WASHINGTON - The subprime mortgage crisis is not likely to end anytime soon -- and could create losses of between $50 billion and $100 billion, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee today.
"Rising delinquencies and foreclosures are creating personal, economic and social distress for many homeowners and communties," he said, "problems that likely will get worse before the get better."
And, he noted, "the credit losses associated with subprime have come to light and they are fairly significant.
"Some estimates are in the order of between $50 and $100 billion of losses associated with subprime credit products."
Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., found some hope in the Fed's newly aggressive attitude toward lenders, as well as fresh efforts to get more and better information to consumers.
He said he was "pleased" that Bernanke was taking some steps, but added "I want to see more action."
So did others.
"We're deeply concerned that the sub-prime problem is not going to just be contained so easily, but could deeply spread and have some repercussions out there," said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, top Republican on the committee.
Bernanke, though, would not provide much solace.
"There are clearly going to be significant financial losses associated with the faults and delinquincies on these mortgages," he said. "As a result, the credit quality of [many products] that include in them substantial amounts of subprime mortgage papers is being downgraded."
The Fed has been moving quickly to address possible unfair and deceptive practices by lenders, and held a hearing last month to discuss pre-payment penalties, the use of escrow accounts for taxes and insurance and other issues.
Other reviews are underway, as Bernanke Thursday proposed changes that would "address concerns about mortgage loan advertisements and solicitations that may be incomplete or misleading."
And, Bernanke said, those rules would "provide mortgage disclosures more quickly, so that consumers can get the information they need when it is most useful to them."
Source:
http://www.courant.com/business/hcu-subprime0719,0,4480607.story