Getting Escrows Right in 2026

On Demand Course

Instructor: Rebekah Leonard

Duration: 2 HR

What You'll Learn

Escrow compliance is tough! Not many rules cover such a broad scope over the full life of the loan. Escrowing touches nearly every element of loan compliance in some way: RESPA, TILA, TRID, HPMLs, Flood, and Fair Lending. That’s an intimidating list! Moreover, it is a high-stakes endeavor. Getting it wrong causes consumer harm and potential reputational damage. Failing to accurately pay taxes when due will cause fines and penalties, and make your bank look inept in its fiduciary capacity. Failing to accurately disclose escrow items or properly analyze escrow accounts will bring regulatory violations and upset borrowers. There is a lot on the line!

Topics covered in this course

RESPA

Big picture: The difficulty of applying escrowing rules to taxes paid in arrears
Escrow analysis: Why, when, and how
Payment shock: why it happens and what can be done about it
Escrow statements: why, when, and how
Escrow balances: The Goldilocks test:
Timely escrow payments

TRID

Escrow’s impact on the LE and CD
Aggregate adjustments

Reg Z

Escrow Closing Notice
HPML Escrow rules

Flood Insurance

Mandatory escrow rules
Exceptions and exemptions

*This course does NOT qualify, nor meet the National Standard for NASBA accreditation.

About the Author:

Rebekah Leonard

Rebekah is the owner of Elucidate LLC, a compliance training and consulting company. Elucidate means to "make clear, explain, throw light upon", and describes Rebekah's desire to illuminate the complexities of compliance with passion and fun. She's created and produced a TRID music video parody and several Compliance Breakout escape rooms, which she frequently provides at state banking compliance conferences. She is an accomplished speaker and regularly provides webinars through BOL and Compliance Resource. Rebekah is currently serving as the VP Director of Compliance for a $6 Billion community bank in Montana. She began her career in 1995 at a private lending company, but soon settled into banking, where she's covered nearly all of it - customer service and teller work, loan processing and review, and security and business continuity. She now oversees CRA, BSA and all aspects of compliance as a senior leader. She has successfully navigated numerous FDIC Compliance, CRA, and BSA Exams. Rebekah has a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University (Magna cum Laude), attended the American Bankers Association National Compliance School in 2003, and has held her Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation since 2006.

On-Demand Course