The final rule issued in December 2023 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) amending its regulations at 12 CFR Part 328 (“Final Rule“), which address use of the official FDIC sign and banks’ advertising statements as well as misrepresentations of insured status and misuse of the FDIC’s name or logo, will take effect April 1, 2024, with full compliance required by January 1, 2025.… Continue Reading

On March 25, 2024, three consumer financial services industry trade groups filed a lawsuit asking the federal district court in Colorado to strike down recent Colorado legislation purporting to opt out of a federal law that allows FDIC-insured state-chartered banks to “export” interest rates on interstate loans to the same extent as their national bank counterparts. … Continue Reading

Rhode Island, Minnesota, and Nevada have joined the list of jurisdictions considering proposals to legislatively opt out of federal interest rate preemption established under the federal Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 (DIDMCA). Although the legal effect remains unclear, the apparent objective of these proposed laws is to prevent interest rate “exportation” by state-chartered financial institutions.… Continue Reading

On January 22, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entered into a Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, and Other Relief (the “Order”) with FloatMe Corp. (“FloatMe”), a fintech that offers short-term cash advances through its mobile app, to settle litigation brought earlier in the month against the fintech and two of its principals (collectively, “Defendants”).… Continue Reading

Maryland has joined the ranks of states considering legislation that would codify elements of “true lender” theory in an effort to impose federally preempted state licensing requirements and rate caps on loans to Maryland residents.

House Bill 254 (HB 254), introduced on January 10, 2024 in the Maryland House of Delegates, would add Subtitle 15 – the “True Lender Act” – to Title 12 (Credit Regulations) of the Maryland Commercial Law.… Continue Reading

This special podcast episode, hosted by Senior Counsel and former Consumer Financial Services Practice Leader Alan Kaplinsky, sets the stage for the upcoming oral argument in the two U.S. Supreme Court cases where the fate of Chevron deference hangs in the balance. This episode provides an essential roadmap for anyone who will listen to the oral argument or is following this critical challenge to this important doctrine.… Continue Reading

In remarks to the press and public on January 2, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced “a sweeping consumer protection and affordability agenda”, including proposed actions to “strengthen consumer protections against unfair business practices” and “establish nation-leading regulations for the Buy Now Pay Later loan industry”.

The Governor vowed to pursue “the first major expansion to New York consumer protection laws since 1980” to curb “predatory” business practices and “exploitative tactics” that harm consumers, citing student loan servicers and debt collectors as examples of consumer financial services businesses that should be subjected to further legal constraints.… Continue Reading

House Bill 1874 (H.B. 1874), denominated the “predatory loan prevention act”, was pre-filed for introduction in the Washington state legislature December 5, 2023, and referred to the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Business on January 8, 2024. H.B. 1874 is scheduled for public hearing on January 10, 2024 in the Washington House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 p.m.… Continue Reading

District of Columbia Council Bill B 25-0609, which would opt out of Section 27 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) with respect to loans made in the District of Columbia, was introduced in the District of Columbia Council on November 30, 2023, and referred to the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development on December 5, 2023.… Continue Reading

Providers of consumer financial services that rely on federal preemption to charge customers uniform interest rates and fees on a nationwide basis are currently facing a series of legislative and litigation challenges.  In this episode, which repurposes a recent webinar, we first discuss the U.S. Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in Cantero v.… Continue Reading