In regards to a standard (not PRP) flood insurance policy, should the Risk/Rated Zone and Current Zone always be the same unless the property is grandfathered? If the zones are not same and the property is not grandfathered, with which zone should we be concerned and why?

From the Interagency Flood Q&A:

71. What should a lender do when there is a discrepancy between the flood hazard zone designation on the flood determination form and the flood insurance policy?

A lender should only be concerned about a discrepancy on the Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form (the SFHDF) and the one on the flood insurance policy if the discrepancy is between a high-risk zone (A or V) and a low- or moderate-risk zone (B, C, D, or X). In other words, a lender need not be concerned about subcategory differences between flood zones on these two documents. Once in possession of a copy of the flood insurance policy, a lender should systematically compare the flood zone designation on the policy with the zone shown on the SFHDF. If the flood insurance policy shows a lower risk zone than the SFHDF, then lender should investigate. As noted in FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines, Federal law sets the ultimate responsibility to place flood insurance on the lender, with limited reliance permitted on third parties to the extent that the information that those third parties provide is guaranteed.

A lender should first determine whether the difference results from the application of the NFIP’s ‘‘Grandfather Rule.’’ This rule provides for the continued use of a rating on an insured property when the initial flood insurance policy was issued prior to changes in the hazard rating for the particular flood zone where the property is located. The Grandfather Rule allows policyholders who have maintained continuous coverage and/or who have built in compliance with the Flood Insurance Rate Map to continue to benefit from the prior, more favorable rating for particular pieces of improved property. A discrepancy resulting from application of the NFIP’s Grandfather Rule is reasonable and acceptable, but the lender should substantiate these findings.

A lender should also determine whether a difference in flood zone designations is the result of a mistake. To do so, a lender should facilitate communication between itself or the third-party service provider that performed the flood hazard determination for the lender. If it appears that the discrepancy is the result of a mistake, a lender should recheck its determination. If there still appears to be a discrepancy after this step has been taken, a lender and borrower may jointly request that FEMA review the determination to confirm or review the accuracy of the original determination performed by a lender or on the lender’s behalf. However, FEMA will only conduct this review if the request is submitted within 45 days of the date the lender notified the borrower that a building or manufactured home is in an SFHA and flood insurance is required.

If, despite these efforts, the discrepancy is not resolved, or in the course of attempting to resolve a discrepancy, a borrower or an insurance company or its agent is uncooperative in assisting a lender in this attempt, the lender should notify the insurance agent about the insurer’s duty pursuant to FEMA’s letter of April 16, 2008 (W–08021), to write a flood insurance policy that covers the most hazardous flood zone. When providing this notification, the lender should include its zone information and it should also notify the insurance company itself. The lender should substantiate these communications in its loan file.

Thank you for the response.

A lender should only be concerned about a discrepancy on the Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form (the SFHDF) and the one on the flood insurance policy if the discrepancy is between a high-risk zone (A or V) and a low- or moderate-risk zone (B, C, D, or X).

Which "one" flood zone; the risk/rated zone or the current zone?

I believe you should be concerned about matching the current zone with your flood determination, but you might consider confirming that with your flood vendor as vendors could do things differently. In the past, I have seen where the risk-rated zone was what the insurance agent thought the flood zone was, without regard to the bank's determination. Therefore, the concern is what coverage is in place, which is probably the "current" zone (unless a vendor tells you differently), and then comparing that to the bank's determination.

If the policy is not grandfathered or under limited circumstances a PRP - there should never be a mismatch in the rated zone from the current zone on a flood policy.