Regulatory Updates

HUD: Final Rule Issued to Increase Lender Participation and Boost Homeownership in Tribal Communities

Enhanced home loan program helps to further the homeownership dream for Native American families. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a final rule that will increase lender participation in the Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee (Section 184) program, strengthen regulations to meet the program’s growing demands, and ensure that…

CFPB: Supervision Designation Procedures for Nonbanks Updated

Procedural rule streamlines process for designating nonbanks for supervision The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a procedural rule to update how the agency designates a nonbank for supervision. The updates will streamline the designation proceedings for both the CFPB and nonbanks. The CFPB examines financial institutions, including many nonbanks, for compliance with federal consumer financial protection…

OCC: Comment Period Extended for Proposed Rulemaking and Policy Statement of Bank Mergers

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced today that it will extend until June 15, 2024, the comment period on its proposal to update its rules for business combinations to allow interested parties more time to provide comments. The proposal also includes a policy statement to clarify the OCC’s review of applications…

ABA: ABA & 52 State Bankers Associations Issue Comment Letter to CFPB Explaining that the Market for Overdraft Services is Already Transparent and Competitive

In a detailed comment letter filed today with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the American Bankers Association joined all 52 state bankers associations in explaining why the market for overdraft services is already transparent and competitive, directly challenging the basic premise behind the Bureau’s misguided proposal to impose additional regulation on overdraft protection services. The letter spells…

ABA: Trade Groups Welcome Injunction Delaying CRA Rules Implementation

The American Bankers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Independent Community Bankers of America, Texas Bankers Association, Independent Bankers Association of Texas, Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and Longview Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement after the decision by the Northern District of Texas late Friday to pause implementation of the Community Reinvestment Act Final…

FDIC: Public Comment Sought on Proposed Revisions to FDIC Statement of Policy on Bank Merger Transactions

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors today approved a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the agency’s Statement of Policy (revised SOP) on Bank Merger Transactions. “This proposed Statement of Policy would update, strengthen, and clarify the FDIC’s approach to evaluating mergers under the Bank Merger Act,” said Chairman Martin…

Agencies Extend Applicability Date of Certain Provision of the CRA Final Rule

Federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly issued an interim final rule that extends the applicability date of certain provisions in their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) final rule issued in October 2023. The agencies also requested comment on the extension. To promote clarity and consistency, the agencies extended the applicability date of the facility-based assessment areas…

ABA: ABA Sues CFPB Over New Regulation Restricting Credit Card Late Fees

The American Bankers Association today joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Longview Chamber of Commerce, Consumer Bankers Association, and Texas Association of Business in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that challenges the CFPB’s new rule limiting…

CFPB: New Final Rule Bans Excessive Credit Card Late Fees, Lowers Typical Fee from $32 to $8

Final rule closes 2010 loophole exploited by credit card giants The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule today to cut excessive credit card late fees by closing a loophole exploited by large card issuers. The rule will curb fees that cost American families more than $14 billion a year. The CFPB estimates that…

CFPB: Guidance Issued to Rein in Rigged Comparison-Shopping Results for Credit Cards and Other Financial Products

Manipulative advertisements and kickbacks undermine competition and can violate federal law The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a circular to law enforcement agencies and regulators explaining how companies operating comparison-shopping tools can break the law when they steer consumers to certain products or lenders because of kickbacks. Consumers use comparison-shopping tools to evaluate the costs,…