After targeting credit card late fees in its proposed rule, the CFPB has set its sights on further attacking credit card pricing through interest rates. The CFPB published a blog late last month stating that credit card interest rate margins are at an all-time high, with an average 14.3% margin in 2023 compared to 9.6% margin in 2013, and have fueled the profitability of revolving balances.… Continue Reading
John L. Culhane, Jr.
CFPB issues supervision order establishing supervision over World Acceptance using risk-based authority
Posted in CFPB Supervision
The CFPB has released a supervisory order which establishes that the CFPB has supervisory authority over World Acceptance Corp. (WAC) based on the CFPB’s conclusion that it has reasonable cause to determine that WAC “is engaging in or has engaged in conduct that poses risks to consumers with regard to the offering or provision of one or more consumer financial products or services.” … Continue Reading
CFPB revises supervisory appeals process
By John L. Culhane, Jr. & Michael Gordon on
Posted in CFPB Supervision
The CFPB has revised its internal supervisory appeals process for institutions seeking to appeal a compliance rating or an adverse material finding. The revisions became effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register on February 22, 2024.
As an initial matter, the revised appeals process references the “Supervision Director” rather than the “Associate Director” (for supervision, enforcement, and fair lending). … Continue Reading
Military Lending Act violations alleged against title lender in Georgia class action
By Brian Turetsky & John L. Culhane, Jr. on
A proposed class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on February 21, 2024 against TitleMax of Georgia, Inc. and TMX Finance LLC (together, “TitleMax”) accuses the Georgia-based title and pawn lender of various violations of the Military Lending Act (“MLA”), including charging servicemembers and their dependents interest in excess of the MLA’s 36% rate cap.… Continue Reading
Important National Bank Act (NBA) preemption case to be argued tomorrow, February 27, before US Supreme Court
The oral argument in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A. will be heard on Tuesday, February 27 before the US Supreme Court. The Court recently granted the unopposed motion of the Solicitor General to participate in the oral argument. The Solicitor General will be taking 10 minutes of the oral argument time allocated to the Petitioners.… Continue Reading
FTC issues annual ECOA report to CFPB
The FTC recently sent its annual letter to the CFPB reporting on the FTC’s activities related to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B. The new letter reports on the FTC’s activities in 2023. The Bureau includes the FTC’s annual letter in its own annual report to Congress on the ECOA.… Continue Reading
New CFPB credit card report finds large bank issuers are charging higher interest rates than smaller issuers
In a new data spotlight issued last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) found that interest rates charged on credit cards issued by large banks are higher than interest rates charged on credit cards issued by smaller banks and credit unions. In a press release about the report, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra states that “the CFPB will be accelerating its efforts to ensure that consumers can access better rates that can save families billions of dollars per year.”… Continue Reading
Democratic Senators continue to pressure Zelle and other payment apps to change fraud policies
On February 15, 2024, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to Zelle seeking clarification of its reimbursement policy for victims of imposter scams and urging Zelle to publicize its fraud policies to consumers and clarify whether all participating banks must reimburse eligible victims.… Continue Reading
CFPB seeks approval for new auto finance data collection
The CFPB recently published a notice in the Federal Register indicating that it is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the collection of additional auto finance data pursuant to its authority under the Dodd-Frank Act .
In February 2023, the CFPB announced that it had issued market monitoring orders to nine large auto lenders requesting information about their auto lending portfolios. … Continue Reading
Fintech trade group sends letter to Director Chopra urging CFPB to develop regulatory approach for earned wage access products
The American Fintech Council (AFC), a trade group whose members include providers of earned wage access (EWA) products, has sent a letter to Director Chopra urging the CFPB to take steps towards development of a “pragmatic regulatory approach” for regulating EWA products.
In its letter, AFC discusses the “patchwork approach” to regulating EWA products that is emerging at the state level. … Continue Reading