Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an annual observation that encourages consumers and businesses to take steps to protect themselves from cyberattacks. The theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 is “Focusing on the Fundamentals.”

Cybersecurity breaches are not always the act of sophisticated hackers and foreign agents. Most successful cyberattacks are caused by a failure to follow well-established cybersecurity practices. To ensure your institution is following these best practices, we encourage you to take steps to collaborate with your regulators and your peers.

For more information and additional resources about being cyber-secure please visit: Keep My Bank Secure, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors Ransomware Self-Assessment Tool, the US Government’s Stop Ransomware initiative, and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (Cybersecurity Awareness Month | CISA).

Informative videos: ANATOMY OF A CYBER ATTACK - KeepMyBankSecure.com - YouTube and Cybersecurity Strategies with Phillip Hinkle, Director of IT Security Examinations with the Texas Department of Banking, and Trey Maust, Executive Chairman of Lewis & Clark Bank (Cybersecurity Strategies - featuring Phillip Hinkle and Trey Maust - YouTube).

Pursuant to state law and the Department's policy and procedure, the per diem fee for all state-chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, and family trust companies has been calculated to be $908. Similarly, the per diem fee for all entities licensed under consumer credit laws has been calculated to be $934. This new per diem fee will be charged for all examinations commencing on or after October 1, 2021.

View Chartered Entity Memorandum and Licensed Entity Memorandum.

Pursuant to NH RSA 383-B:3-303(a)(7)(E), Gerald H. Little,Bank Commissioner, announced the minimum interest rate payable on moneys on deposit in escrow accounts maintained for the payment of taxes or insurance premiums related to loans on property secured by real estate mortgages.

Said rate shall be 0.00% and shall be effective commencing August 1, 2021 and shall remain in effect until House Bill 610 becomes effective.

For more specific information about this issue please see the website set up by Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper at https://www.mrcooper.com/blog/2021/04/26/payment-information-center/.

The escrow rate for the period February 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021 is 0.00%.

Pursuant to NH RSA 383-B:3-303(a)(7)(E), Gerald H. Little, Bank Commissioner, announced the minimum interest rate payable on moneys on deposit in escrow accounts maintained for the payment of taxes or insurance premiums related to loans on property secured by real estate mortgages.

Said rate shall be 0.00% and shall be effective commencing February 1, 2021 and shall remain in effect until the next rate announcement on August 1, 2021.

Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald and New Hampshire Bank Commissioner Gerald H. Little announce that their agencies have joined with 52 other state regulators, 51 state attorneys general and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in a settlement agreement with Nationstar Mortgage LLC, d/b/a Mr. Cooper, one of the largest mortgage servicers in the nation, closing a multiyear investigation of the company.

The Joint Press Release may be found at: [https://www.doj.nh.gov/news/2020/20201210-nationstar-settlement.htm].

The settlement agreement and consent order may be found at: [www.csbs.org/2020-settlement-agreement-and-consent-order].

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help consumers struggling with financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For consumers experiencing financial hardship that has made it difficult to maintain your mortgage payments, the following link provides important information about your rights to mortgage payment forbearance and foreclosure protection under the CARES Act.

https://www.csbs.org/system/files/2020-05/CSBS-CFPB_Consumers_Forbearance_Guide_May_2020_0.pdf

Please review this information carefully and reach out to your servicer for assistance with making your loan payments.

If you are having difficulty working with your servicer, you may contact the Department at 603-271-3561 for assistance with understanding your rights under the CARES Act.

Pursuant to state law and the Department's policy and procedure, the per diem fee for all state-chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, and family trust companies has been calculated to be $1,074. Similarly, the per diem fee for all entities licensed under consumer credit laws has been calculated to be $955. This new per diem fee will be charged for all examinations commencing on or after October 1, 2020.

View Chartered Entity Memorandum and Licensed Entity Memorandum.

The escrow rate for the period August 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021 is 0.00%.

Pursuant to NH RSA 383-B:3-303(a)(7)(E), Emelia A.S. Galdieri, Deputy Bank Commissioner, announced the minimum interest rate payable on moneys on deposit in escrow accounts maintained for the payment of taxes or insurance premiums related to loans on property secured by real estate mortgages.

Said rate shall be 0.00% and shall be effective commencing August 1, 2020 and shall remain in effect until the next rate announcement on February 1, 2021.

Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald urges people in New Hampshire to be on the alert for charitable giving and consumer product scams related to the COVID-19 outbreak. View the Press Release. View the Charitable Giving Fraud Alert Flyer.

Also visit covid19.nh.gov for up-to-date information about the COVID-19 outbreak in New Hampshire.

U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murrary of the District of New Hampshire today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or to the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov. The public can also report fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov. View the Press Release.

To find more about Department of Justice resources and information, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

The Federal Trade Commissioner ("FTC") warns consumers to be aware of scammers asking you to pay to get your government issued check. FTC article Checks from the Government.

Be aware of this as well as other Coronavirus-related scams. Visit ftc.gov.

The escrow rate for the period February 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020 is 0.00%.

Pursuant to NH RSA 383-B:3-303(a)(7)(E), Gerald H. Little,

Bank Commissioner, announced the minimum interest rate payable on moneys on deposit in escrow accounts maintained for the payment of taxes or insurance premiums related to loans on property secured by real estate mortgages.

Said rate shall be 0.00% and shall be effective commencing February 1, 2020 and shall remain in effect until the next rate announcement on August 1, 2020.

May 29, 2020

Request for Proposal Award

In response to the State Banking Commissioner Gerald H. Little’s and the PDIP Advisory Committee’s request for proposals to provide investment advisory and investment management services to the Pool, the Banking Department received one (1) proposal. The proposal was submitted by PFM Asset Management, LLC. The PDIP Advisory Committee reviewed the proposal on April 9, 2020, awarding PFM a score of 99.25% (119 points of 121 possible total points).

State Banking Commissioner Gerald H. Little and the PDIP Advisory Committee, on behalf of the Pool, are seeking competitive proposals from qualified providers to provide investment advisory and investment management services to the Pool. Deadline for final submission of proposals is Friday, February 21, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted. The Commissioner and the Committee anticipate the contract will be awarded in April. The contract would commence on June 22, 2020, for a period of up to five years.

The RFP may be found at: https://www.nh.gov/banking/bank-cu-trust/nh-public-depst-invest-pool.htm.

Pursuant to state law and the Department's policy and procedure, the per diem fee for all state-chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, and family trust companies has been calculated to be $1,102. Similarly, the per diem fee for all entities licensed under consumer credit laws has been calculated to be $939. This new per diem fee will be charged for all examinations commencing after today's date.

View Chartered Entity Memorandum and Licensed Entity Memorandum.

The New Hampshire Banking Department’s Consumer Credit Division (CCD) has received reaccreditation by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators (AARMR). The CSBS/AAMR Mortgage Accreditation Program identifies agencies that serve the citizens of their State by demonstrating the adoption and use of professionally implemented best practices to protect consumers while maintaining a fair and competitive mortgage services market.

“CCD director Raeleen Schutte and her staff went through a rigorous survey and examination process that tested not just historical performance but proper planning for guiding this ever-changing industry. This accreditation was hard-earned,”, said Bank Commissioner Jerry Little. “Director Schutte has built the Consumer Credit Division into a strong and effective as well as compassionate team and we are all very proud to see their hard work recognized by this highly-regarding national accreditation program.”

Pursuant to state law and the Department's Per Diem Calculation Policy and Procedure, the per diem rate for all state-chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, and family trust companies has been calculated to be $1,098. Similarly, the per diem rate for all entities licensed under consumer credit laws has been calculated to be $925. This new per diem rate will be charged for all examinations commencing after today's date.

View Chartered Entity Memorandum and Licensed Entity Memorandum.

The New Hampshire Banking Department encourages banks, credit unions, and licensed mortgage lenders to work constructively and prudently with federal employees and other consumers experiencing financial difficulties beyond their control because of the partial shutdown of the federal government. View Banking's Press Release

Federal regulators respond to the partial government shutdown. View the Federal Press Release

Senate Bill 92, a bill relative to the processing of consumer complaints or inquiries regarding New Hampshire chartered and licensed entities, was signed by Governor Sununu on June 8, 2018, and takes effect on August 7, 2018. View the Commissioner's letter regarding SB 92

View the text of SB 92

The New Hampshire Banking Department joined financial regulators from 46 other states today to announce a legal settlement with PHH Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #2726). The settlement will assist borrowers harmed by substandard mortgage servicing practices conducted by PHH Mortgage between 2009 and 2012. These deficiencies were identified during a multi-state examination of the company. View the Department's press release  

Starting August 1, 2017, money transmitters dealing solely in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are not required to be licensed by the Banking Department.

More information on Cryptocurrency Transmitters.

Congratulations to NHBD's Director of Operations, Dawn Allen and Licensing Supervisor, Nancy Burke, both recent graduates of the Certified Public Manager Program, a nationally accredited program designed to improve the performance of public sector managers and the organizational performance of the state.