In an October 2023 advisory opinion, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) put large banks and credit unions on notice that the use of chatbots and other technologies could increase the risk of violating federal law if those services are ineffective. As we have previously written about, the CFPB’s advisory opinion interprets Section

On October 12, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a joint statement emphasizing the risk associated with considering an applicant’s immigration status when making credit decisions. Specifically, the CFPB and DOJ emphasized that creditors should carefully consider how they use immigration status when accepting and evaluating applications and should

Department of Defense Withdraws Troublesome Military Lending Act GuidanceIn a significant victory for servicemembers and their families, who will again have access to products designed to protect them in the event of a total vehicle loss, the Department of Defense has revised its guidance that previously prevented auto lenders from offering service members Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) waivers in connection with a vehicle

CFPB’s New Policy on Abusive Practices Promises a “Common Sense” Approach to EnforcementLast week, the CFPB released a long-anticipated policy statement clarifying the agency’s enforcement standard for “abusive acts or practices.” According to an agency press release, the CFPB’s new standard offers a “common-sense” approach that director Kathleen Kraninger says will “provide[] a solid framework to prevent consumer harm while promoting the clarity needed to foster

NCUA’s Appraisal Threshold Increase to $1 Million for Commercial Real Estate Loans Set to Go into EffectThe National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) new appraisal threshold rule for commercial real estate loans will go into effect on October 22, 2019. Under the NCUA’s new appraisal rule, credit unions will not be required to obtain an appraisal for commercial real estate transactions less than $1 million. The new rule sharply increases the

CFPB Issues Final HMDA Rule Offering Relief to Smaller Institutions and Credit UnionsThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued its long-awaited final rule amending the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) on Thursday, October 10. These changes promise to bring some measure of relief to smaller financial institutions and credit unions. Prior to this new rule, the CFPB did not require the collection and reporting of HMDA data

The NCUA Doubles Amount Credit Unions Can Offer for Payday Alternative LoansAt the September open meeting, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) voted 2-1 to approve the final rule related to expanding payday alternative loan options (PAL II). Although the NCUA made clear in the final rule that the PAL II does not replace the PAL I, the flexibility of the PAL II will create  new