Last month, we shared with you revised XML file specs that include the new Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) fair lending data fields. These fields have been added to meet Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and MPF Xtra requirements effective for loans originated on or after March 1, 2023.

Clients will need to provide the additional fields on any loans where they are required that board via XML or NLAI. If you are unable to update your XML file with the additional required fields by March 1, you will need to follow a temporary alternate process using a supplemental data file. Please send these additional data fields to Cenlar via the spreadsheet linked here in Excel file format to nlboardingassist@cenlar.com at least once per week until the fields are included in your XML/NLAI interface. You may also find the spreadsheet on CenAccess, under Compliance > Policies.

You will only be able to utilize this alternative process until we begin the hard edit process. That process will prevent loans from boarding with these fields missing. We estimate this will be in April 2023.

The above does not apply for those clients that do not have any agency loans.

Testing Support Process

If you would like to test changes made to your XML file (either the addition of these new fields or other mapping changes), please submit a CCM ticket to initiate XML file testing support. CCM tickets should be submitted to New Loans and choose “Other”. The ticket will be routed to the New Loans team so that you can be assigned a time slot to complete testing.

We also plan to provide feedback reports to clients on loans we continue to show as out of compliance with the requirement, until stops are implemented. After March 1, you may receive soft reject feedback at the time of boarding as a reminder of which loans require supplemental data. Once we convert to hard stops, loans missing the required fields will be prevented from boarding.

Thank you for your partnership in preparation for these new agency requirements. If you have any questions, please reach out to your client manager.