On July 25, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (collectively, the agencies) issued a “Joint Statement on Banks’ Arrangements with Third Parties to Deliver Bank Deposit Products and Services” to “note potential risks related to arrangements between banks and third parties to deliver bank deposit products and services to end users”.… Continue Reading
Fintech
This Week’s Podcast: Why do Fintechs Want to Become Banks?
A great number of fintechs are contemplating owning a bank or obtaining a banking charter—either a national bank charter, a state bank charter or a special purpose charter. In this episode, we are joined by our special guest Michele Alt, co-founder and partner of Klaros Group, an investment and advisory firm, and Scott Coleman, a partner in our Consumer Financial Services Group who leads our banking practice.… Continue Reading
Banking Regulators Seek Comment on Third-Party Relationships with Financial Institutions
The federal banking regulators are seeking comment to better understand the relationship between financial institutions and third parties that work for them.
The OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC “seek public comment to build on their understanding of these arrangements, including with respect to roles, risks, costs, and revenue allocation,” the agencies said.… Continue Reading
Regulators Outline Risks that Third-Party Servicers Pose to Banks
Banking regulators have issued a joint statement outlining the potential risks that financial institutions face in arrangements with third parties to deliver bank deposit products and services and examples of risk management practices to manage such potential risks.
The joint statement does not establish new expectations for financial institutions, the regulators said.… Continue Reading
Witnesses Tell House Subcommittee That Regulators Risk Hampering Fintech-Bank Partnerships
Federal and state regulators risk stifling competition as they continue to develop a regulatory regime for fintech relationships with financial institutions, witnesses told a House subcommittee last week.
“We hope that Congress continues to monitor the regulatory agencies to assure that regulation or regulation through enforcement of these relationships and products doesn’t increase unnecessarily,” Steve Trager, executive chair of Republic Bank & Trust Company in Louisville, Ky.,… Continue Reading
Bank-Fintech partnership to be scrutinized again
The Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee will hold a field hearing in Lexington KY on this coming Friday, July 12 at 10 am, ET to discuss “Financial Institution-Fintech Partnerships: Leveraging Third-Party Relationships to Increase Access to Financial Services.” Speakers have not yet been announced.… Continue Reading
CFPB alleges dark patterns in suit against fintech peer-to-peer lender
On May 17, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) filed suit against an online lending platform, alleging, among other things, the use of dark patterns to induce consumers to pay tips and donations, disclosure violations, and usury violations on loans offered through its lending platform. The complaint, filed in the U.S.… Continue Reading
Recent FDIC consent orders show increased scrutiny of bank relationships with fintech partners
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
Congressional Representatives Express Concern Regarding FDIC’s Regulation of FinTech Firms and Financial Innovation
On February 2, 2024, three Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee sent a letter to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) Chair Martin Gruenberg expressing concern regarding what the congressmen perceive to be the FDIC’s attempts to reduce engagement with industry participants on financial technology and innovation. The letter was sent by the Committee Chairman, Patrick McHenry, the Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee, Andy Barr, and the Chairman of the Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee, French Hill.… Continue Reading
FloatMe Settlement with FTC Contains Exacting Requirements
On January 22, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entered into a Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, and Other Relief (the “Order”) with FloatMe Corp. (“FloatMe”), a fintech that offers short-term cash advances through its mobile app, to settle litigation brought earlier in the month against the fintech and two of its principals (collectively, “Defendants”).… Continue Reading