First and Ninth Circuit decisions conflict with the Second Circuit, while the OCC has concluded that state escrow-interest laws are preempted

National bank preemption is headed toward another Supreme Court showdown. The Second Circuit has held that New York’s mortgage escrow-interest requirement is preempted, directly conflicting with the First Circuit’s decision upholding a comparable Rhode Island requirement and the Ninth Circuit’s decision allowing a similar California law to remain in effect.… Continue Reading

The battle over the scope of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s authority to preempt state consumer financial laws has entered a new phase. On August 11, 2026, Oregon and nine other states with “blue” attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging two rules adopted by the OCC that purport to preempt state laws requiring mortgage lenders to pay interest on funds held in escrow accounts.… Continue Reading

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 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

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

The scope of national bank preemption is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A.  A New York statute requires the payment of interest on mortgage escrow accounts and the question before the Supreme Court is whether the National Bank Act (NBA) preempts application of the New York statute to national banks. … Continue Reading

Bank of America, N.A. has filed its merits brief in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A., the case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court dealing with the scope of national bank preemption.  The petitioners must file their reply brief by February 16, 2024.  (The petitioners’ merits brief is available here.) … Continue Reading

On February 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A., a case involving the scope of preemption under the National Bank Act (NBA).  The question before the Court is whether the NBA preempts a New York statute requiring banks to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts. … Continue Reading

The scope of national bank preemption is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court in Cantero v. Bank of America, N.A.  A New York statute requires the payment of interest on mortgage escrow accounts and the question before the Supreme Court is whether the National Bank Act (NBA) preempts application of the New York statute to national banks. … Continue Reading

Providers of consumer financial services that rely on federal preemption to charge customers uniform interest rates and fees on a nationwide basis are currently facing a series of legislative and litigation challenges.  In this episode, which repurposes a recent webinar, we first discuss the U.S. Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in Cantero v.… Continue Reading

The CFPB has issued a determination that the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) does not preempt the commercial financing laws of New York, California, Utah, and Virginia.  The determination will be effective on the date it is published in the Federal Register.

TILA authorizes the CFPB to determine whether a state law disclosure requirement is preempted upon the CFPB’s own motion or upon the request of a creditor or other interested party. … Continue Reading