32-9-145. Escrow fund. (1) An escrow fund authorized for any purpose by a mortgage loan contract is subject to applicable state and federal requirements. Money received from a borrower by a mortgage lender or mortgage servicer licensed under this part must be considered as held in trust immediately upon receipt. The mortgage lender or mortgage servicer shall place escrow funds in a depository institution prior to the end of the third business day following their receipt.
(2) An escrow fund account must be a separate account established to hold only borrowers' funds. The account must be designated and maintained for the benefit of borrowers. Escrow funds may not be commingled with any other funds.
(3) Escrow funds must be kept in the segregated account until disbursement. Money maintained in an escrow fund account is exempt from execution, attachment, or garnishment.
(4) A licensee may not encumber the corpus of an escrow fund account or commingle other operating funds with account funds.
(5) An escrow fund account may be used only for:
(a) a payment authorized by the borrower or the mortgage loan contract or required by federal or state law;
(b) a refund to the borrower;
(c) transfer to a depository institution;
(d) transfer to the appropriate mortgage lender or mortgage servicer in the case of a transfer of servicing;
(e) a purpose authorized by the mortgage loan contract; or
(f) purposes of complying with an order issued by the commissioner or a court.
(6) Accounting for escrow funds must be performed in compliance with the aggregate accounting rules established in regulation X, 24 CFR 3500, and in compliance with 71-1-115. (See part compiler's comment regarding contingent suspension.)
History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 321, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 317, L. 2011.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 32. Financial Institutions
Chapter 9. Residential Mortgage Brokers, Lenders, Servicers, and Loan Originators
32-9-101. Short title and purpose
32-9-102. License requirement -- registration
32-9-104. Exemptions -- proof of exemption
32-9-106. Simultaneous licensure
32-9-107. Prelicensing education requirements for mortgage loan originators
32-9-109. Experience requirements
32-9-110. Examination requirements for mortgage loan originators
32-9-113. Control persons -- application for license -- renewal
32-9-116. Employment of mortgage loan originator
32-9-117. Fees -- disposition of fees -- rulemaking
32-9-118. Continuing education requirements for mortgage loan originators
32-9-122. Designated manager and branch office license requirements
32-9-123. Surety bond requirement -- notice of legal action
32-9-124. Prohibitions -- required disclosure
32-9-126. Revocation, suspension, conditioning, and reinstatement of licenses
32-9-128. Registration and registered agent of foreign entities -- service of process -- venue
32-9-129. Loan processors and underwriters
32-9-130. Department authority -- rulemaking
32-9-132. Injunctions -- receivers
32-9-133. Penalties -- restitution
32-9-134. License renewal -- rulemaking
32-9-135. Independent contractor entity -- responsible individual -- loan processor or underwriter
32-9-136. through 32-9-140 reserved
32-9-142. Cease and desist orders
32-9-143. and 32-9-144 reserved
32-9-146. and 32-9-147 reserved
32-9-148. Disclosure of mortgage costs by mortgage lender
32-9-149. Use of name -- advertising
32-9-151. Mortgage call reports
32-9-152. Electronic record as original document
32-9-153. and 32-9-154 reserved
32-9-155. Nationwide mortgage licensing system information challenge process
32-9-156. through 32-9-159 reserved
32-9-161. through 32-9-164 reserved
32-9-168. Mortgage lender prohibitions
32-9-169. Mortgage servicer prohibitions
32-9-170. Mortgage servicer duties