The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Act) directs the CFPB to prescribe Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ability-to-repay (ATR) rules for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.  The CFPB recently issued a proposed rule that would require PACE creditors and PACE companies to consider a consumer’s ability to repay when issuing a new PACE loan, amend Regulation Z to address how it applies to PACE transactions, and adjust disclosure requirements to better fit PACE loans. … Continue Reading

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) announced last week that it has entered into a consent order that permanently bars James Berry and any company he owns or controls from soliciting customers for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and seeking future enrollment as a solicitor for PACE programs. … Continue Reading

In January 2020 the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) published a request for input on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) transactions involving residential property. FHFA describes PACE transactions as being part of residential energy retrofitting programs that are created through special state legislation and result in the financed part of the transaction resulting in a tax assessment on the home, which is a ‘‘super-priority lien’’ over existing and subsequent first mortgages.… Continue Reading

As we reported previously, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (Act) subjects Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing to Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ability-to-repay (ATR) requirements under rules to be adopted by the CFPB. The CFPB recently issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to solicit information regarding PACE financing.… Continue Reading

On February 20, 2024, the California Court of Appeal largely affirmed an eight-figure judgment against Ashford University (“Ashford”), an on-line, for-profit college, and its parent company, Zovio, Inc. (formerly Bridgepoint Education) for violations based on false and misleading statements to prospective students. Ashford and Zovio had not challenged the trial court’s liability determination, but sought review and reduction of the penalty awarded in that action.… Continue Reading

After promising earlier this year to “establish nation-leading regulations for the Buy Now Pay Later loan industry,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul took a significant first step in that direction by including Buy Now Pay Later (“BNPL”) legislation in her Proposed 2024-2025 Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation (“TED”) Bill.… Continue Reading

On January 18, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) announced that it is postponing the effective date of the Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule (“CARS Rule”) in light of the legal challenge from industry trade associations seeking judicial review of the new rule.  In a 3-0 vote, the FTC’s commissioners approved an order that, while taking issue with the trade associations’ arguments in the petition for review that the FTC maintains are “mischaracterizations,”  stays the effective date pending the completion of that review “in the interests of justice.” … Continue Reading

The Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Patrick McHenry (R-NC), sent a comment letter to CFPB Director Rohit Chopra in response to the CFPB’s notice of proposed rulemaking that would implement Section 1033 of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform Act and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010. The letter highlighted that statutes, regulations and guidance have not kept pace with technological advances but the proposed rule is making significant strides.… Continue Reading

In its Fall 2023 Semiannual Risk Perspective, published on December 7, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) reported on key issues facing the federal banking system.  In evaluating the overall soundness of the federal banking system, the OCC emphasized the need for banks to maintain prudent risk management practices. … Continue Reading

The CFPB has released its Fall 2023 rulemaking agenda as part of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.  The agenda’s preamble indicates that “[t]he Bureau reasonably anticipates having the regulatory matters identified [in the agenda] under consideration during the period from November 2023 to October 2024.”… Continue Reading