A former CFPB examiner has written U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions claiming that CFPB officials falsified examination reports in connection with a CFPB examination of ACE Cash Express that led to the CFPB extracting $10 million of restitution and penalties from ACE. At the time the CFPB forced ACE to enter into this consent order, even in the absence of any allegations of fraud on the part of the CFPB, we sharply criticized the CFPB for its treatment of ACE.… Continue Reading
CFPB Exams
CFPB data collection freeze impacting CFPB examinations
Since Mick Mulvaney’s appointment by President Trump as CFPB Acting Director, there have been widespread media reports about Mr. Mulvaney’s plans to impose a freeze on the CFPB’s collection of personally identifiable information (PII), such as individual loan level data, until the CFPB improves its data security systems. Mr. Mulvaney’s concerns about the CFPB’s data security systems were reportedly prompted in part by reports issued by the Office of Inspector General for the CFPB that found deficiencies in the CFPB’s data security practices.… Continue Reading
Democratic lawmakers, Republican attorneys general submit amicus briefs in CFPB Acting Director dispute
Past and present Democratic Representatives and Senators filed an amicus brief in support of the motion for a temporary restraining order filed by Leandra English to block Mick Mulvaney from exercising the authority of CFPB Acting Director. The court granted the lawmakers’ motion for leave to file the brief before its denial of Ms.… Continue Reading
New CFPB enforcement chief to be appointed
While an official announcement has not yet appeared on the CFPB’s website, it has been widely reported that Kristen Donoghue will be appointed the CFPB’s new Assistant Director of Enforcement, effective November 17, 2017. She will replace Anthony Alexis.
Ms. Donoghue has served as a CFPB enforcement attorney since the CFPB’s establishment in 2011, and most recently served as the CFPB’s Principal Deputy Enforcement Director. … Continue Reading
OIG report finds CFPB examination workpaper documentation practices can be improved
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the CFPB and Fed has issued a report that found the CFPB can improve its practices related to examination workpaper documentation. This report follows another OIG report issued last month that found the CFPB could improve the effectiveness of its Examiner Commissioning and On-the-Job Training Programs.… Continue Reading
OIG report finds effectiveness of CFPB’s examiner commissioning and training programs could be improved
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the CFPB and Fed has issued a report on the results of its evaluation of the effectiveness of the CFPB’s Examiner Commissioning Program (ECP) and On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program. In conducting the evaluation, the OIG assessed the design, implementation, and execution of the two programs.… Continue Reading
CFPB issues guidance on pay-by-phone fees
The CFPB has issued a new compliance bulletin (2017-11) to provide guidance on pay-by-phone fees. The guidance includes examples of conduct relating to pay-by-phone practices identified by the CFPB in its supervision and enforcement activities that may violate or risk violating the Dodd-Frank UDAAP prohibition or the FDCPA.
The enforcement actions cited in the guidance involving alleged UDAAP violations arising from pay-by-phone practices date from 2015 and, while recent CFPB supervisory highlights have discussed potential FDCPA violations arising from “convenience fees” charged by debt collectors to process payments by phone, recent supervisory highlights have not discussed potential UDAAP violations arising from pay-by-phone practices. … Continue Reading
New OCC FAQs on third-party relationships highlight bank arrangements with fintech companies and marketplace lenders
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued a new bulletin (2017-21) containing fourteen frequently asked questions to supplement OCC Bulletin 2013-29 entitled “Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management Guidance.” The 2013 bulletin provided updated guidance for managing operational, compliance, reputation, strategic, and credit risk presented by third-party business relationships of national banks and federal savings associations.… Continue Reading
CFPB and FTC confirm scrutiny of ancillary products
At the Auto Finance Risk and Compliance Summit held this week, Calvin Hagins, CFPB Deputy Assistant Director for Originations, stated that the CFPB is increasingly asking lenders about ancillary product programs during examinations, particularly about the percentage of consumers buying these products.
In June 2015, when the CFPB released its larger participant rule for nonbank auto finance companies, it also issued auto finance examination procedures in which ancillary products, like GAP insurance and extended service contracts, received heavy attention. … Continue Reading
Regular CFPB service provider examinations have begun; more service providers to face examinations
At the program held on April 7 entitled “The State of Consumer Protection Initiatives” at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Consumer Financial Services Committee 2017 Spring Meeting, Peggy Twohig, the CFPB’s Assistant Director for Supervision Policy, announced that the CFPB has begun to examine service providers on a regular, systematic basis, particularly those supporting the mortgage industry. … Continue Reading