Blog Post

Joint Agencies Issue Private Flood Insurance Final Rule

michaelchristians • February 7, 2019

Recently, the joint agencies (OCC, FRB, FDIC, Farm Credit Administration and NCUA) issued a final rule implementing the private flood insurance requirements of the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act. The rule requires regulated lending institutions to accept private flood insurance in satisfaction of the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements found in the National Flood Insurance Act and Flood Disaster Protection Act.

First, the rule provides financial institutions with a safe harbor for accepting private flood insurance. If the policy states “this policy meets the definition of private flood insurance contained in 42 U.S.C.4012a(b)(7) and the corresponding regulation”, it is considered sufficient to satisfy the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement.

Absent such a statement, a financial institution may still accept a private flood insurance policy if a number of conditions are met. The policy must, among other things:

  • Be issued by a licensed or approved insurer;
  • Provide coverage at least as broad as the coverage provided by a standard policy issued under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP);
  • Include a requirement that the insurer give advance notice of cancellation or non-renewal; and
  • Contain cancellation provisions as restrictive as those found in a standard NFIP policy.

Second, the rule allows a financial institution to accept a private flood insurance policy at its discretion if it is issued by a licensed or approved insurer and provides sufficient protection of the designated loan consistent with general safety and soundness principles.

Finally, the rule allows financial institutions to accept flood insurance policies issued by mutual aid societies under certain conditions.

The final rule takes effect July 1, 2019. For more information about the final rule and to learn how it will affect your financial institution’s real estate lending operations, please contact Michael Christians Consulting, LLC at michael@mchristiansconsulting.com.

Share this post

Share by: