Federal Activities:
On May 7, the Federal Reserve Board invited public comment on proposed changes to Regulation II (debit card interchange fees and routing) to clarify that debit card issuers should enable and allow merchants to choose from at least two unaffiliated networks for card-not-present debit card transactions, such as online purchases. Additionally, the proposed revisions would clarify the responsibility of the debit card issuer. For more information, click
On May 6, the Federal Housing Administration announced new amendments to nonborrowing spouse provisions for the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) program, implementing additional protections for spouses involved in a government-sponsored reverse mortgage. The agency details that while HECM mortgagees can begin using the new procedures immediately for all new HECMs, those electing not to do so must implement the new procedures by September 3 or 120 days after the publication of the new mortgagee letter. For more