On January 29, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) announced an order adjusting the minimum rate of interest that New York State-chartered banks and other New York State-chartered financial institutions (collectively, “covered institutions”) must pay on certain mortgage escrow accounts. Prior to the order, covered institutions were required to pay a minimum rate of two percent per annum on certain residential escrow accounts. To more closely align with requirements for federal banking institutions, the order adjusts the minimum rate of interest that covered institutions must pay to the lesser of two percent or the six-month yield on United States Treasury securities.