Kaley Schafer |schaferk@ballardspahr.com | 202 777.6990 | view full bio

Kaley has a background in regulatory compliance and counsels on BSA/AML requirements, as well as other federal consumer financial regulations.  Prior to her role at Ballard Spahr, Kaley served as Director of Regulatory Compliance at the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, where she led the regulatory compliance team in developing new compliance materials and tools for NAFCU members, including as to BSA/AML issues.

On July 3, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) as part of a broader initiative to “strengthen, modernize, and improve” financial institutions’ anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs. In addition, the NPRM seeks to promote effectiveness, efficiency, innovation, and flexibility with respect to AML/CFT programs; support the establishment, implementation, and maintenance of risk-based AML/CFT programs; and strengthen the cooperation between financial institutions (“FIs”) and the government.… Continue Reading

On June 25th, the CFPB issued an interim final rule with a request for public comment extending the compliance dates for the Small Business Lending Rule in light of the Supreme Court’s decision finding the funding structure of the CFPB to be constitutional in CFPB v. Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA).… Continue Reading

The CFPB’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI) provided its annual report to Congress covering the agency’s efforts in 2023. Section 342 of the Dodd-Frank, Wall Street Reform, and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) mandates that the OMWI agency provide an annual report to Congress regarding the successes achieved, challenges, and other findings.… Continue Reading

On April 17th, the CFPB issued a consent order to a for-profit training school alleging numerous violations of law related to its use if income share agreements (“ISAs”). According to the Bureau, BloomTech, Inc. (“BloomTech”) and the company’s founder and CEO engaged in deceptive and abusive acts or practices, violated the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) and Regulation Z, and violated the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) Holder Rule.… Continue Reading

In February 2024, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) entered into consent orders with two banks who partner with fintechs to offer “banking as a service” (BaaS) related to safety and soundness, compliance with applicable laws, and third party oversight.  BaaS refers to arrangements in which banks integrate their banking products and services into the services of non-bank third-party distributors and the distributors deliver the integrated banking services directly to the customer. … Continue Reading

On March 19th, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued an opinion in CFPB v. National Collegiate Master Student Loan Trust et al. (the “Trusts”). The issue before the Third Circuit was whether certain Trusts are “covered persons” subject to the Consumer Financial Protection Act (“CFPA”) and whether the CFPB was required to ratify the underlying action.… Continue Reading

On February 16, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Center (“FinCEN”) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) regarding residential real estate.  The final version of the NPRM published in the Federal Register is 47 pages long.  We have created a separate document which more clearly sets forth the proposed regulations themselves, at 31 C.F.R.… Continue Reading

The South Dakota Division of Banking issued a Memorandum notifying all licensed money lenders and non-residential mortgage lenders of their Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (“BSA/AML”) obligations under a 2020 Final Rule published by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). The final rule became effective in 2020, and the Memorandum requires licensees to comply by March 31, 2024.… Continue Reading

On February 6, 2024, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman Todd M. Harper spoke at a Brookings Institution event to outline his regulatory agenda and supervisory priorities for 2024. His prepared remarks addressed the 90th Anniversary of the Federal Credit Union Act, credit union performance in third quarter of 2023, risks posed by third party service providers, liquidity management, and consumer financial protection.… Continue Reading