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If these FAQs do not address your particular questions, please contact us.
- My institution will soon qualify to report HMDA data. What software and documents are available to assist me in getting started and how can I access them?
- How do I submit HMDA data?
- What do I do if I find an error in my HMDA data file after it has been submitted?
- How do I resubmit HMDA data?
- Is there a penalty if my institution has to resubmit?
- Where can I find updates regarding HMDA processing and/or Regulation C changes?
- Where can I find comprehensive documents and guidance information about Regulation C prior to collecting and preparing the current year’s submission?
- When determining whether my institution is a required HMDA reporter, what year is the 'preceding calendar year'?
- How do I know if my submission has been received and/or loaded to your system?
- When I have a HMDA question, should I e-mail HMDAHELP and call the HMDA Assistance Line?
- When are initial HMDA data due and to whom is it sent?
- What is a voluntary reporter?
My institution will soon qualify to report HMDA data. What software and documents are available to assist me in getting started and how can I access them?
All materials that will assist you in collecting and preparing your HMDA submission are available from this FFIEC HMDA web site. Do the following:
1. Access Regulation C and Official Staff Commentary.
2. Locate the 'How to File' subsection (http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/default.htm) and
- Print or utilize A Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting it Right!
- Download the most recent version of the HMDA Data Entry Software
- Obtain the HMDA Edits, Reporting Forms, and File Specifications
- Utilize the FFIEC Geocoding System and Rate Spread Calculator
- Utilize the Census Reports
3. Determine your institution's Respondent Identification Number (RID). For guidance reference the HMDA Glossary under “RID – Respondent or Reporter ID”.
4. Access the Quick Reference link for more resources.
1.Download a free copy of the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software.
2. Select “Add” Transmittal, and then “Add” LAR to create a new submission.
3. Prepare your HMDA data submission for the calendar year. Select “Save.”
4. Return to the Front Page and perform a ‘Batch Edit’ on the HMDA data. Correct all data with validity errors.
5. Select the ‘Export’ option from the Front Page, then the ‘Export to Regulatory Agency via Internet e-mail’ option for encrypted submissions to the Board (or ‘Export to Regulatory Agency via Diskette’ option for diskette submissions).
6.Open your e-mail software and address your e-mail to hmdasub@frb.gov. Include all the required institution information and attach the encrypted HMDA file HMDAENCR.ENC located at the following path: C:\HMDADES\int\hmdaencr.enc.
7. Send your encrypted HMDA data submission free of validity errors to your regulatory agency (via the Federal Reserve Board) no later than March 1. Submissions should be sent by the deadline to avoid being counted as late.
8. Attach only the file with the extension “.ENC” to your e-mail (or “.DAT” for diskette submissions). Files sent via e-mail with extensions other than “.ENC” (or “.DAT” for diskette submissions) are considered non-compliant and will not be accepted. Include the following in the body of your e-mail:
9.Include your Respondent ID, Agency Code and 2006 HMDA in the subject heading.
- Institution Name
- Respondent ID/Agency Code
- Contact Name/Phone Number
- Number of LAR
What do I do if I find an error in my HMDA data file after it has been submitted?
Make the correction to your HMDA file and send in a complete resubmission; partial resubmissions should not be sent. Refer to the next question, "How do I resubmit?" for the resubmission guidelines.
How do I resubmit?
1. Make corrections to your HMDA data.
2. Batch edit.
3. Export data.
4. Transmit data.
5. Receive and resolve edit report.
6. Sign off on the confirmation sheet.
Transmit the entire corrected file via Internet e-mail, CD-ROM, or diskette. See the data collection procedure change regarding data resubmissions. Clearly mark your resubmission as a “Complete Resubmission of CCYY data” as well as the respondent ID and agency code in the e-mail subject row. In the text of the e-mailed (or in writing if mailed), also include the reason for your resubmission along with the other information asked for in the Internet e-mail, diskette, or CD-ROM file specifications (for example, institution name, respondent ID number, agency code, processing year, contact name, phone number, and LAR count being transmitted).If you choose the Internet e-mail option to transmit your data, send a compete resubmission to hmdasub@frb.gov. If you choose the diskette or CD-ROM option, mail (preferably overnight) the file to:
Federal Reserve Board
Attention: HMDA Processing, (Enter Regulatory Agency -- OCC, FDIC, OTS, NCUA, or HUD)
20th and Constitution Avenue MS N502
Washington, DC 20551-0001Resubmission addresses for FRS-regulated institutions are available at http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/contactfrs.htm
Is there a penalty if my institution has to resubmit?
Questions about charges and penalties should be directed to your supervisory agency. Institutions are expected to submit valid and accurate HMDA data that have been checked using edits approved for the particular calendar year. If an institution is to resubmit its data, a complete resubmission should be sent; partial resubmissions should not be sent. For resubmission procedures, refer to the previous question "How do I resubmit?" For additional guidance, reference Regulation C, Section 203.6, and page 2 of the HMDA Guide, under Management’s Responsibilities.
Where can I find updates regarding HMDA processing and/or Regulation C changes?
As revisions and updates are made, they are posted on the FFIEC web site at http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda. Refer to the “What’s New” column for recent changes and updates.
Where can I review comprehensive documents and guidance information about Regulation C prior to collecting and preparing the current year’s submission?
For a comprehensive review of the Regulation C amendments effective January 1, 2004, please access the following links:
Regulation C and Official Staff Commentary,
http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/RegC.htmRegulatory and Interpretive FAQs and General Information and HMDA Price Data FAQs, http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/faq.htm
2004 Regulation C Training,
http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/powerpoint.htm
Regulation C Supplement regarding 2004 amendments, http://www.stlouisfed.org/hmdaregcamendments/default.html
When determining whether my institution is a required HMDA reporter what year is the 'preceding calendar year'?
The 'preceding calendar year' is the year prior to the calendar year of HMDA data that you are collecting. For example, if you are collecting 2006 HMDA data, the preceding calendar year is 2005.
How do I know if my submission has been received and/or loaded to your system?
- If you sent your submission via Internet e-mail, you should receive an edit report via fax within a week of transmitting your report.
- If you sent your submission via diskette or CD-ROM, you should receive an edit report via fax within two weeks of mailing your report.
- If you have not heard or received a response beyond these estimated timeframes, you should e-mail hmdahelp@frb.gov, include your respondent ID, agency code, contact name and phone number, and the date you sent your submission. An analyst will respond via e-mail.
When I have a HMDA question, should I e-mail HMDAHELP and call the HMDA Assistance Line?
Please use only one service -- either e-mail hmdahelp@frb.gov or call (202) 452-2016. During the height of the HMDA processing season (February-April), HMDAHELP and the HMDA Assistance lines experience an increased volume of inquiries. The response time could exceed five business days.
When are initial HMDA data due and to whom is it sent?
- You must submit initial HMDA data for your institution to the processing agency specified by your supervisory agency no later than March 1 following the calendar year for which the data are compiled. For more details, refer to http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/submit.htm.
- The Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC serves as the processing agency for OCC-, FDIC-, OTS-, NCUA-, and HUD-supervised institutions. For institutions regulated by the Federal Reserve System, each Federal Reserve District Bank is responsible for processing the data from the institutions located in their district. Data that you send to your processing agency is considered late if the postmark on the package or the e-mail submission is after March 1st. (Note that if March 1st falls on the weekend, the due date moves to the first Monday. For example, the calendar year 2005 HMDA data were due by March 1, 2006). Please see the Data Processing Timeline for more information on dates and deadlines.
A voluntary reporter is an institution that does not meet the reporting criteria but chooses to submit their HMDA data. Be reminded that if you choose to be a voluntary reporter, you are responsible for the accuracy and quality of your data, and your report must comply with the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and Regulation C.
- From where can I download the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
- How do I import data into the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
- How do I ensure a validity error-free HMDA submission with the 'Batch Edit' function?
- How do I export HMDA data from the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
- When I export the HMDA data, does a copy still exist in the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
- Is there a way to backup the data file to a disk using the HMDA Data Entry Software and then move the data file to another computer?
- What happens if the computer on which the HMDA Data Entry Software is installed crashes? Can information keyed up to the crash be retrieved or are there backup procedures that we should implement?
From where can I download the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
Download the most recent version of the software from the FFIEC HMDA web site.The FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software is NOT network compatible, and the FFIEC does not support installation to a network. The software should be installed locally on a hard disk, (i.e. C:drive).
How do I import data into the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
Select 'Import' from the Front Page. Choose the 'Import' option and click 'Ok'.Select the target file where the import file is located. If necessary, locate the file by choosing the 'Browse' button. Click 'Begin'. A warning will appear with information regarding the length of time it will take to import the data. Click 'Ok'.
A box will appear asking the question, "Are there more LARs to import on another file?" Choose the appropriate option. A box will appear indicating the number of LARs imported.
Verify this information and click 'Ok', which returns you to the Front Page.
A 'Batch Edit', located on the Front Page, should be performed after each import.
How do I ensure a validity error-free HMDA submission with the 'Batch Edit' function?
To ensure a validity error-free submission, select 'Batch Edit' from the Front Page. A description of the Batch Edit will appear, click 'Begin'.The Batch Edit will be performed and you will receive a Transmittal and LAR edit status upon completion. If your submission contains errors, you must print an 'Error Report' from the Front Page and correct those errors prior to submitting your data. Repeat the Batch Edit after you have corrected your data.
If your submission contains warnings, this means the submission contains Quality Edits. The data with Quality Edits are NOT necessarily an error; however, they should be verified and corrected, if appropriate, prior to submitting your data.
How do I export HMDA data from the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
Perform a Batch Edit to ensure your data are free of validity errors by selecting the 'Batch Edit' option from the Front Page of the HMDA Data Entry Software.After your data are validity error-free, select 'Export' from the Front Page. A message will appear reminding you that the e-mail option is the most efficient way to submit your HMDA data. Click 'Close'. Select your export option and click 'Ok'.
Verify the target file, 'HMDA.DAT' and click 'Begin'.
Verify your Institution information and click 'Continue'. A notification will verify that the export was successful.
The encrypted file (HMDAENCR.ENC) that you attach and e-mail to the agency responsible for processing your HMDA data will be located in the following directory (C:\HMDADES\int\hmdaencr.enc).
When I export the HMDA data, does a copy still exist in the FFIEC HMDA Data Entry Software?
Yes, data are maintained within the software even when exports are performed.
Is there a way to backup the data file to a disk using the HMDA Data Entry Software and then move the data file to another computer?
Yes, this can be done by copying the database files from the DATA directory on the old computer to the same location on the new computer.First, install the software on the new computer.
Return to the old computer and select 'Export' from the Front Page. Select the export option "To Regulatory Agency via Diskette". Make sure you have a diskette in the appropriate drive.
After successfully exporting the data, import the data into the HMDA Data Entry Software on the new computer by selecting 'Import' from the Front Page and following the prompts.
What happens if the computer on which the HMDA Data Entry Software is installed crashes? Can information keyed up to the crash be retrieved or are there backup procedures that we should implement?
You should ALWAYS backup your data file by saving it to your network drive or a disk. If your hard drive crashes, you can always download another copy of the software and import the saved data file into the program.
- How can I get a copy of the Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting it Right!?
- My institution reported HMDA data for last year; however, I did not receive the disclosure report. How can I get a copy?
- When is the final disclosure report available?
- Is an institution required to mail a copy of the disclosure report to someone who requests that it be mailed?
How can I get a copy of the Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting it Right!?
You can download a copy of the most recent Guide directly from the web site. Please refer to the web site periodically for status updates on the Guide.
My institution reported HMDA data for last year; however, I did not receive the disclosure report. How can I get a copy?
Beginning with calendar year 2005 HMDA data, HMDA data public disclosure reports will only be available through the FFIEC HMDA website at http://www.ffiec.gov/hmdaadwebreport/diswelcome.aspx. If you have questions about retrieving a disclosure report from this web site, please e-mail hmdahelp@frb.gov or call (202) 452-2016.
When is the final disclosure report available?
HMDA data for a specific year are released in September of the year following the calendar year of the data. Disclosure reports are available at http://www.ffiec.gov/hmda/online_rpts.htm.
Is an institution required to mail a copy of the disclosure report to someone who requests that it be mailed?
An institution must respond to a written request within 15 calendar days. For more information, refer to Appendix C, page C-6 of the Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting it Right!
- I faxed a completed data order form and included an overnight carrier number. How long will it take before I receive my order?
- Are the data items on the HMDA data order form the only products available to the public?
- What do I do if one of the data products I ordered is damaged?
- What is the best data product to order that allows me to manipulate and analyze the data?
- Can I download the HMDA data that is included on the web site?
- Can I order historical HMDA data from the data order form?
I faxed a completed data order form and included an overnight carrier number. How long will it take before I receive my order?
Data orders are processed within 5-7 business days after receipt of a completed order form. We strive to complete and mail data orders as soon as possible.
Are the data items on the HMDA data order form the only products available to the public?
No, we have other data items available under the 'Public Data' subsection of the FFIEC HMDA web site at www.ffiec.gov/hmda/default.htm. The items on the HMDA data order form comprise all the HMDA data products available to the public.
What do I do if one of the data products I ordered is damaged?
You should return the entire product with a cover letter that explains the purpose of the return. Upon receipt of the damaged product, we will send you a replacement.
What is the best data product to order that allows me to manipulate and analyze the data?
You should order the LAR & TS Raw data CD for $50. This data can be downloaded from the CD into a spreadsheet application. You can manipulate and sort the data by specific fields for further analysis. (The Help screen on the CD provides details on how to download the data).
Can I download the HMDA data that is included on the web site?
Data products on the Web (specifically the aggregate tables and disclosure reports) cannot be downloaded, but you can print the information shown on the screens. Data products on CD-ROM can be downloaded into a text, database, or spreadsheet application.
Can I order historical HMDA data from the data order form?
The FFIEC has contracted with NTIS to provide certain historical HMDA data to the public. The following items are available: Pre-1990 HMDA data for years 1981 through 1989, the National Aggregate Reports for years 1991 through 2002, and the LAR & TS Raw Data, Reporter Panel, Aggregate Reports, and CRA/HMDA Combined Census file for years 1990 through 2002. The data are available on cartridge tape and CD-ROM, and charges will differ from the FFIEC data. To order, contact NTIS at http://www.ntis.gov/products/bank-hmda.aspx.
- Why do I have property location validity errors on my HMDA report if I used the FFIEC Geocoding System to obtain the property location information?
- If the FFIEC Geocoding System does not provide me with MSA-MD/State/County/Census Tract information, should I send in my HMDA submission without this information included?
Why do I have property location validity errors on my HMDA report if I used the FFIEC Geocoding System to obtain the property location information?
There are various reasons the FFIEC Geocoding System may not provide property location information for certain valid street addresses. One reason may be timing -- new developments, for instance, come into existence all the time and may not have been accounted for in the database release that is used in the FFIEC Geocoding System. When an exact street address cannot be found, use the Mapping feature. The FFIEC Geocoding System will display an area street map based on the combination of street address and zip code, OR street address, city and state. It is still possible that geocode information will not be found. In those cases, contact the U.S. Census Bureau (http://www.census.gov) for information on maps and other helpful resources.
If the FFIEC Geocoding System does not provide me with MSA-MD/State/County/Census Tract information, should I send in my HMDA submission without this information included?
Please do not send in your HMDA submission minus property location information because you cannot find it using the FFIEC geocoding system. A reporter must include valid property location information on each record of their HMDA report; otherwise, validity errors will occur on the report. If the FFIEC Geocoding System does not provide the geographical information about the property location, there are several other tools that may be used:
- Refer to pages 18-21 of the Guide to HMDA Reporting: Getting it Right! to geocode your data.
- Refer to the page entitled, Explanation of Validity Edits 285, 295, & 300 of the HMDA Edits for valid Geocoding combinations.
- Contact the U.S. Census Bureau for census tract maps and other tools.
- It is the reporter's responsibility to exhaust all available resources in obtaining valid property location information.
- I am a HUD reporter, who do I contact for assistance?
- I am a HUD reporter, where do I send my HMDA submission?
- I am a HUD reporter, how do I submit or resubmit my HMDA data?
I am a HUD reporter, who do I contact for assistance?
For assistance with HMDA processing, e-mail HMDAHELP@frb.gov or call the HMDA Assistance Line at 202-452-2016. Questions regarding the discontinuance of FHA data collection and negative reports should be directed to Jerry Fasick of HUD at 202-755-7500 x7540.
I am a HUD reporter, where do I send my HMDA submission?
You must submit initial HMDA data for your institution to the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC no later than March 1 following the calendar year for which the data are compiled. Data that you send to the processing agency is considered late if the postmark on the package or the e-mail submission is after March 1st. HMDA data submissions should be submitted in a compliant electronic format to HMDASUB@frb.gov. You can also mail your submission to the following address:
Federal Reserve Board
Attention: HMDA Processing, HUD
20th and Constitution Avenue, NW
MS N502
Washington, DC 20551-0001Also review the topics under 'HMDA Processing'
I am a HUD reporter, how do I submit or resubmit my HMDA data?
Follow the instructions under the questions 'How do I submit HMDA data?' and 'How do I resubmit HMDA data?'.