Regulation Z

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Although the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under Acting Director Russell Vought has withdrawn from defending a number of Biden-era regulatory initiatives, the Bureau appears poised to revisit one of the most controversial issues in consumer credit regulation—credit card late fees.

According to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), the CFPB has submitted for interagency review a Request for Information (RFI) regarding “Credit Card Late Fees and Late Payments.”… Continue Reading

On October 22, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued its final rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act (the “Final Rule” or the “Open Banking Rule”), granting consumers greater access rights to the data their financial institutions hold. Although there are some differences, the Final Rule largely tracks the Proposed Rule announced by the CFPB last year on October 19, 2023, with the largest concession coming in the form of the extended effective date.… Continue Reading

The CFPB, Fed, and OCC have announced that they are increasing exemption thresholds that are subject to annual inflation adjustments.  Effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, these exemption thresholds are increased as follows:

  • The 2025 threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans that are subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $32,400 to $33,500.
… Continue Reading

An Illinois federal judge has dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit that alleged that two Midwestern banks failed to provide repayment disclosures to borrowers, in a case that was unique because the CFPB came to the defense of the financial institutions.

U.S. District Judge Manish Shah of the Northern District of Illinois, had asked the bureau to comment on whether the Bank of Orrick violated federal requirements to provide borrower Jose Lopez with disclosures, including how long it would take for him to repay his loan if he only paid the monthly minimum payment.… Continue Reading

As previously reported, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in connection with single-family residential mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in connection with single-family residential mortgage loans, announced Reconsideration of Value (ROV) guidance for appraisals to help address appraisal bias.… Continue Reading

The result of the CFPB’s multi-year study of the BNPL industry is what the CFPB calls an interpretive rule in which it finds that: (1) “digital user accounts” (each a “DUA”) that may be used to access credit are “credit cards” under Regulation Z; (2) the lenders that issue such accounts are “card issuers;” and (3) that as it relates to traditional BNPL loans (loans that are payable in four or fewer installments with no finance charge) these card issuers are “creditors” subject to subpart B of Regulation Z—the provisions typically applicable to open-end credit.… Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), recently issued Mortgagee Letter 2024-07 addressing reconsideration of value (ROV) policies in connection with appraisals for FHA insured mortgage loans under the Title II forward mortgage loan and reverse mortgage loan programs. The amended Mortgagee Letter may be implemented immediately but must be implemented for FHA case numbers assigned on or after September 2, 2024.… Continue Reading

On March 5, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued its final credit card late fee rule (the “Final Rule”), which, amongst other things, significantly reduces the late fee safe harbor cap for issuers other than “smaller card issuers” from the currently permitted $30 (and $41 for repeat violations) to a flat fee of $8 for all violations.… Continue Reading

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

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