CUSO Must License Mortgage Lenders
BOSTON-The state Department of Banking told a credit union-owned mortgage lender in a new legal opinion its mortgage officers must obtain state licenses under the SAFE Act.
The banking department told Central One FCU in Shrewsbury, Mass., which owns 95% of Alcorn Allocations LLC, that neither NCUA nor the banking department have legal authority over the CUSO, therefore it is required to register with the state regulator as a mortgage broker and have all of its lenders are subject to licensing requirements under the new law.
The new law also requires all mortgage lenders at federally insured credit unions and banks to register with the department, a less stringent requirement.
"This is pretty consistent with what NCUA is telling people," said Katherine Webber, a Philadelphia lawyer with the CUSO experts Messick and Webber. "NCUA has always taken the position that they don't regulate CUSOs, that they're regulated by whatever agency that oversees their activity."
$100 Handouts Spread Like Wildfire From MI CU
SAGINAW, Mich.-Employees of Wildfire CU were randomly handing out cash at grocery stores, car washes and other places throughout Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties last weekend as part of the credit union's new Pay it Forward campaign.
The former Family CU launched the Wildfire 100 program to give $100 to 100 people over the course of 100 days. Recipients are being targeted at random, but the credit union is accepting suggestions for people in need.
The credit union, which is paying the largesse out of general funds, hopes to spark similar acts of kindness with its generosity. Winners will be encouraged to share stories of how they spent their $100.
