Banker Compliance News

Banking compliance professionals require hot-topic news on consumer and regulatory compliance updates, decisions, amendments, changes and launches from across a wide spectrum of news agencies and federal websites. Not only do we update our News pages with individual news items and their links, but these are sent to members in a Daily Bank Compliance email that can be signed up for once new members log-in. Compliance Alliance monitors these agencies for bank compliance news updates throughout the day—posting relevant information to our News page. This is a valuable resource for Bank Managers and their employees.

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CFPB Updates List of Consumer Reporting Companies

January 30, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released its annual list of consumer reporting companies. The list identifies dozens of specialty reporting companies that collect and sell access to people’s data, including individuals’ finances, employment, check writing histories, or rental history records. People can use the list to, among other things, request their…

CFPB Orders Wise to Pay $2.5 Million for Illegal Remittance Practices

January 30, 2025 / Source: CFPB

Washington, D.C. â€“ The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today ordered the international remittance company Wise to pay nearly $2.5 million for a series of illegal actions, including advertising inaccurate fees and failing to properly disclose exchange rates and other costs. Wise allows customers to send, receive, and store remittances through a mobile app and prepaid…

U.S. Department of the Treasury Withdraws from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)

January 30, 2025 / Source: Treasury

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) Federal Insurance Office (FIO) today notified the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) that it is withdrawing its membership. Withdrawal from NGFS is one part of implementing President Trump’s Executive Orders Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements and Unleashing…

CFPB Finds Servicemembers Pay More in Auto Lending Market

January 29, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report showing that United States servicemembers pay higher costs and face greater financial risks than civilian borrowers when taking out credit to buy a car. The report analyzes more than 20 million auto loans originated between 2018 and 2022, and finds that servicemembers typically…

Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement

January 29, 2025 / Source: FRB

Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. The unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid. Inflation remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run….

FHFA House Price Index Up 0.3 Percent in November; Up 4.2 Percent from Previous Year

January 28, 2025 / Source: FHFA

Washington, D.C. â€“ U.S. house prices rose 0.3 percent in November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (HPIÂź). House prices rose 4.2 percent from November 2023 to November 2024. The previously reported 0.4 percent price growth in October was revised upward to 0.5 percent. However, in a repeat of previous HPI updates,…

CFPB Report Finds Continued Challenges for Households that Rent

January 28, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released two reports looking at national rental payment data from September 2021 to November 2024. The percentage of renters who paid late fees in the last year reached 23% in February 2023. While the rate declined to slightly less than 14% in November 2024, the CFPB’s…

Scott Bessent sworn in as 79th Secretary of the Department of Treasury

January 28, 2025 / Source: Treasury

WASHINGTON – Scott Bessent was sworn in as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury by Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh on January 28, 2025.    Shortly following the ceremony, Mr. Bessent was welcomed at the doors of the U.S. Treasury at 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue by department employees. Mr. Bessent’s first working day included meetings with…

CFPB Report Finds Cash-Out Mortgage Refinance Borrowers Improve Credit Scores

January 26, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report about financial outcomes for cash-out refinance mortgage borrowers. Cash-out borrowers had an initial sharp improvement in credit scores, followed by a gradually worsening of their scores. Scores in general, however, stayed above their pre-refinance levels. The report confirms that borrowers often do use…

CFPB Finds More Vehicles Eligible for Repossession Than Pre-Pandemic

January 23, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report showing that the rate of auto repossessions at the end of 2022 surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, lenders were increasingly more likely to use third parties, called forwarders, to manage the repossession process. The use of a third party generally increases consumer costs. The…

FTC Sends More Than $5 Million in Refunds to Consumers Harmed by Bogus Credit Repair Scheme

January 21, 2025 / Source: FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5 million in refunds to consumers harmed by a deceptive credit card debt relief scheme known as ACRO Services. The FTC filed a lawsuit in November 2022 against ACRO Services, which operated under multiple names such as American Consumer Rights Organization, Consumer Protection Resources, Reliance Solutions, Thacker & Associates, and…

Statement from Acting Chairman Travis Hill

January 21, 2025 / Source: FDIC

WASHINGTON – On January 20, 2025, Travis Hill became Acting Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  Acting Chairman Hill issued the following statement: “It is my honor and privilege to serve as Acting Chairman of the FDIC. While the FDIC faces a broad range of issues, and as always will fulfill our mandate to…

FDIC Withdraws from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System

January 21, 2025 / Source: FDIC

WASHINGTON – Effective today, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has withdrawn from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS). The work of NGFS is not within the FDIC’s authorities and mandate, and thus the FDIC has withdrawn.

CFPB Orders Equifax to Pay $15 Million for Improper Investigations of Credit Reporting Errors

January 20, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Equifax, the nationwide consumer reporting agency, for its failure to conduct proper investigations of consumer disputes. The CFPB found Equifax ignored consumer documents and evidence submitted with disputes, allowed previously deleted inaccuracies to be reinserted into credit reports, provided confusing and conflicting letters…

Strengthening Appraisal Oversight: Progress at the Appraisal Subcommittee

January 20, 2025 / Source: CFPB

I am very pleased to provide this informal report on the progress made by the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) since I became Chair. Before detailing our successes, I would like to acknowledge and thank Jim Park, whose tenure as ASC Executive Director just ended on January 1, 2025. I want to express my gratitude for his…

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; Inflation Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties

January 20, 2025 / Source: FinCEN

Release Date January 17, 2025 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network; Inflation Adjustment of Civil Monetary Pe
 Action Type Final Rule

American Express Agrees to Pay $108.7M to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Marketing and “Dummy” Account Information

January 16, 2025 / Source: OIG

The American Express Company (American Express), based in New York, New York, has agreed to pay a $108.7 million civil penalty to resolve allegations that it violated the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) by deceptively marketing credit card and wire transfer products and by entering “dummy” Employer Identification Numbers in…

HUD Updates Options to Help Homeowners Keep Their Homes

January 16, 2025 / Source: HUD

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through its Federal Housing Administration (FHA), announced an updated set of permanent options for mortgage servicers to help borrowers with FHA-insured single-family mortgages keep their homes or otherwise avoid foreclosure when they fall behind on their mortgage payments. The options, commonly referred to as FHA’s loss…

FTC and DOJ Jointly Issue Antitrust Guidelines on Business Practices that Impact Workers

January 16, 2025 / Source: FTC

Today, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) jointly issued antitrust guidelines for business activities affecting workers. The guidelines explain how both the FTC and DOJ assess whether business practices affecting workers violate the antitrust laws. These guidelines replace the 2016 Antitrust Guidance for Human Resource Professionals. Competition among employers helps workers through…

OCC Announces Enforcement Actions for January 2025 and Updates to Enforcement Action Search Tool

January 16, 2025 / Source: OCC

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released enforcement actions taken against national banks and federal savings associations (banks), and individuals currently and formerly affiliated with banks the OCC supervises. The OCC also announced updates to its enforcement action search tool. The OCC uses enforcement actions against banks to require the board…

Holding Credit Reporting Companies Accountable for Junk Data

January 16, 2025 / Source: CFPB

Credit reports serve as economic gatekeepers for millions of Americans seeking to buy a home, start a business, or get a car loan. When these reports contain inaccuracies or mistakes, consumers can face serious financial consequences – from loan denials to higher interest rates. The Fair Credit Reporting Act establishes clear legal requirements for credit…

CFPB Orders Operator of Cash App to Pay $175 Million and Fix Its Failures on Fraud

January 16, 2025 / Source: CFPB

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered Block, the operator of the peer-to-peer payments app Cash App, to refund and pay other redress to consumers up to $120 million and pay a penalty of $55 million into the CFPB’s victims relief fund. Block employed weak security protocols for Cash App and put…

FTC Seeks Public Comment on Single-Family Rental Home Mega Investors Study

January 15, 2025 / Source: FTC

The Federal Trade Commission issued a request for public comment on potential FTC orders that seek to understand how large-scale single-family rental owner operators, known as mega investors, have affected home prices and rents across the single-family rental market. The Commission voted to authorize staff to publish a Federal Register Notice seeking public comment on potential 6(b)…

OCC Imposes Civil Money Penalties Against Three Former Executives of Wells Fargo

January 15, 2025 / Source: OCC

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced enforcement actions against three former senior executives of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Sioux Falls, South Dakota (bank). These actions were taken in response to the former executives’ unsafe or unsound banking practices related to the bank’s systemic and widespread sales practices misconduct. The enforcement…

Consumer advisory: Beware of costly, risky, and complex home equity “investment” contracts

January 15, 2025 / Source: CFPB

With rising interest rates in recent years, homeowners are looking for ways to reduce the costs of getting a home equity loan. Some companies offer what sounds like a great deal: the company will pay you money now, as an “investment” in your home, and you pay them back later with a share of how…