- The latest issue for the crusader from the NY Dept. of Financial Services is a Reuters report on Ocwen Financial (OCN -2.5%) - along with banks like PNC Financial, and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) - routinely demand homeowners promise to say bad things about them publicly in exchange for mortgage modifications.
- "Deeply troubling and offensive," Lawsky tells Reuters, promising an investigation.
- A PNC spokesperson: "These clauses are part of the consideration we receive for agreeing to settle the case. This helps to ensure that the discussion is not re-opened in public after the case has been settled."
- "When [we] take a closer look at some of these non-bank servicers, we find corners being cut, to the disadvantage of homeowners," said Lawsky in a speech yesterday, in which he makes clear his serious issues with the business models of companies like Ocwen (and affiliates like ASPS), Nationstar Mortgage (NSM -0.7%), and Walter Investment (WAC -2.4%).