In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by partner Glen Trudel to discuss a recent appellate court decision affirming that a group of securitization trusts “engaged” in a known “consumer financial product or service”, and therefore are subject as covered persons to the enforcement authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This decision could potentially expose similarly situated securitization trusts to the jurisdiction and enforcement authority of the CFPB. Chris and Glen discuss the court’s rationale for the holding and delve into the implications of this ruling, including the potential for increased regulatory scrutiny and the need for trusts to ensure compliance with consumer laws relating to the loan assets they hold. They also discuss potential changes in the terms of future securitization documentation and the importance of due diligence and monitoring of service providers. The episode concludes with a discussion on the significance of this ruling in the legal landscape for securitization trusts and whole loan owners.

In this episode of Payments Pros, Carlin McCrory is joined by Nathan Ottinger, president of Georgia Banking Company’s Payments and Technology Banking Group. They delve into the current state of the payments marketplace, characterized by heightened regulatory scrutiny and rapid innovation. Nathan underscores the importance of well-documented risk management strategies for financial institutions and the necessity for businesses to secure proficient legal counsel, particularly in the realm of money transmission.

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Troutman Pepper Partner Lori Sommerfield to discuss the new guidance issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on targeted advertising for housing and housing-related ads. The conversation delves into the implications of the guidance, which was motivated by HUD’s original charge of discrimination against Facebook in 2019 and President Biden’s 2023 Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of AI. They explore how the guidance shifts the focus from disparate treatment to disparate impact, and the challenges advertisers and advertising platforms may face in complying with the new guidelines. The episode concludes with a discussion on the potential for regulatory overreach and the possibility of litigation.

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Sheri Adler to discuss the implications of the upcoming change in securities law that shortens the settlement period for broker-dealer transactions from T+2 (two business days after the trade date) to T+1 (one business day after the trade date). This change, effective May 28, 2024, has significant implications for employers who offer equity-based compensation to their employees. Adler provides an overview of the history of the settlement cycle, the reasons behind the shift to T+1, and the impact on tax withholding obligations for equity awards. She also offers practical advice for companies to prepare for this change, including potential adjustments to the calculation of fair market value for withholding purposes.

In this episode of Payments Pros, Josh McBeain and Chris Willis discuss the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed rule on overdraft fees. The rule, which only applies to large financial institutions with assets over $10 billion, aims to regulate overdraft services by altering the definition of ‘finance charge,’ effectively subjecting these institutions to Regulation Z’s disclosure and substantive provisions. Chris and Josh delve into the complexities of the proposed rule, considering its potential implications and the likelihood of litigation challenges from the industry. They also discuss the role of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the concept of Chevron deference in this context.

Troutman Pepper attorneys Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso discuss the Federal Trade Commission’s “Holder Rule” in the third of five special episodes devoted to auto finance issues. Although the Holder Rule has been around since the 1970s and is a staple of consumer finance contracts, there have been several recent, important developments. Brooke and Chris hop behind the wheel of this installment to review these developments, the position taken by the FTC and courts, and the potential impacts to dealers and finance companies.

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis discusses the recent changes the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) made to its rules for designating nonbanks subject to supervision due to potential risks to consumers. Willis provides a background on this authority granted to the CFPB by the Dodd-Frank Act and discusses the CFPB’s increased use of this authority in recent years. He also delves into the implications of the CFPB’s updated rules, emphasizing the need for nonbanks to prepare for potential supervision and to build robust compliance management systems. The episode provides valuable insights for nonbanks navigating the regulatory landscape and the potential for CFPB supervision.