A look at stories across HousingWire's weekend desk … with more coverage to come on bigger issues:
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Masto joined Arizona's effort late Friday in another lawsuit against Bank of America (BAC: 7.29 -0.14%) after an investigation into its mortgage servicing division.
The suit alleges BofA misled homeowners by promising to act on requests for modifications within a period of time and allegedly making false assurances that the home would not be foreclosed upon while they were being considered for a modification.
Masto's office claims that because of the alleged modification malpractices, homeowners lost their savings, retirement and education funds.
"We are holding Bank of America accountable for misleading and deceiving consumers,” Masto said a statement. "Nevadans who were trying desperately to save their homes were unable to get truthful information in order to make critical life decisions."
Starting Jan. 1, lenders are required to provide a new disclosure clarifying how the borrower's credit score will directly affect his or her interest rate quote and other terms.
According to a weekend story in The Washington Post, the requirement comes from a bill introduced in 2003. Lenders must provide the credit score alert before the applicant commits to accept the offer.
Ted Dreyer, a senior attorney with Wolters Kluwer, an adviser to lenders, told the Post that while some borrowers will ignore the information as just another document, it "will be a valuable source of information" for those consumers with negative scores.
Freddie Mac instructed its mortgage servicers over the weekend to delay foreclosure procedures by at least nine months for military service members released from active duty through the end of 2011.
This, according to the government-sponsored enterprise, will give lenders more time to help the service members who are behind on their payments. The deadline for this requirement was extended from Dec. 31, 2010.
"Our military make sacrifices every day to protect our homes and families," said Anthony Renzi, executive vice president of single-family portfolio management at Freddie Mac. "This small act will protect financially troubled service members when they return from active duty by giving them more time to work with their lender to stay in their home."
Enterprise Community Partners, which provides capital for the development of affordable homes and rebuilding communities, praised Congress for passing a bill last week that extended tax relief, unemployment benefits and two programs within the legislation geared toward community development.
The New Markets Tax Credit program has raised more than $19 billion in private capital to build commercial real estate and other projects for low-income communities. The Gulf Opportunity Zone Low Income Housing Tax Credit Placed-in-Service deadline was extended through the new law by one year.
But Enterprise called for a two-year extension in order to create or save more than 6,000 affordable homes and $1 billion in construction activity.
Regulators closed six banks over the weekend, totaling 157 in 2010. There were 140 failed banks in 2009. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. estimates the total cost to the deposit insurance fund will be $267.6 million.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed United Americas Bank. State Bank and Trust Company will assume all $193.8 million in deposits and agreed to purchase essentially all $242.3 million in total assets.
The cost to the DIF is estimated to be $75.8 million.
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance closed Chestatee State Bank. Bank of the Ozarks will assume all $240.5 million in deposits and agreed to purchase essentially all of the $244.4 million in total assets.
The FDIC estimates the closing to cost the DIF $75.3 million.
The OCC closed the Bank of Miami over the weekend, and 1st United Bank will assume all $374.2 million in total deposits and agreed to purchase roughly $442.3 million of the $448.2 million in the bank's failed assets. The FDIC will retain the rest for later disposition.
The bank's closing will cost the DIF an estimated $64 million.
The Office of Thrift Supervision closed Appalachian Community Bank. The Peoples Bank of East Tennessee will assume all $76.4 million in deposits and agreed to purchase $67.5 million of the failed bank's $68.2 million of failed assets.
The FDIC estimates the closing to cost the DIF $26 million.
The Arkansas State Bank Department closed First Southern Bank. Southern Bank will assume all $155.8 million in deposits and agreed to purchase $152.8 million of the $191.8 million in total assets at the failed bank.
The cost to the DIF is estimated to be $22.8 million.
The OCC also closed Community National Bank in Minnesota. Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank in Iowa will assume all $28.8 million in deposits and agreed to purchase essentially all $31.6 million in assets.
The failed bank's cost to the DIF is estimated to be $3.7 million.
Write to Jon Prior.
