How Lenders Are Risking Major Losses On Untracked Collateral By MeKelee LaFoy, CP Insurance Associates Risks are inherent to the business of lending and protections, like credit reporting, income verification, appraisals and others, are in place to help mitigate risks. Yet, many lenders unknowingly risk major losses by failing to properly track collateral insurance compliance. Untracked collateral exposes lenders to uninsured losses, repossession challenges and regulatory penalties. The Hidden Risks of Untracked Collateral Relying on manual processes or outdated systems to manage collateral insurance is a silent profit killer. When a borrower lets their insurance lapse, the lender’s asset is no longer protected. Without a robust tracking system, these lapses can go unnoticed for weeks or months. This delay increases exposure to uninsured losses due to accidents, theft or damage. Regulatory Pressures and Compliance Gaps Financial institutions are under increasing pressure to demonstrate compliance with both federal and state regulations. Manual tracking leaves room for error, inconsistent documentation and audit nightmares. From the CFPB to state-level oversight, regulators expect rigorous tracking and proof of action when coverage lapses. Failure to comply can result in heavy fines and reputational damage that takes years to repair. The Case for Automation in Insurance Tracking Automated insurance tracking services on your collateral offer a reliable, scalable and audit-ready solution. These platforms monitor insurance status in real time, identify coverage lapses immediately and trigger automated lender-placed insurance (LPI) processes. Automation reduces human error, ensures consistent communication and supports regulatory compliance with detailed reporting and data trails. This automatic protection becomes especially valuable when binding restrictions are triggered during major weather events, such as named windstorms or wildfires. In these scenarios, insurers may temporarily suspend the issuance of new policies or changes to existing ones, leaving collateral exposed. Additionally, homeowner’s insurance policies are increasingly introducing exclusions or raising deductibles for named windstorms and significant wildfire events in high-risk zones. In such cases, lender-placed policies can help fill critical coverage gaps, offering an extra layer of protection when it’s most urgently needed. Take Control of Your Portfolio Risk The potential costs of untracked collateral are simply too high to ignore. With the right tools in place, lenders can protect their portfolios, streamline operations and stay ahead of compliance demands. If you’re still relying on outdated methods, it’s time to explore how a partnership with experts in insurance tracking can transform your risk strategy. These are some great questions to ask when vetting providers for automated insurance tracking services: 1. How do you monitor insurance coverage and detect lapses in real time? Ensure the provider uses automated, real-time tracking rather than batch updates or manual entry. 2. What types of insurance policies and collateral types do you support? Confirm they can track auto, mortgage, commercial and specialty asset portfolios. 3. Can your platform integrate seamlessly with our core systems and LOS (Loan Origination System)? Ask whether APIs or middleware are available for smooth data exchange. 4. How do you handle borrower notifications and communication compliance? Ensure their notification process complies with federal and state regulations and includes tracking/archiving of correspondence. 12 Colorado Banker
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