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In a letter dated October 11, 2022 to Acting Comptroller Michael J. Hsu, Patrick McHenry, the ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, and four other Republican representatives, asked Mr. Hsu to respond to pointed questions about the OCC’s planned role in support of bank-fintech partnerships. … Continue Reading

A California state court has overruled the demurrer filed by Opportunity Financial, LLC (OppFi) to the cross-complaint filed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) in which OppFi asked the court to reject the DFPI’s “true lender” challenge.  In its cross-complaint, the DFPI alleges that California usury law applies to loans made through OppFi’s partnership with FinWise Bank (Bank) because OppFi, and not the Bank, was the “true lender.”… Continue Reading

Opportunity Financial, LLC (OppFi) has filed a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in a California state court against the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), seeking to block the DFPI from applying California usury law to loans made through OppFi’s partnership with Fin Wise Bank (Bank), a state-chartered FDIC-insured bank located in Utah.… Continue Reading

A California federal district court judge has rejected challenges to the OCC’s and FDIC’s Madden-fix rules brought in two separate lawsuits by state attorneys general.  The OCC rule is codified at 12 C.F.R. Section 7.4001(e) and the FDIC rule is codified at 12 C.F.R. Section 160.110(d).  The rules provide that a loan made by a national bank, federal savings association, or federally-insured state-chartered bank that is permissible under applicable federal law (Section 85 of the National Bank Act (NBA) or Section 27 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA)) is not affected by the sale, assignment, or other transfer of the loan.… Continue Reading

This past Tuesday, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu appeared as a witness at the Senate Banking Committee’s hearing, “Oversight of Regulators: Does our Financial System Work for Everyone?”

In his written and oral testimony, Mr. Hsu stressed as an overall theme the need for the OCC to prohibit “predatory and discriminatory practices while promoting financial inclusion.”  … Continue Reading

Mr. Dougherty recently authored an article calling for the OCC’s abolishment and merger into the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.  After reviewing the history of the creation of the OCC and Federal Reserve Banks, we examine and debate Mr. Dougherty’s arguments in support of his position.  We also discuss and respond to Mr.… Continue Reading

On April 15, 2021, the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions will hold a hearing titled, “Banking Innovation or Regulatory Evasion? Exploring Trends in Financial Institution Charters.”  A topic expected to receive attention at the hearing is the OCC’s decision to accept applications for special purpose national bank charters from non-depository fintechs. … Continue Reading

The OCC has filed a reply in support of its cross-motion for summary judgment in the lawsuit filed by state AGs to enjoin the OCC’s final rule (Rule) purporting to override the Second Circuit’s Madden decision as to national banks and federal savings associations.  The filing of the OCC’s reply concludes the briefing on the motions for summary judgment filed by the AGs and the OCC. … Continue Reading

The Attorneys General of California, Illinois, and New York have filed their opposition to the OCC’s cross-motion for summary judgment in their lawsuit to enjoin the OCC’s final rule (Rule) purporting to override the Second Circuit’s Madden decision as to national banks and federal savings associations.  In their filing, the AGs also reply to the OCC’s opposition to their summary judgment motion. … Continue Reading

The CFPB recently filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut alleging violations of various federal consumer protection laws by 1st Alliance Lending, LLC (1st Alliance), a former mortgage lender. The complaint also names several principals of 1st Alliance as defendants. According to the complaint, certain alleged conduct occurred from 2015 until at least August 2019, with other alleged conduct occurring in a narrower period within such timeframe.… Continue Reading