Overdrafts

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On September 17, 2024, the CFPB issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-05 on improper overdraft practices. The circular reminded financial institutions of their obligation to retain records that prove the consumer consented to the institution’s payment of ATM and one-time debit card transactions.

The Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) and Regulation E (12 CFR § 1005.17(b)(1)), prohibit financial institutions from charging an overdraft fee for paying ATM or one-time debit card transactions (“regulated overdrafts”) unless an institution: (i) provides the consumer with its overdraft service disclosure (a/k/a What You Need to Know About Overdraft and Overdraft Fees); (ii) provides the consumer a reasonable opportunity to opt in; (iii) obtains the consumer’s affirmative consent, or opt-in; and (iv) provides the consumer with a written confirmation of the consent, which includes a statement informing the consumer of the right to revoke such consent.… Continue Reading

On April 16, 2024, the U.S. District Court Judge Gershwin A. Drain in the Eastern District of Michigan granted summary judgment in favor of Flagstar Bank (the “Bank”) in a case where the plaintiff alleged breach of contract and conversion with respect to the Bank’s overdraft (OD) and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee practices. … Continue Reading

On April 4, acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu provided his remarks for the second year in a row at the Just Economy Conference hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. He focused his remarks on the latest developments of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in its continuing efforts to elevate fairness in the financial industry.… Continue Reading

Our special guest is David Pommerehn, SVP, General Counsel, Head of Regulatory Affairs at the Consumer Bankers Association. In January 2024, the CFPB proposed two new rules: one restricting overdraft fees and the other prohibiting NSF fees on certain declined transactions.  The proposals are among the CFPB’s latest moves in furtherance of the Biden Administration’s “junk fees” agenda. … Continue Reading

On February 22, 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued letters (the “AG Letter”) to California’s 197 state-chartered banks and credit unions warning that overdraft and returned deposited item fees may violate California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). The AG Letter encourages the institutions to review their practices and policies regarding: “(1) surprise overdraft fees, which are assessed even when a consumer cannot reasonably anticipate that a debit or checking transaction will overdraw their account; and (2) returned deposited item fees, which are assessed when a consumer deposits a check that is returned, even when the consumer has no knowledge of or control over the circumstances that caused the check to be returned.”… 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

On January 24, 2024, a week after issuing its proposed rulemaking for overdraft services, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued its proposed rulemaking on non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.

NSF Fee Proposal

Banks typically charge NSF fees when an item is submitted for payment against a consumer’s account and returned unpaid due to insufficient funds.… Continue Reading

In furtherance of the Biden Administration’s “junk fee” agenda, on January 17, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its proposed rule to amend Regulations E and Z to regulate overdraft services provided by “very large financial institutions” (an insured depository institution or an insured credit union that has total assets of more than $10 Billion and any affiliate thereof, as determined under 12 U.S.C.… Continue Reading

On January 8, 2024, the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) announced the launch of a new microsite, overdraftfacts.com, to demonstrate the value overdraft services provide to consumers, highlight bank-driven overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) innovations and reforms that have significantly reduced consumer costs, and serve as a resource for policymakers. The microsite also includes statements from regulators, legislators, scholars, thought leaders, and the media; input about the CFPB’s planned NSF and overdraft fee rulemaking; and related industry articles.… Continue Reading

On January 3, 2023, American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, and Independent Community Bankers of America wrote a letter to CFPB Director Rohit Chopra to address their concerns that the CFPB’s proposal for rulemaking on non-sufficient funds (NSF) and overdraft fees triggers the statutorily required Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) review as the rulemaking will have a significant economic impact on banks and credits unions with assets of $850 million or less.… Continue Reading