The News and Views From WNC Insurance Services, Inc. 2013 Edition Number 1 In This Issue: Page 2 Compliance Corner Page 3 Hot Issues Page 4 Claims Corner Page 5 Who is WNC? Technology Bulletin Page 6 Hot Issues-continued For additional information or clarification regarding any of the articles published in The Guardian, please contact Ms. Paula Anders, WNC Marketing Manager at [email protected]. Atlantic Hurricane Names Andrea Lorenzo Barry Melissa Chantal Nestor Dorian Olga Erin Pablo Fernand Rebekah Gabrielle Sebastien Humberto Tanya Ingrid Van Jerry Wendy Karen 2013 Source: NOAA/ National Weather Service From The CEO How do you best describe WNC First? by Carl L. Herrmann III, CEO President, Financial Services Division Besides WNC First being an MGA, providing insurance-specialty programs to various markets, and a group of creative, motivated, customer-focused professionals, what else do you know? I bet you didn’t know: Carl L. Herrmann III, CEO •40% of the business we underwrite is in the non-lender placed, President, Financial voluntary market. Services Division •WNC First produces in excess of $100 million of annual premium to the Lloyd’s market. •WNC First’s claims company, Precise Adjustments, is administering in excess of $50 million in claims payments to Super Storm Sandy victims. •WNC First’s Precise Adjustments handled more than 5,000 Sandy claims—over 4,000 of those were for non-WNC First MGAs and carriers. •We added 500,000 loans from various lenders and servicers in 2012 where WNC First provides tracking and insurance programs. •WNC First provides underwriting expertise in Flood to two major US insurance companies for their Private Flood programs. We oversee $17 billion of coverage on an admitted and non-admitted basis, annually. We are doing some exciting, diverse, and meaningful insurance programs here at WNC First. So the next time you’re asked a question about WNC First, or better yet, you’re asked what they do, you might just say, “What don’t they do!” From The Co-President New Season, Challenges and Opportunities by Norman G. Heinrich President, Voluntary Division It’s hard to believe that it’s already June. Everything is moving so fast that it is Hurricane Season once again and we have not even closed out the 2012 Hurricane Season losses. We continue to work our way through the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy and the rebuilding is just Norman G. Heinrich starting for many in the Northeast. What does 2013 have in store for us? President, Voluntary Division We can only hope Mother Nature is kinder to us than she was in 2012. Another loss like Sandy would put significant pressure on the insurance industry, especially the flood markets. The NFIP is significantly in debt and the number of open Sandy flood losses remains a problem. The WNC Voluntary Flood programs are experiencing increased quoting activity with interest from across the country. I fully expect the 2013 Hurricane Season will bring strong demand especially if the hurricane season proves active as the experts are predicting. Our flood programs now cover almost any type of property from commercial to residential and from coastal to inland. It seems like no matter where a storm might make landfall, a WNC property will be affected. I congratulate everyone involved with the handling of the Super Storm Sandy losses and feel proud that WNC again performed well in another tough situation. Compliance Corner Some of the areas tested include: IT’S OFFICIAL – WNC IS SSAE 16 TYPE II CERTIFIED • Enrollment and Underwriting • Premium Reporting • Claim Processing • Aggregate Reporting by Jordan N. Gray, Esq., Senior Vice President, Compliance and Legal Affairs • Insurance Tracking • Licensing Compliance For the second year • Data Backup in a row, WNC received • Logical Security an Unqualified Opinion • Physical Security on our SSAE 16, SOC Well done SSAE 16 Team and thank 1 Type II Report, which you BDO! means WNC First Insurance Services is once again proven to be BIGGERT-WATERS: a “trusted advisor.” A Cascade of Questions escrow rule (which also needs regulation written), which becomes effective 2 years after Biggert-Waters was signed into law. The second question is, “When will the federal regulators comply with Biggert-Waters?” Waiting for revised Mandatory Purchase Guidelines In light of the significant changes under Biggert-Waters, FEMA officially withdrew its Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines. The Guidelines have been the go-to book for lenders since the beginning. In fact, the Interagency Questions and Answers on Flood Insurance published by the federal lending regulators rely upon and cite the Guidelines as support for compliant For nearly 20 years since 1992, the U.S. industry practice. Thus, the American without Answers Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70 (SAS Bankers Association recently urged the federal by Jordan N. Gray, Esq., Senior Vice 70) has been the leading standard for service regulators to publish the Guidelines. The third President, Compliance and Legal Affairs and fourth questions are, “Will the federal organization reporting. In 2011, the Statement on Standard for Attestation Engagements (SSAE agencies publish the Guidelines and will they On July 6, 2012, the Biggert-Waters Flood 16) replaced SAS 70 as the newly released Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (the “Act”) was publish revisions to Interagency Flood Q&A?” auditing standard of the American Institute Some Waiting may be Over signed by the President. The Act extends the of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) In Fannie Mae Selling Guide Announcement reporting on financial service organizations. authority through September 30, 2017. After SEL-2013-03 (April 9, 2013), Fannie Mae The main motivations behind SSAE 16 are: nearly ten months since the Act was passed, affirmatively announced that it accepts private we in the industry have learned a lot about • Increased globalization of information flood insurance as required under Biggertwhat we don’t know as we experience a technology and business outsourcing Waters. Fannie Mae notes that the terms and cascade of questions without answers. • Increased regulatory scrutiny in financial amount of coverage provided under a private reporting policy must be at least equal to an NFIP Waiting for Answers to Biggert-Waters • Increased unification of US and policy. So the fifth question is, “Will Fannie Compliance international auditing standards Mae revise its guidelines after FEMA and For example, sections 100204 and 10228 As with SAS 70, there are two types of (multifamily properties), 100205 (rate reform), the federal regulators comply with BiggertSSAE 16 audits, Type I and Type II. A Type I 100207 (rate adjustments), 100210 (minimum Waters?” Fannie Mae’s approach is simple and straightforward. audit would only look at a point in time (e.g. deductibles), 100214 (condo claims), and January 31, 2013). However, a Type II audit, which is what we completed, would look at a period of time (August 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013). Additionally, Type I only examines the design of internal controls while Type II audit examines both the design and the effectiveness of those controls. Our Auditors Our SSAE 16 audit was performed by BDO USA, LLP – a well-respected, independent auditing firm and US member firm of the world’s fifth largest international accounting and consulting firm. Therefore, a successful SSAE 16 audit by BDO means credibility, integrity and authority. The Audit Tests It was a rigorous six-month auditing period where WNC’s internal and financial controls were reviewed and tested for completeness, consistency, and correctness. 2 The GUARDIAN 100234 (policy disclosures) are dependent upon FEMA’s compliance timetable. Lenders, servicers and their insurance vendors cannot require these coverage limits or policy features if FEMA has not made them available. FEMA recently announced that its Biggert-Waters compliance will occur on or after October 1, 2013. The first question is, “When will FEMA comply with Biggert-Waters?” We think the federal regulators need to let the insurance professionals advise the lenders when a private flood insurance policy complies with the lender’s requirements. Isn’t that how hazard insurance requirements are currently handled? Fannie Mae has the right idea. Keep it simple. We hope FEMA and the federal regulators will do the same. Likewise, sections 100209 (flood escrow), 100222 (RESPA notices), 100239 (private flood insurance), 100244 (insurance charges), and 100208 (enforcement) are dependent upon the federal regulators’ compliance timetable. Lenders, servicers and their insurance vendors cannot implement these provisions if the federal regulators have not written new regulations. The federal regulators recently announced that their Biggert-Waters compliance target is July, 2014. This corresponds with the mandatory flood This article is a publication of WNC Insurance Services, Inc. and intended for informational use only. WNC Insurance Services, Inc. is not engaged in rendering legal advice or recommendation. If you require legal guidance, please consult your legal counsel or a professional law practitioner. For comments, please call your WNC representative or our offices at 1-800-423-2497 and ask for the Compliance Department. So we wait. 2013 Edition Number 1 Hot Issues The Next Time The Regulators Come Calling …Will You Be Ready? by Sheri Kordsmeier, Vice President, Business Development The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other regulatory agencies expect you to develop and implement policies for risk management and governance of your company’s vendors. Are you ready? If not, now is the time to evaluate your vendor management processes and software tools to ensure you are ready for your next audit. It is critical to your business to ensure that your third-party products and services comply with applicable laws and security best practices. From due diligence, risk assessment, planning and contract review to ongoing monitoring and oversight, you must develop a comprehensive vendor management process and obtain a complete view of your vendor relationships and risks. CFPB NOTICE LETTERS – A Short Primer by Jordan N. Gray, Esq., Senior Vice President, Compliance and Legal Affairs On January 17, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued its final rules regulating Mortgage Servicing, including a final rule on Force-Placed Hazard Insurance. WNC’s compliant notice letter templates will be available for our clients well before the effective date of the Final Rule. The Final Rule is effective January 10, 2014. The following is our “primer” on the Final Rule regarding the initial force-placed hazard insurance notice letter cycle. CFPB Force-Placement Requirements – Written Notice Servicers must meet three general requirements before a borrower can be charged for forced-placed coverage. They are: (i) Send a 45 Day Notice Letter to the borrower; (ii) Send a 15 Day Reminder Notice Letter to the borrower, 30 days after the first notice letter; and (iii) Fail to receive proof of continuous hazard insurance coverage that complies with the loan agreement, before the end of the second notice letter period. (Sections 1024.37(c)(1) and (d)(1)) Here’s our summary of the notice letter requirements. Through WNC, you can obtain a vendor management solution that is comprehensive, compliant and cost effective. Quantivate Vendor Management provides a legal framework that complies with current FDIC/OTS/OCC/CFPB requirements; due diligence and risk assessment capabilities; and easy-to-use software tools to manage and monitor your vendor relationships starting today. With Quantivate, you can manage all your vendor contacts and contracts, financials and insurance certificates through a web-based application that also allows you to quickly perform due diligence by automatically calculating a vendor’s scores on multiple variables to obtain a composite risk profile. The Quantivate Difference •The Quantivate team brings proven implementation methods to each customer engagement. •The Quantivate software platform is intuitive and easy to use. First Notice Forty-Five Day Notice: At least 45 days before coverage is force-placed, a servicer must send a written notice to the borrower containing the following information; 1.The date of the notice; 2.The servicer’s name and mailing address; 3.The borrower’s name and mailing address; 4.A statement in bold text requesting proof of hazard insurance for the borrower’s property, identified by its physical address; 5.A statement that the servicer does not have evidence of hazard insurance, as identified, past the stated expiration date; 6.A statement in bold text that the servicer has purchased or will purchase, the required hazard insurance at the borrower’s expense; 7.A statement requesting the borrower to promptly provide the servicer with insurance information; 8.A description of how the borrower may provide the requested insurance information to the servicer; 9.A statement in bold text that the servicer’s insurance: a.May cost significantly more than the borrower’s insurance; b.May not provide as much coverage as the borrower’s insurance; •Free unlimited training ensures maximum benefit. •Quantivate provides globally integrated product support services. Get ready to join many financial institutions that have successfully passed regulatory audits with Quantivate Vendor Management. Call your WNC representative today to learn more or to schedule your complimentary demo. For more information or a demo, please contact Sheri Kordsmeier, Vice President, Business Development at 800.423.2497, Ext. 6311. 10.The servicer’s telephone number for borrower inquiries; and 11.If applicable, a statement advising the borrower to review additional information provided in the same transmittal. (Section 1024.37(c)(2)) Format Note: Certain portions of the 45 Day Notice Letter need to be in bold text, as noted above. (Section 1024.37(c)(3)) Although this can be confusing, the CFPB provided a model template, form MS-3A, to assist with compliance. The CFPB model forms are available on our website at http://www.wncfirst.com/portal/news. asp. Additional Information: A servicer may not include within the 45 Day Notice Letter any information other than as required by Section 1024.37(c)(2). However, a servicer may reference additional information provided on a separate paper. (Section 1024.37(c)(4)) Second Notice Fifteen Day Reminder Notice: At least 30 days after the first notice, a servicer must send a reminder notice to the borrower at least 15 days before coverage is force-placed (Section 1024.37(d)(1)). The reminder notice must respond in either one of two ways, No Coverage or No Continuous Coverage: No Coverage: If the servicer did not receive proof of insurance after the first notice, the continued on page 6 2013 Edition Number 1 3 The GUARDIAN Claims Corner NOAA Predicts Active 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season by Mark Sarrett, Chairman, Precise Adjustments, Inc. For the 2013 hurricane season from June 1 to November 30, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent probability of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher). These are above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. The following factors that strongly control Atlantic hurricane activity are expected to come together to produce an active or extremely active 2013 hurricane season: • A continuation of the atmospheric climate pattern that includes a strong west African monsoon, which is responsible for the ongoing era of high activity for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995; • Warmer-than-average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea; and • El Niño is not expected to develop and suppress hurricane formation. NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict how many storms will hit land or where a storm will strike. Individual storm forecasts are provided by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Insured Value of U.S. Coastal Properties Now More Than $10 Trillion In an article by Rodd Zolkos and published in www.businessinsurance.com, he wrote that the total insured value of residential and commercial properties in coastal communities of the U.S. is now greater than $10 trillion, of which over a third are located in the Gulf and East Coast states. The coastal exposures along the Gulf and East Coast represent almost 16% of the total property value in the U.S., according to AIR Worldwide Corp.’s 2013 “The Coastline at Risk” report. Updated from a 2008 version 2013 Edition Number 1 New for this hurricane season are improvements to forecast models, data gathering, and the National Hurricane Center communication procedure for post-tropical cyclones. In July, NOAA plans to bring online a new supercomputer that will run an upgraded Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model that significantly enhances depiction of storm structure and improves storm intensity forecasts. Also this year, Doppler radar data will transmit in real time from NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft, helping forecasters better analyze rapidly evolving storm conditions and improve the HWRF model forecasts by 10 to 15 percent. NOAA predicts a below-normal hurricane season for the Eastern Pacific and Central Tropical Storm Andrea photo as taken by NASA of the same report, New York has overtaken Florida as the state with the highest value of coastal properties at almost $3 trillion. The same AIR report further stated that even Pacific basins. NOAA will issue an updated outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season in early August, just prior to the historical peak of the season. JUNE 6 & 7, 2013: TROPICAL STORM ANDREA BREAKS 29 RAINFALL RECORDS! Location Rainfall In Inches New Record Old Record Year Worcester, MA 2.68 1.75 2006 Hartford, CT 2.53 1.54 1913 Providence, RI 3.23 3.08 2006 Boston, MA 3.07 2.89 2006 Massena, NY 0.72 0.43 1984 Syracuse, NY 2.39 1.20 2010 Trenton Mercer Airport, NJ 3.51 1.60 1989 Islip, NY 4.15 1.27 2006 Kennedy, NY 4.01 1.18 2006 LaGuardia, NY 3.33 1.08 2006 Central Park, NY 4.16 1.95 1918 Bridgeport, CT 4.43 1.36 2006 Newark, NJ 3.71 1.11 1931 New Castle County Airport, DE 3.36 1.78 1916 Lehigh Valley Int’l Airport, PA 1.82 1.19 1948 Philadelphia Int’l Airport, PA 3.50 1.79 1904 Salisbury, MD 1.58 1.43 1913 Richmond, VA 2.67 1.68 1913 Fayetteville Regional Airport, NC 2.36 1.78 1930 Raleigh-Durham Int’l Airport, NC 5.14 1.24 1930 New Bern, NC 1.51 1.2 2003 Asheville Regional Airport, SC 3.42 1.24 2003 Fort Lauderdale, FL 8.15 1.88 1960 Naples, FL 1.48 1.20 1991 Vero Beach, FL 2.74 2.43 1983 Melbourne, FL 2.02 1.94 2009 Lynchburg, VA 3.38 3.31 1989 Roanoke, VA 1.77 1.15 1934 Blacksburg, VA 2.70 1.09 1961 if the annual growth rate of coastal property values fell from 7% to 4% in the past five years due to the recession, “indications are that, as the economy recovers, the rate of growth will pick up.” At a historical rate of 7%, the total insured value would double every decade.” Please contact your WNC representative if you would like information on WNC’s hazard, wind and flood insurance programs for mortgage loan portfolios. (Sources: “Insured value of U.S. coastal properties tops $10 trillion: Analysis” by Rodd Zolkos, www.businessinsurance. com; photo by nytimes.com) The GUARDIAN 4 Who is WNC? Meet Leila Taha Meet Lisa Fanning Scott Jefferies is Senior Vice President of Dallas Operations, responsible for tracking activities that include mail, data capture, OCR, data Scott Jefferies, processing, customer Sr. Vice President, Operations service call center and lender services management. Scott began his career some 28 years ago as a renewal processor in the insurance department at Lomas Mortgage in Dallas, Texas. Since that beginning, he has worked in different executive positions at several mortgage servicers and banks, among them Capstead Mortgage and Saxon/Morgan Stanley. He spent seven years in the tax outsourcing arena, working for large servicers such as GE Capital, GMAC Mortgage, and Chase. Much of Scott’s work history has been focused on developing and executing strategic operational initiatives related to start up and turn around opportunities. He is extremely excited to be back in the insurance environment. He holds a BA from Brigham Young University, was a former Jr. High educator, and lives in Plano, Texas. As Vice President of Development & Voluntary Operations, Leila is responsible for overseeing management and enhancement of systems that support Leila A. Taha, WNC’s voluntary Vice President, product lines, as well Development & Voluntary Operations as helping to develop strategies for the development and expansion of the division’s offerings. Leila brings more than 18 years of National Flood Insurance Program experience to WNC, assuming various roles from operations to business development. Leila is excited about joining WNC because it is “an opportunity to not only be part of a great team but also to learn more than I ever thought possible about ‘flood’!” Leila has been an officer of the National Flood Determination Association (NFDA) since 2003, including serving as President from 2008-2010. She is a regular speaker and participant at FEMA’s National Flood Conference and at other flood-related events across the nation. Leila holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biogeography from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). When not in the office, she enjoys traveling, yoga, the arts and the pursuit of good coffee. Lisa Fanning is Vice President of Special Projects, reporting to Carl Herrmann III. Her first projects will be to focus on Teneo documentation and Lisa Fanning, training of the Operations Vice President of staff, as well as preparing Special Projects overall WNC compliance documents and specific lender information for CFPB vendor requests. Lisa began her career some 20 years ago at PriceWaterhouse Coopers, formerly known as Coopers & Lybrand, as a consultant in the Entertainment and Public Assembly Facilities division. She then moved into various positions at several mortgage and commercial servicers, among them Capstead Mortgage, GMACRFC, Archon/Goldman Sachs, Saxon/Morgan Stanley and recently NationStar Mortgage. Much of Lisa’s work history has been focused on various forms of loan administration servicing functions such as acquisitions, imaging and project management. She is excited for the opportunity to learn and grow in a new area of financial services. Lisa holds a BA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University Of Houston. When not in the office, she enjoys cycling, walking and traveling. Technology Bulletin Ready for Launch: Voluntary Flood Agency Management System Upgrade ready for their hard work to yield results. Our agents are ready to begin using the new system and take advantage of its greater functionality. At WNC, we make the changes necessary to keep our systems ready and able to handle the innovative and unique products that built our reputation and the greater benefits they bring to our clients. Meet Scott Jefferies For more information on our Voluntary Flood System upgrade, feel free to contact: Gregory Baltzer, Sr. Vice President, Information Technology (626) 463-6400, ext. 6315, [email protected] by Gregory Baltzer, Sr. Vice President, Information Technology Our Voluntary Flood product team, working closely with IT and our new carrier, has been working on a significant upgrade to our Voluntary Flood program for commercial properties. With the upgrade, agents will be able to schedule multiple property locations on a single “master policy”, making it easier to add or remove individual property locations as needed. The system upgrade comes with a new GUI (Graphical User Interface) making navigation easier for users. We have also streamlined our internal procedures for maximum advantage. Everyone at WNC who is involved in this system project is anticipating its release and 5 The GUARDIAN FEMA/David Saville 2013 Edition Number 1 Hot Topic continued from page 3 reminder notice must contain the following information: 1.The date of the notice; 2.A statement in bold text that the notice is the second and final notice; 3.A repeat of the information stated in the first notice (2-11, above); and 4.The cost of the force-placed insurance, in bold text, stated as an annual premium. (Section 1024.37(d)(2)(i)) No Continuous Coverage: If the servicer received proof of insurance after the first notice, but the proof does not demonstrate continuous coverage, the reminder notice must contain the following information: 1.The date of the notice; 2.A statement in bold text that the notice is the second and final notice; 3.The servicer’s name and mailing address; 4.The borrower’s name and mailing address; 5.A statement in bold text requesting proof of hazard insurance for the borrower’s property, identified by its physical address; 6.The cost (or estimated cost) of the force-placed insurance, in bold text, stated as an annual premium; 7.The servicer’s telephone number for borrower inquiries; 8.A statement that the servicer has received the hazard insurance information that the borrower provided; 9.A statement requesting the borrower to provide missing information; 10.A statement that the borrower will be charged for the servicer’s insurance during any gap in the borrower’s coverage; and 11.If applicable, a statement advising the borrower to review additional information provided in the same transmittal. (Section 1024.37(d)(2)(ii)) Format Note: Certain portions of the 15 Day Reminder Notice Letter need to be in bold text, as noted above. (Section 1024.37(d)(3)) Although this can be confusing, the CFPB provided model templates, forms MS-3B and MS-3C, to assist with compliance. The CFPB model forms are available on our website at http://www.wncfirst. com/portal/news.asp. Additional Information: A servicer may not include within the 15 Day Reminder Notice Letter any information other than as required by Sections 1024.37(d)(2)(i)-(ii). However, a servicer may reference additional information provided on a separate paper. (Section 1024.37(d)(4)) Updated Notice: If new insurance information is received after the 15 Day Reminder Notice Letter was put into production, the servicer is not required to update the notice with the new information if the notice is sent to the borrower within a reasonable time after being placed into production. The CFPB commentary states that five business days is a “reasonable time”. (Section 1024.37(d)(5)) For a complete discussion of the Force-Placed Hazard Insurance Final Rule and the CFPB notice letter templates, please visit our website at http://www.wncfirst.com/portal/news.asp or look for the February 5, 2013 edition of Compliance Matters entitled “CFPB Issues Final Rule on Force-Placed Hazard Insurance” written by this author also on our website at http://www. wncfirst.com/wncinsserv/downloads.asp. This article is a publication of WNC Insurance Services, Inc. and intended for informational use only. WNC Insurance Services, Inc. is not engaged in rendering legal advice or recommendation. If you require legal guidance, please consult your legal counsel or a professional law practitioner. For comments, please call your WNC representative or our offices at 1-800-423-2497 and ask for the Compliance Department. 899 El Centro Street • South Pasadena, CA 91030 www.WNCInsuranceServices.com Corporate Home Office PRSRT STD U S POSTAGE PAID DENVER CO PERMIT NO. 4773
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