CFPB: Changes Finalized to Prepaid Account Rules
Changes Provide More Flexibility and Extend Effective Date to April 2019 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) announced today that it has finalized updates to its 2016 prepaid rule. The Bureau’s 2016 prepaid rule put in place requirements for treatment of funds on lost or stolen cards, error resolution and investigation, upfront fee disclosures, access…
CFPB: Put Your Tax Refund to Work During America Saves Week
Each year during America Saves Week (February 26 to March 3), many people make an extra effort to save money. Started in 2007, America Saves Week is an annual opportunity for people to assess their saving status. The timing couldn’t be better—America Saves Week 2018 takes place during tax season, when 75 percent of tax…
CFPB: New Report Released on the State of the Credit Card Market
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) today released its biennial report on the state of the credit card market. The report found that the total amount of credit line, number of accounts, average amount of card debt, and enrollment in online services have all increased over the past several years. The report found also…
FDIC: Resource Guide Highlights Collaborative Opportunities with Minority Depository Institutions
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued a resource guide that underscores ways insured depository institutions, including community banks, can partner with minority depository institutions (MDIs) to the benefit of all institutions involved, as well as the communities they serve. The resource guide also notes that banks may realize business and regulatory benefits from…
CFPB: Tax Season Is Right Around the Corner; Tips for Planning Out Your Refund and Savings
You only file your personal tax return once a year. Depending on your situation, filing can be easy or complicated. Many people prepare and file their own returns, but the majority of consumers still seek help from a professional tax preparer. If you think you will need help preparing and filing your tax return in…
FDIC: FDIC Consumer News Offers Tips on Dealing with Debt
Whether you have a little bit of debt or a lot, managing it wisely and ultimately paying off what you owe can be crucial to your financial well-being. The Fall 2017 FDIC Consumer News suggests ways to handle different kinds of debt, including: What to do if you’re struggling to pay your loans, credit cards…
FHFA: Maximum Conforming Loan Limits Announced for 2018
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2018. In most of the U.S., the 2018 maximum conforming loan limit for one-unit properties will be $453,100, an increase from $424,100 in 2017. Baseline limit The Housing and Economic…
CFPB: A Five-Step Spending Plan to Avoid Holiday Debt
The holidays can put a financial burden even on the savviest of shoppers and savers. But like most things, taking time to plan can help you avoid the stress that comes with overspending. Before you hit the mall or shop for Black Friday deals, keep reading to learn how to make a holiday spending plan…
CFPB: Five Ways Banks and Lenders Work with People Who Speak or Understand Limited English
By Alice Chang and Dubis Correal and Holly Zaharchuk More than one out of every 12 people over the age of five in the U.S. are limited English proficient (LEP), meaning that they speak English less than very well, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey One-Year Estimates. LEP consumers may…
Federal Reserve: Speech | Where Do Consumers Fit in the FinTech Stack?
Where Do Consumers Fit in the Fintech Stack? Governor Lael Brainard The new generation of fintech tools offers the potential to help consumers manage their increasingly complicated financial lives, but also poses risks that will need to be managed as the marketplace matures.1 In many ways, the new generation of fintech tools can be seen…