18% of NY Mortgage Bankers, Brokers Suspended

Roughly 18% of the mortgage bankers and mortgage brokers in New York state have not yet paid their general assessment and are in immediate suspension, according to a New York Banking Department official who addressed the New York Association of Mortgage Brokers convention in Melville, N.Y.If the bill, plus a $100 late fee, is not paid by Oct. 10, the registration is considered to be expired, and if it is not paid by Dec. 10, the expiration is considered permanent, said Robert A. Mengani, assistant deputy superintendent of banks in the department's mortgage banking division. The department is seeing an increasing number of violations of advertising regulations, which Mr. Mengani attributed to the shrinking mortgage origination market. A particular problem involves materials using the words "United States of America" or having a picture of the Statue of Liberty, which are protected words and images. Violators open themselves up to a $15,000 fine and must send out retraction letters, he said.