A significant new filing on March 31 in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought (Case No. 25-5091), purportedly provides the most up-to-date, detailed picture yet of how leadership of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) intends to dramatically scale back the agency’s operations—if permitted to do so by the courts.… Continue Reading

We are pleased to share a notable milestone for the Consumer Finance Monitor podcast: for the first time, a leading industry publication “Inside the CFPB” has written about one of our episodes.

In its April 6, 2026 issue, “Inside the CFPB,” a widely read subscription publication published by “Inside Mortgage Finance Publications” highlighted our recent podcast episode released on April 2, 2026 featuring discussion of emerging regulatory developments in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space.… Continue Reading

FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson has sent letters to four major financial services providers warning them that they may not engage in debanking—disqualifying potential and current customers from receiving services based on religious, or political views.

The letters were sent to the CEOs of PayPal, Stripe, Visa, and Mastercard and cite publicly reported instances of debanking by PayPal and Stripe.… Continue Reading

On March 20, 2026, the White House released its National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence. This Framework contains a sweeping set of legislative recommendations intended to establish a coherent, nationally unified approach to AI governance. While the Framework does not itself create binding legal obligations, it is likely to shape federal AI legislation in the months and years ahead.… Continue Reading

In Episode 2 of our Debt Sales 101 mini-series, we move from the “why” behind debt sales to the “what.” Specifically, we discuss what types of debt can be sold, how portfolios are typically composed, and the legal and regulatory considerations that determine whether debt is appropriate for sale.

Not all debt is equally marketable, and not all accounts within a portfolio carry the same legal, regulatory, or operational risk.… Continue Reading

Ballard Spahr is pleased to announce that Adam Maarec, a member of the Consumer Financial Services Group, has been admitted as a Fellow of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers, a prestigious, invitation-only organization that recognizes preeminent lawyers in the field of consumer financial services law.

The College is widely regarded as the leading professional association in this area.… Continue Reading

Earlier today, the Tenth Circuit entered an Order which granted the Petition for Rehearing En Banc filed by the plaintiff bank trade associations in the Colorado opt-out litigation, National Ass’n of Industrial Bankers v. Weiser. As we have previously reported, on November 10, 2025, the Tenth Circuit issued a 2-1 decision which addressed Colorado’s 2023 opt-out from Section 27 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA), pursuant to the opt-out right conferred by Section 525 of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 (DIDMCA).… Continue Reading

The FTC has sent letters to 97 auto groups, warning them that they must advertise the total price of vehicles that consumers will be required to pay; that figure must include all mandatory fees.

“When consumers do not know the true price of a car—or any product—consumers and others suffer related consequences, including that consumers cannot comparison-shop and make informed decisions, sellers trying to deal honestly with consumers are put at a competitive disadvantage, and the market cannot operate efficiently,” Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, wrote, in a template of the letter being sent to the auto groups.… Continue Reading

We’re pleased to announce that our latest episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast is now live, and it’s one you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, our host Alan Kaplinsky, founder, Chair for 25 years, and now Senior Counsel of our Consumer Financial Services Group, is joined by Max Dubin, Chief of Staff to the Acting Superintendent of Banking at the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS).… Continue Reading

Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought has requested $75.8 million from the Federal Reserve for operations of the Bureau in the 3rd Quarter of the government’s current fiscal year (April 1, through June 30, 2026).

That compares with $104.2 million the CFPB received during the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024, $0 during the 3rd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 and $145 million during the 2nd Quarter of the 2026 Fiscal Year.… Continue Reading