We were honored to host former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin on our live webinar on January 17, 2025 where I conducted a “fireside chat” with him that, because of its popularity, was later repurposed on our weekly podcast show, Consumer Finance Monitor. At that time, Matt spoke passionately about the evolving landscape of consumer protection and how his office was preparing to fill the anticipated gap left by efforts to scale back the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).… Continue Reading

Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent a sharply worded letter to CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought that crystallizes an unusual moment in consumer financial services regulation: a populist-sounding call from President Trump to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent, paired with what Warren characterizes as a deliberate dismantling of the very agency that would be central to implementing any such reform.… Continue Reading

In the request for comments, the CFPB states that it is soliciting comments on how to improve its Consumer Response Intake Form. The CFPB advises that Consumer Response Intake Form is designed to help consumers in submitting complaints, inquiries and feedback.

Consumers may complete and submit information using the Intake Form on the Bureau’s website.… Continue Reading

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in Trump v. Cook, involving the issue of whether the President may remove Lisa Cook as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. Board Members may be removed “for cause,” and the President has cited alleged mortgage fraud as the basis for the removal of Cook as a Board Member.… Continue Reading

Promising that the NCUA will not engage in “regulation by enforcement,” NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman has sent a letter to credit unions outlining his supervisory priorities for 2026.

“NCUA is dedicated to supporting credit unions, developing right-sized regulations and policies that safely advance innovation within the credit union system, and protecting member deposits and the Share Insurance Fund through productive, streamlined credit union supervision,” Hauptman wrote in his letter.… Continue Reading

We have previously reported on the tortured history of the disparate impact rule adopted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Fair Housing Act, most recently here. HUD now proposes to remove the rule from its regulations. Comments are due by February 13, 2026.

How did we get here?… Continue Reading

As part of his campaign for election, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed to make New York City more affordable. To that end and as part of his affordability initiative, he has issued Executive Orders 9 and 10 intended to crack down on “junk fees” and “subscription tricks and traps.” 

City officials said that by signing the “junk fees” Executive Order 9, Mamdani was signaling that his administration will crack down on “companies who mislead New Yorkers into paying more for services, saving New Yorkers money amidst our cost-of-living crisis.” … Continue Reading

Charging that Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought has been attempting to close down the CFPB by any means necessary, Democratic Attorneys Generals (AGs) from 21 states and the District of Columbia have filed suit, asking a federal court to require Vought to seek State AGs file suit to force CFPB to request funding from the Federal Reserve funds from the Federal Reserve to operate the bureau. … Continue Reading

Join host Alan Kaplinsky, founder and former longtime leader of Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group and one of the foremost thought leaders in the industry, as he welcomes two special guests for a timely and insightful conversation about the most significant deregulatory developments in banking law during 2025.

Alan is joined by his Ballard Spahr colleague Scott Coleman, a partner with more than 30 years of experience guiding banks and bank holding companies through mergers, acquisitions, and all facets of regulatory compliance, especially in the community banking sector.… Continue Reading