Regulatory Alerts2026-05-15
Real Estate Lending Escrow Accounts Final Rule
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued this final rule to codify the longstanding powers of national banks and Federal savings associations to establish and maintain real estate lending escrow accounts. The regulation grants these institutions broad discretion to make business judgments regarding escrow account terms, including whether to pay interest or compensation to borrowers and how to assess administrative fees. By aligning these codified federal powers with a concurrent preemption determination, the rule reduces regulatory uncertainty and allows banks to flexibly balance administration costs with market demands to support continued mortgage lending.
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