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Moorari Shah is a partner in the Finance and Bankruptcy Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

On April 4, the CFPB published a new Issue Spotlight, titled “Banking in Video Games and Virtual Worlds” that analyzes the increased commercial activity within online video games and virtual worlds and the apparent risks to consumers—in this case, to online gamers. In particular, this report examines how “game assets” are being used and the associated risks, including the emergence of products or services that resemble traditional consumer financial products or services. Continue Reading Report Signals CFPB Taking Aim at Video Game and Virtual Worlds Industries

On March 25, a coalition of trade groups filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, challenging a Colorado law which would have opted the state Section 521 of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 (“DIDMCA”), a federal law enacted to create competitive equality between state-chartered banks and national banks. The law, set to take effect on July 1, 2024, would have subject out-of-state lenders to the state’s rate cap. Continue Reading Lenders Sue to Block Colorado’s Interest Rate ‘Opt-Out’ Law

On March 27, the CFPB issued Circular 2024-02, which warns that remittance providers may be liable under the CFPA for certain deceptive marketing practices related to the speed or cost of sending a remittance transfer. Under EFTA’s “Remittance Rule,” (Subpart B of Regulation E), the term “remittance transfer” includes most electronic transfers of funds sent by consumers in the United States to recipients in other countries. Alarmingly, the Bureau notes that providers may be liable irrespective of whether they are in compliance with the Remittance Rule’s disclosure requirements. The Bureau’s circular singles out the following advertising practices by remittance providers as potentially deceptive in violation of the CFPA:Continue Reading CFPB Issues Guidance on Deceptive Practices by Remittance Transfer Providers

On March 21, Wisconsin enacted into law Assembly Bill 574, positioning it as the third state, following Nevada and Missouri, to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for earned wages access (EWA) services and products. The legislation is set to take effect September 1, 2024.Continue Reading Wisconsin Signs Earned Wage Access Bill into Law

In a significant ruling on March 19, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that the CFPB can proceed with its lawsuit against a group of Delaware student loan trusts rejecting their claims that they are just passive financing entities outside the reach of the Bureau’s authority. Continue Reading Third Circuit Ruling Gives CFPB Green Light to Enforce Against Student Loan Trusts

In its latest campaign against “junk fees,” the CFPB announced that it was requesting consumer feedback on fees incurred as part of the residential home loan closing process, such as title insurance, credit reporting, and origination fees, as well as appraisal costs. Continue Reading CFPB Renews Push on “Junk Fees” with Closing Costs in its Sights

On March 7, the FTC announced it had finalized substantial revisions to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (the proposed rule was discussed here). Since promulgated in 1995, the TSR has been amended four times, most recently in 2015. This latest revision to the TSR significantly expands its reach by bringing business to business (B2B) telemarketing calls within its scope. Moreover, the revisions substantially enhanced the TSR’s recordkeeping requirements which will likely have a major impact on telemarketers’ compliance efforts. Key revisions to the TSR include:Continue Reading FTC Announces Major Expansion of Telemarketing Sales Rule

On March 1, the Louisiana Senate introduced SB 335, a bill that would place certain disclosure requirements on providers of commercial financing transactions. Specifically, “providers” (defined as persons who consummate more than five commercial financing transactions per year with businesses in Louisiana) would be required to disclose the following in connection with each commercial financing transaction they engage in:Continue Reading Louisiana Becomes Latest State to Introduce Commercial Financing Disclosure Legislation

On March 6, the CFPB finalized its credit card late fee rule (previously discussed here) aimed at ensuring that late fees charged on consumer credit card accounts are “reasonable and proportional.” The rule amends Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act, in two key ways:Continue Reading The CFPB Finalizes Credit Card Late Fee Rulemaking