On March 26, 2025, the CFPB announced that it is seeking to vacate the settlement the CFPB extracted from Townstone back in 2024 after suing the nonbank retail-mortgage creditor for discriminatory lending practices and redlining. In its press release, the CFPB stated that after a thorough review, the Bureau is seeking to “make Townstone whole by returning the six-figure penalty they were forced to pay.”

On January 17, 2025, the CFPB published a blog post authored by Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) Chairman Zixta Martinez to provide an informal report on the progress made by the Subcommittee. In particular, Martinez provided updates in relation to the priorities set by the ASC back in April 2022.

On January 17, 2025, the CFPB issued a special edition of its Supervisory Highlights concerning advanced technologies. In particular, the Winter 2025 Supervisory Highlights Edition looks at select examinations of institutions that use credit scoring models, including models built with advanced technology commonly marketed as AI/ML technology, when making credit decisions.

On November 1, 2024, the CFPB filed a proposed order to resolve its case against Townstone Financial for discriminatory lending practices and redlining African American neighborhoods in Chicago. The proposed order would prohibit Townstone from taking any actions that violate the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and require the company to pay a $105,000 penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund. 

On October 15, 2024, the CFPB and the DOJ took action against Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation for illegal mortgage lending discrimination against majority-Black neighborhoods in the greater Birmingham, Alabama area. According to the CFPB and DOJ, Fairway illegally redlined Black neighborhoods, including through its marketing and sales actions, by discouraging people from applying for mortgage loans in the Birmingham metropolitan area’s Black neighborhoods.

On September 18, 2024, the HUD announced the approval of a Conciliation Agreement with OceanFirst Bank for engaging in redlining by restricting access to credit and mortgage lending services in majority-Black, Hispanic, and Asian neighborhoods in the New Brunswick, New Jersey area. The HUD’s investigation was conducted alongside the DOJ  after a referral from the OCC.

On July 15, 2024, the HUD charged multiple entities with housing discrimination for issuing a biased appraisal and then denying a refinance loan application in Denver, Colorado. HUD charged  appraiser Maksym Mykhailyna, appraisal company Maverick Appraisal Group, appraisal management company Solidifi U.S. Inc. and lender Rocket Mortgage, LLC.

On July 17, 2024, the CFPB, FDIC, FHFA, FRB, NCUA, and OCC jointly issued a final rule, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, designed to help ensure the credibility and integrity of models used in valuations for certain mortgages secured by a consumer's principal dwelling. In particular, the rule will implement quality control standards for automated valuation models (AVMs) used by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers in valuing those homes.