Friday, November 8, 2024

Legal Briefs

November 2005 Legal Briefs

Processing through Dallas Fed Affects Availability Schedule

FDIC Guidance on Establishing a Bank Ethics Program

  1. Written Bank Policies
  2. Specific Provisions
  • a. Safeguarding Customer Information
  • b. Integrity of Bank Records
  • c. Strong Internal Controls  
  • d. Speaking Candidly with Examiners
  • e. Accepting Gifts and Favors  
  • f. Avoiding Self-Dealing  
  • g. Observing Other Laws  
  • h. Other Matters

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November 2006 Legal Briefs

Pension Reform: Useful Changes to IRA Provisions

  1. IRA Contribution Limits.
  2. Tax Refunds & Other Transfers to IRA’s.
  3. IRA’s of Guards & Reservists.
  4. IRA Distributions to Charities
  5. Understanding the Tax Advantages:
  6. 50% limit on charitable contributions doesn’t apply.
  7. Deductions and credits don’t phase out. 
  8. Reducing RMD’s in future years. 
  9. Rollover to “Inherited IRA”
  10. Easier Conversion to Roth IRA’s

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October 2006 Legal Briefs

Cleanup Changes in 2006 to Mechanic’s Lien Provisions

  1. Background
  2. Obsolete Provisions
  3. What Services Are Covered
  4. Certificate of Title Property with Liens
  5. Change in Time Period
  6. Rental-Related Changes to Section 91
  7. Revisions to Section 180
  8. "Other Property” Mechanic’s Liens
  9. Section 91A vs. Section 197
  10. Section 91A Notice Procedures
  11. Assistance in Researching Titles
  12. Property Removed without Permission; Release Obtained by Bad Check
  13. Service Provider’s Right to Repossess

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September 2006 Legal Briefs

Payroll Card Accounts & Regulation E Changes

  1. “Payroll Card Account”
  2. DHS Cards vs. Payroll Cards
  3. Is a Payroll Card Useful?
  4. Advantages to Consumers
  5. Employer Considerations
  6. Advantages for Banks
  7. Payroll Cards Not Mandatory?
  8. No Periodic Statements
  9. Consumers Who Don’t Want Statements
  10. Error Resolution
  11. Limits on Liability
  12. Modified Disclosures

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August 2006 Legal Briefs

New Law Provides for Credit Report Freezes

  1. Legislative Background
  2. Security Freeze Request
  3. Authorizing a Temporary Release
  4. Is a “Freeze” a Good Idea?
  5. Assistance with Temporary Releases
  6. Assistance with Security Freezes
  7. Lender Exceptions to Security Freeze
  8. Other Exceptions to Security Freeze
  9. Excluded Entities
  10. Notice of Changes
  11. Security Freeze Notice Required
  12. Fines & Penalties

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May 2006 Legal Briefs

Consumer Loan Dollar Amounts Adjusting on July 1    

  •  a. Increased Late Fees  
  •  b. “508B” and “508A” Loans  
  •  c. Dealer Paper “No Deficiency” Amount  

Money Transmitters Must Register With Banking Department

July 1 Deadline for Continuation Statements for Oil and Gas

Searching UCC-1’s in Only One Filing Office as of July 1, 2006

Duration of Fixture Filings Related to Manufactured Homes

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July 2006 Legal Briefs

Deceptive Use of a Bank’s Name in Soliciting Customers

  1. Insurance Practices
  2. Disclosure of Non-Authorization
  3. Comparing the Statutes

Exploitation of Disabled or Elderly Adults

  1. “Elderly” Defined
  2. “Disabled” Not Defined
  3. "Lacks Capacity to Consent”
  4. “Exploitation” Defined
  5. Criminal Penalties
  6. Knowledge of Incapacity
  7. Reporting to Authorities

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June 2006 Legal Briefs

Amendments to Deposit Account P.O.D. Provisions

  1. Understanding the Customer’s Needs
  2. First-Choice/Second-Choice POD Authority
  3. Charity as POD Beneficiary
  4. Required Notice to Accountholders

New Provision for Safe Deposit Box “Access on Death”

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April 2006 Legal Briefs

Increased Deposit Insurance Limits for Retirement Accounts

  1. “Self-Directed” Requirement
  2. Multiple Accounts
  3. Credit Unions
  4. Funding Opportunities
  5. Statement Stuffers
  6. Future Increases in Deposit Insurance
  7. Feasibility Studies

Other Details of Deposit Insurance Reform Legislation

  1. Merged Insurance Fund
  2. Modified Reserve Ratio
  3. Dividend of Excess Funds
  4. Credit against Assessments
  5. Fund Restoration Plans

Cross-Border Scams–Overpaying by Check, Wiring Back Money

Procedures to Avoid Losses on Check Scams

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March 2006 Legal Briefs

Higher Debt Allowed for $150-500 Million Holding Companies

  1. Some Advantages
  2. Permitted Debt Ratios
  3. Reason for the Change
  4. Additional Restrictions

More New Changes to Regulation E

  1. Disclosure at ATM’s
  2. Preauthorized Debits
  3. Good Faith Errors
  4. Stop Payments
  5. Extended Time for Raising Errors
  6. Extent of Error Investigation

Using Multiple CIP Approaches

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February 2006 Legal Briefs

Electronic Check Conversion under Regulation E

  1. Electronic Check Conversion
  2. Reg E Initial Disclosures
  3. Some Exceptions
  4. Check Conversion by Merchants
  5. Notice at POS Locations
  6. Notice for Billing Statements
  7. Coupon Books
  8. Authorization at POS
  9. Authorization on Billing Statements
  10. Comparison to ACH Rules
  11. Third Party Payment
  12. Advantages for Payees
  13. Disadvantages for Consumers?

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January 2006 Legal Briefs

Fair Credit Regulation Restricts Use of Medical Information

  1. Background
  2. “Medical Information”
  3. Examples of Not Evaluating Credit
  4. Unsolicited Medical Information
  5. Financial Information Exception
  6. Permitted Gathering of Financial Information
  7. Proper Financial Use of Medical Information
  8. Improper Use of Medical Information
  9. Other Permitted Exceptions
  10. Proper Use of Exceptions
  11. Limits on Re-disclosure
  12. Affiliate Sharing

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December 2005 Legal Briefs

Fed’s Warranty of Authorization for “Telephone Checks”

  1. Background
  2. Who Uses “Telephone Checks”?
  3. What Checks are Covered?
  4. Warranty of Authorization
  5. FTC Telemarketing Rule
  6. Interviewing the Customer  
  7. Removing the “Midnight Deadline”
  8. Fraud and Errors
  9. Limitation on Returning Checks
  10. The OBA’s Involvement

Homestead Exemption in Oklahoma Bankruptcies: What’s the Dollar Limit?

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October 2005 Legal Briefs

Important Issues in Establishing Tragedy Accounts

  1. Using a Real Payee
  2. Endorsement Risk
  3. Tragedy Victim as Owner?
  4. Tax-Deductible Entity
  5. Setting up a Trust
  6. UTMA Account
  7. Risk-Based Approach
  8. Bank-Sponsored Account

Guidelines for Residential Tract Development Loans

  1. Appraisal Methods           
  2. Appraising Lots to be Developed       
  3. Loan-to-Value Ratios          
  4. Single-Unit Construction Loans       
  5. Substituting/Releasing Collateral   
  6. What is the Loan Amount?
  7. Commitment Duration
  8. Developing Too Many Lots
  9. Loans Exceeding LTV Ratios
  10. L.O.C. Borrowing Base

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September 2005 Legal Briefs

Small Intermediate Banks and Changes in CRA Regulations

Post-Closing “Real-Estate-Related” Fees are Finance Charges

Banks Sharing Information about Former Employees

More Details on Lottery Accounts

Public Employees’ Payroll Deductions to Financial Institutions

FDIC Statistics for Oklahoma

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