Notary Signing Agents and others involved in the loan origination side of the mortgage industry can expect to see a greater emphasis placed on training, certification and professionalism as financial institutions and government regulators expand the scope of the National Mortgage Settlement, according to a senior title industry executive.
“I’m seeing the (servicing) standards in the National Mortgage Settlement coming to the origination side of the industry,” said Al Verkuylen, Senior Vice President LSI Title Company, during a general session at the National Notary Association’s Conference 2012 in San Diego last month.
Federal regulators are beginning to examine the closing process and are “especially focused on the notarial procedures,” he added.
As a result, risk management executives at major financial institutions are looking to require an expanded training and certification process for Signing Agents that would insure they are in compliance with federal standards and guidelines. Such a certification would likely include higher levels of training and continuing education, improved customer service as well as background screenings.
In addition to performing notarizations correctly, training would include such subjects as protecting consumer information.