On March 5, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued its final credit card late fee rule (the “Final Rule”). The timing for publication of the final rule was widely perceived as coordinated with the President’s State of the Union address, and in his March 7, 2024 address, President Joe Biden did briefly mention the Final Rule, citing the reduction of credit card late fees to $8 and adding “I’m saving American families $20 billion a year with all the junk fees I’m eliminating.”… Continue Reading
VA Proposes Supplemental Refinance Loan Rule
By Richard J. Andreano, Jr. on
Posted in Mortgages, Regulatory and Enforcement
As previously reported, in November 2022 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a proposal to update its rules for interest rate reduction refinancing loans (often referred to as “IRRRLs”) to conform with VA loan refinance provisions in the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in 2018, and the Protecting Affordable Mortgages for Veterans Act of 2019.… Continue Reading
Plaintiffs and intervenors file summary judgment motion in Texas lawsuit challenging CFPB small business data collection rule
The plaintiffs and intervenors in the lawsuit filed in a Texas federal district court challenging the CFPB’s final small business lending rule implementing Section 1071 of Dodd-Frank (Rule) have filed a consolidated motion for summary judgment. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the Texas Bankers Association, Rio Bank, McAllen, Texas, and the American Bankers Association. … Continue Reading
This week’s podcast episode: U.S. Supreme Court hears two cases in which plaintiffs seek to overturn Chevron judicial deference framework: Who will win and what does It mean? Part I
By Barbara S. Mishkin on
Posted in Federal Agencies, Litigation and Court Decisions
On January 17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in two cases in which the question presented is whether the Court should overrule its 1984 decision in Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc. That decision produced what became known as the “Chevron judicial deference framework”–the two-step analysis that courts typically invoke when reviewing a federal agency’s interpretation of a statute. … Continue Reading
CFPB finalizes credit late fee rule and sets $8 large issuer safe harbor; Ballard Spahr to hold March 21 webinar on final rule
By Ballard CFS Group on
Posted in CFPB Rulemaking, Credit Cards
Today, the CFPB issued its final credit card late fee rule. As we expected, the final rule was released prior to President Biden’s March 7th State of the Union address. The final rule reduces the late fee safe harbor amount to the proposed $8 amount and eliminates automatic annual inflation adjustments for issuers subject to the reduced safe harbor amount. … Continue Reading
CFPB Press Release and Circular cite “abusive” steering practices in connection with comparison-shopping tools and lead generators
On February 29, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-01, Preferencing and steering practices by digital intermediaries for consumer financial products or services. The Circular advised that: “[o]perators of digital comparison-shopping tools can violate the [Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA)] prohibition on abusive acts or practices if they distort the shopping experience by steering consumers to certain products or services based on remuneration to the operator;” and “lead generators can violate the prohibition on abusive practices if they steer consumers to one participating financial services provider instead of another based on compensation received.”… Continue Reading
SCOTUS oral argument in Cantero v. Bank of America provides no clear indication of likely outcome; Ballard Spahr to host April 3 special webinar roundtable on Cantero oral argument
By Alan S. Kaplinsky on
Posted in Litigation and Court Decisions, Preemption
On February 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A., a case involving the effect of the Dodd-Frank Act on the scope of preemption under the National Bank Act (NBA). The question before the Court is whether, post-Dodd-Frank Act, the NBA preempts a New York statute requiring banks to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts. … Continue Reading
More States Mull Interest Rate Preemption and “Anti-Evasion” Legislation
Rhode Island, Minnesota, and Nevada have joined the list of jurisdictions considering proposals to legislatively opt out of federal interest rate preemption established under the federal Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 (DIDMCA). Although the legal effect remains unclear, the apparent objective of these proposed laws is to prevent interest rate “exportation” by state-chartered financial institutions.… Continue Reading
CBA “checks the math” on recent CFPB credit card report finding large bank issuers charge higher interest rates than smaller issuers
After targeting credit card late fees in its proposed rule, the CFPB has set its sights on further attacking credit card pricing through interest rates. The CFPB published a blog late last month stating that credit card interest rate margins are at an all-time high, with an average 14.3% margin in 2023 compared to 9.6% margin in 2013, and have fueled the profitability of revolving balances.… Continue Reading
Ballard Spahr to host special webinar roundtable on April 3 on Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A.
By Barbara S. Mishkin on
On February 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A., a case involving the effect of the Dodd-Frank Act on scope of preemption under the National Bank Act (NBA). The specific question before the Court is whether, post-Dodd-Frank, the NBA preempts a New York statute requiring banks to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts. … Continue Reading