b'Mortgage Actions by Year (with Recoveries) Number of Actions Amount of Recovery68 49$1,336.2M $3,642.4M 49$863.9M22$1,154.8M 27$174.1M13 13$99.6M $271.1M2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021that purportedly avoid offering particular products or Thus, the federal government will seek toservices in certain communities because of the race, ethnicity, or national origin of the individual living in coordinate with U.S. Attorneys as well asthose communities. The announcement also specifically state attorneys general to gain this localnoted that the DOJ will utilize U.S. Attorneys Offices around the country as force multipliers in its effort knowledge to more effectively prosecuteto restrict redlining practices and support fair lending fair lending violations. enforcement. The AGs announcement noted that local-expertise is required to understand specific housing markets and local communities credit needs. Thus, the to this announcement. Servicers should similarly takefederal government will seek to coordinate with U.S. note that in late-December the CFPB and DOJ issuedAttorneys as well as state attorneys general to gain a joint notice reminding mortgage servicers that asthis local knowledge to more effectively prosecute fair borrowers begin to exit COVID-19 forbearance in thelending violations. coming months, thousands of servicemembers andThis pairing of federal and local-facing resources veterans will be entitled to additional protectionswas on display earlier this year, through a fair through Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).lending enforcement action in the Western District As the administrations newly appointed leadingof Tennessee against a national bank for redlining regulators settle into their respective roles, variouspractices in the greater Memphis area (detailed below). actions and announcements throughout late-2021From the CFPB, its December 2021 supervisory indicate that fair lending will be another area ofhighlights telegraphed a renewed focus on fair lending increased oversight and scrutiny. The CFPB, DOJ,enforcement for the year to come. The highlights note and HUD each indicated that they are very interestedthat examiners identified several violations of the Equal in identifying fair lending violations in mortgageCredit Opportunity Act (ECOA) by mortgage lenders origination. For example, in October, Attorneyand specifically identified discrimination against African General Merrick Garland (AG) announced the DOJsAmerican and female borrowers in the granting of Combatting Redlining Initiativea programpricing exceptions, when compared to non-Hispanic through which the DOJ will crack down on lenderswhite and male borrowers. The December 2021 report 15'