rule. 78 FR 79730, 80073–89 (Dec. 31,
                                             available or are quite limited. Data with
                                                                                                      TILA–RESPA Final Rule and are                         2013).
                                             which to quantify the benefits of this
                                                                                                      consistent with informal guidance                       35 Some service providers, such as software
                                             final rule are particularly limited. As a                                                                      vendors, will incur costs, as well, as they update
                                                                                                      provided by the Bureau. Thus, the
                                             result, portions of this analysis rely in                                                                      their products to comply with this final rule, but
                                                                                                      Bureau believes that creditors will not
                                             part on general economic principles to                                                                         these are not covered persons for the purposes of
                                             provide a qualitative discussion of the                  be adversely affected by these technical              this analysis.
                                             benefits, costs, and impacts of this final               corrections and will enjoy additional                   36 The primary source of data used in this

                                                                                                      certainty when originating loans. Given               analysis is 2013 data collected under the Home
                                             rule.                                                                                                          Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). The empirical
                                                As a result of this final rule, affected              that the Bureau believes that the vast                analysis also uses data from the 4th quarter 2013
                                             covered persons will incur costs                         majority of creditors would have                      bank and thrift Call Reports, and the 4th quarter
                                             associated with delaying                                 implemented their systems in a manner                 2013 credit union Call Reports from the National
                                                                                                      consistent with these technical                       Credit Union Administration, to identify financial
                                             implementation from the CRA Effective                                                                          institutions and their characteristics. Unless
                                                                                                      corrections regardless of this final rule,            otherwise specified, the numbers provided include
                                               32 Specifically, section 1022(b)(2)(A) of the Dodd-    the Bureau does not believe that these                appropriate projections made to account for any
                                             Frank Act calls for the Bureau to consider the           technical corrections will have a                     missing information, for example, any institutions
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                                             potential benefits and costs of a regulation to                                                                that do not report under HMDA. The Bureau also
                                                                                                      discernible impact on consumers.                      utilizes data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
                                             consumers and covered persons, including the
                                             potential reduction of access by consumers to                                                                  the U.S. Department of Labor.
                                             consumer financial products or services; the impact        33 As in the section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the       The Bureau analyzes data from all creditors, both
                                             on depository institutions and credit unions with        TILA–RESPA Final Rule, the Bureau believes that       the ones that report under HMDA and the ones that
                                             $10 billion or less in total assets as described in      approximately 5 percent of creditors do not rely on   do not, with the exception of non-depository
                                             section 1026 of the Dodd-Frank Act; and the impact       third-party vendors. See 78 FR 79730, 80081, 80101    institutions that do not report under HMDA. For
                                             on consumers in rural areas.                             (Dec. 31, 2013).                                      HMDA reporters, the Bureau uses the data reported.



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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                   43919

                                             to industry’s implementation                                Finally, affected covered persons will                E. Impact on Rural Areas
                                             challenges, the Bureau believes that the                 incur costs in internal communications,                     The Bureau does not believe that this
                                             delay of the effective date beyond the                   training, and software re-programming,                   final rule will have a unique impact on
                                             CRA Effective Date could benefit many                    among other costs. The Bureau believes                   consumers in rural areas.
                                             of these creditors, mortgage brokers, and                that the change in the effective date
                                             settlement agents, by allowing them                      might require communicating with any                     IX. Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                             more time to transition to the new                       external suppliers of forms and booklets                    The Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                             integrated disclosures required by the                   and potentially ordering additional                      (RFA),39 as amended by the Small
                                             TILA–RESPA Final Rule and                                forms in the current format. Any pre-                    Business Regulatory Enforcement
                                             Amendments and by diminishing the                        ordered Loan Estimates or Closing                        Fairness Act of 1996,40 requires each
                                             magnitude of any potential disruptions                   Disclosures that comply with the TILA–                   agency to consider the potential impact
                                             associated with the transition. The delay                RESPA Final Rule and Amendments                          of its regulations on small entities,
                                             in the effective date could also benefit                 will still be usable after October 3, and                including small businesses, small
                                             them to the extent that it allows them                   the Bureau does not believe that the                     governmental units, and small nonprofit
                                             to delay incurring any of the costs                      current forms are significantly more                     organizations. The RFA defines a ‘‘small
                                             described in the TILA–RESPA Final                        expensive than the ones that are                         business’’ as a business that meets the
                                             Rule section 1022(b)(2) analysis.37                      required by the TILA–RESPA Final Rule                    size standard developed by the Small
                                                Creditors and other affected persons                  and Amendments; thus, there should be                    Business Administration (SBA)
                                             might also incur costs due to the delay                  no net increase in expense of procuring                  pursuant to the Small Business Act.41
                                             of the effective date of the TILA–RESPA                  forms and booklets. While many of                           The RFA generally requires an agency
                                             Final Rule and Amendments. The                           these costs are already imposed as a                     to conduct an initial regulatory
                                             Bureau estimated in its section                          result of the delay in the effective date                flexibility analysis and a final regulatory
                                             1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA–RESPA                    to the CRA Effective Date (and therefore                 flexibility analysis of any proposed rule
                                             Final Rule that 95 percent of creditors                  are not costs imposed by this final rule),               subject to notice-and-comment
                                             (about 10,600) rely on third-party                       the Bureau believes that some of the                     rulemaking requirements, unless the
                                             vendors for their software, and the                      costs may be greater because this final                  agency certifies that the proposed rule
                                             Bureau estimates that these creditors                    rule further delays the effective date                   will not have a significant economic
                                             will not incur significant software                      until October 3.                                         impact on a substantial number of small
                                             programming costs.38 However, for the                                                                             entities. The Bureau also is subject to
                                                                                                         The Bureau is uncertain as to the
                                             5 percent of creditors (approximately                                                                             certain additional procedures under the
                                                                                                      extent of the foregoing costs. The
                                             560) that do not rely on third-party                                                                              RFA involving the convening of a panel
                                                                                                      Bureau requested comments on the
                                             vendors, the change of the effective date                                                                         to consult with small business
                                                                                                      magnitude of such costs, but there were
                                             will require additional programming                                                                               representatives prior to proposing a rule
                                                                                                      no comments submitted that provided a
                                             expense. While a portion of this cost is                                                                          for which an initial regulatory flexibility
                                                                                                      representative basis for quantification.
                                             already imposed by the delay in the                                                                               analysis is required.
                                                                                                      The Bureau is therefore unable to
                                             effective date to the CRA Effective Date                                                                             In the Proposed Rule, the Bureau
                                                                                                      quantify the costs for industry
                                             and therefore is not imposed by this                                                                              concluded that the proposed extension
                                                                                                      participants associated with delaying
                                             final rule, the Bureau believes that some                                                                         of the effective date, if adopted, would
                                                                                                      the effective date from the CRA Effective
                                             of this cost might be greater with the                                                                            not have a significant economic impact
                                                                                                      Date to October 3, 2015.
                                             delay of the effective date to October 3.                                                                         on a substantial number of small entities
                                             The Bureau specifically requested                        C. Impact on Depository Institutions                     and that an initial regulatory flexibility
                                             comment on the extent of programming                     With No More Than $10 Billion in                         analysis was therefore not required.
                                             expense but received no specific                         Assets                                                   This final rule adopts the Proposed Rule
                                             comments thereon.                                                                                                 substantially as proposed.42 Therefore, a
                                                Moreover, the delay might also                          The vast majority of the creditors                     final regulatory flexibility analysis is not
                                             require rearranging already established                  described above have no more than $10                    required.
                                             operational schedules and business                       billion in assets. The Bureau believes                      As discussed above, this final rule
                                             processes. This potential disruption                     that depository institutions with no                     extends the effective date of the TILA–
                                             might be costly and require additional                   more than $10 billion in assets will not                 RESPA Final Rule and Amendments
                                             effort from employees and additional                     be differentially affected by the                        and technical amendments to October 3,
                                             expenses due to, for example, overtime                   extension of the effective date.                         2015.
                                             pay. This potential disruption might                     D. Impact on Access to Credit
                                             especially affect creditors not relying                                                                           A. Number and Classes of Affected
                                             primarily on third-party vendors. The                       The Bureau does not believe that                      Entities
                                             Bureau believes that mortgage brokers                    there will be an adverse impact on                         The following table summarizes the
                                             and settlement agents will incur similar                 credit availability resulting from this                  estimated number and type of entities
                                             coordination and implementation costs.                   final rule.                                              that will be affected by this final rule.43
                                             For HMDA non-reporters, the Bureau uses                    42 In addition to adopting the Proposed Rule           technical corrections. Therefore, these technical
                                             projections based on the match of the Call Report        substantially as proposed, this final rule also          corrections are not considered in the Bureau’s RFA
                                             data with HMDA.                                          includes technical corrections to two provisions of      certification analysis.
                                                37 See 78 FR 79730, 80073–89 (Dec. 31, 2013).         the TILA–RESPA Final Rule to resolve potential             43 The Bureau assumes that all mortgage creditor
                                                                                                      inconsistencies in the TILA–RESPA Final Rule
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                                                38 Id. at 80081, 80101.                                                                                        non-depository institutions are below the Small
                                                                                                      requirements that could have resulted in creditors
                                                                                                                                                               Business Administration’s threshold for small
                                                39 Public Law 96–354, 94 Stat. 1164 (1980).           being inadvertently out of compliance. Under
                                                40 Public Law 104–121, section 241, 110 Stat. 847,    section 601(2) of the RFA, ‘‘rule’’ means ‘‘any rule     entities (annual receipts of $38.5 million). See 13
                                                                                                      for which the agency publishes a general notice of       CFR 121.201 (listing applicable size standard for
                                             864–65 (1996).                                                                                                    NAICS code 522292). Consistent with the TILA–
                                                41 5 U.S.C. 601(3). The Bureau may establish an
                                                                                                      proposed rulemaking pursuant to section 553(b) of
                                                                                                      this title, or any other law[.]’’ As discussed in Part   RESPA Final Rule, the Bureau has not reviewed the
                                             alternative definition after consultation with SBA       VII above, the Bureau has found that notice and          impact on software vendors for the purposes of this
                                             and an opportunity for public comment.                   comment are unnecessary for the issuance of these        analysis. 78 FR 79730, 80089–100 (Dec. 31, 2013).



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                                             43920                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Affected      Small affected
                                                                           Category                                                                     NAICS codes                                               entities        entities

                                             Mortgage Creditors .......................................................   522110, 522120, 522130, 522292 ...............................                               11,150          10,403
                                             Mortgage Brokers .........................................................   522310 ..........................................................................             7,007           6,895
                                             Settlement Agents ........................................................   541191 ..........................................................................             7,719           7,580



                                               The Bureau believes that, as in the                              National banks, Recordkeeping and                                       paid at closing, as the sum of the
                                             section 1022(b)(2) analysis of the TILA–                           recordkeeping requirements, Reporting,                                  amounts calculated pursuant to
                                             RESPA Final Rule, 5 percent of all                                 Savings associations, Truth in lending.                                 paragraphs (h)(2) and (3) of this section,
                                             creditors, including small creditors, do                                                                                                   labeled ‘‘Closing Costs Paid at Closing’’;
                                                                                                                Authority and Issuance
                                             not utilize software vendors.44 Small                                                                                                      *     *     *     *     *
                                             creditors who do not use software                                    For the reasons set forth in the
                                                                                                                                                                                        ■ 4. In Supplement I to Part 1026—
                                             vendors could incur greater costs, but                             preamble, the Bureau amends
                                                                                                                Regulation Z, 12 CFR part 1026, as set                                  Official Interpretations, as amended by
                                             the fraction of small creditors incurring                                                                                                  78 FR 79730 (Dec. 31, 2013):
                                             these costs (at most 5 percent) is not                             forth below:
                                                                                                                                                                                        ■ A. Under Section 1026.1—Authority,
                                             substantial.                                                                                                                               Purpose, Coverage, Organization,
                                                                                                                PART 1026—TRUTH IN LENDING
                                             B. Certification                                                   (REGULATION Z)                                                          Enforcement and Liability, under
                                                                                                                                                                                        Paragraph 1(d)(5), paragraph 1 is
                                                Accordingly, the undersigned hereby                             ■ 1. The authority citation for part 1026                               revised.
                                             certifies that this final rule will not have                       continues to read as follows:                                           ■ B. Under Section 1026.19—Certain
                                             a significant economic impact on a
                                             substantial number of small entities.                                Authority: 12 U.S.C. 2601, 2603–2605,                                 Mortgage and Variable-Rate
                                                                                                                2607, 2609, 2617, 5511, 5512, 5532, 5581; 15                            Transactions, under 19(g)(2) Permissible
                                             X. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis                                U.S.C. 1601 et seq.                                                     changes, paragraph 3 is revised.
                                                Under the Paperwork Reduction Act                               ■  2. In amendatory instruction 5                                         The revisions read as follows:
                                             of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.),                            appearing on page 65325 in the Federal                                  Supplement I to Part 1026—Official
                                             Federal agencies are generally required                            Register on November 3, 2014, change                                    Interpretations
                                             to seek Office of Management and                                   ‘‘Effective August 1, 2015’’ to read
                                             Budget (OMB) approval for information                                                                                                      *         *           *    *     *
                                                                                                                ‘‘Effective October 3, 2015.’’
                                             collection requirements prior to                                                                                                           Subpart A—General
                                             implementation. Under the PRA, the                                 Subpart E—Special Rules for Certain
                                             Bureau may not conduct or sponsor and,                             Home Mortgage Transactions                                              Section 1026.1—Authority, Purpose,
                                             notwithstanding any other provision of                                                                                                     Coverage, Organization, Enforcement
                                             law, a person is not required to respond                           ■  3. Section 1026.38 is amended by                                     and Liability
                                             to an information collection unless the                            revising paragraphs (i)(8)(ii),
                                                                                                                (i)(8)(iii)(A), and (j)(1)(iv) to read as                               *         *           *    *     *
                                             information collection displays a
                                             currently valid control number assigned                            follows:                                                                1(d) Organization
                                             by OMB. The collections of information                             § 1026.38 Content of disclosures for                                    Paragraph 1(d)(5)
                                             related to the TILA–RESPA Final Rule,                              certain mortgage transactions (Closing
                                             Integrated Mortgage Disclosures Under                              Disclosure).                                                               1. Effective date. The Bureau’s
                                             the Real Estate Settlement Procedures                                                                                                      revisions to Regulation X and
                                                                                                                *       *    *     *     *
                                             Act (Regulation X) and the Truth In                                   (i) * * *                                                            Regulation Z published on December
                                             Lending Act (Regulation Z) (78 FR                                     (8) * * *                                                            31, 2013 (the TILA–RESPA Final Rule),
                                             79730), have been previously reviewed                                 (ii) Under the subheading ‘‘Final,’’ the                             apply to covered loans (closed-end
                                             and approved by OMB in accordance                                  amount equal to the total of the amounts                                credit transactions secured by real
                                             with the PRA and assigned OMB                                      disclosed under paragraphs (j)(1)(iii)                                  property) for which the creditor or
                                             Control Numbers 3170–0015                                          and (v) through (x) of this section                                     mortgage broker receives an application
                                             (Regulation Z) and 3170–0016                                       reduced by the total of the amounts                                     on or after October 3, 2015 (the
                                             (Regulation X). These OMB approvals                                disclosed under paragraphs (j)(2)(vi)                                   ‘‘effective date’’), except that new
                                             will become active on October 3, 2015,                             through (xi) of this section.                                           § 1026.19(e)(2), the amendments to
                                             the effective date of the TILA–RESPA                                  (iii) * * *                                                          § 1026.28(a)(1), and the amendments to
                                             Final Rule as established herein.                                     (A) If the amount disclosed under                                    the commentary to § 1026.29, become
                                                The Bureau has determined that this                             paragraph (i)(8)(ii) of this section is                                 effective on October 3, 2015, without
                                             final rule would not have any new or                               different than the amount disclosed                                     respect to whether an application has
                                             revised information collection                                     under paragraph (i)(8)(i) of this section                               been received. The provisions of
                                             requirements (recordkeeping, reporting,                            (unless the difference is due to                                        § 1026.19(e)(2) apply prior to a
                                             or disclosure requirements) on covered                             rounding), a statement of that fact, along                              consumer’s receipt of the disclosures
                                             entities or members of the public that                             with a statement that the consumer                                      required by § 1026.19(e)(1)(i), and
                                             would constitute collections of                                    should see the details disclosed under                                  therefore, restrict activity that may
                                             information requiring OMB approval                                 paragraphs (j)(1)(iii) and (v) through (x)                              occur prior to receipt of an application
                                                                                                                                                                                        by a creditor or mortgage broker under
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                                             under the PRA.                                                     and (j)(2)(vi) through (xi) of this section;
                                                                                                                or                                                                      § 1026.19(e). These provisions include
                                             List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 1026                                                                                                       § 1026.19(e)(2)(i), which restricts the
                                                                                                                *       *    *     *     *
                                               Advertising, Consumer protection,                                   (j) * * *                                                            fees that may be imposed on a
                                             Credit, Credit unions, Mortgages,                                     (1) * * *                                                            consumer, § 1026.19(e)(2)(ii), which
                                                                                                                   (iv) The total amount of closing costs                               requires a statement to be included on
                                               44 78   FR 79730, 80081 (Dec. 31, 2013).                         disclosed that are designated borrower-                                 written estimates of terms or costs


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                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 142 / Friday, July 24, 2015 / Rules and Regulations                                                  43921

                                             specific to a consumer, and                              Procedures Act, respectively. The                         and Closing Disclosure under
                                             § 1026.19(e)(2)(iii), which prohibits                    requirement to provide the special                        §§ 1026.37 and 1026.38, for applications
                                             creditors from requiring the submission                  information booklet under § 1026.19(g)                    that are received on or after October 3,
                                             of documents verifying information                       of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule would                        2015, a creditor may change the title
                                             related to the consumer’s application.                   also not apply to the transaction. But the                appearing on the cover of the version of
                                             Accordingly, the provisions under                        creditor would provide the special                        the special information booklet in use
                                             § 1026.19(e)(2) are effective on October                 information booklet under § 1024.6, as                    before October 3, 2015, provided the
                                             3, 2015, without respect to whether an                   applicable.                                               words ‘‘settlement costs’’ are used in the
                                             application has been received on that                       ii. Predisclosure written estimates.                   title. See comment 1(d)(5)–1 for
                                             date. In addition, the amendments to                     Assume a creditor receives a request                      guidance regarding compliance with
                                             § 1026.28 and the commentary to                          from a consumer for a written estimate                    § 1026.19(g) for applications received on
                                             § 1026.29 govern the preemption of                       of terms or costs specific to the                         or after October 3, 2015.
                                             State laws and thus, the amendments to                   consumer on October 3, 2015, before the                   *      *     *    *    *
                                             those provisions and associated                          consumer submits an application to the
                                                                                                                                                                  Dated: July 20, 2015.
                                             commentary made by the TILA–RESPA                        creditor, and thus before the consumer
                                                                                                      has received the disclosures required                     Richard Cordray,
                                             Final Rule are effective on October 3,
                                             2015, without respect to whether an                      under § 1026.19(e)(1)(i). The creditor, if                Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial
                                                                                                                                                                Protection.
                                             application has been received on that                    it provides such written estimate to the
                                                                                                      consumer, must comply with the                            [FR Doc. 2015–18239 Filed 7–22–15; 11:15 am]
                                             date. The following examples illustrate
                                             the application of the effective date for                requirements of § 1026.19(e)(2)(ii) and                   BILLING CODE 4810–AM–P

                                             the TILA–RESPA Final Rule.                               provide the required statement on the
                                                i. General. Assume a creditor receives                written estimate, even though the
                                             an application, as defined under                         creditor has not received an application                  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                             § 1026.2(a)(3) of the TILA–RESPA Final                   for a transaction subject to § 1026.19(e)
                                                                                                      and (f) on that date.                                     Federal Aviation Administration
                                             Rule, for a transaction subject to
                                             § 1026.19(e) and (f) on October 3, 2015,                    iii. Request for preemption
                                                                                                      determination. Assume a creditor                          14 CFR Part 39
                                             and that consummation of the
                                             transaction occurs on October 31, 2015.                  submits a request to the Bureau under                     [Docket No. FAA–2014–0572; Directorate
                                             The amendments of the TILA–RESPA                         § 1026.28(a)(1) for a determination of                    Identifier 2014–NM–027–AD; Amendment
                                                                                                      whether a State law is inconsistent with                  39–18214; AD 2015–15–05]
                                             Final Rule, including the requirements
                                             to provide the Loan Estimate and                         the disclosure requirements of the                        RIN 2120–AA64
                                             Closing Disclosure under § 1026.19(e)                    TILA–RESPA Final Rule on October 3,
                                             and (f), apply to the transaction. The                   2015. Because the amendments to                           Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing
                                             creditor would also be required to                       § 1026.28(a)(1) are effective on that date                Company Airplanes
                                             provide the special information booklet                  and do not depend on whether the
                                                                                                      creditor has received an application as                   AGENCY:  Federal Aviation
                                             under § 1026.19(g) of the TILA–RESPA                                                                               Administration (FAA), DOT.
                                             Final Rule, as applicable. Assume a                      defined under § 1026.2(a)(3) of the
                                                                                                      TILA–RESPA Final Rule,                                    ACTION: Final rule.
                                             creditor receives an application, as
                                             defined under § 1026.2(a)(3) of the                      § 1026.28(a)(1), as amended by the                        SUMMARY:   We are superseding
                                             TILA–RESPA Final Rule, for a                             TILA–RESPA Final Rule, is applicable                      Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98–22–10
                                             transaction subject to § 1026.19(e) and                  to the request on that date and the                       for certain The Boeing Company Model
                                             (f) on September 30, 2015, and that                      Bureau would make a determination                         737–100, –200, –200C, and –300 series
                                             consummation of the transaction occurs                   based on the amendments of the TILA–                      airplanes. AD 98–22–10 required
                                             on October 30, 2015. The amendments                      RESPA Final Rule, including, for                          repetitive inspections for cracking of the
                                             of the TILA–RESPA Final Rule,                            example, the requirements of § 1026.37.                   aft frame and frame support structure of
                                             including the requirements to provide                    Subpart C—Closed End Credit                               the forward service doorway, and repair
                                             the Loan Estimate and Closing                                                                                      if necessary. AD 98–22–10 also
                                             Disclosure under § 1026.19(e) and (f), do                *      *         *       *       *                        provided an optional terminating action
                                             not apply to the transaction, except that                                                                          for the repetitive inspection
                                                                                                      Section 1026.19—Certain Mortgage and
                                             the provisions of § 1026.19(e)(2),                                                                                 requirements of that AD. This new AD
                                                                                                      Variable-Rate Transactions
                                             specifically § 1026.19(e)(2)(i), (e)(2)(ii),                                                                       requires new inspections and adds
                                             and (e)(2)(iii), do apply to the                         *      *    *     *     *                                 airplanes to the applicability; for certain
                                             transaction beginning on October 3,                         19(g)(2) Permissible changes.                          airplanes, this new AD provides an
                                             2015, because they become effective on                   *      *    *     *     *                                 optional preventive modification, which
                                             October 3, 2015, without respect to                         3. Permissible changes to title of                     terminates the repetitive inspections.
                                             whether an application, as defined                       booklets in use before October 3, 2015.                   This AD was prompted by reports of
                                             under § 1026.2(a)(3) of the TILA–RESPA                   Section 1026.19(g)(2)(iv) provides that                   fatigue cracking of the aft frame and
                                             Final Rule, has been received by the                     the title appearing on the cover of the                   frame support structure of the forward
                                             creditor or mortgage broker on that date.                booklet shall not be changed. Comment                     service doorway around the six
                                             The creditor does not provide the                        19(g)(1)–1 states that the Bureau may,                    doorstop fittings, and a determination
                                             Closing Disclosure so that it is received                from time to time, issue revised or                       that inspections are needed in
                                             by the consumer at least three business                  alternative versions of the special                       additional locations and that additional
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                                             days before consummation; instead, the                   information booklet that address                          airplanes might be subject to the
                                             creditor and the settlement agent                        transactions subject to § 1026.19(g) by                   identified unsafe condition. We are
                                             provide the disclosures under                            publishing a notice in the Federal                        issuing this AD to detect and correct
                                             § 1026.19(a)(2)(ii) and § 1024.8, as                     Register. Until the Bureau issues a                       fatigue cracking of the aft frame and
                                             applicable, under the Truth in Lending                   version of the special information                        frame support structure of the forward
                                             Act and the Real Estate Settlement                       booklet relating to the Loan Estimate                     service doorway around the six


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Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:25:18
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:25:18
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule; official interpretations; delay of effective date.
DatesThe amendments in this final rule are effective on October 3, 2015. Effective July 24, 2015, this final rule delays the effective date from August 1, 2015, until October 3, 2015, for the final rules amending 12 CFR parts 1024 and 1026 published December 31, 2013, at 78 FR 79730, and February 19, 2015, at 80 FR 8767; and for amendatory instruction 5 amending Supplement I to 12 CFR part 1026, appearing on page 65325 in the Federal Register on November 3, 2014.
ContactPedro De Oliveira, David Friend, or Joel Singerman, Counsels; or Laura Johnson or Amanda Quester, Senior Counsels, Office of Regulations, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552, at (202) 435-7700.
FR Citation80 FR 43911 
RIN Number3170-AA48
CFR Citation12 CFR 1024
12 CFR 1026
CFR AssociatedAdvertising; Consumer Protection; Credit; Credit Unions; Mortgages; National Banks; Recordkeeping and Recordkeeping Requirements; Reporting; Savings Associations and Truth in Lending

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