Feds Seek SF Loan Data From Banks

Federal banking regulators are proposing to collect single-family loan origination data from commercial banks for the first time, starting with the March 2006 Call Report.In revising bank Call Reports, the regulators are proposing to collect data on loans originated, purchased, and sold during the quarter, loans held for sale at quarter-end, and year-to-date non-interest income earned from closed-end one- to four-family residential mortgage banking activities. All banks with $1 billion or more in assets would be required to report the origination data, along with smaller banks that have significant mortgage banking activities. The Office of Thrift Supervision currently collects origination and sales data from thrifts, but the banking agencies only collect data on single-family loans held by the banks at the end of each quarter. In seeking comment on the revisions, the regulators point out that mortgage banking revenues have become a significant component of bank earnings. "Understanding the importance of mortgage banking activities to an institution's financial condition and risk profile requires information about the transactional flows associated with residential mortgages," they said. The comment period on the proposed Call Report revisions ends Oct. 24.