Search Results: Lender Law

CFPB Finalizes Mortgage Rules Amendments

On October 22, the CFPB issued amendments to the Dodd-Frank Act mortgage rules that took effect in January 2014.  The amendments include: ATR/QM Cure Provision: Under the Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule, a mortgage loan must meet certain requirements to be considered a “qualified mortgage”.  One such requirement is that the points and fees…

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CFPB Takes Action to Enforce New Mortgage Servicing Rules

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has entered a consent order with a mortgage bank following CFPB’s allegations that the bank violated the new mortgage servicing rules.  CFPB claimed that the bank: ​took an unreasonably long time to process borrowers’ applications for loan modifications or other foreclosure relief; failed to…

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CFPB Sues Another Company for Alleged Deceptive Student Lending Practices

On September 16, the CFPB filed suit against Corinthian Colleges, Inc. in the Northern District of Illinois for engaging in alleged predatory student lending.  This is the CFPB’s second predatory student lending suit against a for-profit college; the first being against ITT (reported by LenderLaw Watch here). The allegations and relief…

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CFPB Rule Defines "Larger Participants" In International Money Transfer Market

On September 23, the CFPB issued its final rule amending the regulation defining larger participants of certain consumer financial product and service markets specifically to add a definition for larger participants in the market for international money transfers. The rule defines such “larger participants” as those entities that have at least one million aggregate…

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Is Knowing Enough? The FTC's Concerns Regarding Mobile Banking Practices May Force You to Do ...

On September 10, 2014, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) posted a comment in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) request for information regarding the use of mobile banking services and products specifically utilized by economically vulnerable or underserved consumers.  After briefly articulating some of the benefits of mobile…

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CFPB Director Proposes to Supervise "Captive" Auto Finance Companies

On September 18, CFPB Director Richard Cordray delivered remarks at a Field Hearing about CFPB’s latest proposed rule, which would allow it to begin regulating “captive” finance companies – those entities owned by automotive manufacturers “for the primary purpose of facilitating sales for their parent companies and associated dealers.” In his…

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Interagency Guidance: Regulators Will Enforce UDAAP Laws Notwithstanding Repeal of Regulation AA

The Federal Reserve Board recently made headlines when it repealed its Regulation AA to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act, leading some to wonder how, and to what extent, regulation of financial institutions might change going forward. But the federal agencies charged with regulating banking and credit activities have made it clear that they will continue to enforce prohibitions…

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You Have No Standing to Challenge the Assignment or Transfer of Your Mortgage and Note in ...

On August 27, 2014, the California Supreme Court granted a petition for review in which the Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeals dismissed a mortgagor’s challenge to foreclosure proceedings, ruling that she had no standing to challenge assignment of her promissory note and the deed of trust…

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CFPB Warns Credit Card Issuers Against Deceptive Marketing of Promotional APR Offers

On September 3, 2014, the CFPB issued a Bulletin warning credit card issuers about deceptive marketing of promotional annual percentage rate (APR) offers.  According to the CFPB, it has observed solicitations that offer an initial low APR for certain kinds of transactions (such as convenience checks, deferred interest rate purchases, or…

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DOJ Investigating GM Financial's Subprime Auto Loan Securities

The Department of Justice is investigating whether to bring civil claims under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) against GM Financial Company, Inc. for its origination and securitization of subprime auto loans.  GM Financial revealed the investigation in a recent SEC 8-K filing, stating that…

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Money Remittance Improvement Act Eases Regulatory Requirements for MSBs

On August 1, Congress passed the Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014 (signed by President Obama on August 8, 2014), which reduces regulatory hurdles and duplication between state and federal regulation of money services businesses.  Specifically, the Act permits the Secretary of the Treasury to “rely on examinations conducted by a…

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Retailers Beware: Shopping Apps Can Cost You, Too

Online shopping is widespread, and by now, most retailers have tailored their websites to ensure consumers are fully aware of their privacy, security, and dispute resolution rights and liabilities in buying products online.  However, as retailers and other companies increasingly launch mobile applications to allow their customers to purchase items…

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GAO Report: Consumer Protections Against Virtual Currency Risks Still Lacking; CFPB Should Step In

On June 26, 2014, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report entitled “Virtual Currencies: Emerging Regulatory, Law Enforcement, and Consumer Protection Challenges.”  The report discusses the benefits and disadvantages of virtual currency and reviews efforts to date by federal agencies to regulate the virtual currency market.  The report concludes…

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Committee of Banking Regulators Begins Cyber-Security Assessments of 500 Financial Institutions

On June 24, 2014, in response to the “increasing volume and sophistication of cyber threats,” the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”) began a month-long cyber-security assessment of 500 community financial institutions and credit unions.  Announcing what it dubbed a “pilot program,” the FFIEC—a formal, interagency body made up of…

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Recent DOJ & CFPB Consent Orders Highlight ECOA Risks For Servicers

Synchrony Bank (formerly known as GE Capital Retail Bank) made two direct mail offers to its credit card holders, but it did not send the offers to Spanish-speaking customers.  The Bank self-reported its actions, resulting in consent orders with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Department of Justice, which…

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IN FAIRNESS TO ALL: Complying With FCRA Disclosure Requirements When Evaluating And Hiring ...

Employers use a number of tools to assess any potential hire, and to evaluate existing employees.  When using a credit report for these purposes, employers need to be wary of the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s (“FCRA”) (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) provisions.  The FCRA has strict procedures, requiring that employers…

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