• Waiving overdraft fees;
• Providing new loans on favorable terms;
• Waiving late fees for credit card and other loan balances;
• Waiving automated teller machine (ATM) fees;
• Increasing ATM daily cash withdrawal limits;
• Waiving early withdrawal penalties on time deposits;
• Increasing credit card limits for creditworthy customers;
• Offering payment accommodations, such as allowing loan customers to defer payments at no cost, extending the payment due dates or otherwise adjusting or altering terms of existing loans, which would avoid delinquencies, triggering events of default or similar adverse consequences, and negative credit agency reporting caused by COVID-19 related disruptions;
• Ensuring that consumers and small businesses do not experience a disruption of service if financial institutions close their offices, including making available other avenues for consumers and businesses to continue to manage their accounts and to make inquiries;
• Alerting customers to the heightened risk of scams and price gouging during the COVID-19 disruptions, and reminding customers to contact their financial institutions before entering into unsolicited financial assistance programs; and
• Proactively reaching out to customers via app announcements, text, email or otherwise to explain the above-listed assistance being offered to customers.

On March 19, 2020, Governor Cuomo announced a 90-day Mortgage Relief Plan ("Plan") for New York State mortgage borrowers. New York State mortgage servicers are directed to provide 90-day mortgage relief to borrowers affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The Plan aims to provide the following relief:

• Waiving mortgage payments based on financial hardship;
• No negative reporting to credit bureaus;
• Grace period for loan modification;
• No late payment fees or online payment fees; and
• Postponing or suspending foreclosures.

The following provisions of the recently passed New York State law which provide additional protections for victims of harassment/discrimination based on any protected class (sex, race, religion, etc.) go into effect today: 

1)  As of today, the high "severe and pervasive" standard for establishing claims of harassment no longer applies. Rather, any conduct, including isolated incidents, that merely rises above "petty slights" or "trivial inconveniences" may be considered harassment.

2) Whether or not an employee filed an internal complaint prior to filing a lawsuit is no longer determinative of an employer's liability.

3) Non-employees (contractors, vendors, etc.) can now bring claims of harassment against companies based on any protected class.

4) Non-disclosure provisions in agreements settling harassment claims are prohibited unless it is the employee's preference.

5) Mandatory arbitration of harassment claims based on any protected class is now prohibited.

Employers should ensure that these new provisions are included in their annual harassment prevention training.