The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a procedural rule updating its supervisory process for institutions seeking to appeal a compliance rating or an adverse finding. Although the appeals process remains...more
Consumer use of "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) products and programs has proliferated over the last few years. While federal oversight has not been extensive to date, new guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a rule to define a market for general-use digital consumer payment applications. Larger participants in this market would be subject to CFPB supervision and...more
11/15/2023
/ Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Wallets ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Merchants ,
Mobile Apps ,
Multi-Factor Test ,
Nonbank Firms ,
p2p ,
Proposed Rules
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it has reached a settlement with the bankrupt crypto company Voyager over the company’s alleged deceptive crypto marketing practices. Specifically, the FTC’s complaint alleges that...more
10/17/2023
/ Advertising ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Cease and Desist ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Deposit Insurance ,
False Advertising ,
FDIC ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Gramm-Leach-Blilely Act ,
Settlement Negotiations
Large banks and credit unions must provide certain information to customers free of charge, such as account balances, transaction history, and fees, according to an advisory opinion issued by the Consumer Financial Protection...more
10/17/2023
/ Advisory Opinions ,
Banks ,
Biden Administration ,
Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Credit Unions ,
Excessive Fees ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Hidden Fees ,
Supervisory Highlights
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a Proposed Rule, “Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.” The Proposed Rule comes after the FTC solicited comments through its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in...more
This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a Proposed Rule, “Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.” The Proposed Rule comes after the FTC solicited comments through its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in...more
10/12/2023
/ Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) ,
Brick-and-Mortar Stores ,
Comment Period ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
E-Commerce ,
Fees ,
Goods or Services ,
Governor Newsom ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Comment
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB" or "Bureau") recently published a Small Entity Compliance Guide (the "Guide") regarding Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which amended ECOA to require that financial...more
6/13/2023
/ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Covered Entities ,
Dodd-Frank ,
ECOA ,
Fair Lending ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Institutions ,
Lenders ,
Reporting Requirements ,
SBA ,
Small Business
On February 27, 2023, the Supreme Court granted the certiorari petition of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to hear a case that could cast doubt on all of the regulations that have been promulgated by the...more
When it comes to negative options, the CFPB has strong opinions. As demonstrated in its new circular, these opinions generally align with those of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has repeatedly targeted trial...more
Last week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to establish a public registry of terms and conditions in form contracts that purport to waive or limit consumer rights and protections.
The rule...more
The law surrounding negative option and continuity programs continues to evolve rapidly. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with the latest developments? Below is what you need to know in light of new laws, new enforcement actions,...more
1/19/2023
/ Automatic Renewals ,
Consent ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
GrubHub ,
New Legislation ,
ROSCA ,
Settlement ,
State Attorneys General ,
Subscription Services ,
Terms of Service ,
Website Design
Risk management personnel who underwrite e-commerce merchants should have some basic understanding of the types of online merchant marketing and sales practices that are deceptive and misleading....more
11/18/2022
/ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Credit Reporting Agencies ,
E-Commerce ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fees ,
Marketing ,
Payment Processors ,
Popular ,
Subscription Services ,
Surcharges ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices ,
Website Design ,
Websites
Through a new interpretive rule announced this week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has declared that digital marketing providers can be held liable under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA)...more
8/15/2022
/ Advertising ,
Banks ,
Behavioral Advertising ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Covered Entities ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Internet Marketing ,
Marketing ,
Nonbank Firms ,
UDAAP ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Although the concept is not new, challenges to “dark patterns” are rising all over the country. The Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state attorneys general, and class action plaintiffs...more
Anti-discrimination law applies to companies with black-box credit models using complex algorithms, according to a circular issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on May 26, 2022. According to the CFPB, the...more
6/16/2022
/ Adverse Action ,
Algorithms ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Lenders ,
ECOA ,
Emerging Technologies ,
Fair Lending ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Machine Learning ,
UDAAP ,
Whistleblowers
The CFPB has opened a new Office of Competition and Innovation. The move comes "as part of a new approach to help spur innovation in financial services by promoting competition and identifying stumbling blocks for new market...more
The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau ("CFPB") announced that it will examine nonbank financial companies that pose risks to consumers, using statutory authority that until now had gone unused. Additional examinations would...more
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a compliance bulletin regarding potentially illegal practices related to consumer reviews. The bulletin seeks to promote reviews about financial products and services...more
Does Ownership and Management Structure Matter?
Fiduciary Relationships - Special confidence placed in one who in equity and good conscience is bound to act in good faith and in due regard to the one reposing confidence....more
2/20/2022
/ Consumer Credit Protection ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Corporate Officers ,
Corporate Veil ,
Directors ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
FTC Act ,
Personal Liability ,
Piercing the Corporate Veil ,
Risk Management ,
Section 5
The explosion in Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) has caught the eyes of lawmakers and regulators, who are taking a closer look at this booming industry.
BNPL payment offers allow consumers to purchase goods or services now and...more
Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) products are taking center stage as a popular way for consumers to purchase goods or services now and pay for them over time through a short series of installments, often interest-free. Industry...more
1/28/2022
/ Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
ECOA ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FinTech ,
Military Lending Act ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Retailers ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
UDAAP