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
Regulation Z
Colorado provides some (but not enough) guidance on new general-purpose credit card carve-out
Posted in Credit Cards, State Regulation
In the same 2023 bill (House Bill 23-1229) that included Colorado’s DIDMCA opt-out**, Colorado adopted a statute excepting certain “general-purpose credit cards”, as defined, from the state’s limitations on finance charges and fees applicable to consumer transactions, effective July 1, 2024. However, ambiguities in the definition of “general-purpose credit card” have perplexed many in the industry.… Continue Reading
CFPB proposed rule would make certain overdraft programs credit subject to Regulation Z disclosure requirements and could cap overdraft fees at $3
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
Michael Guerrero Presents at ABA Consumer Financial Services Committee Meeting on CFPB Rulemaking and Non-Rulemaking Efforts During Biden Administration
By Alan S. Kaplinsky on
Posted in CFPB Rulemaking
On January 9th, Michael Guerrero, Partner in Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group, presented at a program titled “Has the CFPB Offered Simpler Rules of the Road? Successes and Challenges with the CFPB’s Rulemaking and Non-Rulemaking Efforts During the Biden Administration”.
Panelists discussed the CFPB’s rulemaking and non-rulemaking guidance after Director Rohit Chopra’s June 2022 blog post titled “Rethinking the Approach to Regulations” in which he shared the CFPB’s aspiration to more clearly communicate the CFPB’s regulatory expectations in simple and straight-forward terms.… Continue Reading
Financial trade groups remind CFPB of the SBREFA requirements for the imminent overdraft and NSF fee rulemaking
By Kristen E. Larson on
On January 3, 2023, American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions, and Independent Community Bankers of America wrote a letter to CFPB Director Rohit Chopra to address their concerns that the CFPB’s proposal for rulemaking on non-sufficient funds (NSF) and overdraft fees triggers the statutorily required Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) review as the rulemaking will have a significant economic impact on banks and credits unions with assets of $850 million or less.… Continue Reading
CFPB Continues to Expand Its Scrutiny of Higher Education with New Report on College and Postsecondary School Tuition Plans
The CFPB recently released a report regarding higher education tuition payment plans that discusses prevailing practices and highlights certain CFPB concerns regarding consumer impact. The CFPB’s report was based upon (a) a review of hundreds of postsecondary school and college websites that contain publicly available information on tuition plans and related contracts, (b) consumer complaints submitted to the CFPB and Department of Education, and (c) interviews with consumers and meetings with industry participants.… Continue Reading
CFPB consent order shuts down mortgage lender focused on servicemembers
By Brian Turetsky on
On February 27, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) entered into a consent order against RMK Financial Corporation d/b/a Majestic Home Loan (RMK), a California-based mortgage lender, based on allegations that it falsely implied government endorsement of its home loans in its marketing. The consent order, which addressed numerous alleged statutory and regulatory violations and a failure to comply with an earlier consent order, prohibits RMK from engaging in any mortgage lending activities (or from receiving remuneration from mortgage lending) going forward, effectively shutting it down.… Continue Reading
Divided Eleventh Circuit panel rules TILA-required monthly mortgage statements can constitute debt collection communications subject to FDCPA and Florida law
By Reid F. Herlihy on
A divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. held last week that monthly mortgage statements required under the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z can constitute communications in connection with the collection of a debt under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA). … Continue Reading
New Federal Student Loan Interest Rates for 2019-2020 Announced
By Rene T. McNulty on
The Department of Education has announced the new federal student loan interest rates for 2019-2020. For the first time in three years, interest rates on federal student loans will decrease. Rates for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans (for undergraduate students) will fall to 4.53 percent, down from 5.05 percent for the 2018-2019 academic year. … Continue Reading
April 1 effective date of prepaid rule leaves little remaining time for addressing significant compliance challenges; Ballard Spahr to hold February 27 webinar
By Ronald K. Vaske & Ballard CFS Group on
After several years of rulemaking, amendments, and delays, the CFPB’s Prepaid Rule (the “Rule”) is finally set to take effect on April 1, 2019. This rapidly approaching effective date means that prepaid issuers have only two months left to confirm that their prepaid programs and materials are fully compliant with the Rules’ complex and specific new requirements.… Continue Reading