7 CFR 3555.251: Servicing responsibility.

(a) Servicing action. Lenders must perform those servicing actions that a reasonable and prudent lender would perform in servicing its own portfolio of non-guaranteed loans.

(b) Third party servicer. A lender may contract with a third party to service its loans, but the servicing lender of record remains responsible for the quality and completeness of the servicing.

(c) Transfer of servicing. Rural Development may require a lender to transfer its loan servicing activities to an approved lender if Rural Development determines that the lender has failed to provide acceptable servicing.

(d) Non-compliance. Lenders who fail to comply with Agency requirements or program guidelines may be subject to withdrawal of lender approval, denial and/or reduction in loss claims, withdrawal of the loan guarantee and/or indemnification in accordance with § 3555.108(d).