Colorado gets $205 Million in bank settlement

 

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Colorado gets $205 million in bank settlement

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Colorado and some distressed homeowners in the state who suffered because of past banking practices, will receive $204.6 million of the $25 billion multi-state settlement with the nation’s five largest banks, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today.
Under the terms of the settlement, Colorado, which served on the executive committee that oversaw the settlement negotiations, will receive:

• $73.3 million that will be available to grant principal reductions on loans to make a modification possible. Approximately 40 percent of these funds will also be available to ease the effects of foreclosure, including waiving deficiency balances, enhanced cash-for-keys payments and blight prevention.
• $52.5 million in cash to the state.
• $46.3 million worth of refinancing benefits to underwater borrowers.
• $32.49 million in payments to homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011

“This agreement delivers real help to homeowners affected by the banks’ dual tracking and other improper mortgage- and foreclosure-related processes,” Suthers said. “As a result of this settlement, the banks will end a series of problematic processes that put homeowners at a severe disadvantage during the foreclosure process. This settlement will not solve every problem with the housing market, but it goes a long way to helping homeowners in distress now and leveling the playing field for consumers.”
The five banks are Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial.
Nationally, the banks have agreed to:

• Commit a minimum of $17 billion directly to borrowers through a series of national homeowner relief options, including principal reduction. Given how the settlement is structured, servicers will actually provide up to an estimated $32 billion in direct homeowner relief.
• Commit $3 billion to a mortgage refinancing program for borrowers who are current, but owe more than their home is currently worth.
•  Pay $5 billion to the states and federal government ($4.25 billion to the states and $750 million to the federal government).
•  Provide homeowners with comprehensive new protections through new mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure standards.
•  Be overseen by an independent monitor will ensure mortgage servicer compliance.

The settlement is the second largest multi-state consumer protection enforcement settlement after the 1998 tobacco litigation settlement. This agreement is the result of a massive civil law enforcement investigation and initiative that includes state attorneys general and state banking regulators across the country and nearly a dozen federal agencies. It holds banks accountable for past mortgage servicing and foreclosure fraud and abuses and provides relief to homeowners. With the backing of a federal court order and the oversight of an independent monitor, the settlement stops future fraud and abuse.
Customers of the five settling banks who lost their homes to foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2011 may be eligible for restitution under the settlement. The independent, third-party administrator of the settlement hopes to contact affected victims by the end of the summer. Customers of the five settling banks who are still in their homes but either behind on their payments or underwater should contact the banks directly through dedicated toll-free contact numbers to determine if they are eligible for assistance:

• Bank of America – 1-877-488-7814
• Chase – 1-866-372-6901
• Citigroup – 1-866-272-4749
• GMAC/Ally – 1-800-766-4622
• Wells Fargo – 1-800-288-3212

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com