On March 25, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills that sought to impose new restrictions on “high-risk” artificial intelligence (AI) systems and fintech lending partnerships. The vetoes reflect the Governor’s...more
The CFPB has announced plans to withdraw its May 2024 interpretive rule that subjected buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) products to regulations applicable to credit cards under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The move was revealed...more
On March 26, the CFPB filed a motion to vacate its recent settlement against an Illinois-based mortgage lender accused of engaging in discriminatory marketing practices in violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)...more
On March 27, the FTC announced that a fintech company offering cash advances through a mobile app has agreed to pay $17 million to resolve allegations that it violated the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence...more
3/31/2025
/ Consent ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FinTech ,
Mobile Apps ,
ROSCA ,
Settlement ,
Subscription Services ,
UDAAP ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On March 24, acting FDIC Chairman Travis Hill informed Congress that the agency is preparing to eliminate the use of “reputation risk” as a basis for supervisory criticism. In a letter to Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), Hill...more
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has taken two significant deregulatory steps affecting its oversight of the government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs). The agency rescinded a 2024 advisory...more
3/31/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Deregulation ,
Fannie Mae ,
FHFA ,
Freddie Mac ,
Mortgages ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Special Purpose Credit Programs ,
UDAP
On January 17, the Pennsylvania Attorney General filed a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against a group of mortgage brokers and their manager, alleging that they...more
Following President Trump’s March 6 Executive Order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, released alongside a White House Briefing, the U.S. government has taken its most formal step yet toward integrating digital assets...more
3/28/2025
/ Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Assets ,
Executive Orders ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Investment ,
National Security ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Technology ,
Trump Administration
On February 20, the SEC announced the creation of its Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to address misconduct involving new technologies and strengthen protections for retail investors. The CETU replaces the SEC’s...more
On March 20, the OCC announced that it will no longer treat reputation risk as a standalone category in its supervision of national banks and federal savings associations. The decision marks a dramatic shift in the agency’s...more
In a March 10 blog post, the new Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws through Civil Investigation Demands (CIDs).
A CID is a...more
In a March 10 blog post, the new Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing consumer protection laws through Civil Investigation Demands (CIDs)....more
On February 20, the Virginia General Assembly passed the High-Risk Artificial Intelligence Developer and Deployer Act. If signed into law, Virginia would become the second state, after Colorado, to enact comprehensive...more
3/24/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Compliance ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement ,
New Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Legislatures ,
Technology Sector
On March 13, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the introduction of the Fostering Affordability and Integrity through Reasonable Business Practices Act (FAIR Business Practices Act). The proposed legislation...more
3/24/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Debt Collection ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State Attorneys General ,
Student Loans ,
Technology Sector ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On March 18, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood reiterated the OCC’s commitment to ensuring fair access to banking services, including for cryptocurrency firms. Speaking at a retail banking industry conference,...more
On March 7, the OCC issued Interpretive Letter 1183 and an accompanying statement affirming prior guidance regarding whether national banks and federal savings associations may engage in cryptocurrency-related activities,...more
3/17/2025
/ Banking Sector ,
Blockchain ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Interpretive Letters ,
OCC ,
Payment Systems ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
Stablecoins
The CFPB has recently dismissed two more enforcement actions—one against a major credit reporting agency and another against a lease-to-own financing provider. Both lawsuits involved allegations of abusive, unfair, and...more
3/17/2025
/ Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fair Lending ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Fraud ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Small Business Loans ,
Telemarketing Sales Rule ,
UDAAP ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On March 4, the California DFPI finalized regulations under the Debt Collection Licensing Act (DCLA). The final regulations, which take effect July 1, 2025, clarify key licensing and reporting requirements....more
3/17/2025
/ California ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Debt Collection ,
Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) ,
Final Rules ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements
The CFPB is extending the comment periods for two proposed rulemakings under Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). On March 5, the Bureau extended the comment period for its proposed rule on...more
The CFPB is facing pushback from the U.S. Senate over two final rules issued under the Biden administration: one expanding oversight of nonbank digital payment providers and another limiting the reporting of medical debt....more
The CFPB has recently dismissed two more enforcement actions—one against a major credit reporting agency and another against a lease-to-own financing provider. Both lawsuits involved allegations of abusive, unfair, and...more
3/17/2025
/ Consent Order ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Debt Collection ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
UDAAP ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On March 3, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced new regulations, issued under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, aimed at curbing “junk fees” by requiring businesses to disclose total prices...more
3/17/2025
/ Consumer Protection Laws ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Fees ,
New Regulations ,
Pricing ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Attorneys General ,
Transparency ,
UDAAP ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On March 10, 2025, the CFPB informed the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas that it will proceed with litigation against a short-term installment lender and its subsidiary for alleged violations of the...more
On March 1, and despite recent policy shifts under the new administration, the CFPB sent a letter to the judge overseeing its lawsuit against a fintech lender in the United States District Court for the Southern District of...more
On March 3, the FDIC announced the withdrawal of its proposed rule on brokered deposits, citing concerns regarding potential disruptions to the financial sector. This move follows significant pushback from industry...more