Business Partner Code of Conduct
Our mission is to facilitate equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality affordable rental housing across America.
We understand that we can only achieve this by working closely with business partners who share our commitment to high ethical standards and who operate in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
Our Business Partner Code of Conduct outlines the principles we expect all business partners to uphold. We are committed to working with business partners to understand their maturity against the Business Partner Code of Conduct and help them with their progress toward aligning with the principles.
Partnerships that empower renters
Our partners share a commitment to equitable housing access — a key pillar of our Business Partner Code of Conduct.
Ethical business practices
We hold ourselves to high standards of ethical conduct, and we expect our business partners to do the same.
1.1.1 Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including (but not limited to) antitrust, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, and anti-corruption laws; labor and employment laws; privacy and information security laws; environmental laws; and laws that address child labor, forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking.
1.2.1 Avoid conflicts of interest by disclosing to Fannie Mae any potential or perceived conflict of interest prior to initiating the relationship with us or as soon as you become aware of a conflict during the course of a relationship.
1.2.2 Compete fairly, ethically, and based on the merits of the products and services that are offered.
1.2.3 Provide a process appropriate to the nature and scope of your business through which employees are encouraged to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. The process should be transparent and understandable to workers and should protect employees who raise concerns.
1.3.1 Protect the assets, financial information, trade secrets, and any confidential information that has been entrusted to you.
1.3.2 Protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of the nonpublic personal information (NPI) of others, only using such information for lawful and legitimate purposes, consistent with reasonable expectations and privacy policies.
1.3.3 Raise awareness among your employees and contractors about the importance of cybersecurity in all aspects of your business.
Diversity and inclusion
We promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our business, consistent with the principles of equal opportunity in employment and contracting, which enables us to fulfill our mission to facilitate equitable and sustainable access to homeownership and quality affordable rental housing across America. We expect our business partners to join us in prioritizing diversity and inclusion across their workforce and supply chains and strongly encourage the implementation of the principles outlined below.
2.1.1 Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations that address equal employment opportunity and workplace discrimination or harassment.
2.2.1 Implement strategies for employee engagement and inclusion and provide transparency as appropriate to the nature and scope of your business.
2.2.2 Create forums and/or training programs that raise awareness about the importance of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your business.
2.2.3 Engage in recruiting practices that source from a variety of networks and support programs that build a diverse talent pipeline.
2.2.4 Implement programs and initiatives to facilitate diversity and inclusion within your supply chain.
Environmental sustainability
We believe that environmental sustainability and climate resiliency are vital to the safety and security of the U.S. housing system. We are committed to supporting more efficient, sustainable, and resilient ways to build, heat, cool, power, and provide water to single-family and multifamily properties. Given our unique position in the U.S. housing finance industry, we have a duty to lead with our actions. We encourage our business partners to actively support a healthy and sustainable environment by implementing the principles outlined below.
3.1.1 Consider strategies to track and mitigate environmental impacts associated with your operations, products, and services, including (but not limited to) energy and water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Provide transparency as appropriate to the nature and scope of your business.
3.1.2 Raise awareness about the impact of climate change and, if you are involved in housing, educate borrowers, renters, and communities about the increasing risk of climate-related events.
3.1.3 Drive the adoption of energy efficient improvements in housing, as appropriate to the nature and scope of your business.
Equitable and sustainable access to housing
We are committed to creating equitable, sustainable access to homeownership and quality, affordable rental housing across America. If you are involved in housing, housing development, housing finance, mortgage lending, mortgage servicing, property management, appraisals, housing counseling, securitization, and other community-related services, we expect your commitment to the principles outlined below.
4.1.1 Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations that address abusive or unfair lending, housing, or servicing practices.
4.1.2 Employ robust and ongoing training programs regarding fair lending, housing, and servicing practices.
4.2.1 Support equitable access to housing through programs including (but not limited to) equitable appraisal valuation initiatives, underwriting that considers non-traditional credit sources, and down payment assistance programs.
4.2.2 Commit to Fannie Mae’s affordable housing mission by responsibly lending to eligible low-income borrowers, to first-time homebuyers, to underserved borrowers, and in underserved markets.
4.3.1 For business partners who work directly with borrowers or renters, provide information, counseling, and other resources to eligible borrowers and renters in need of default, foreclosure, eviction, disaster recovery, and/or post-modification assistance.
4.3.2 Adhere to responsible and equitable practices related to loss mitigation, foreclosure, and eviction.
4.3.3 Adhere to responsible and equitable practices for preserving, maintaining, and repairing housing that is financed or owned by Fannie Mae.
4.3.4 Support efforts to address the shortage of affordable housing and rental supply across the nation.
Contact us with questions
Relationship Manager
Contact your Fannie Mae relationship manager or primary point of contact.
Phone
Call us at 800-2FANNIE, option 4.
Business Partners
Homebuyers, Owners, & Renters
- Educational Resources
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