Reclassifying Construction and Development Loans

 

Dear Mr. Price:

 

You have asked when a credit union may reclassify a construction and development loan (C&D loan),
which is a type of member business loan (MBL), as simply an MBL so the loan is not subject to the
additional C&D loan requirements in NCUA’s MBL rule. 12 C.F.R. Part 723. A credit union may
reclassify a C&D loan as an MBL when the level and kind of risks for which those limits are in
place are no longer present, meaning, if the loan were refinanced at that point, it would not be
classified as a C&D loan. A credit union must be able to justify reclassifying a loan and, although
we cannot provide a single formula or test, we discuss below factors the NCUA will consider in
determining if reclassification is permissible.

With certain exceptions not relevant to the question you present, an MBL is a loan, line of credit,
or letter of credit (including any unfunded commitments) where the borrower uses the proceeds for
commercial, corporate, other business investment property or venture or agricultural purposes.
12 C.F.R. §723.1.

A C&D loan is defined as a financing arrangement for acquiring property or rights to property,
including land or structures, with the intent to convert it to income-producing property such as
residential housing for rental or sale; commercial use; industrial use; or similar uses. A C&D
loan includes a financing arrangement for the major renovation or development of property
already owned by the borrower that will convert the property to income producing property or
convert the use of income producing property to a different use from its use before the major
renovation or development or is a major expansion of its current use. A C&D loan does not include
a loan to finance maintenance, repairs, or improvements to an existing income producing property
that do not change its use. 12 C.F.R. §723.21.

MBLs generally are riskier than consumer loans and are subject to more stringent statutory and
regulatory limits, such as an aggregate cap, loan-to-value ratio requirements, and restricted
authority to make loans to one borrower. 12 C.F.R. Part 723. C&D loans are the riskiest kind of
MBL and, therefore, are subject to even more stringent regulatory limits. For example, a C&D loan
borrower must have a minimum of 25% equity interest in the project being financed, the aggregate
cap on C&D loans a credit union may make is limited to 15% of the credit union’s net worth, and
the funds may only be released after onsite inspections by the credit union and in accordance with
a preapproved draw schedule. 12 C.F.R. §723.3.

 

 The additional regulatory limits on C&D loans address safety and soundness concerns by enhancing underwriting standards and limiting a credit union’s exposure to the additional risks associated with this kind of business lending. All C&D loans at their origination are, by definition, linked to a speculative project with a sufficiently high degree of development risk warranting more stringent regulatory limitations. The risk is related to the uncertainty of the project’s success, the borrower’s reliance on the sale of the project or the project’s future cash flow to repay the loan, and the fact that market conditions at the beginning of a project can change significantly before a project is completed. These concerns are specifically discussed in the preamble to the final rule in 2005.
70 Fed. Reg. 75719 (December 21, 2005).

 

Safety and soundness considerations make it critical that credit unions recognize and evaluate the true level of C&D loan risk and report that risk to NCUA on their quarterly call reports. This means a credit union may not reclassify a C&D loan as an ordinary MBL unless the loan no longer poses the risks associated with C&D loans. Factors the NCUA may consider in determining if a reclassification is permissible include: (1) whether the speculative project tied to the loan has been completed and has stabilized to the point where (a) the project is a viable ongoing business concern with sufficient cash flow to service the debt on an ongoing basis or (b) can be sold for an amount sufficient to fully repay the loan; and (2) if the loan were refinanced whether it would still be classified as a C&D loan under the MBL rule.

 

The success or failure of a development project depends on particular facts and circumstances and
we cannot provide a single, bright-line test or formula to determine when a C&D loan may properly
be reclassified. Rather, a credit union will have to analyze C&D loans on a case-by-case basis to
determine if and when a loan can be reclassified. Credit unions with questions about the propriety
of reclassifying a particular C&D loan as an MBL should consult with examination or regional staff.