Current through August 26, 2024
(1) PURPOSE. This
section implements and interprets s.
Ins 6.75(2) (i) and
(j) and ss.
601.01,
601.42,
611.19(1),
611.24,
618.21,
620.02,
623.02,
623.03,
623.04,
623.11,
627.05 and
628.34(12),
Stats., for the purpose of establishing minimum requirements for the
transaction of mortgage guaranty insurance.
(2)SCOPE. This rule shall apply to the
underwriting, investment, marketing, rating, accounting and reserving
activities of insurers which write the type of insurance authorized by s.
Ins 6.75(2) (i) and
(j).
(3)DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Amount at risk" means the coverage
percentage or the claim settlement option percentage multiplied by the face of
amount of a mortgage or by the insured amount of a lease.
(b) "Annual statement" means the fire and
casualty annual statement form specified in s.
Ins 7.02, Forms 22-010 and 22-011.
(c) "Contingency reserve" means the reserve
established for the protection of policyholders against the effect of losses
resulting from adverse economic cycles.
(d) "Equity" means the complement of the
Loan-to-Value.
(e) "Face amount"
means the entire indebtedness under an insured mortgage before computing any
reduction because of an insurer's option limiting its coverage.
(f) "Loan-to-value" means the ratio of the
entire indebtedness to value of the collateral property expressed as a
percentage.
(g) "Mortgage guaranty
account" means the portion of the Contingency Reserve which complies with (e)
as amended.
(h) "Mortgage guaranty
insurance" means that kind of insurance authorized by s.
Ins 6.75(2)
(i).
(i) "Mortgage guaranty insurer" means an
insurer which:
1. Insures pursuant to s.
Ins 6.75(2)
(i), or
2. Insures pursuant to s.
Ins 6.75(2)
(j) against loss arising from failure of
debtors to meet financial obligations to creditors under evidences of
indebtedness secured by a junior lien or charge on real estate.
(j) "Mortgage guaranty insurers
report of policyholders position" means the annual supplementary report
required by s.
Ins 7.02, Forms 22-090 and 22-091.
(k) "NAIC Ratio-Investment Yield" means net
investment income earned after taxes from the annual statement divided by mean
invested assets.
(L) "Person" means
any individual, corporation, association, partnership or any other legal
entity.
(m) "Policyholders
position" includes the contingency reserve established under sub. (14), the
deferred risk charge established under sub. (13) (b) and surplus as regards
policyholders. "Minimum policyholders position" is calculated as described in
sub. (5).
(n) "Surplus as regards
policyholders" means an insurer's net worth, the difference between its assets
and liabilities, as reported in its annual statement.
(4)DISCRIMINATION. No mortgage guaranty
insurer may discriminate in the issuance or extension of mortgage guaranty
insurance on the basis of the geographic location of the property or the
applicant's sex, marital status, race, color, creed or national
origin.
(5)MINIMUM POLICYHOLDERS
POSITION.
(a) For the purpose of complying
with s.
623.11,
Stats., a mortgage guaranty insurer shall maintain at all times a minimum
policyholders position in the amount required by this section. The
policyholders position shall be net of reinsurance ceded but shall include
reinsurance assumed.
(b) If a
mortgage guaranty insurer does not have the minimum amount of policyholders
position required by this section it shall cease transacting new business until
such time that its policyholders position is in compliance with this
section.
(c) If a policy of
mortgage guaranty insurance insures individual loans with a percentage claim
settlement option on such loans, a mortgage guaranty insurer shall maintain a
policyholders position based on: each $100 of the face amount of the mortgage;
the percentage coverage; and the loan-to-value category. The minimum amount of
policyholders position shall be calculated in the following manner:
1. If the loan-to-value is greater than 75%,
the minimum policyholders position per $100 of the face amount of the mortgage
for the specific percent coverage shall be as shown in the schedule below:
Percent Coverage
|
Policyholders Position Per $100 of the Face
Amount of
the Mortgage
|
Percent Coverage
|
Policyholders Position Per $100 of the Face
Amount of
the Mortgage
|
5
|
$0.20
|
55
|
$1.50
|
10
|
0.40
|
60
|
1.55
|
15
|
0.60
|
65
|
1.60
|
20
|
0.80
|
70
|
1.65
|
25
|
1.00
|
75
|
1.75
|
30
|
1.10
|
80
|
1.80
|
35
|
1.20
|
85
|
1.85
|
40
|
1.30
|
90
|
1.90
|
45
|
1.35
|
95
|
1.95
|
50
|
1.40
|
100
|
2.00
|
2. If
the loan-to-value is at least 50% and not more than 75%, the minimum amount of
the policyholders position shall be 50% of the minimum of the amount calculated
under subd. 1.
3. If the
loan-to-value is less than 50%, the minimum amount of policyholders position
shall be 25% of the amount calculated under subd. 1.
(d) If a policy of mortgage guaranty
insurance provides coverage on a group of loans subject to an aggregate loss
limit, the policyholders position shall be:
1.
If the equity is not more than 50% and is at least 20%, or equity plus prior
insurance or a deductible is at least 25% and not more than 55%, the minimum
amount of policyholders position shall be calculated as follows:
Percent Coverage
|
Policyholders Position Per $100 of the Face
Amount of
the Mortgage
|
Percent Coverage
|
Policyholders Position Per $100 of the Face
Amount of
the Mortgage
|
1
|
$0.30
|
50
|
$0.825
|
5
|
0.50
|
60
|
0.85
|
10
|
0.60
|
70
|
0.875
|
15
|
0.65
|
75
|
0.90
|
20
|
0.70
|
80
|
0.925
|
25
|
0.75
|
90
|
0.95
|
30
|
0.775
|
100
|
1.00
|
40
|
0.80
|
2. If
the equity is less than 20%, or the equity plus prior insurance or a deductible
is less than 25%, the minimum amount of policyholders position shall be 200% of
the amount required by subd. 1.
3.
If the equity is more than 50%, or the equity plus prior insurance or a
deductible is more than 55%, the minimum amount of policyholders position shall
be 50% of the amount required by subd. 1.
(e) If a policy of mortgage guaranty
insurance provides for layers of coverage, deductibles or excess reinsurance,
the minimum amount of policyholders position shall be computed by subtraction
of the minimum position for the lower percentage coverage limit from the
minimum position for the upper or greater coverage limit.
(f) If a policy of mortgage guaranty
insurance provides for coverage on loans secured by junior liens, the
policyholders position shall be:
1. If the
policy provides coverage on individual loans, the minimum amount of
policyholders position shall be calculated as in par. (c) as follows:
a. The loan-to-value percent is the entire
loan indebtedness on the property divided by the value of the
property;
b. The percent coverage
is the insured portion of the junior loan divided by the entire loan
indebtedness on the collateral property; and
c. The face amount of the insured mortgage is
the entire loan indebtedness on the property.
2. If the policy provides coverage on a group
of loans subject to an aggregate loss limit, the policyholders position shall
be calculated according to par. (d) as follows:
a. The equity is the complement of the
loan-to-value percent calculated as in subd. 1.;
b. The percent coverage is calculated as in
subd. 1.; and
c. The face amount of
the insured mortgage is the entire loan indebtedness on the property.
(g) If a policy of
mortgage guaranty insurance provides for coverage on leases, the policyholders
position shall be $4 for each $100 of the insured amount of the
lease.
(h) If a policy of mortgage
guaranty insurance insures loans with a percentage loss settlement option
coverage between any of the entries in the schedules in this subsection, then
the factor for policyholders position per $100 of the face amount of the
mortgage shall be prorated between the factors for the nearest Percent Coverage
listed.
(6)LIMITATION ON
INVESTMENT. A mortgage guaranty insurer shall not invest in notes or other
evidences of indebtedness secured by mortgage or other lien upon real property.
This section shall not apply to obligations secured by real property, or
contracts for the sale of real property, which obligations or contracts of sale
are acquired in the course of the good faith settlement of claims under
policies of insurance issued by the mortgage guaranty insurer, or in the good
faith disposition of real property so acquired.
(7)LIMITATION ON ASSUMPTION OF RISKS.
(a) A mortgage guaranty insurer shall not
insure loans secured by properties in a single or contiguous housing or
commercial tract in excess of 10% of the insurer's admitted assets. A mortgage
guaranty insurer shall not insure a loan secured by a single risk in excess of
10% of the insurer's admitted assets. In determining the amount of such risk or
risks, the insurer's liability shall be computed on the basis of its election
to limit coverage and net of reinsurance ceded to an insurer authorized to
transact such reinsurance in this state. "Contiguous" for the purpose of this
subsection means not separated by more than one-half mile.
(b) A mortgage guaranty insurer shall not
insure loans with balloon payment provisions unless the policy provides:
1. That liability for the balloon payment is
specifically excluded; or
2. That
at the time the lender calls the loan, the lender will offer new or extended
financing at the then market rates; or
3. The scheduled maturity date of the balloon
payment.
(7m)SEGREGATED TRUST REQUIREMENTS. A
segregated trust established under this section shall be established by a
reinsurer for the benefit of a mortgage guaranty insurer and shall satisfy all
of the following requirements:
(a) Has a
trustee domiciled in the mortgage guaranty insurer's state of domicile,
domiciled in Wisconsin or approved by the commissioner.
(b) Meets the criteria in sub. (12) (g) and
(h).
(c) Invests in the type of
assets permitted by s.
Ins 6.20(5), or, for the reserves
required by subs. (13) and (15), in funds as defined by ch. Ins 52.
(d) Makes quarterly and annual reports as
required by the commissioner.
(e)
Is subject to withdrawals only by and under the control of the ceding mortgage
guaranty insurer.
(f) Permits
examinations by the commissioner.
(g) Designates a Wisconsin agent for service
of process.
(h) Provides to the
commissioner an opinion of counsel stating that the segregated trust and its
governing agreements comply with the applicable sections of this section and
that the reinsured will have a valid and perfected security interest or an
equitable interest in the assets transferred under the trust agreements, or
both, and will be entitled to use those assets for the purpose of satisfying a
reinsurer's obligations under the trust agreement in the event of the
bankruptcy of the reinsurer.
(i) Is
governed by an agreement which, together with all amendments, has been approved
by the commissioner.
(8)REINSURANCE.
(a) A mortgage guaranty insurer may, by
contract, reinsure any insurance it transacts, except that no mortgage guaranty
insurer may enter into reinsurance arrangements designed to circumvent the
compensation control provisions of sub. (16) or the contingency reserve
requirement of sub. (14). The unearned premium reserve required by sub. (13),
the contingency reserve required by sub. (14) and the loss reserve required by
sub. (15) shall be established and maintained by the original insurer or by the
assuming reinsurer so that the aggregate reserves shall be equal to or greater
than the reserves required by subs. (13), (14) and (15).
(b) If reinsurance is assumed by an insurer
which insures or reinsures other lines of insurance in addition to mortgage
guaranty insurance, then in order for a mortgage guaranty insurer to receive
credit for reinsurance ceded in its financial statements and in the calculation
of minimum policyholders position, all of the following shall occur:
1. The reinsurance agreement and the
segregated account or segregated trust arrangements shall be submitted to the
commissioner for approval.
2. The
reinsurer shall establish and maintain in a segregated account or segregated
trust the reserves required by subs. (13), (14) and (15).
3. If the reinsurer establishes a segregated
trust, the reinsurance agreement shall provide that:
a. The segregated trust shall be in a form
approved by the commissioner;
b.
The commissioner shall approve any amendments to the reinsurance agreement
before the amendments become effective;
c. The ceding mortgage guaranty insurer has a
right to terminate the ceding of additional insurance under the reinsurance
agreement if so ordered by the commissioner;
d. The commissioner has the right to request
from the assuming reinsurer information concerning its financial condition;
and
e. The assuming reinsurer shall
notify the commissioner of any material change in its financial
condition.
(c) In reviewing a reinsurance arrangement
with an insurer which writes other lines of insurance in addition to mortgage
guaranty, the commissioner may consider any or all of the following:
1. The financial condition of the reinsurer
and the trustee.
2. The reinsurance
agreement and its compliance with this section.
3. The trust agreement and its compliance
with this section. After review of the reinsurance and trust agreements, the
commissioner may deny credit for the reinsurance on the ceding mortgage
guaranty insurer's financial statements, if deemed necessary for the protection
of the mortgage guaranty insurer or its Wisconsin insureds.
(9)ADVERTISING. No
mortgage guaranty insurer or any agent or representative of a mortgage guaranty
insurer shall prepare or distribute or assist in preparing or distributing any
brochure, pamphlet, report or any form of advertising to the effect that the
real estate investments of any financial institution are "insured investments,"
unless the brochure, pamphlet, report or advertising clearly states that the
loans are insured by insurers possessing a certificate of authority to transact
mortgage guaranty insurance in this state or are insured by an agency of the
federal government, as the case may be.
(10)POLICY FORMS. All policy forms and
endorsements shall be filed with and be subject to approval of the
commissioner. With respect to owner-occupied, single-family dwellings, the
mortgage guaranty insurance policy shall provide that the borrower shall not be
liable to the insurance company for any deficiency arising from a foreclosure
sale.
(11)PREMIUM.
(a) The total consideration charged for
mortgage guaranty insurance policies, including policy and other fees or
similar charges, shall be considered premium and must be stated in the policy
and shall be subject to the reserve requirements of subs. (13) and
(14).
(b) The rate making formula
for mortgage guaranty insurance shall contain a factor or loading sufficient to
produce the amount required for the contingency reserve prescribed by sub.
(14).
(12)REPORTING.
(a) The financial condition and operations of
a mortgage guaranty insurer shall be reported annually on the annual
statement.
(b) The unearned premium
reserve required by sub. (13) shall be reported in the underwriting and
investment exhibit-recapitulation of all premiums schedule of the annual
statement.
(c) The contingency
reserve required by sub. (14) shall be reported as a liability in the annual
statement. This liability may be reported as unpaid losses, mortgage guaranty
account or other appropriately labeled write-in item. Appropriate entries shall
be made in the underwriting and investment exhibit-statement of income of the
annual statement. The change in contingency reserve for the year shall be
reported in the annual statement as a reduction of or a deduction from
underwriting income. If the contingency reserve is recorded as a loss
liability, the change in the reserve shall be excluded from loss development
similar to fidelity and surety losses incurred but not reported. The
development of the contingency reserve and policyholders position shall be
shown in an appropriate supplemental schedule to the annual statement as
prescribed by the commissioner.
(d)
The loss reserves required by sub. (15) shall be reported in the underwriting
and investment exhibit-unpaid losses and loss adjustment schedule of the annual
statement.
(e) Any property
acquired pursuant to the exercise of the claim settlement option shall be
valued net of encumbrances; and an aggregate amount of such property may be
held as is permitted for nonlife insurer investments pursuant to s.
620.22(5),
Stats.
(f) Expenses shall be
recorded and reported in accordance with ss.
Ins 6.30 and 6.31.
(g) An insurer which writes mortgage guaranty
insurance and any other class of insurance business shall establish a
segregated account for mortgage guaranty insurance. An insurer which writes
more than one class of mortgage guaranty insurance shall establish a segregated
account for each class of mortgage guaranty insurance. An insurer which
reinsures mortgage guaranty insurance and which writes or reinsures any other
class of insurance business shall establish a segregated account or segregated
trust for mortgage guaranty reinsurance. The classes of mortgage guaranty
insurance are those types of insurance defined in:
1. Section
Ins 6.75(2) (i)
1. a. and c.; or
2. Section
Ins 6.75(2) (i)
1. b. and 2.; or
3. Section
Ins 6.75(2) (i)
1. d. and (j).
(h) Each segregated account or segregated
trust established to comply with par. (g) shall contain all of the following
applicable reserves:
1. The loss reserves
required by sub. (15).
2. The
unearned premium reserve required by sub. (13) or (18).
3. The contingency reserve required by sub.
(14) or (18) or any surplus required by the commissioner.
(13)UNEARNED PREMIUM RESERVE.
Subject to sub. (8), a mortgage guaranty insurer shall compute and maintain an
unearned premium reserve on policies in force as follows:
(a) For premium plans on which the premium is
paid annually, the unearned premium reserve shall be calculated on either an
annual or monthly pro rata basis except that the portion of the first-year
premium, excluding policy and other fees or similar charges, which exceeds
twice the subsequent renewal premium rate, shall be considered a deferred risk
premium. The deferred risk premium shall be contributed to and maintained in
the unearned premium reserve until released as earned. The deferred risk
premium shall be earned in accordance with the factors for a 10-year premium
period in par. (b) or any other formula approved by the commissioner.
(b) For premium plans on which the premium is
paid in advance for periods of time greater than one year but less than 16
years, the unearned premium reserve shall be calculated by multiplying the
premiums collected by the appropriate unearned premium factor from the table
set forth below:
UNEARNED PREMIUM FACTOR TO BE APPLIED TO PREMIUMS COLLECTED
Current at
Valuation
Date
|
2-Year Premium Period
|
3-Year Premium Period
|
4-Year Premium Period
|
5-Year Premium Period
|
6-Year Premium Period
|
7-Year Premium Period
|
8-Year Premium Period
|
1
|
89.0%
|
93.7%
|
95.3%
|
96.0%
|
96.4%
|
96.6%
|
96.8%
|
2
|
39.0%
|
65.0%
|
73.6%
|
77.6%
|
79.8%
|
81.1%
|
82.0%
|
21.3%
|
40.6%
|
49.6%
|
54.5%
|
57.5%
|
59.4%
|
12.3%
|
25.5%
|
32.7%
|
37.2%
|
40.1%
|
7.6%
|
16.5%
|
22.1%
|
25.7%
|
4.9%
|
11.2%
|
7.8%
|
3.3%
|
2.3%
|
Contract Year
Current at
Valuation
Date
|
9-Year Premium Period
|
10-Year Premium Period
|
11-Year Premium Period
|
12-Year Premium Period
|
13-Year Premium Period
|
14-Year Premium Period
|
15-Year Premium Period
|
1
|
96.9%
|
97.0%
|
97.5%
|
97.1%
|
97.2%
|
97.3%
|
97.3%
|
2
|
82.6%
|
83.2%
|
83.7%
|
84.0%
|
84.4%
|
84.7%
|
85.0%
|
3
|
60.9%
|
62.2%
|
63.3%
|
64.1%
|
64.9%
|
65.6%
|
66.1%
|
4
|
42.3%
|
44.1%
|
45.8%
|
47.1%
|
48.2%
|
49.1%
|
49.9%
|
5
|
28.4%
|
30.7%
|
32.8%
|
34.4%
|
35.8%
|
36.9%
|
37.9%
|
6
|
18.5%
|
21.1%
|
23.4%
|
25.2%
|
26.9%
|
28.0%
|
29.2%
|
7
|
11.3%
|
14.1%
|
16.7%
|
18.6%
|
20.4%
|
21.7%
|
23.0%
|
8
|
6.1%
|
9.1%
|
11.8%
|
13.8%
|
15.8%
|
17.1%
|
18.5%
|
9
|
2.0%
|
5.2%
|
7.9%
|
10.0%
|
12.1%
|
13.4%
|
14.9%
|
10
|
1.7%
|
4.4%
|
6.7%
|
8.8%
|
10.2%
|
11.8%
|
11
|
1.4%
|
3.8%
|
5.9%
|
7.4%
|
9.0%
|
12
|
1.2%
|
3.3%
|
5.0%
|
6.6%
|
13
|
1.1%
|
2.8%
|
4.4%
|
14
|
.9%
|
2.5%
|
15
|
.8%
|
Note: For purposes of this calculation, premiums
collected means either 90% of the premiums collected or the premium collected
less a dollar amount or percentage amount approved by the commissioner to
represent initial expenses of selling and issuing a new policy.
(c) For premium plans on which the premium is
paid in advance for periods of 16 years or more, the unearned premium reserve
shall be calculated either by a method approved by the commissioner or by
dividing the premium collected, as defined above in par. (b), into 2 parts. The
first part shall be the amount which is equal to the premium collected for a
15-year premium and which shall be earned in the same manner as a 15-year
premium. The second part is the remaining amount of premium in excess of the
15-year premium, which shall be earned pro rata over the remaining term of the
premium.
(14) CONTINGENCY
RESERVE.
(a) Subject to sub. (8), a mortgage
guaranty insurer shall make an annual contribution to the contingency reserve
which in the aggregate shall be the greater of:
1. 50% of the net earned premium reported in
the annual statement; or
2. The sum
of:
a. The policyholders position established
under sub. (5) on residential buildings designed for occupancy by not more than
four families divided by 7;
b. The
policyholders position established under sub. (5) on residential buildings
designed for occupancy by 5 or more families divided by 5;
c. The policyholders position established
under sub. (5) on buildings occupied for industrial or commercial purposes
divided by 3; and
d. The
policyholders position established under sub. (5) for leases divided by
10.
(b) If
the mortgage guaranty coverage is not expressly provided for in this section,
the commissioner may establish a rate formula factor that will produce a
contingency reserve adequate for the risk assumed.
(c) The contingency reserve established by
this subsection shall be maintained for 120 months. That portion of the
contingency reserve established and maintained for more than 120 months shall
be released and shall no longer constitute part of the contingency
reserve.
(d)
1. With the approval of the commissioner,
withdrawals may be made from the contingency reserve when incurred losses and
incurred loss expenses exceed the greater of either 35% of the net earned
premium or 70% of the amount which par. (a) requires to be contributed to the
contingency reserve in such year.
2. On a quarterly basis, provisional
withdrawals may be made from the contingency reserve in an amount not to exceed
75% of the withdrawal calculated in accordance with subd. 1.
(e) With the approval of the
commissioner, a mortgage guaranty insurer may withdraw from the contingency
reserve any amounts which are in excess of the minimum policyholders position.
In reviewing a request for withdrawal pursuant to this paragraph, the
commissioner may consider loss development and trends. If any portion of the
contingency reserve for which withdrawal is requested pursuant to this
paragraph is maintained by a reinsurer, the commissioner may also consider the
financial condition of the reinsurer. If any portion of the contingency reserve
for which withdrawal is requested pursuant to this paragraph is maintained in a
segregated account or segregated trust and such withdrawal would result in
funds being removed from the segregated account or segregated trust, the
commissioner may also consider the financial condition of the
reinsurer.
(f) Releases and
withdrawals from the contingency reserve shall be accounted for on a
first-in-first-out basis as provided in sub. (12) (g).
(g) The calculations to develop the
contingency reserve shall be made in the following sequence:
1. The additions required by pars. (a) and
(b);
2. The releases permitted by
par. (c);
3. The withdrawals
permitted by par. (d); and
4. The
withdrawals permitted by par. (e).
(15)LOSS RESERVES.
(a) Subject to sub. (8), a mortgage guaranty
insurer shall compute and maintain adequate loss reserves. The methodology used
for computing the loss reserves shall accurately reflect loss frequency and
loss severity and shall include components for claims reported and unpaid and
for claims incurred but not reported.
(b) A mortgage guaranty insurer shall compute
and maintain adequate case basis loss reserves which are based on an estimate
of the liability for claims on individual insured loans in various stages of
default as listed below. Case basis loss reserves may be calculated on either
an individual case basis or a formula basis. Case basis loss reserves shall be
established for individual insured loans or leases which:
1. Are in default and have resulted in the
collateral real estate being acquired by the insured, the insurer, or the agent
of either, and remaining unsold; or
2. Are in the process of foreclosure;
or
3. Are in default and the
insurer has received notification.
(c) In computing the potential liability for
which case basis reserves are required by par. (b), the following factors shall
be considered together with the prospective adjustments reflecting historic
data relative to prior claim settlements:
1.
Prior to the exercise of the claim settlement option, the potential liability
shall be either the amount at risk calculated using the coverage settlement
option or the potential claim amount minus the value of the real
estate.
2. If the claim settlement
option exercised results in recording the claim amount as the cost of
acquisition of the property, the potential liability is the claim amount minus
the lesser of the market value of the real estate or the acquisition cost of
the real estate.
3. If the claim
settlement option exercised results in the payment of amounts equal to the
monthly loan payments or lease rents, the potential liability is the present
value, utilizing the insurer's National Association of Insurance Commissioners'
(NAIC) financial ratio-investment yield, of the claim amounts minus the present
value of either the real estate or the rental income stream.
(d) A mortgage guaranty insurer
shall compute and maintain a loss adjustment expense reserve which is based on
an estimate of the cost of adjusting and settling claims on insured loans in
default.
(e) A mortgage guaranty
insurer shall compute and maintain an incurred but not reported reserve which
is based on an estimate of the liability for future claims on insured loans
that are in default but of which the insurer has not been notified.
(16)CHARGES, COMMISSIONS AND
REBATES.
(a) Every mortgage guaranty insurer
shall adopt, print and make available a schedule of premium charges for
mortgage guaranty insurance coverages. The schedule shall show the entire
amount of premium charge for each type of mortgage guaranty insurance coverage
issued by the insurer.
(b) A
mortgage guaranty insurer shall not knowingly pay, either directly or
indirectly to an owner, purchaser, mortgagee of the real property or any
interest therein or to any person who is acting as agent, representative,
attorney or employee of such owner, purchaser, or mortgagee any commission,
remuneration, dividend or any part of its premium charges or any other
consideration as an inducement for or as compensation on any mortgage guaranty
insurance business.
(c) In
connection with the placement of any insurance, a mortgage guaranty insurer
shall not cause or permit any commission, fee, remuneration, or other
compensation to be paid to, or received by: any insured lender; any subsidiary
or affiliate of any insured; any officer, director or employee of any insured;
any member of their immediate family; any corporation, partnership, trust,
trade association in which any insured is a member, or other entity in which
any insured or any such officer, director, or employee or any member of their
immediate family has a financial interest; or any designee, trustee, nominee,
or other agent or representative of any of the foregoing.
(d) A mortgage guaranty insurer shall not
make any rebate of any portion of the premium charge shown by the schedule
required by par. (a). A mortgage guaranty insurer shall not quote any premium
charge to any person which is different than that currently available to others
for the same type of mortgage guaranty insurance coverage sold by the mortgage
guaranty insurer. The amount by which any premium charge is less than that
called for by the current schedule of premium charge is a rebate.
(e) A mortgage guaranty insurer shall not use
compensating balances, special deposit accounts or engage in any practice which
unduly delays its receipt of monies due or which involves the use of its
financial resources for the benefit of any owner, mortgagee of the real
property or any interest therein or any person who is acting as agent,
representative, attorney or employee of such owner, purchaser or mortgagee as a
means of circumventing any part of this rule. Except for commercial checking
accounts and normal deposits in support of an active bank line of credit, any
deposit account bearing interest at rates less than is currently being paid
other depositors on similar deposits or any deposit in excess of amounts
insured by an agency of the federal government shall be presumed to be an
account in violation of this paragraph.
(f) A mortgage guaranty insurer shall make
provision for prompt refund of any unearned premium in the event of termination
of the insurance prior to its scheduled termination date. If the borrower paid
or was charged for the premium, the refund shall be made to the borrower, or to
the insured for the borrower's benefit, otherwise refund may be paid to the
insured.
(g) This subsection is not
intended to prohibit payment of appropriate policy dividends to
borrowers.
(17)MINIMUM
CAPITAL OR PERMANENT SURPLUS. The minimum amount of capital or permanent
surplus of a mortgage guaranty insurer shall be $2 million for an insurer first
authorized to do business in Wisconsin on or after January 1, 1982, or the
amount required by statute or administrative order before that date or other
insurers.
(18)TRANSITION.
Policyholders position, unearned premium reserves and contingency loss reserves
shall be computed and maintained on risks insured after the effective date of
this section as required by subs. (5), (13) and (14). Unearned premium reserves
and contingency loss reserves on risks insured before the effective date of
this rule may be computed and maintained either as required by subs. (13) and
(14) or as required by this section as previously in effect.
(19)CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
(a) Except as described in par. (c), if a
member of a holding company system as defined in s.
Ins 40.01(6), a mortgage guaranty insurer
licensed to transact insurance in this state shall not, as a condition of its
certificate of authority, knowingly underwrite mortgage guaranty insurance on
mortgages originated by the holding company system or an affiliate or on
mortgages originated by any mortgage lender to which credit is extended,
directly or indirectly by the holding company system or affiliate.
(b) A mortgage guaranty insurer, the holding
company system of which it is a part or any affiliate shall not as a condition
of the mortgage guaranty insurer's certificate of authority, pay any
commissions, remuneration, rebates or engage in activities proscribed in sub.
(15).
(c)
1. A mortgage guaranty insurer may underwrite
mortgage guaranty insurance on mortgages originated by the holding company
system or affiliate or on mortgages originated by any mortgage lender to which
credit is extended, directly or indirectly by the holding company system or
affiliate only if the insurance is underwritten on the same basis, for the same
consideration and subject to the same insurability requirements as insurance
provided to nonaffiliated lenders. Mortgage guaranty insurance underwritten on
mortgages originated by the holding company system or affiliate or on mortgages
originated by any mortgage lender to which credit is extended, directly or
indirectly by the holding company system or affiliate shall be limited to 50%
of the insurer's direct premium written in any calendar year, or such higher
percentage established in writing for the insurer in the commissioner's
discretion, based on the commissioner's determination that a higher percentage
is not likely to adversely affect the financial condition of the
insurer.
2. A domestic mortgage
guaranty insurer that offers coverage under subd. 1., shall annually file by
March 1 a certification executed by a senior, responsible officer that the
insurer has complied with subd. 1. in the previous calendar year. The
commissioner may grant an extension to an insurer if the commissioner
determines an extension is not likely to materially impede the office's
monitoring of the insurer's compliance with this subsection.
(20)LAWS OR REGULATIONS
OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS. Whenever the laws or regulations of another
jurisdiction in which a mortgage guaranty insurer subject to the requirements
of this rule is licensed, require a larger unearned premium reserve or a larger
contingency reserve in the aggregate than that set forth in this rule, the
establishment and maintenance of the larger unearned premium reserve or
contingency reserve shall be deemed to be compliance with this rule.
(21)This section may be enforced under ss.
601.41,
601.64,
601.65,
Stats., or ch. 645, Stats., or any other enforcement provision of chs. 600 to
646, Stats.