Fintech

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On October 30, two leading fintech industry trade associations submitted comments (see comment letters here and here) in response to a joint Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve System (Fed), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (collectively, the “Agencies”) (see here for our previous discussion on the RFI). The RFI seeks input on the nature of bank-fintech arrangements, effective risk management practices, and the implications of such arrangements, including whether enhancements to existing supervisory guidance may be helpful in addressing associated risks. The comment period concluded on October 30.Continue Reading Fintech Industry Trade Associations Respond to Federal Regulators’ Joint RFI on Bank-Fintech Partnerships

On August 28, the CFPB issued a Consumer Advisory warning that it believes video game companies are targeting children for monetary gain. With 45.7 million U.S. children engaged in video gameplay, the agency is concerned about the financial risks that games and virtual worlds pose, especially to young consumers. This Advisory highlights a growing focus on the game industry’s practices, which allegedly mimic traditional banking systems but lack corresponding consumer protections. Continue Reading The CFPB Continues to Reshape Consumer Protection in the Digital Arena 

On July 25, federal regulators issued a joint statement to further put banking organizations on notice of the inherent risks of collaborating with fintechs in offering deposit products and services. This guidance aims to ensure the stability and integrity of the banking-as-a-service (“BaaS”) business model.Continue Reading Federal Regulators Issue Joint Statement and Request for Information Emphasizing Caution with BaaS Model

On June 14, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) released a cease and desist order against an Arkansas-based banking-as-a-service (BaaS) provider for compliance and risk management failures. As part of the order, the bank is prohibited, without prior approval, from (i) establishing any new fintech partners, subsidiaries, business lines, products, programs, services, or program managers, or (ii) offer new products, programs, or services to an existing fintech partner, program manager, or subsidiary.Continue Reading Federal Reserve Board Issues Cease and Desist Order Against Banking-As-A-Service Provider

On May 16, the Maryland Office of Financial Regulation (“OFR”) announced a settlement with a Missouri-based bank and its fintech partners for engaging in unlicensed lending, credit repair, and debt collection activities. 

In the OFR’s January 2021 Charge Letter, the agency alleged that the bank and its fintech partners violated Maryland law by its failure to hold a lending, debt collection, and credit repair license. According to the OFR, the bank offered in-store retail credit financing as well as store-branded credit cards to Maryland consumers. Continue Reading Maryland Banking Regulator Settles with Bank/Fintech Partnership For Unlicensed Lending, Credit Repair, and Debt Collection Activities

On May 21, the Massachusetts Attorney General entered into an Assurance of Discontinuance (“AOD”) with a California-based fintech alleging that it was the “true lender” of its consumer installment loans. Under the terms of the settlement, the fintech is required to pay $625,000 in restitution, request deletion of tradelines on credit reports for loans reported to credit bureaus, and cease doing business in the state. Continue Reading Massachusetts AG Forces Fintech from State as Part of “True Lender” Settlement

On March 28, the FDIC released the spring edition of its consumer compliance supervisory highlights. The FDIC supervises approximately 3,000 state-chartered banks and thrifts that are not members of the Federal Reserve System. Most of these institutions are community banks that provide credit and services locally. Like the CFPB, the FDIC conducts supervisory activities, including examinations, to review institutions’ compliance management systems. Its examination focuses on identifying the greatest potential risk of harm to consumers, based on the business model and products offered by a particular institution. The FDIC’s report highlights consumer compliance issues identified by the agency’s examination of close to 900 institutions in 2023. While the entire report is worth a read, here are some key areas of focus:Continue Reading Takeaways From the FDIC’s Spring 2024 Consumer Compliance Supervisory Highlights

On March 28, the Federal Reserve (Fed) issued a cease-and-desist order to a Wyoming-based bank holding company, citing deficiencies identified in a September 2023 inspection related to its “fintech business strategy, board oversight, capital, earnings, liquidity, risk management, and compliance” in connection with the banking-as-a-service activities of its bank subsidiary. Continue Reading Fed Brings Enforcement Action Against Wyoming Bank Holding Company Over “Fintech Business Strategy”

In the FDIC’s latest monthly update on enforcement decisions and orders, the agency published recent consent orders it entered against both a New York-based and an Ohio-based bank, the latest in the agency’s series of enforcement actions against bank-fintech partnerships. The orders did not impose any fines or civil penalties but require corrective actions by the banks and their boards.Continue Reading FDIC Issues Orders Against Two More Banks Over Fintech Partnerships

On March 25, Washington State became the latest in a growing list of jurisdictions to introduce a “true lender” law with the passing of bill SB 6025. The legislation, similar to laws in other states would characterize a person as the “lender” of a loan if the person makes a loan in excess of the state’s rate cap and if the person:Continue Reading Washington State Passes New “True Lender” Legislation