§ 682.414 - Records, reports, and inspection requirements for guaranty agency programs.

§ 682.414 Records, reports, and inspection requirements for guaranty agency programs.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 87 FR 66054, Nov. 1, 2022.

(a) Records.

(1)

(i) The guaranty agency shall maintain current, complete, and accurate records of each loan that it holds, including, but not limited to, the records described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section. The records must be maintained in a system that allows ready identification of each loan's current status, updated at least once every 10 business days. Any reference to a guaranty agency under this section includes a third-party servicer that administers any aspect of the FFEL programs under a contract with the guaranty agency, if applicable.

(ii) The agency shall maintain—

(A) All documentation supporting the claim filed by the lender;

(B) Notices of changes in a borrower's address;

(C) A payment history showing the date and amount of each payment received from or on behalf of the borrower by the guaranty agency, and the amount of each payment that was attributed to principal, accrued interest, and collection costs and other charges, such as late charges;

(D) A collection history showing the date and subject of each communication between the agency and the borrower or endorser relating to collection of a defaulted loan, each communication between the agency and a consumer reporting agency regarding the loan, each effort to locate a borrower whose address was unknown at any time, and each request by the lender for default aversion assistance on the loan;

(E) Documentation regarding any wage garnishment actions initiated by the agency on the loan;

(F) Documentation of any matters relating to the collection of the loan by tax-refund offset; and

(G) Any additional records that are necessary to document its right to receive or retain payments made by the Secretary under this part and the accuracy of reports it submits to the Secretary.

(2) A guaranty agency must retain the records required for each loan for not less than 3 years following the date the loan is repaid in full by the borrower, or for not less than 5 years following the date the agency receives payment in full from any other source. However, in particular cases, the Secretary may require the retention of records beyond these minimum periods.

(3) A guaranty agency shall retain a copy of the audit report required under § 682.410(b) for not less than five years after the report is issued.

(4)

(i) The guaranty agency shall require a participating lender to maintain current, complete, and accurate records of each loan that it holds, including, but not limited to, the records described in paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of this section. The records must be maintained in a system that allows ready identification of each loan's current status.

(ii) The lender shall keep—

(A) A copy of the loan application if a separate application was provided to the lender;

(B) A copy of the signed promissory note;

(C) The repayment schedule;

(D) A record of each disbursement of loan proceeds;

(E) Notices of changes in a borrower's address and status as at least a half-time student;

(F) Evidence of the borrower's eligibility for a deferment;

(G) The documents required for the exercise of forbearance;

(H) Documentation of the assignment of the loan;

(I) A payment history showing the date and amount of each payment received from or on behalf of the borrower, and the amount of each payment that was attributed to principal, interest, late charges, and other costs;

(J) A collection history showing the date and subject of each communication between the lender and the borrower or endorser relating to collection of a delinquent loan, each communication other than regular reports by the lender showing that an account is current, between the lender and a consumer reporting agency regarding the loan, each effort to locate a borrower whose address is unknown at any time, and each request by the lender for default aversion assistance on the loan;

(K) Documentation of any MPN confirmation process or processes; and

(L) Any additional records that are necessary to document the validity of a claim against the guarantee or the accuracy of reports submitted under this part.

(iii) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4)(iv) of this section, a lender must retain the records required for each loan for not less than 3 years following the date the loan is repaid in full by the borrower, or for not less than five years following the date the lender receives payment in full from any other source. However, in particular cases, the Secretary or the guaranty agency may require the retention of records beyond this minimum period.

(iv) A lender shall retain a copy of the audit report required under § 682.305(c) for not less than five years after the report is issued.

(5)

(i) A guaranty agency or lender may store the records specified in paragraphs (a)(4)(ii)(C)–(L) of this section in accordance with 34 CFR 668.24(d)(3)(i) through (iv).

(ii) If a promissory note was signed electronically, the guaranty agency or lender must store it electronically and it must be retrievable in a coherent format.

(iii) A lender or guaranty agency holding a promissory note must retain the original or a true and exact copy of the promissory note until the loan is paid in full or assigned to the Secretary. When a loan is paid in full by the borrower, the lender or guaranty agency must return either the original or a true and exact copy of the note to the borrower or notify the borrower that the loan is paid in full, and retain a copy for the prescribed period.

(iv) If a lender made a loan based on an electronically signed MPN, the holder of the original electronically signed MPN must retain that original MPN for at least 3 years after all the loans made on the MPN have been satisfied.

(6)

(i) Upon the Secretary's request with respect to a particular loan or loans assigned to the Secretary and evidenced by an electronically signed promissory note, the guaranty agency and the lender that created the original electronically signed promissory note must cooperate with the Secretary in all activities necessary to enforce the loan or loans. The guaranty agency or lender must provide—

(A) An affidavit or certification regarding the creation and maintenance of the electronic records of the loan or loans in a form appropriate to ensure admissibility of the loan records in a legal proceeding. This affidavit or certification may be executed in a single record for multiple loans provided that this record is reliably associated with the specific loans to which it pertains; and

(B) Testimony by an authorized official or employee of the guaranty agency or lender, if necessary to ensure admission of the electronic records of the loan or loans in the litigation or legal proceeding to enforce the loan or loans.

(ii) The affidavit or certification described in paragraph (a)(6)(i)(A) of this section must include, if requested by the Secretary—

(A) A description of the steps followed by a borrower to execute the promissory note (such as a flow chart);

(B) A copy of each screen as it would have appeared to the borrower of the loan or loans the Secretary is enforcing when the borrower signed the note electronically;

(C) A description of the field edits and other security measures used to ensure integrity of the data submitted to the originator electronically;

(D) A description of how the executed promissory note has been preserved to ensure that it has not been altered after it was executed;

(E) Documentation supporting the lender's authentication and electronic signature process; and

(F) All other documentary and technical evidence requested by the Secretary to support the validity or the authenticity of the electronically signed promissory note.

(iii) The Secretary may request a record, affidavit, certification or evidence under paragraph (a)(6) of this section as needed to resolve any factual dispute involving a loan that has been assigned to the Secretary including, but not limited to, a factual dispute raised in connection with litigation or any other legal proceeding, or as needed in connection with loans assigned to the Secretary that are included in a Title IV program audit sample, or for other similar purposes. The guaranty agency must respond to any request from the Secretary within 10 business days.

(iv) As long as any loan made to a borrower under a MPN created by the lender is not satisfied, the holder of the original electronically signed promissory note is responsible for ensuring that all parties entitled to access to the electronic loan record, including the guaranty agency and the Secretary, have full and complete access to the electronic record.

(b) Reports. A guaranty agency shall accurately complete and submit to the Secretary the following reports:

(1) A report concerning the status of the agency's reserve fund and the operation of the agency's loan guarantee program at the time and in the manner that the Secretary may reasonably require. The Secretary does not pay the agency any funds, the amount of which are determined by reference to data in the report, until a complete and accurate report is received.

(2) Annually, for each State in which it operates, a report of the total guaranteed loan volume, default volume, and default rate for each of the following categories of originating lenders on all loans guaranteed after December 31, 1980:

(i) State or private nonprofit lenders.

(ii) Commercial financial institutions (banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions).

(iii) All other types of lenders.

(3) By July 1 of each year, a report on—

(i) Its eligibility criteria for lenders;

(ii) Its procedures for the limitation, suspension, and termination of lenders;

(iii) Any actions taken in the preceding 12 months to limit, suspend, or terminate the participation of a lender in the agency's program; and

(iv) The steps the agency has taken to ensure its compliance with § 682.410(c), including the identity of any law enforcement agency with which the agency has made arrangements for that purpose.

(4) A report to the Secretary of the borrower's enrollment and loan status information, details related to the loans or any Title borrower's deferments, forbearances, repayment plans, delinquency and contact information, or any title IV loan-related data required by the Secretary, by the deadline date established by the Secretary.

(5) Any other information concerning its loan insurance program requested by the Secretary.

(c) Inspection requirements.

(1) For purposes of examination of records, references to an institution in 34 CFR 668.24(f) (1) through (3) shall mean a guaranty agency or its agent.

(2) A guaranty agency shall require in its agreement with a lender or in its published rules or procedures that the lender or its agent give the Secretary or the Secretary's designee and the guaranty agency access to the lender's records for inspection and copying in order to verify the accuracy of the information provided by the lender pursuant to § 682.401(b) (12) and (13), and the right of the lender to receive or retain payments made under this part, or to permit the Secretary or the agency to enforce any right acquired by the Secretary or the agency under this part.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1845–0020)

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1078, 1078–1, 1078–2, 1078–3, 1082, 1087)

[57 FR 60323, Dec. 18, 1992, as amended at 58 FR 9120, Feb. 19, 1993; 59 FR 22455, 22489, Apr. 29, 1994; 59 FR 33358, June 28, 1994; 59 FR 34964, July 7, 1994; 61 FR 60493, Nov. 27, 1996; 64 FR 58632, Oct. 29, 1999; 64 FR 58963, Nov. 1, 1999; 65 FR 65621, Nov. 1, 2000; 66 FR 34764, June 29, 2001; 67 FR 67080, Nov. 1, 2002; 72 FR 62007, Nov. 1, 2007; 78 FR 65820, Nov. 1, 2013; 87 FR 66054, Nov. 1, 2022]