The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
7/25/24, 11:21 AM FRB: Press Release--Interagency risk-management guidance for home equity lending--May 16, 2005 Joint Press Release Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation National Credit Union Administration Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Office of Thrift Supervision For Immediate Release May 16, 2005 Agencies Issue Credit Risk Management Guidance for Home Equity Lending The federal bank, thrift, and credit union regulatory agencies today issued guidance that promotes sound risk management practices for home equity lines of credit and loans. The agencies have found that in some cases credit risk management practices for home equity lending have not kept pace with the product's rapid growth and eased underwriting standards. The rise in home values, coupled with low interest rates and favorable tax treatment, have made home equity lines of credit and loans attractive to consumers. To date, delinquency and loss rates for home equity portfolios have been low, due at least in part to the modest repayment requirements and relaxed structures of this lending. However, the agencies have identified risk factors that, along with vulnerability to interest rate increases, have attracted scrutiny, including: Interest-only features that require no amortization of principal for a protracted period; Limited or no documentation of a borrower's assets, employment and income; Higher loan-to-value (LTV) and debt-to-income ratios; Lower credit risk scores for underwriting home equity loans; Greater use of automated valuation models and other collateral evaluation tools for the development of appraisals and evaluations; and An increased number of transactions generated through a loan broker or other third party. The agencies note that active portfolio management is especially important for financial institutions that project or have already experienced significant growth or concentrations in higher risk products, such as high LTV, limited documentation and no documentation interest-only, and third-party generated loans. Like most other lending activity, home equity lending can be conducted in a safe and sound manner with appropriate risk management systems. This guidance outlines the agencies' expectations for sound underwriting standards and effective credit risk management practices for a financial institution's home equity lending activity. ### Attachment (43 KB PDF) Media Contacts: https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/bcreg/2005/20050516/default.htm 1/2 7/25/24, 11:21 AM FRB: Press Release--Interagency risk-management guidance for home equity lending--May 16, 2005 Federal Reserve FDIC OCC OTS Susan Stawick David Barr Kevin Mukri Erin Hickman (202) 452-2955 (202) 898-6992 (202) 874-5770 (202) 906-6677 NCUA Cherie Umbel (703) 518-6330 2005 Banking and consumer regulatory policy Home | News and events Accessibility Last update: May 16, 2005 https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/bcreg/2005/20050516/default.htm 2/2