FTC Eyes Servicers.(Federal Trade Commission )

WASHINGTON -- Federal Trade Commission is continuing to focus its investigations on mortgage servicing practices but it also has it eyes open for other abusive and predatory practices at targeted companies.

The consumer protection agency does not conduct investigations with "blinders on," FTC associate director Peggy Twohig told a fair lending conference sponsored by the Consumer Bankers Association.

"If FTC puts the spotlight on a lender, we don't look at that lender with eyes closed. We will gather information to see if there are other issues such as predatory lending," Ms. Twohig said.

FTC investigators review consumer complaints filed against lenders, as well as confidential Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reports provided by the Federal Reserve Board.

For the past two years, the Fed has shifted though the HMDA data and complied a list of over 200 lenders that charge minority borrowers significantly higher interest rates and fees than white borrowers.

This data can be used to spot possible discriminatory pricing practices, as well as targeting of low-income and minority borrowers. But additional borrower and company loan data is needed to prove it.

Attorney Andrew Sandler, a partner at Skadden Arps, told the fair lending conference FTC is conducting several investigations of servicing companies. In two cases, FTC investigators also asked for HMDA data and loan pricing analysis.