Question:
Does the bank have to comply with the appraisal independence requirements even if an appraisal is not required?
 
Answer:
While not an explicit requirement if the appraisal itself is not required, we advise that the bank should ensure independence in the appraisal ordering process even if the appraisal was not required by the appraisal regulations. Note that the bank should also follow the same independence requirements for evaluations as well. The independence requirements can be found in the Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines here: https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rules/5000-4800.html

Question:
We request a tri-merge credit report for each applicant. Our credit decision is relies on the single lowest middle score applicant(s). Can you give guidance on how credit scores would be reported for two or more applicants? Do we report the one score relied on for all applicants, or report the score relied for one applicant and then the other as not applicable?
 
Answer:
The bank would report the credit score that it relied upon in making the decision. From what you described, it sounds like it would be the lowest middle score in this instance. The score would be reported for the applicant or co-applicant and not applicable for the one whose credit score was not used (since it wasn't relied upon in making the credit decision).
 
To illustrate, assume a transaction involves one applicant and one co-applicant and that the financial institution obtains or creates two credit scores for the applicant and two credit scores for the co-applicant. Assume further that the financial institution relies on a single credit score that is the lowest, highest, most recent, or average of all of the credit scores obtained or created to make the credit decision for the transaction. The financial institution complies with § 1003.4(a)(15) by reporting that credit score and information about the scoring model used for the applicant and reporting that the requirement is not applicable for the first co-applicant or, at the financial institution's discretion, by reporting the data for the first co-applicant and reporting that the requirement is not applicable for the applicant.
Comment 3, 1003.4(a)(15), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/regulations/1003/Interp-4/#4-a-15-Interp-3

Question:
We have a commercial customer with a line of credit that they use for working capital. They may also use the line for any other type of business-related expense. So, the commercial borrower used this original line to purchase a rental property. Now, we are paying down the line of credit with the property that was purchased as security. The original line won’t be fully paid down. Is this HMDA-reportable?
 
Answer:
No – this is not HMDA-reportable. This is because a commercial-purpose loan is only reportable as a home purchase loan, home improvement loan, or refinance. This situation only possibly implicates “refinance” for HMDA purposes (since there’s no indication that this is a home purchase or home improvement loan). However, this type of transaction does not constitute a “refinance” under HMDA because the new loan is only paying down the existing line of credit, rather than fully satisfying and replacing the line.
 
(10) A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit that is or will be made primarily for a business or commercial purpose, unless the closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit is a home improvement loan under § 1003.2(i), a home purchase loan under § 1003.2(j), or a refinancing under § 1003.2(p);
12 CFR 1003.3(c)(10): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/regulations/1003/3/#c-10:
1. Loan or line of credit secured by a lien on unimproved land. Section 1003.3(c)(2) provides that a closed-end mortgage loan or an open-end line of credit secured by a lien on unimproved land is an excluded transaction.
 
(p) Refinancing means a closed-end mortgage loan or an open-end line of credit in which a new, dwelling-secured debt obligation satisfies and replaces an existing, dwelling-secured debt obligation by the same borrower.
12 CFR 1003.2(p): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/regulations/1003/2/#p

Question:
We have a question on a loan that is a refinance of a purchase of a second home and is adding funds to pay off personal credit cards. Should be report the HOEPA Status as "Code 3 - NA"?
 
Answer:
Assuming the loan is just secured by the second home and is not also secured by the principal dwelling, then yes, it should be reported as "Code 3 - NA" like you said. The reason for this is that HOEPA only applies to:
...a high-cost mortgage, which is any consumer credit transaction that is secured by the consumer's principal dwelling...
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/regulations/1026/32/
 
So the HOEPA rules do not apply to this particular loan and, thus, it would be reported as not applicable for HMDA purposes.