With the U.S. Treasury Department now completing the process of issuing the third round of EIPs, financial institutions must navigate a maze of federal and state garnishment protections.  After looking at the protection provided by the three federal pandemic relief laws, we discuss the actions states have taken to protect EIPs and offer our thoughts on the approach banks should take when responding to garnishment orders and analyzing the impact of state laws, executive orders, guidance, and directives.… Continue Reading

On May 17, 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) announced that it entered into a proposed settlement of its lawsuit filed in a Massachusetts federal district court against debt settlement company DMB Financial, LLC (“DMB”), alleging that the company engaged in deceptive acts or practices in violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (“CFPA”).  … Continue Reading

The National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) has filed its combined opposition to the motions of the CFPB and the Consumer Financial Services Association (CFSA) to dismiss NALCAB’s lawsuit challenging the CFPB’s rescission of the “ability-to-repay” (ATR) or “mandatory underwriting provisions” in its 2017 final payday/auto title/high-rate installment loan rule (2017 Rule).  … Continue Reading

The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in Badgerow v. Walters, No. 20-1143 on May 17, 2021.  The question presented is “[w]hether federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction to confirm or vacate an arbitration award under Sections 9 and 10 of the [Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”)] where the only basis for jurisdiction is that the underlying dispute involved a federal question.”… Continue Reading

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) and request for information (RFI) addressing “False Advertising, Misrepresentation of Insured Status and Misuse of the FDIC’s Name or Logo”.

Under this NPR, the title of 12 CFR Part 328, currently “Advertisement of Membership” would be changed to “Advertisement of Membership, False Advertising, Misrepresentation of Insured Status, and Misuse of the FDIC’s Name or Logo.”… Continue Reading

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System recently issued and invited public comment on proposed guidelines to be used by Federal Reserve Banks to evaluate requests for master accounts and/or access to Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) financial services, in order to support a more “transparent and consistent” approach to such requests.… Continue Reading

On May 19, 2021, the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing, “Oversight of Prudential Regulators: Ensuring the Safety, Soundness, Diversity, and Accountability of Depository Institutions.”  The scheduled witnesses are:

  • Todd Harper, Chairman, National Credit Union Administration
  • Michael Hsu, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
  • Jelena McWilliams, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  • Randal Quarles, Vice Chairman of Supervision, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Acting Comptroller Hsu is expected to be questioned about the OCC’s Community Reinvestment Act rule, its special purpose national bank charter for nondepository companies, and its fair access rule. … Continue Reading

On May 6, 2021, the CFPB’s Office of Servicemember Affairs issued its eighth annual report summarizing its activities from January 1 through December 31, 2020.  The report discussed the Office’s consumer outreach and educational efforts, servicemember complaint trends, and priorities for 2021.

The Office’s educational outreach focused on specific economic challenges and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including forbearance programs and emergency grants.… Continue Reading

The CFPB recently issued an update to its Truth in Lending Act (TILA)/Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule FAQs to address a partial exemption added by the Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams Act (BUILD Act) that became law in January 2021.

Before the adoption of the BUILD Act, Regulation Z under TILA already included a partial exemption from the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure requirements of the TRID rule for subordinate housing assistance loans that met certain conditions.… Continue Reading

As part of its Making Ends Meet survey, the CFPB issued a report last week on how consumers use payday, auto title, and pawn loans (“alternative financial services” or “AFS”) and the other sources of credit available to them. Consumers surveyed include only those with a traditional credit record and the sampling focused on consumers with lower credit scores, recent credit delinquencies, or living in rural areas.… Continue Reading