On July 16, the Sixth Circuit held that the Federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) does not provide for an implied right of indemnification or contribution, and preempts indemnification claims under the Michigan Electronic Funds Transfer Act (“MEFTA”) and common law, when a bank reimburses customers for unauthorized electronic transfers, even if the unauthorized transfers were caused by the entity from which indemnification is sought.… Continue Reading
Andrew Carobus
Acting Comptroller Hsu Highlights Latest Efforts of OCC in Elevating Financial Fairness
On April 4, acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu provided his remarks for the second year in a row at the Just Economy Conference hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. He focused his remarks on the latest developments of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in its continuing efforts to elevate fairness in the financial industry.… Continue Reading
CFPB Director Chopra addresses AI concerns
According to media reports, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra expressed his concerns over the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology in his remarks at an Axios event in Washington, D.C. last week. Director Chopra indicated that AI could concentrate “enormous” power within the grasp of a few companies and their top executives. … Continue Reading
OCC issues bank supervision operating plan for fiscal year 2024
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) Committee on Bank Supervision (CBS) recently issued its annual Bank Supervision Operating Plan for FY 2024, which sets forth the OCC’s supervision priorities and objectives across CBS operating units. The Plan also facilitates the execution of supervisory strategies for individual national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of agencies of foreign banking organizations (collectively, Banks). … Continue Reading
CFPB Targets Specialty Financial Products Used to Pay for Medical Care
Earlier this month, the CFPB published a report on specialty financial products, such as medical credit cards and installment loans, which are sold to patients as a way to address the growing costs of medical care. The report focuses on some of these financial products, which patients once used primarily for elective care but now use to cover everything from emergency room visits to medications to regular checkups, as well as dental and vision visits and treatment.… Continue Reading
Consumer Bankers Association Challenges CFPB Proposal to Lower Credit Card Late Fees
On April 17, the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) issued a news release responding to the CFPB’s proposal to lower the credit card late fee safe harbor amount to $8. The CFPB claims that, even though Congress banned excessive credit card late fees, credit card companies have exploited a regulatory loophole “to escape scrutiny for charging an otherwise illegal junk fee.” … Continue Reading
Department of Education and Federal Student Aid Seeking Whistleblowers to Report Potential Violations by Institutions of Higher Education
Having stood up and promoted the whistleblower program at the CFPB, it appears that Richard Cordray may now be taking similar steps at Federal Student Aid (“FSA”). On November 10, the Department of Education (“ED”) and FSA issued a bulletin inviting whistleblowers to provide information about potential violations of the Higher Education Act (“HEA”) and its implementing regulations. … Continue Reading
Director Chopra Discusses Digital Marketing in Remarks at National Association of Attorneys General Presidential Summit
On August 10, 2022, Director Rohit Chopra delivered remarks at the 2022 National Association of Attorneys General Presidential Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on the topic of consumer protection in the digital world. Director Chopra focused his remarks on the current state of digital marketing and advertising in an ever-increasing digitalized world.… Continue Reading
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against FinTech Lender Opportunity Financial For Evading Texas State Usury Laws
On June 1, 2022, plaintiff Kristen Michael filed a class action lawsuit against FinTech lender Opportunity Financial, LLC (“OppFi”) on behalf of herself and a putative class alleging, inter alia, that OppFi loans money at an interest rate upwards of 130% higher than allowed by state law. Ms. Michael alleges that OppFi offers “OppLoans” in over 30 states, whereby it originates, underwrites, services and enforces these loans, even claiming the loans on its financial reports. … Continue Reading
CFPB files lawsuit against debt-relief and credit-repair company and its owners and executives
On June 29, 2021, the CFPB and the Attorney General of the State of Georgia filed a proposed order in connection with a joint lawsuit they filed a day earlier in federal district court in Georgia against Maryland-based debt-relief and credit-repair company Burlington Financial Group (“Burlington”) and three individual owners and executives. … Continue Reading