Supervision and Examination Manual – Version 1.0

Our full Supervision and Examination Manual can be downloaded in PDF format. We’ve also issued updates to the manual:

Questions about the manual should be sent to CFPB_Supervision@CFPB.gov

This first edition of the CFPB Supervision and Examination Manual, released on October 13, 2011, is a guide to how the CFPB will supervise and examine consumer financial service providers under its jurisdiction for compliance with Federal consumer financial law.

The Manual is divided into three parts. The first part describes the supervision and examination process. The second part contains examination procedures, including both general instructions and procedures for determining compliance with specific regulations. The third part presents templates for documenting information about supervised entities and the examination process, including examination reports.

To fulfill its statutory mandate to consistently enforce Federal consumer financial law, the procedures in this manual are designed to be used by examiners to examine supervised entities that offer similar types of consumer financial products or services, or conduct similar activities. While all supervised entities must operate in compliance with applicable laws, the CFPB will tailor its expectations of how that is accomplished to fit particular entity profiles.

In this first edition, we have incorporated examination procedures developed under the auspices of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) for many of the laws now generally enforced by the CFPB, including the Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The CFPB will also use the Uniform Consumer Compliance Rating System established by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

Our Manual will also include examination procedures organized by product and line of business, beginning with procedures for reviewing mortgage servicing. We expect to continually update the Manual as compliance requirements evolve.

A dynamic supervision program depends on continual enhancement. Contributions from all stakeholders are critical in the accomplishment of this goal. The CFPB welcomes feedback and suggestions for improvements from examiners, the banking industry, nonbank financial services companies, federal and state agencies, consumer and community groups, and the general public.  

Suggestions may be sent to CFPB_Supervision@cfpb.gov.

Table of contents

Part I – Compliance Supervision and Examination

Supervision and Examination Process

Part II – Examinations Procedures

Compliance Management Review

Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices

Equal Credit Opportunity Act

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act

Truth in Lending Act

Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

Homeowners Protection Act

Consumer Leasing Act

Fair Credit Reporting Act

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Electronic Fund Transfer Act

Truth in Savings Act

Privacy of Consumer Financial Information (502-508 of Gramm Leach Bliley Act)

Mortgage Servicing Examination Procedures

Part III – Examination Process Templates

  • Templates
  • Entity Profile
  • Risk Assessment
  • Supervision Plan
  • Examination Scope Summary
  • Examination Report
  • Examination Report cover
  • Examination Report cover letter

This examination manual provides internal guidance to supervisory staff of the CFPB. It does not bind the CFPB and does not create any rights, benefits, or defenses, substantive or procedural, that are enforceable by any party in any manner. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, examination procedures should not be relied on as a legal reference.