The 2018 Winter Olympics are over. We watched two 17-year-olds win gold medals in sports that didn’t exist when we were 17. The Garlic Girls, with nicknames from their favorite breakfasts, and the U.S. men’s team won medals in curling. No Miracle on Ice for the U.S. men’s hockey team, but the U.S. women’s team… Read More
Category Archives: Credit Cards
Subscribe to Credit Cards RSS FeedCFPB Amends Prepaid Accounts Rule and Delays its Effective Date
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsOn January 25, 2018, the CFPB finalized amendments to its final Prepaid Accounts Rule, which was published in November 2016. The Bureau stated that the 2018 Amendments finalize revisions proposed in June 2017 “generally as proposed, with certain modifications.” The 2018 Amendments address some of the issues raised by industry and delay the effective date… Read More
Joint and Several Liability for Payment Processor That Facilitated Fraud
Posted in Credit CardsOn December 13, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida finding a credit card payment processor jointly and severally liable, under a theory of aiding and abetting, for the full judgment entered against fraudulent telemarketers. While some courts have rejected efforts by… Read More
Financial Services Report – Winter 2017
Posted in Arbitration, Auto Lending, CFPB, Credit Cards, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Foreclosure, Indirect Auto Lending, Mobile Payments, Mortgage, Payday Lending, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, State RegulatorsThe holidays came early for the financial services industry. First, the Senate voted to repeal the CFPB’s rule banning class waivers in arbitration agreements in consumer financial contracts. Then, Richard Cordray stepped down as CFPB Director. Former Director Cordray’s attempt to name his interim successor hours before submitting his formal resignation created dueling interim directors… Read More
CFPB Encourages Financial Institutions to Provide Consumers with Greater Control over Payment Methods
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Electronic PaymentsOn November 20, 2017, the CFPB released a November 17, 2017 letter that Director Richard Cordray sent to “the CEO’s of several banks, credit unions, and financial companies” asking that they consider “enabl[ing] consumers to exert greater control over their credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods.” Read our client alert.
Financial Services Report – Fall 2017
Posted in Arbitration, CFPB, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Electronic Payments, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Investigations, Mortgage, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, State Regulators, UDAAPThrough hurricanes, wild fires, the publication of Hillary Clinton’s book, the birth of Amal and George Clooney’s twins, and the Dodgers’ historic losing streak, Director Richard Cordray and the CFPB’s Final Arbitration Rule are still standing. As my colleague Ollie Ireland explained, these days, it’s easier to predict the weather than it is to predict… Read More
CFPB and Card Issuers Resolve ECOA Action Involving Cards Offered in U.S. Territories and Cardholders with Spanish Language Preference
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Disparate Impact, Enforcement Actions, Fair LendingOn August 23, 2017, the CFPB announced the resolution of an administrative action under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation B, against American Express Centurion Bank and American Express Bank, FSB. In the proceeding, the CFPB alleged the Issuers violated ECOA by (i) offering credit and charge card products and services to… Read More
CFPB Proposes Changes to Prepaid Accounts Rule
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsOn June 15, 2017, the CFPB released proposed revisions to its final Prepaid Accounts Rule. The Final Rule was published in November 2016 and was subsequently amended to delay the general effective date by six months, to April 1, 2018. The CFPB is seeking comments on proposed revisions to the Final Rule, as well as… Read More
Financial Services Report – Summer 2017
Posted in Add On Products, Arbitration, CFPB, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Foreclosure, Investigations, Mobile Payments, Mortgage, Payday Lending, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, State Regulators, Student LendingSummer blockbuster season is officially upon us. Have you seen Wonder Woman yet? What about Guardians of the Galaxy Part 2? It’s déjà vu all over again with Baywatch, Pirates of the Caribbean, Alien, Planet of the Apes, Transformers, Cars, Spider Man, and more Inconvenient Truths from Al Gore all coming to a theatre near… Read More
Consumer Advisory Board – CFPB Encourages Credit Card Companies to Consider Zero-Interest Promotions in Place of Deferred-Interest Programs
Posted in CFPB, Credit CardsOn June 8, 2017, the CFPB held a Consumer Advisory Board meeting, at which CFPB Director Richard Cordray discussed deferred-interest products. The CFPB also included in a press release a sample letter that Director Cordray sent to “top retail credit card companies” expressing concern about their use of deferred-interest programs and encouraging them to consider… Read More
Supreme Court “Expresses” Unanimous View That Credit Card Disclosure Rules Regulate Speech
Posted in Credit Cards, State RegulatorsOn March 29, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a New York law restricting the way merchants may communicate prices to their customers regulates speech and, thus, is subject to review under the First Amendment. Specifically, the Court held that New York General Business Law § 518 (“Section 518”) should not be viewed as regulating… Read More
Financial Services Report – Spring 2017
Posted in Arbitration, CFPB, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Electronic Payments, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Foreclosure, Investigations, Military Issues, Mobile Payments, Mortgage, Payday Lending, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, State Regulators, Student LendingIn like a lion, out like a lamb—it works for weather; does it work for new administrations? We’ll have to wait and see. We’ll have to wait and see about the length of CFPB Director Richard Cordray’s tenure and the fate of Dodd-Frank, as it appears the Trump administration is focusing on other priorities. So… Read More
CFPB Initiates Third CARD Act Review
Posted in CFPB, Credit CardsOn March 10, 2017, the CFPB published a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the consumer credit card market. In accordance with Section 502(a) of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, the Bureau conducts a biennial review of the consumer credit card market by soliciting public comment and feedback. The CFPB uses… Read More
CFPB Proposes Delayed Effective Date of Prepaid Accounts Rule, Releases Short-Form Disclosure Guide
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsOn March 9, the CFPB announced in a blog post a proposal to delay the effective date of the final rule on prepaid accounts (Final Rule) for six months to April 1, 2018. The Bureau also released a guide for preparing the short-form disclosure required under the Final Rule. Read our client alert.
The Madden Saga Continues: On Remand, Madden Survives Summary Judgment and District Court Certifies Class
Posted in Credit Cards, State RegulatorsOn February 27, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in part denied a renewed motion by Midland Funding, LLC (“Midland”) to dispose of claims brought by Saliha Madden (“Madden”) under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the New York General Business Law. The Order also certified two classes… Read More
Financial Services Report – Winter 2016
Posted in Arbitration, Auto Lending, CFPB, Credit Cards, Disparate Impact, Electronic Payments, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Foreclosure, Military Issues, Mobile Payments, Mortgage, Payday Lending, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, State Regulators, UDAAPHope you survived all of those awkward Thanksgiving holiday conversations—amazing how divided people are on whether the court got it right in the PHH case, isn’t it? So on we go into the holiday season, while visions of Dodd-Frank repeal dance in our heads. No long winter’s nap for the CFPB, not with the inauguration… Read More
CFPB Finalizes Sweeping Prepaid Account Rule
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsOn October 5, 2016, the CFPB issued its long-awaited final rule to further regulate prepaid card products, or “prepaid accounts” (the “Final Rule” or “Rule”). This alert identifies key provisions of the Final Rule addressing scope, disclosures, error resolution and liability, and provisions regarding so-called “hybrid credit-prepaid cards.” The Rule generally takes effect on October… Read More
Financial Services Report – Fall 2016
Posted in Add On Products, Arbitration, CFPB, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Disparate Impact, Electronic Payments, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Foreclosure, Military Issues, Mobile Payments, Mortgage, Payday Lending, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, UDAAPSo much for summer! The weather is cooling, the kids are back to school, and we better not see you wearing white so long after Labor Day! For those of you having a little trouble getting back in the swing of things, we thought we’d lead with just a few of the animals making headlines… Read More
CFPB Levies Largest Civil Money Penalty in Agency History, Alleges “Abusive” Conduct
Posted in CFPB, Credit Cards, Enforcement ActionsOn September 8, 2016, the CFPB, the OCC, and the City and County of Los Angeles entered into a Consent Order with Wells Fargo, with civil money penalties totaling $185 million. The CFPB’s portion of those penalties is $100 million, which is the largest fine the Bureau has imposed since opening its doors in July… Read More
#ThrowbackThursday: Summary of Final CARD Act Clarifications
Posted in Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsIn April 2011, Morrison & Foerster published the client alert “Summary of Final CARD Act Clarifications.” Summary: On March 18, 2011, the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”) issued a final rule to clarify certain recent amendments to Regulation Z, particularly those implementing the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (“CARD Act”). While the… Read More
#ThrowbackThursday: Summary of Proposed CARD Act Clarifications
Posted in Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsIn November 2010, Morrison & Foerster published the client alert “Summary of Proposed CARD Act Clarifications.” Click here to read the full alert.
New Agency Guidance on Applying CIP Requirements to Prepaid Cardholders
Posted in Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsIn response to continuing concerns about the vulnerability of prepaid cards to criminal and terrorist abuse, five regulators issued interagency joint guidance on March 21 clarifying bank obligations to identify prepaid card accountholders under the existing regulations implementing the “Customer Identification Program” or “CIP” requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act. The Agencies intend the guidance… Read More
Financial Services Report – Spring 2016
Posted in Arbitration, Auto Lending, CFPB, Credit Cards, Credit Reports, Disparate Impact, Electronic Payments, Enforcement Actions, Fair Lending, Foreclosure, Mobile Payments, Mortgage, Payday Lending, Preemption, Privacy, Regulatory Developments, State Regulators, UDAAPWhy another law firm newsletter? Over ten years ago, Will Stern answered that question in the first Editor’s Note of the first Financial Services Report. Some things have changed since then—we no longer print and mail paper copies, and we report on issues that were not even a twinkle in anyone’s eye back then (the… Read More
#ThrowbackThursday: Federal Reserve Board Issues Final CARD Act Rule on Penalty Fees and Rate Reevaluations
Posted in Credit Cards, Regulatory DevelopmentsIn June 2010, Morrison & Foerster published the client alert “Federal Reserve Board Issues Final CARD Act Rule on Penalty Fees and Rate Reevaluations.” Summary: Adding yet another layer of credit card regulation, the Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule to implement the reasonable penalty fee and rate reevaluation provisions of the “Credit Card… Read More