The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a new report entitled “Financial Technology: Products Have Benefits and Risks to Underserved Consumers, and Regulatory Clarity Is Needed.”

The report focuses on the following four types of fintech products:

  • Digital deposit accounts offered by fintech companies through partnerships with banks or credit unions. 
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In response to a request from three Democratic House members, the GAO recently issued a report on its review of fair lending oversight conducted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.  According to a Law360 report, the lawmakers had petitioned the GAO nearly two years ago to open an investigation into allegations that the OCC had quietly dropped several fair lending investigations during the Trump Administration. … Continue Reading

During May 2021, the federal Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) issued a report (GAO-21-393) containing findings from its review of issues related to the CFPB’s oversight and enforcement of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (“ECOA”) and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (“HMDA”).  Specifically, the report examines how the CFPB has (i) managed the reorganization of its Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity and related risks during 2018, (ii) monitored and reported on its fair lending performance, and (iii) used new HMDA data fields to analyze and support its fair lending activities. … Continue Reading

A new report issued by the Government Accountability Office titled, “Private Student Loans: Clarification from CFPB Could Help Ensure More Consistent opportunities and Treatment for Borrowers,” calls on the CFPB to provide clarification to nonbank private student loan lenders regarding private student loan rehabilitation programs.

The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Economic Growth Act) passed by Congress last year amended Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to allow a “financial institution” to honor a consumer’s request to have a reported default regarding a private education loan removed from the consumer’s credit report without the information being considered inaccurate when the consumer successfully meets the terms of a private student loan rehabilitation program offered by the financial institution. … Continue Reading

In May 2017, we blogged about press reports that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had accepted a request from Senator Patrick Toomey for a determination concerning whether the CFPB Bulletin 2013-02, titled “Indirect Auto Finance and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act,” is a “rule” within the scope of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). … Continue Reading

American Banker has reported that the Government Accountability Office has accepted a request from Senator Pat Toomey on whether the CFPB’s indirect auto finance guidance issued in March 2013 is a “rule” under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).  It reported that the GAO also accepted a similar request from Senator Toomey regarding the leveraged lending guidance issued jointly by the OCC, Fed and FDIC. … Continue Reading

A report last month issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)  found that a survey of nonexecutive CFPB employees revealed “heightened concerns related to fair treatment, trust that employees can raise concerns related to fair treatment, trust that employees can raise concerns without fear of reprisal, confidence in complaint processes, and other matters.” … Continue Reading

The CFPB has issued its financial report for its 2015 fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2015.  The report indicates that the number of CFPB employees grew from 1,443 in FY 2014 to 1,529 in FY 2015.  Transfers to the CFPB from the Fed (which are capped by Dodd-Frank at a pre-set percentage of the Fed’s total 2009 operating expenses, subject to an annual adjustment) decreased from $534 million in FY 2014 to $485 in FY 2015. … Continue Reading

The CFPB has issued its financial report for its 2014 fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2014.  Perhaps most illustrative of the CFPB’s growth are the report’s statistics on the CFPB’s employees and funding.  The report indicates that the number of CFPB employees grew from 663 in FY 2011 to 1,443 in FY 2014. … Continue Reading

A new report from the Government Accountability Office on the CFPB’s data collection efforts finds that the CFPB needs to do more to reduce the risk of improper collection, use or release of such data.  The CFPB’s data collection efforts have been the focus of criticism from lawmakers during several hearings at which Director Cordray and Deputy Director Antonakes testified. … Continue Reading