Abstract:
An automated system and method for reviewing and assessing compliance with legal compliance requirements for loan applications. Loan application data is extracted from client loan origination systems and transmitted as a loan information file over a secure communication network to an automated compliance assessment system server where the loan information file is audited for compliance with Federal, state, and local legal compliance requirements. The loan information file is reviewed for legal compliance requirements imposed by Federal, State, and local jurisdictions, as well as licensing requirements that the client loan company and related personnel must satisfy. The results of the audit process are transmitted over a secure communication network to the client loan company, with areas of noncompliance indicated. The automated compliance assessment system server also stores rules data derived from legal compliance requirements, license data derived from regulatory requirements, system setup data and supplemental system application data.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/518,837 filed Mar. 3, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,417, issued on Aug. 12, 2008. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for lending transactions involving loan initiation. More particularly, the invention is a system and method for ensuring that loans provided by lending institutions comply with the most current federal, state and local regulations. This is accomplished by extracting data from a lending institution&#39;s loan origination system and forwarding the data over a secure communication connection to a server located at a service provider&#39;s site. The server archives the lending institution&#39;s data and processes the data to assess whether every mortgage loan originated by the institution complies with all federal, state and local regulations applicable to each loan initiation. 
   As the standard of living for more people has increased over the last decade, many have sought to own their own home. This has brought an increase in the number of home mortgage loan applications. There are tens of millions of mortgage loan applications processed every year resulting in over a trillion dollars in new residential real estate loans. It is estimated that between five and six percent of the principal amount of these loans was paid out in fees, charges and expenses to consummate these transactions, amounting to between $60 and $72 billion. To protect consumers involved in these credit transactions, the Federal government as well as state and local municipalities have enacted laws and regulations that impose requirements on institutions and personnel involved in the business of originating and closing mortgage loans. These laws and regulations establish transactional standards and disclosure requirements that are enforced by state and Federal agencies. As new laws, regulations, licenses and rules are added over time, mortgage loan applications have become more varied, complex and prone to error, resulting in an increase in exposure to non-compliance liabilities of the institutions that process these applications. With the growing complexity of the mortgage loan industry, consumers have sometimes been subjected to compliance errors, overcharges and careless lending practices. 
   Federal and state regulators are conducting increasingly aggressive policing campaigns to ensure compliance by the mortgage industry. These efforts have significantly increased the costs for non-compliance in terms of monetary penalties and legal expenses, as well as in terms of tarnished reputations to the lending institutions. Because of the substantial growth in Internet and multi-state lending activities, the potential for serious compliance violations is likely to increase along with a corresponding increase in compliance scrutiny and enforcement activities by Federal and state regulatory agencies. The mortgage industry, including mortgage-backed securities investors, face the prospect of significant losses if they are forced to refund fees and charges, repurchase noncompliant loans, and pay civil and criminal penalties. To counter these potential losses, the industry will incur increased expenses associated with compliance audits and compliance policies, procedures and reporting. 
   In order to overcome these problems and to satisfy regulatory compliance requirements, institutions offering mortgage loans have attempted to audit loan compliance on a manual basis. This approach results in a tedious, time-consuming and costly process that allows only a small statistical sample of loan applications to be examined for compliance with requirements. The results of this process are also oftentimes inconsistent due to factors such as varying degrees of understanding, differences in interpretation and processing errors. With greater competition in the mortgage loan market, there is also a strong need to reduce the cost of regulatory compliance as well as to reduce penalties for failure to meet compliance requirements. Some mortgage companies have attempted to employ risk management techniques, which have proved inadequate as a solution to the compliance and related liability problems. 
   While the home mortgage loan industry is probably more regulated than other industries, the compliance difficulties are also encountered in many other areas. Other applications where automated compliance assessment would reduce costs and speed transaction processing include automobile and other consumer loans. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an automated system and method for ensuring that all data contained in the loan origination system for every loan application of a subscribing loan institution is in compliance with laws, regulations and other requirements applicable to each particular loan initiation and the location of the property. It is an expert system that provides auditing assessment capabilities for evaluating compliance of real estate and other loans with multi-jurisdictional regulatory compliance requirements. The invention provides compliance assurance for the borrowing public, the lending industry, Federal and state regulatory agencies, and the mortgage securities investment community. The invention comprises an automated expert system that extracts data from a lender&#39;s loan origination system and verifies that all such data for every loan adheres to the most current Federal, state, local and other requirements, including the following:
         Truth-In-Lending Act (TIL) Requirements   Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)   Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA)   Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC)   Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA)   Originator and Lender Licensing Requirements   State Rules, Loan Fees and APR Calculations Requirements   State and Local High Cost Calculations Requirements   Pedatory Lending Rules and Regulations       

   Any areas of noncompliance are identified as exceptions and presented to the lender for corrective action. 
   Although the invention may be used after funding of a loan is completed, it is designed to review loan file data prior to closing the loan to ensure that the data is free of clerical mistakes, calculation errors, interest/usury rate violations, finance charge restrictions, and prohibited practices, including but not limited to “high-cost” loan restrictions, loan term and amortization restrictions, restricted/prohibited charges and fees, late charge limitations, and prepayment penalty limitations that may lead to violations of applicable federal, state and local requirements. A review immediately prior to loan funding represents the last reasonable opportunity to detect errors and mistakes in a loan file before the loan creates potential liabilities for the originators, lenders and investors. The invention addresses enterprise level risk assessment in real time. 
   The data that is assessed by the present invention is contained within a loan origination system (LOS) maintained by a lending institution. While “loan origination system” is a term of art used in the loan origination industry, when used in the context of the present invention, “loan origination system” or LOS is to be construed more broadly than the term of art may imply, to include data from any other system that may be assessed by the present invention. 
   The invention operates by extracting data from a lending institution&#39;s loan origination system and forwarding the data over a secure communication connection to a compliance assessment server. The server archives the lending institution&#39;s data and processes the data to verify that every loan initiated by the institution complies with all applicable requirements. The server contains a rule-based expert system for processing the data and a database containing rules derived from federal, state and local regulations, licensing authorities and lending institution requirements, as well as supplemental customer, investor and industry data. The lending institution is notified and kept abreast of the compliance status of each loan application file. The current invention also periodically reviews the loan origination data up to the time the loan has been funded, assessing whether any changes or additions do not impact compliance with requirements. When instances of noncompliance are found, the invention notifies the lending institution and recommends corrective action, preventing noncompliant loans from being funded until corrective action is taken. A structured process is provided for adding and updating rules in the server database, as new compliance requirements are promulgated. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, a computer implemented method for automated loan compliance assessment comprises the steps of extracting loan data from a client loan origination system, converting and formatting the extracted loan data, assessing compliance of the formatted loan data with legal compliance requirements by a compliance assessment server to form audit result data, and storing the audit result data. The method may further comprise initiating the step of extracting by means selected from the group consisting of an automatic service request and a manual service request. The step of converting and formatting may comprise converting and formatting the extracted loan data into a file readable by the compliance assessment server. The method may further comprise the steps of transmitting the formatted loan data over a secure communication network to the compliance assessment server, and transmitting the audit result data over the secure communication network to the client loan origination system. The secure communication network may be selected from the group consisting of a satellite communication network, a telephone communication network, a microwave transmission network, a radio communication network, a wireless telephone communication network, a cable network, and the Internet. The step of storing the audit result data comprises storing the audit result data in a results repository of the compliance assessment server and in a loan origination database of the loan origination system. The method may further comprise the step of displaying the audit result data on a user interface selected from the group consisting of a client loan origination system user interface, a customer user interface and a compliance assessment server user interface. The steps of extracting and converting may comprise the steps of initiating manual and automatic audit assessment requests using a loan origination system user interface, receiving the audit assessment request and extracting a loan data file from a loan origination system database, converting and formatting the loan data file as an Extensible Markup Language XML file, sending the formatted loan data file to a server processor for loan compliance assessment, receiving an audit results file from the server processor, parsing the audit results file and storing the audit results file in the loan origination system database, and displaying the parsed audit results file on the loan origination system user interface. The step of assessing compliance may comprise the steps of receiving the formatted loan data in an input queue as a loan data file from a client side interface, verifying the formatted loan data file schema and customer passwords, validating the compliance review request, conducting a rules assessment of the loan data file against applicable statutory rules stored in a rules repository, conducting a license assessment of the loan data file against applicable license requirements stored in a license repository, conducting an assessment of the loan data file against industry standards and guidelines stored in a supplemental data repository, appending the assessment results to the loan data file to form an audit result file, storing the audit result file in a results repository, and placing the audit result file in an output queue for sending to the client side interface. The method may further comprise the steps of creating license requirements for storing in a license repository, and creating statutory rules requirements for storing in a rules repository. The step of creating statutory rules requirements may comprise the steps of extracting legal interpretations from documented sources of legal compliance, creating rules from the legal interpretations expressed in plain English that reflect compliance requirements, converting the English rules into computer system syntax rules, and storing the indexed and referenced sources of legal compliance requirements, legal interpretations, English rules and system rules in a rules repository. A computer-readable medium may contain instructions for controlling a computer system to implement the method described above. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is a computer implemented method for automated loan compliance assessment that comprises the steps of extracting loan data from a client loan origination system, converting and formatting the extracted loan data, transmitting the formatted loan data to a compliance assessment server for assessing compliance of the formatted loan data with legal compliance requirements to form an audit result data file, receiving the audit result data file from the compliance assessment server, and storing and displaying the audit result data file. A computer-readable medium may contain instructions for controlling a computer system to implement the method described above. 
   Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a computer implemented method for automated loan compliance assessment that comprises the steps of receiving an extracted loan data file from a client loan origination system, converting and formatting the extracted loan data file, assessing compliance of the formatted loan data file with legal compliance requirements by a compliance assessment server to form audit result data, storing the audit result data file, and sending the audit result data file to the client loan origination system. A computer-readable medium may contain instructions for controlling a computer system to implement the method described above. 
   A further embodiment of the present invention is a computer system for automated loan compliance assessment that comprises means for extracting loan data from a client loan origination system, means for converting and formatting the extracted loan data, means for assessing compliance of the formatted loan data with legal compliance requirements by a compliance assessment server to form audit result data, and database means for storing the audit result data. The means for extracting loan data and means for converting and formatting the extracted loan data may comprise a client side interface. The client side interface may comprise means for initiating manual and automatic audit assessment requests using a loan origination system user interface, means for receiving the audit assessment request and extracting a loan data file from a loan origination system database, means for converting and formatting the loan data file as an XML file, means for sending the formatted loan data file to a server processor for loan compliance assessment, means for receiving an audit results file from the server processor, means for parsing the audit results file and storing the audit results file in the loan origination system database, and a loan origination system user interface means for displaying the parsed audit results file. The means for sending the formatted loan data file and the means for receiving an audit results file may be a secure communication network selected from the group consisting of a satellite communication network, a telephone communication network, a microwave transmission network, a radio communication network, a wireless telephone communication network, a cable network, and the Internet. The means for assessing compliance may comprise a server processor. The server processor may comprise means for receiving the formatted loan data in an input queue as a loan data file from a client side interface, means for verifying the formatted loan data file schema and customer passwords, means for validating the compliance review request, means for conducting a rules assessment of the loan data file against applicable statutory rules stored in a rules repository, means for conducting a license assessment of the loan data file against applicable license requirements stored in a license repository, means for conducting a review of the loan data file against industry standards and guidelines stored in a supplemental data repository for adding missing data, means for appending the assessment results to the loan data file to form an audit result file, results repository means for storing the audit result file, and means for placing the audit result file in an output queue for sending to the client side interface. The means for receiving the formatted loan data file and the means for sending the audit results file may be a secure communication network selected from the group consisting of a satellite communication network, a telephone communication network, a microwave transmission network, a radio communication network, a wireless telephone communication network, a cable network, and the Internet. The means for conducting a rules assessment, a license assessment, and an industry standards and guidelines assessment may comprise an expert system. The system may further comprise means for creating license requirements for storing in a license repository, and means for creating statutory rules requirements for storing in a rules repository. The means for creating license requirements may be a license data processor comprising means for extracting licensing data compilations of applicable licenses and licensees from regulatory agencies, means for converting the licensing data compilations into license XML files, and license repository means for storing the indexed and referenced regulations, licensee data, license data and license XML files. The means for creating statutory rules requirements may be a legal rule builder comprising means for extracting legal interpretations from statutes, regulations, ordinances, administrative codes and guides, official interpretations, court decisions, and other sources of legal compliance requirements, means for creating rules from the legal interpretations expressed in plain English that reflect compliance requirements, means for converting the English rules into computer system syntax rules, and rules repository means for storing the indexed and referenced sources of legal compliance requirements, legal interpretations, English rules and system rules. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is a computer system for automated loan compliance assessment that comprises means for extracting loan data from a client loan origination system, means for converting and formatting the extracted loan data, means for transmitting the formatted loan data over a secure communication network to the compliance assessment server for assessing compliance of the formatted loan data with legal compliance requirements to form an audit result data file, means for receiving the audit result data file over the secure communication network from the client loan origination system, and means for storing and displaying the audit result data file. 
   And yet another embodiment of the present invention is a computer system for automated loan compliance assessment that comprises means for receiving an extracted loan data file from a client loan origination system, means for converting and formatting the extracted loan data file, means for assessing compliance of the formatted loan data file with legal compliance requirements by a compliance assessment server to form audit result data, means for storing the audit result data file, and means for sending the audit result data file to the client loan origination system. 
   An additional embodiment of the present invention is a computer implemented method for displaying automated loan compliance assessment information that comprises the steps of displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting an audit search, positioning a cursor over the audit search tool bar title button for displaying a drop-down menu having selections of audit search type, at least one of the selections for searching by loan number, designating the audit search type by selecting the search by loan number selection for displaying a loan number window and a customer selection window, entering a loan number into the loan number window and selecting a customer in the customer selection window, and viewing displayed automated loan compliance assessment information for the selected loan number and customer. The positioning step may comprise positioning a cursor over the audit search tool bar title button for displaying a drop-down menu having selections of audit search type, at least one of the selections for advanced searching, the designating step may comprise designating the audit search type by selecting the advanced search selection for displaying a loan number window, a branch selection window, an application date window, a submit date window, a loan status window, an audit status selection window and a customer selection window, the entering step may comprise entering data into one of the displayed, and the viewing step may comprise viewing a displayed list of audits that match the data entered into the selected displayed window. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting a jurisdiction display, positioning a cursor over the jurisdiction tool bar title button and selecting the jurisdiction tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of jurisdictions where automated loan compliance assessment may be conducted. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting an agency display, positioning a cursor over the agency tool bar title button and selecting the agency tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of jurisdictions and associated agencies for regulating loan compliance. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting an act display, positioning a cursor over the act tool bar title button and selecting the act tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of jurisdictions and associated acts for regulating loan compliance. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting a license display, positioning a cursor over the license tool bar title button and selecting the license tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of jurisdictions and associated licenses required by personnel and entities engaged in loan processing activities. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting a tag display, positioning a cursor over the tag tool bar title button and selecting the tag tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of tag names, tag descriptions and tag types used in loan compliance assessment. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting a rule display, positioning a cursor over the rule tool bar title button and selecting the rule tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of rules used in loan compliance assessment. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting a rule header display, positioning a cursor over the rule header tool bar title button and selecting the rule header tool bar title button, and viewing a displayed list of rule headers used in loan compliance assessment. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting a reports display, positioning a cursor over the reports tool bar title button for displaying a drop-down menu having a selection of report types, the selection of report types including broker license exception, covered loan exception, daily exception, error exception, fee exception, geocode exception, high cost exception, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act HMDA exception, lender license exception, SDS exception, and state rule exception, designating the report type to be displayed by selecting a report type for displaying a date window and a customer selection window, entering a date into the date window and selecting a customer in the customer selection window, and viewing the displayed designated report type. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting an administration display, positioning a cursor over the administration tool bar title button for displaying a drop-down menu having selections of user setup and user role setup, designating a user setup to be displayed by selecting the user setup selection, and viewing the displayed designated user setup comprising a displayed list of user full names, user login names, user company names, user roles, and user status. The method may further comprise displaying a tool bar having selectable tool bar title buttons, at least one of the selectable tool bar title buttons for selecting an administration display, positioning a cursor over the administration tool bar title button for displaying a drop-down menu having selections of user setup and user role setup, designating a user role setup to be displayed by selecting the role setup selection, and viewing the displayed designated user role setup comprising a displayed list of user role names and associated descriptions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows an automated loan compliance assessment system environment diagram; 
       FIG. 2  shows an automated loan compliance assessment system interconnection diagram; 
       FIG. 3  shows a client side interface (CSI) diagram; 
       FIG. 4  shows a server processor (SP) diagram; 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a formatted loan file sent from the CSI to the SP for requesting a compliance assessment; 
       FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a result file sent from the SP to the CSI containing results of a compliance assessment; 
       FIG. 7  shows a license data processor (LDP) diagram; 
       FIG. 8  shows a legal rule builder (LRB) diagram; 
       FIG. 9  shows a customer user interface (CUI) diagram; 
       FIG. 10  shows an internal user interface (IUI) diagram; 
       FIG. 11  shows a process audit request (PAR) diagram; 
       FIG. 12  depicts a screen shot showing a list of jurisdictions where the system is capable of assessing mortgage loan compliance; 
       FIG. 13  depicts a screen shot showing a list of agencies in each jurisdiction that promulgates regulations; 
       FIG. 14  depicts a screen shot showing a list of acts in each jurisdiction that contain compliance requirements; 
       FIG. 15  depicts a screen shot showing a list of license requirements in each jurisdiction; 
       FIG. 16  depicts a screen shot showing a list of tag names for identifying data; 
       FIG. 17  depicts a screen shot showing a list of rule names for identifying rules; 
       FIG. 18  depicts a screen shot showing a list of rule header names; 
       FIG. 19A  depicts a screen shot showing a data entry screen for searching for an existing audit by loan number; 
       FIG. 19B  depicts a screen shot showing a data entry screen for searching for an existing audit using an advanced search; 
       FIG. 20A  depicts reports that may be selected for display; 
       FIG. 20B  illustrates a display for selecting a State Rule Exception report; 
       FIG. 21  depicts a screen shot showing a list of users who are allowed access to the system; and 
       FIG. 22  depicts a screen shot showing a list of user role names. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  shows an automated loan compliance assessment system environment diagram  100 , including an automated compliance assessment system  110 , customer loan origination system (LOS)  120 , customers users  130 , internal users  140  to the entity operating the automated compliance assessment system  110 , legal experts  150 , and regulatory agencies  160 . The automated compliance assessment system  110  comprises an automated system that includes a process manager, an expert system and databases for reviewing real estate loans for compliance with applicable requirements. An automated compliance assessment system  110  interacts with various groups in order to assure compliance with regulatory requirements. Regulatory agencies  160  include various Federal, state and local agencies that provide licensing and licensee data  162  to the system  110 . The licensing and licensee data  162  include a compilation of applicable licenses and active licensees that the system  110  requires for ensuring compliance with licensing requirements. Legal experts  150  comprise a team of attorneys and compliance specialists responsible for reviewing and analyzing applicable sources of legal compliance requirements. They prepare legal interpretations  152  for entry into the system  110  in terms of plain English rules that reflect compliance requirements. These legal experts  150  may be internal and external to the entity operating the automated compliance assessment system  110 . Internal users  140  are personnel within the entity operating the automated compliance assessment system  110  that have access to input system data  144  and to output system data  142  to the system  110  for viewing and modifying results data, setup data, rules data, supplemental data and license data. Customer users  130  are customer personnel that have limited access to the automated compliance assessment system data  132  for viewing results, rules and license data. A customer loan origination system (LOS)  120  resides on a secure communication network connection to the automated compliance assessment system  110  and includes a database where loan data is stored, accessed and maintained. The customer LOS  120  may initiate a manual or an automatic request  122  to the automated compliance assessment system  110  via the secure communication network connection to extract loan data from the customer LOS  120  and perform a compliance assessment review. A loan compliance assessment performed by the automated compliance assessment system  110  may be triggered by a change in status or at milestones in the workflow of a loan application in the LOS  120 . An assessment may also be triggered by manual intervention by s system user. For example, underwriting, document preparation, a closing, etc may trigger a compliance assessment of a loan application file. The automated compliance assessment system  110  responds to the service request  122  from the customer LOS  120  by transmitting a service result message  124  that contains results of the compliance review performed by the system  110 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows an automated loan compliance assessment system interconnection diagram  200 . A server processor  400  is connected to a secure communication network  210  for communication with a client side interface (CSI)  300 , a customer user interface  700  and an internal user interface  800 . The client side interface (CSI)  300  also includes the client LOS. Legal experts  150  provide plain English rules to a legal rule builder (LRB)  600 , which converts these plain English rules to an XML rules file for use by the server processor  400 . Regulatory agencies  160  provide licensing requirements and license compilations to a license data processor  500 , which provides this license data to the server processor  400  in the form of an XML file. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows a client side interface (CSI) diagram  300 , which enables a client LOS to communicate with a server processor via a secure communication network  210 . The CSI  300  runs at a customer location and uses a secure communication network  210 , which may be the Internet, a telephone communication network, a satellite communication network, a cable network, a microwave communication network, a radio communication network, a wireless telephone communication network, etc., to communicate with a server processor. The CSI  300  extracts data from the customer&#39;s LOS system and formats it as an XML document, which is then encrypted, compressed and transmitted to a server processor via the secure communication network  210 . A manual service request  362  may be initiated by a user via the LOS user interface  360  or may be automatically generated by the CSI  300 . This request starts the process audit request  350 , which extracts loan data  342  from a LOS database  340 , converts the loan data  342  to an XML file and sends a formatted file  352  to a client manager  320 . The loan data  342  extracted from the LOS database  340  contains unique loan information about a particular piece of collateral, lien position and loan program that is stored and maintained in the LOS database. When the client manager  320 , which is a messaging component that resides in the CSI  300  to track outbound formatted files  314  and inbound result files  312 , receives the formatted file  352  from the process audit request  350 , it transmits the formatted loan file  314  to a server processor via the secure communication network  210 . An embodiment of a formatted loan file  314  is depicted in  FIG. 5 . As a result of this audit request, the client manager  320  receives a result file  312  from the server processor, which it sends as a result file  322  to a process audit results function  330 . The result file  322  is a loan data file that has been reviewed by the server processor, and has those results appended to the file. An embodiment of a result file  312  is depicted in  FIG. 6 . The process audit results function  330  extracts, parses and transmits the parsed results  332  portion of the result file  322  to the LOS database  340 . When the LOS database  340  receives the parsed results  332  of a compliance review request, the parsed results are stored in the LOS database  340  and the service results  364  are forwarded to the LOS user interface  360  for display. 
   Turning to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  shows a server processor (SP) diagram  400 . The SP  400  receives requests from a CSI and authorizes transactions based on a security profile. Once authorized, the SP  400  queues the transaction for an audit engine, which perform a compliance review of the loan data. When a SP  400  receives a formatted loan file  492  from a CSI via a secure communications network  210 , the formatted loan file  492  is placed in an input queue  490  to be held until a process manager  410  is able to submit the formatted loan file  414  to an expert system  470 . An embodiment of a formatted loan file  492  is depicted in  FIG. 5 . The process manager  410  verifies the formatted file schema, customer passwords, and validates the compliance review request. The process manager  410  submits the formatted loan request to the expert system  470  where a rules evaluation  474  is conducted by which files are reviewed in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The expert system  470  is an engine of the automated compliance assessment system that uses system data  472  to evaluate compliance and append its response to the formatted file  414  to create a result file  412 . The system data  472  comprises results data  422  stored for future reference in a results archive repository  420 , rules data containing all system rules and supporting documentation including English rules and legal interpretation references stored in a rules repository  430 , license data stored in a license repository  440 , setup data including various industry tables and databases that support the compliance review process stored in a setup data repository  450  and supplemental data containing various customer specific tables and databases that support the compliance review process stored in a supplemental data system (SDS) repository  460 . The result file  412  is sent from the process manager  410  to an output queue  480 , where outgoing result files  482  are held until a client manager in a CSI is able to process the result file  482 . An embodiment of a result file  482  is depicted in  FIG. 6 . It should be noted that if a compliance assessment does not find any warnings or negative results of the assessment, no notification is provided to the user. 
   Turning to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a formatted loan file sent from the CSI to the SP for requesting a compliance assessment. The formatted loan file of  FIG. 5  comprises several major segments of mortgage data, including loan details, fees, impound fees, borrower information, prepayment penalties, late fees, proposed housing information, mortgage insurance information, lender license information, home mortgage disclosure act (HMDA) information and miscellaneous fees. Loan details are descriptive information concerning the loan, including amortization term, annual percentage rate, loan term, property type, sale price, annual taxes, annual income of applicant, etc. Fees include settlement/closing fees, title insurance fees, title insurance binder fees, recording fees, origination fees, appraisal/final inspection broker fees, broker fees, and processing and administrative broker fees. Impound fees include escrowed hazard insurance and escrowed county taxes. Miscellaneous fees include flood certification fees and tax service contract fees. 
   Turning to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a result file sent from the SP to the CSI containing results of a compliance assessment. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first section of the result file contains the formatted loan file that was received by the SP from the CSI to initiate a compliance assessment. The compliance assessment result shown in  FIG. 6  is the service response that includes assessment provider data, customer (lender) data, numerous audit groups, geographic code data, high cost data and applicable licenses. The numerous audit groups include validation of broker license data, validation of customer license data, validation of fee data, validation of impound data, fee audit, high cost audit for federal, state and city requirements, broker license audit, lender license audit, state rules audit, home mortgage disclosure act (HMDA) requirements audit for geolocator, county and census tract, loan fees audit and review, and custom business rules. 
   Turning to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  shows a license data processor (LDP) diagram  700 . The LDP  700  ensures that the licensing data used by the compliance assessment system has the most current information for compliance review. Licensing data  162  comprising compilations of applicable licenses and active licensees is extracted from regulatory agencies  160  such as Federal, state and local agencies. A data conversion processor  710  converts the licensing data  162  into a formatted XML converted data file  712 , and send it to a database update processor  720  where database updates  722  are uploaded to a license repository  440 . The database update processor  720  may also access the license repository  440  for license data  724  that may include historical records of licensing data stored in the license repository  440 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  shows a legal rule builder (LRB) diagram  800 . The LRB  800  is used to build rules based on statutes, regulations, ordinances, administrative codes and guides, official interpretations, court decisions, and other sources of legal compliance requirements, which may be used to perform compliance reviews. Legal experts  150  are teams of attorneys and compliance specialists who are responsible for reviewing and analyzing statutes, regulations and court decisions for providing legal interpretation  152  of these references. These legal interpretations  152  are then synthesized and distilled by the build English rule processor  810  into terms of plain English rules  812  that reflect compliance requirements. A build system rule processor  820  converts the plain English rules  812  into system rules  822 , which are computer syntax versions of the plain English rules  812 . The system rules  822  are stored in a rules repository  430 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  shows a customer user interface (CUI) diagram  900 . A customer user  910  is user personnel that have limited access to the compliance assessment system, and may use the CUI  900  to view results, rules and license data. The customer user  910  may send an inquiry  912  via a secure communications network  210  to a server processor. When the server processor receives a results data inquiry  912  from a customer user  910  to view results data containing individual compliance reviews results for a particular loan, a view results processor  920  accesses the requested results data  924  from the results archive repository  420  and sends the result data  922  to the customer user  910  via the secure communication network  210 . When the server processor receives a rules inquiry  912  from a customer user  910  to view rules data containing individual system rule information and all supporting documentation, including English rules and related references to the legal interpretations, a view rules processor  930  accesses the requested rules data  934  from the rules repository  430  and sends the rules data  932  to the customer user  910  via the secure communication network  210 . When the server processor receives a license inquiry  912  from a customer user  910  to view license data containing the results of an individual licensee look-up request, a view license processor  940  accesses the requested license data  944  from the license repository  440  and sends the license data  942  to the customer user  910  via the secure communication network  210 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  shows an internal user interface (IUI) diagram  1000 . Internal users are personnel employed by the entity that operates the loan compliance assessment system, and who may access to view results data, setup data, rules data, SDS data and license data. An internal user  1010  may send an inquiry  1012  via a secure communications network  210  to a server processor. When the server processor receives a results data inquiry  1012  from an internal user  1010  to view results data containing individual compliance reviews results for a particular loan, a view results processor  1020  accesses the requested results data  1024  from the results archive repository  420  and sends the result data  1022  to the internal user  1010  via the secure communication network  210 . When the server processor receives a rules inquiry  1012  from an internal user  1010  to view rules data containing individual system rule information and all supporting documentation, including English rules and related references to the legal interpretations, a view rules processor  1030  accesses the requested rules data  1034  from the rules repository  430  and sends the rules data  1032  to the customer user  1010  via the secure communication network  210 . When the server processor receives a license inquiry  1012  from a customer user  1010  to view license data containing the results of an individual licensee look-up request, a view license processor  1040  accesses the requested license data  1044  from the license repository  440  and sends the license data  1042  to the customer user  1010  via the secure communication network  210 . When the server processor receives an inquiry  1012  from a customer user  1010  to view setup data containing various industry tables and databases that support the compliance review process, a view setup data processor  1050  accesses the requested setup data  1054  from the setup data repository  450  and sends the setup data  1052  to the customer user  1010  via the secure communication network  210 . When the server processor receives an SDS data inquiry  1012  from a customer user  1010  to view SDS data containing various customer specific tables and databases that support the compliance review process, a view SDS data processor  1060  accesses the requested SDS data  1064  from the SDS repository  460  and sends the SDS data  1062  to the customer user  1010  via the secure communication network  210 . The SDS repository  460  may contain data to augment data that may be missing from a result file. 
   Turning to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  shows a process audit request (PAR) diagram  1100 . A LOS user  1180 , customer personnel that access mortgage loan data through the customer LOS, may initiate a manual service request  1184  or an automatic service request  1182 . The LOS user  1180  may initiate a manual service request  1184 , while an automatic service request  1182  is initiated upon the occurrence of designated conditions during the life cycle of the loan. Automatic triggers to initiate compliance assessment include a change in status or a milestone in the loan workflow has been achieved, such as underwriting, document preparation or loan closing. An automatic service request  1182  causes the process automatic request function  1140  to initiate a service request  1142  to the process data extraction function  1120  for performing a process audit. A manual service request  1184  causes the process manual request function  1150  to also initiate a service request  1152  to the process data extraction function  1120  for performing a process audit. When the process data extraction function  1120  receives a service request  1142 ,  1152 , it extracts designated loan data  1112  from the LOS database  1110  and sends the loan data  1122  to the process data conversion function  1130 . A process data conversion function  1130  converts the loan data  1122  from the LOS database into data  1162  that is compatible with the automated loan compliance assessment system. A process data formatting function  1160  receives the system loan codes  1162  from the process data conversion function  1130 , formats the system loan codes  1162  into an XML file  1172 , and sends the formatted XML file  1172  to a client manager  1170 . The client manager  1170  sends the formatted XML file, as shown in  FIG. 5 , to the automated loan compliance assessment system via a secure communication network, as shown in  FIG. 3 . It should be noted that if a compliance assessment does not find any warnings or negative results of the assessment, no notification is provided to the user. 
   Turning to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  depicts a screen shot showing a partial list of jurisdictions where the system is capable of assessing mortgage loan compliance  1200 . A user accesses this display  1200  by positioning a cursor over the JURISDICTION toolbar title button  1210 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY JURISDICTION. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 12  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all jurisdictions under the column JURISDICTION NAME  1220 . Each jurisdiction under the JURISDICTION column  1220  may be hyperlinked to additional information and requirements concerning the selected jurisdiction. 
   Turning to  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 13  depicts a screen shot showing a list of agencies in each jurisdiction that promulgates regulations with which mortgage loan processes and associated licensed personnel must comply  1300 . A user accesses this display  1300  by positioning a cursor over the AGENCY toolbar title button  1310 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY AGENCY. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 13  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all jurisdictions under a JURISDICTION column  1320  and agencies under an AGENCY column  1330 . Each agency listing under the AGENCY column  1330  may be hyperlinked to additional information and requirements concerning the selected agency. 
   Turning to  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 14  depicts a screen shot showing a list of acts in each jurisdiction that contain compliance requirements with which mortgage loan processes and associated licensed personnel must comply  1400 . A user accesses this display  1400  by positioning a cursor over the ACT toolbar title button  1410 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY ACT. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 14  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all jurisdictions under a JURISDICTION column  1420  and associated acts under an ACT NAME column  1430 . Each act listed under the ACT NAME column  1430  may be hyperlinked to additional information concerning the requirements of the selected act. 
   Turning to  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 15  depicts a screen shot showing a list of license requirements in each jurisdiction for personnel and entities that process mortgage loan applications  1500 . A user accesses this display  1500  by positioning a cursor over the LICENSE toolbar title button  1510 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY LICENSE. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 15  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all jurisdictions under a JURISDICTION column  1520  and required licenses under a LICENSE column  1530 . Each license listed under the LICENSE column  1530  may be hyperlinked to additional information concerning the requirements of the selected license. 
   Turning to  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 16  depicts a screen shot showing a list of tag names for identifying data that may be required in order to process mortgage loan applications  1600 . A user accesses this display  1600  by positioning a cursor over the TAG toolbar title button  1610 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY TAG. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 16  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all tag names under a TAG NAME column  1620 , associated descriptions under a DESCRIPTION column  1630  and data type under a TYPE column  1640 . Each tag name listed under the TAG NAME column  1620  may be hyperlinked to additional information concerning the selected tag name. 
   Turning to  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 17  depicts a screen shot showing a list of rule names for identifying rules that may be required in order to process mortgage loan applications  1700 . A user accesses this display  1700  by positioning a cursor over the RULE toolbar title button  1710 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY RULE. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 17  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all rule names under a RULE NAME column  1720 . Each rule name listed under the RULE NAME column  1720  may be hyperlinked to additional information concerning the selected rule name. 
   Turning to  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 18  depicts a screen shot showing a list of rule header names for identifying rule headers that may be required in order to process mortgage loan applications  1800 . A user accesses this display  1800  by positioning a cursor over the RULE HEADER toolbar title button  1810 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection DISPLAY RULE HEADER. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 18  may be displayed that provides the capability of listing all rule header names under a RULE HEADER NAME column  1820 . Each rule header name listed under the RULE HEADER NAME column  1820  may be hyperlinked to additional information concerning the selected rule header name. 
   Turning to  FIG. 19A ,  FIG. 19A  depicts a screen shot showing a data entry screen for searching for an existing audit by loan number  1900 . A user accesses this display  1900  by positioning a cursor over the AUDIT SEARCH toolbar title button  1910 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection SEARCH BY LOAN NUMBER. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 19A  may be displayed that provides the capability searching for an existing by loan number by entering a loan number  1920  and a customer selection  1930 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 19B ,  FIG. 19B  depicts a screen shot showing a data entry screen for searching for an existing audit using an advanced search  1950 . A user accesses this display  1950  by positioning a cursor over the AUDIT SEARCH toolbar title button  1910 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection ADVANCED SEARCH. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 19B  may be displayed that provides an advanced search by entering a loan number  1955 , a branch selection  1960 , an application date  1965 , a submit date  1970 , a loan status  1975 , an audit status selection  1980  or a customer selection  1985 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 20 ,  FIG. 20A  depicts reports that may be selected for display  2000  by positioning a cursor over the REPORTS toolbar title button  2010 . These include the reports Broker License Exception, Covered Loan Exception, Daily Exception, Error Exception, Fee Exception, GeoCode Exception, High Cost Exception, HDMA Exception, Lender License Exception, SDS Exception, and State Rule Exception.  FIG. 20B  illustrates a display for selecting a State Rule Exception report  2050 . A user accesses a report by positioning a cursor over the REPORTS toolbar title button  2010 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains the selection of reports  2000  listed in  FIG. 20A . By clicking on the STATE RULE EXCEPTION selection  2020 , the screen shot shown in  FIG. 20B  may be displayed that provides a means for selecting a State Rule Exception by entering a date  2030  and a customer selection  2040 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 21 ,  FIG. 21  depicts a screen shot showing a list of users who are allowed access to the system  2100 . A user accesses this display  2100  by positioning a cursor over the ADMINISTRATION toolbar title button  2110 , which causes a dropdown menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection USER SETUP. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 21  may be displayed that provides information for all users of the compliance assessment system. This information includes user full name under the USER FULL NAME column  2120 , user login name under the USER NAME column  2130 , user company name under the COMPAMY column  2140 , role of user under the USER ROLE column  2150  and user status under the STATUS column  2160 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 22 ,  FIG. 22  depicts a screen shot showing a list of user role names  2200  that indicate the degree of access to the system by users having different roles in organizations that use the system. A user accesses this display  2200  by positioning a cursor over the ADMINISTRATION toolbar title button  2210 , which causes a drop-down menu to appear beneath the toolbar title button that contains a selection ROLE SETUP. By clicking on this selection, the screen shot shown in  FIG. 22  may be displayed that provides information for all user roles defined for the compliance assessment system. This information includes user role name under the NAME column  2220  and a description of the degree of access allowed under the DESCRIPTION column  2230 . 
   There are also many additional features that are incorporated into the present invention to ensure a user-friendly environment. For example, a user is able to access system documentation via a user interface to obtain help with specific questions or issues regarding operation of the system. The system documentation function provides the following functionality:
         A plain language description of system operation in the application of compliance requirements for consumer loans;   An explanation of the legal interpretation that provides the basis of system operation;   A link to specific legal compliance requirements sources; and   A reporting function that deals with the compliance functions of each rule or feature feature in the system.       

   Checklists may also be available to guide a user through setup procedures. 
   Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments might occur to persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.