Feds Seeking More Info on Neg-Am Loans

Federal banking regulators are seeking more information about nontraditional mortgage products, and all banks will be required to report their holdings of one- to four-family loans with negative amortization features starting with the first-quarter 2007 call report.The regulators are also proposing additional reporting requirement for banks with large exposures. They might have to report the total maximum remaining amount of negative amortization contractually permitted on interest-only and payment-option ARMs and the total amount of negative amortization that is included in the carrying amount of these loans. The additional reporting requirements would be phased in, and the regulators are seeking comments on the appropriate reporting thresholds. "The banking agencies request comment on the specific dollar amount and percentage of loans that should be used in setting the size threshold," says the joint notice and request for comments.