Section 50202 Of Chapter 4. Financial Condition, Transaction And Bond Requirements From California Financial Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 4.
50202
. (a) Escrow funds for a purpose authorized by the residential
mortgage loan contract (1) shall be subject to and satisfy all
applicable state and federal requirements, including Section 2609 of
the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974, as amended
(12 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.) and all applicable provisions of the
Civil Code, (2) shall be maintained in a depository institution as
described in subdivision (b), and (3) may not be commingled with a
licensee's funds.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (f), a trust account shall
be placed in a non-interest-bearing account in a federally insured
depository institution, a federal home loan bank, a federal reserve
bank, or other similar government-sponsored enterprise, to be removed
and used only for the following:
(1) Payments authorized by the borrower, allowed by the mortgage
loan contract, or required by federal or state law.
(2) Refunds to the borrower.
(3) Transfer to another institution that is described in this
subdivision.
(4) Forwarding to the appropriate servicer in case of a transfer
of servicing.
(5) Any other purpose authorized by the residential mortgage loan
contract.
(6) Compliance with a regulatory or court order.
(c) As used in this section, "trust funds" means funds collected
by a licensee in connection with the making or servicing of a
residential mortgage loan that the licensee holds on behalf of
another.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, but subject to the
limitations of Section 854, benefits accruing from the placement in
a non-interest-bearing account of a commercial bank (including a
national banking association) of funds received by a licensee who
services mortgage loans under this law, shall inure to the licensee,
unless otherwise agreed in writing by the licensee and the investor
on whose behalf the licensee services the loan. A borrower shall
receive at least 2 percent simple interest per annum on impound
account payments covered by Section 2954.8 of the Civil Code.
(e) Trust funds are not subject to the enforcement of a money
judgment arising out of a claim against the licensee or person acting
as the servicing agent, and in no instance shall the trust funds be
considered or treated as an asset of the licensee or person
performing the functions of a residential mortgage lender or loan
servicer.
(f) A licensee may, at the request of the owner of the trust
funds, transfer the funds initially deposited in a
non-interest-bearing trust account into an interest-bearing account
in a federally insured depository institution if all of the following
requirements are met:
(1) The account is in the name of the residential mortgage lender
licensee in trust for the specified beneficiary.
(2) All of the funds in the account are federally insured.
(3) The funds in the account are kept separate and distinct from
the funds of the licensee or funds of any other person for whom the
licensee holds funds in trust.
(4) The licensee discloses to the person from whom the funds are
received and the beneficiary of the account how interest will be
calculated and paid, whether service charges will be paid to the
depository and by whom, and possible notice requirements or penalties
for withdrawal of funds from the account.
(5) All interest earned on the account will be paid to the owner
of the trust funds or the beneficiary.