CFPB, Federal Agencies, State Agencies, and Attorneys General
Banking trade groups uniformly support the nomination of former CFPB executive Brian Johnson to head the bureau.
“Brian has a distinguished track record in bank regulatory policy both at the Bureau and on Capitol Hill, and he will bring a thoughtful approach to setting the Bureau’s priorities in the years ahead if confirmed,” said Rob Nichols, President/CEO of the American Bankers Association.… Continue Reading
For years, the debate over mandatory arbitration clauses and class-action waivers in consumer financial services contracts has largely focused on questions of consumer protection, access to justice, the validity of class action waivers in arbitration provisions, and the value of class actions as a tool for redressing systemic consumer harm and litigation policy.… Continue Reading
When the CFPB and Department of Justice withdrew a joint statement on the consideration of immigration status under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in January 2026, we pointed out that “the agencies could have, but did not, [seek] to reduce compliance burdens by providing helpful guidance on how creditors may appropriately consider an applicant’s immigration status under ECOA.… Continue Reading
In this episode, Adam Maarec sits down with fintech thought leader Simon Taylor for a lively fireside chat focused on the rapidly evolving world of fintech, payments, and banking innovation. Adam, an experienced legal and regulatory advisor in financial services, and Simon, widely recognized for his writing, podcasts, and advisory work with fintechs, banks, VCs, and regulators, delve into some of the most relevant challenges and opportunities shaping the industry today.… Continue Reading
The CFPB is ending telework—a move that requires 1,100 employees to report to work five days a week to a new headquarters in Washington, D.C., The American Banker reported.
The publication reported that the bureau’s Chief Operating Officer, Adam Martinez, said in a memo that employees will begin moving to the new headquarters at 445 12th St.… Continue Reading
CFPB Chief Legal Officer Mark Paoletta has been selected as the bureau’s Deputy Director—a move that reflects that Acting Director Russell Vought’s term is coming to a close and that Paoletta will succeed him, Bloomberg reports.
Under federal law, Vought cannot serve as Acting Director past August 1. However, under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, a top deputy or other senior official may serve as Acting Director until a full-time agency head is confirmed by the Senate.… Continue Reading
President Trump’s May 19, 2026 executive order, Restoring Integrity to America’s Financial System, directs Treasury, FinCEN, the CFPB, and the federal banking agencies to reassess how financial institutions identify and manage risks associated with non-work authorized populations and related cross border financial activity. The order reflects a significant shift in federal expectations across BSA/AML compliance, customer identification, and consumer credit underwriting.… Continue Reading
On a recent episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast, Alan Kaplinsky, host of the podcast, had the opportunity to interview Amelia O’Rourke-Owens, a legal scholar and former CFPB policy fellow, about her article, “Tearing Holes in Consumer Protection: Democracy’s Safety Net.” Amelia is the founder and CEO of Resilience Solutions, which provides subject matter expertise and consulting services around policy solutions and strategic planning.… Continue Reading
Today’s episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast features a wide-ranging and timely discussion about one of the most consequential fair lending developments in years: the CFPB’s final rule fundamentally reshaping enforcement under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B.
Hosted by Alan Kaplinsky (the Founder, Chair for 25 years and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Services Group at Ballard Spahr, LLP), the episode brings together an exceptional panel of fair lending authorities: our special guest Bradley Blower (the Principal and Founder of Inclusive-Partners LLC) along with John Culhane, Jr.,… Continue Reading
California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra to be the inaugural Secretary of a new cabinet-level agency that he created last year — the Business and Consumer Services Agency (“BCSA”). Although the appointment must be confirmed by the California Senate, the move is already generating significant attention within the financial services industry because it may signal California’s intent to assume a substantially larger role in consumer financial regulation and enforcement at a time when many expect reduced federal regulatory activity.… Continue Reading
