CFPB: New Report Higlights the Hidden Costs of Health Savings Accounts
Many HSAs suffer from low interest rate yields and junk fees to switch The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released a report detailing the complex costs and fees that many consumers with health savings accounts are forced to pay. There were approximately 36 million health savings accounts in 2023 – holding more than $116 billion. These…
CFPB: New Published Research Finds Higher Price Complexity Leads Consumers to Pay More
As part of junk fee initiative, study suggests that consumers pay more when prices are separated into multiple fees Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new report that suggests consumers tend to pay more for products that have more complex pricing structures. The report is based on experiments with multiple rounds of…
CFPB: New Analysis Finds 15 Million Americans Have Medical Bills on Their Credit Reports
People living in the South continue to be most likely to have medical bills on their reports The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released research showing that 15 million Americans still have medical bills on their credit reports despite changes by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The 15 million Americans disproportionately live in the South and low-income…
CFPB: Guidance Issued to Combat Junk Fees by Mortgage Servicers
Homeowners forced to pay for “services” that were prohibited or unauthorized The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today published an edition of Supervisory Highlights describing the agency’s actions to combat junk fees charged by mortgage servicers, as well as other illegal practices. CFPB examinations found servicers charging illegal junk fees, such as prohibited property inspection fees; sending…
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…
CFPB: Examiners Find Violations of Credit Report Accuracy Requirements, Including for Survivors of Human Trafficking
Examiners also found furnishers failed to correct false information and reported fraudulent information The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today published an edition of Supervisory Highlights to share key findings from recent examinations about continuing accuracy problems in the credit reporting system. The CFPB found consumer reporting companies failed to ensure the accuracy of credit reports, including…
CFPB: New Report Finds More Americans Are Paying Upfront Fees Seeking to Lower Interest Rates on Mortgages
“Discount points” have uncertain value for borrowers The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new report today finding that more borrowers paid “discount points” upfront as overall interest rates rose. The percentage of homebuyers paying discount points roughly doubled from 2021 to 2023. The increase was even greater among borrowers with lower credit scores. While…
CFPB: Report Identifies Financial and Privacy Risks to Consumers in Video Gaming Marketplaces
Growth in banking options and payments in gaming leaves consumers’ assets and personal data at risk Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a report examining the growth of financial transactions in online video games and virtual worlds. These platforms increasingly resemble traditional banking and payment systems that facilitate the storage and exchange of…
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…
CFPB: Action Taken to Halt False Claims of “Free” International Money Transfers
CFPB warns remittance transfer providers about false claims regarding cost and speed Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new circular warning remittance transfer providers that false advertising about the cost or speed of sending a remittance transfer can violate federal law. Companies in the marketplace are charging junk fees on international money…