Dec 13 -- CFPB issues corrections to Oct 8 notice.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/13/C1-2021-19274/small-business-lending-data-collection-under-the-equal-credit-opportunity-act-regulation-b
Oct 8 -- The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is publishing for public comment by January 6, 2022 a proposed rule amending Regulation B to implement changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) made by section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act).
Consistent with section 1071, the Bureau is proposing to require covered financial institutions to collect and report to the Bureau data on applications for credit for small businesses, including those that are owned by women or minorities. The Bureau's proposal also addresses its approach to privacy interests and the publication of section 1071 data; shielding certain demographic data from underwriters and other persons; record-keeping requirements; enforcement provisions; and the proposed rule's effective and compliance dates.
In 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act. Section 1071 of that Act amended ECOA to require that financial institutions collect and report to the Bureau certain data regarding applications for credit for women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses. Section 1071's statutory purposes are to (1) facilitate enforcement of fair lending laws, and (2) enable communities, governmental entities, and creditors to identify business and community development needs and opportunities of women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses.
If finalized, the Bureau's proposed rule would create the first comprehensive database of small business credit applications in the United States. This would include critical information about women-owned and minority-owned small businesses to help regulators and the public identify and address fair lending concerns. The database would also enable a range of stakeholders to better identify business and community development needs and opportunities for small businesses, including women-owned and minority-owned small businesses. Just as the Bureau works in other ways to help foster fairness and opportunity in consumer financial services markets for all consumers, the proposed 1071 rule is structured to realize these same goals for the small business market—for all small businesses within the scope of the rule, including those that are owned by women and minorities.
Scope. The Bureau is proposing to require financial institutions to collect and report 1071 data regarding applications for credit for small businesses, including those that are owned by women and minorities.
Covered financial institutions. Consistent with language from section 1071, the Bureau is proposing to define a “financial institution” to include any partnership, company, corporation, association (incorporated or unincorporated), trust, estate, cooperative organization, or other entity that engages in any financial activity.
Covered credit transactions. The Bureau is proposing to require that covered financial institutions collect and report data regarding covered applications from small businesses for covered credit transactions. The Bureau is proposing to define a “covered credit transaction” as one that meets the definition of business credit under existing Regulation B, with certain exceptions. Loans, lines of credit, credit cards, and merchant cash advances (including such credit transactions for agricultural purposes and those that are also covered by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (HMDA)) would all be covered credit transactions within the scope of this proposed rule.
Covered applications. The Bureau is proposing to define a “covered application”—which would trigger data collection and reporting and related requirements—as an oral or written request for a covered credit transaction that is made in accordance with procedures used by a financial institution for the type of credit requested. This proposed definition of covered application is largely consistent with the existing Regulation B definition of that term.
Small business definition. The Bureau is proposing to define a “small business,” about whose applications for credit data must be collected and reported, by reference to the definitions of “business concern” and “small business concern” as set out in the Small Business Act and Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations. However, in lieu of using the SBA's size standards for defining a small business concern, the Bureau's proposed definition would look to whether the business had $5 million or less in gross annual revenue for its preceding fiscal year. The Bureau is seeking SBA approval for its alternate small business size standard pursuant to the Small Business Act.
Data to be collected and reported. The Bureau's proposal addresses the data points that must be collected and reported by covered financial institutions for covered applications from small businesses. Many of the proposed data points are specifically enumerated in section 1071; for the others, the Bureau is proposing to use the authority granted by section 1071 to require financial institutions to collect and report any additional data that the Bureau determines would aid in fulfilling the purposes of section 1071.
As noted above, the Bureau's proposal includes certain data points that are, or could be, provided by the applicant. Some data points specifically relate to the credit being applied for: The credit type (which includes information on the credit product, types of guarantees, and loan term); The credit purpose; and the amount applied for. There are also data points that relate to the applicant's business: A census tract based on an address or location provided by the applicant; gross annual revenue for the applicant's preceding full fiscal year; the 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code appropriate for the applicant; the number of workers that the applicant has ( i.e., non-owners working for the applicant); the applicant's time in business; and the number of principal owners of the applicant.
There are also data points that would be provided by the applicant addressing the demographics of the applicant's ownership: Whether the applicant is a minority-owned business; whether the applicant is a women-owned business; and the ethnicity, race, and sex of the applicant's principal owners. The Bureau refers to these data points collectively as an applicant's “protected demographic information.”
In addition, the Bureau's proposal includes data points that would be generated or supplied solely by the financial institution. These data points include, for all applications: A unique identifier for each application for or extension of credit; the application date; the application method ( i.e., the means by which the applicant submitted its application); the application recipient (that is, whether the financial institution or its affiliate received the application directly, or whether it was received by the financial institution via a third party); the action taken by the financial institution on the application; and the action taken date. For denied applications, there is also a data point for denial reasons. For applications that are originated or approved but not accepted, there is a data point for the amount originated or approved, and a data point for pricing information (which would include, as applicable, interest rate, total origination charges, broker fees, initial annual charges, additional cost for merchant cash advances or other sales-based financing, and prepayment penalties).
Reporting data to the Bureau; publication of data by the Bureau; and privacy considerations. The Bureau is proposing to require that 1071 data be collected on a calendar year basis and reported to the Bureau on or before June 1 of the following year. Financial institutions reporting data to the Bureau would be required to provide certain identifying information about themselves as part of their submission. The Bureau is proposing to provide technical instructions for the submission of 1071 data in a Filing Instructions Guide and related materials.
The Bureau is proposing to make available to the public, on an annual basis and on the Bureau's website, the data submitted to it by financial institutions, subject to modifications or deletions made by the Bureau, at its discretion, to protect privacy interests. To determine whether and how the Bureau might use its discretion to modify or delete data prior to publication, the Bureau is proposing a “balancing test” that would assess the risks and benefits of public disclosure. After the Bureau receives at least one full year of 1071 data following the compliance date of the final rule, the Bureau plans to issue a policy statement in which it would set forth its intended modifications and deletions. The Bureau is also proposing that the Bureau's publication of the data would satisfy financial institutions' statutory obligation to make data available to the public upon request.
Finally, the Bureau is proposing that its final rule to implement section 1071 would become effective 90 days after publication in the Federal Register , though compliance with the rule would not be required until approximately 18 months after publication in the Federal Register.
FR notice inviting public comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/10/08/2021-19274/small-business-lending-data-collection-under-the-equal-credit-opportunity-act-regulation-b (251 pages)
12 CFR Part 1002 - Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) last amended January 1, 2018:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1002/
Federal Reserve Board extends for three years, without revision, the current Recordkeeping and Disclosure Requirements Associated with the CFPB's Regulation B (11/23):
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/23/2021-25501/agency-information-collection-activities-announcement-of-board-approval-under-delegated-authority