The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has amended Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act, to introduce a new exemption so certain depository institutions and credit unions no longer need to create escrow accounts for higher-priced mortgage loans. To qualify for this exemption, institutions must have assets of $10 billion or less and fewer than 1,000 such loans from the previous year, and meet other criteria like operating in rural or underserved areas. The final rule, effective February 17, 2021, aims to reduce regulatory burdens on smaller institutions while maintaining consumer protection standards.
Simple Explanation
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made a new rule that lets some small banks and credit unions skip creating a special money-saving account for certain loans. This rule is like a shortcut for banks that are quite small and operate in places that don't have many banks around.