If we had a situation where the customer could pick any attorney that they wanted for title services; however there might be one attorney or one title company that was unacceptable. Can a bank refuse to accept a particular provider? If so, should we have something in our shopping list that states that the provider must be acceptable to the bank?

Guess I don't understand how an attorney could be unacceptable. What criteria do you use to determine that?

I seem to remember something about acceptability to the bank somewhere. I'll have to go digging for it on Tuesday at work.

I absolutely believe you can refuse to accept some providers and I've seen it. I don't think you want to put "We will not accept . . . ." in your provider list. If you're going to let the customer shop, let them. If they choose an "unacceptable" provider, then advise the borrower as such.

You're other alternative is to issue a list of providers you will accept and tell them they must choose from a provider on the list. This is a addressed in a FAQ.

Yes, you can have a "do not do business with" list. We have attorney's that aren't good with RE loans...lots of attorney's specialize in other areas, but may be friends with "Jane Doe" borrower. We let them choose, but we have the say so on the choice being acceptable or not.

Thanks for all the responses.

You can veto an attorney if they are going to be performing work on behalf of or representing the bank. The bank could not veto an attorney that was purely representing the borrower.

Randy, I agree with you if the attorney is representing the borrowers at the closing. But if the attorney is doing the title work, why couldn't the bank veto it?

It can..I think that's what Randy is saying also.

A borrower-representative that simply sits in on the closing to represent the borrower isn't the issue...it's the attorney who will handle the title services that is the issue on approved or not approved.

You guys rock, thanks!

Our issue is one title company that we will not accept. So far we have let customer choose attorney and if they use this company, then we ask them to select another title co. Most attorneys have been able to accommodate rather easily.