The FDIC has announced that it is extending by 45 days the comment period for proposed changes to its signage and advertising rule. Several banking trade groups sent a letter to the FDIC requesting the 45-day extension. Originally set for February 21, the comment deadline is extended to April 7, 2023.… Continue Reading
FDIC
Bank trade groups seek more time to comment on FDIC proposed signage and advertising rule
In a letter sent earlier this month, the Bank Policy Institute, the American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America (the “trade groups”) have asked the FDIC for more time to comment on the agency’s proposal, published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2022, to update its existing regulations governing use and misuse of the FDIC’s name, logo and official sign, and adding further detail to rules regarding misrepresentation of insured status.… Continue Reading
Federal banking agencies issue joint statement on crypto-asset risks
The Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have issued a joint statement on crypto-asset risks to banking organizations. The term “crypto-asset” refers to any digital asset implemented using cryptographic techniques.
The statement begins with the agencies’ observations that “[t]he events of the past year have been marked by significant volatility and the exposure of vulnerabilities in the crypto-asset sector” and that “[t]hese events highlight a number of key risks associated with crypto-assets and crypto-asset sector participants that banking organizations should be aware of.”… Continue Reading
Proposed rule continues FDIC focus on use and misuse of FDIC name and logo; CFPB Director Chopra applauds
On December 13, 2022, the FDIC issued a request for comment on a proposal to modernize the regulations governing use of the FDIC’s official signage and advertising of FDIC-insured status by insured depository institutions (IDIs), and to clarify regulations issued earlier in 2022 regarding misrepresentations of deposit insurance coverage. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2022 and comments are due no later than February 21, 2023.… Continue Reading
Democratic Senators introduce bill to close industrial loan company “loophole”; coalition of financial services and consumer organizations voice support for bill
Earlier this week, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced a bill, the “Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act,” (Act) that is intended to close what is often termed a “loophole” in the Bank Holding Company Act (BHCA) because it allows the parent companies of industrial loan companies (ILCs) to operate without the same level of federal oversight that applies to parent companies of other banking institutions.… Continue Reading
This week’s podcast episode: Use of the FDIC name and logo: proceed with caution
We discuss the FDIC’s final rule on misuse of the FDIC name or logo, advisory to insured banks on deposit insurance and dealings with crypto companies, and cease and desist letters to five crypto companies alleging they made false and misleading statements about deposit insurance. We also discuss the CFPB’s circular warning that a misrepresentation involving the FDIC name or logo can constitute a UDAAP violation. … Continue Reading
Bi-partisan group of Senators urge FDIC not to target industrial loan companies for unfavorable treatment
A bi-partisan group of nine Senators (five Republicans and four Democrats) recently sent a letter to Acting FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg to express their support for the industrial loan company (ILC) charter and to remind him “to ensure the [FDIC] continues to follow the laws that Congress carefully designed for the FDIC to consider new deposit insurance applicants, including ILCs.” … Continue Reading
White House announces two Republican nominees to FDIC Board of Directors
The White House has announced the names of two Republicans who President Biden is nominating to serve as members of the FDIC Board of Directors.
The FDIC Board of Directors has five members, two of whom are the Comptroller of the Currency and the CFPB Director. Currently, there are only three members, all of whom are Democrats (consisting of Acting Chair Martin Gruenberg, Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu, and CFPB Director Rohit Chopra). … Continue Reading
This week’s podcast episode: A close look at the FDIC’s supervisory guidance and class action litigation regarding multiple non-sufficient funds fees arising from re-presentment of the same unpaid transaction
We discuss each of the three categories of risk identified in the guidance (consumer compliance, third-party, and litigation), plaintiffs’ legal theories in class actions challenging NSF fees, the role of arbitration clauses and contract language in defending class actions, the FDIC’s suggested risk mitigation practices, issues to consider in navigating FDIC expectations for remediation of self-identified NSF fee issues and plaintiffs’ demands in class action settlements, the position of other federal regulators on re-presentment NSF fees, and state focus on NSF fees.… Continue Reading
FDIC issues cease and desist letters alleging false or misleading representations about deposit insurance on crypto-related products
On August 19, 2022, the FDIC issued cease and desist letters to five crypto companies, alleging they made false and misleading statements about FDIC deposit insurance and demanding immediate corrective action. The five companies are FTX US, Cryptonews.com, CryptoSec.info, SmartAsset.com, and FDICCrypto.com. The FDIC’s actions come weeks after issuing an “Advisory to FDIC-Insured Institutions Regarding Deposit Insurance and Dealings with Crypto Companies” to address the agency’s concerns regarding misrepresentations about FDIC deposit insurance.… Continue Reading