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Banking Regulators Extend Comment Period for Three Proposed Capital Rules
On August 8, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC, and the OCC announced an extension of the comment period for three proposed regulatory capital rules. The proposed rules were announced in June with a comment period closing September 7, 2012. The regulators are now giving interested parties until October 22, 2012 to submit comments.
Ninth Circuit Holds Reporting Fraudulent Accounts As Lost or Stolen May Violate FCRA
On August 7, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit revived a consumer’s suit against his bank and a consumer reporting agency (CRA) in which he alleges that the bank and CRA violated FCRA in connection with a fraudulent account opened in the consumer’s name. Drew v. Equifax Info. Servs. LLC, No. 11-15008, 2012 WL 3186110 (9th Cir. Aug. 7, 2012). The consumer claims that though his account was actually fraudulent, the bank reported it as lost or stolen. He alleges the bank violated FCRA when, after receiving a “fraud block notification” from the CRA, the bank (i) failed to conduct a sufficient investigation, (ii) continued to report the fraudulent account as belonging to the consumer, and (iii) reported the fraudster’s address as the consumer’s address. The district court granted summary judgment on these claims in favor of the bank and granted summary judgment to the CRA based on its argument that the consumer’s claims exceeded the statute of limitations. The appeals court agreed that the bank’s investigation was legally sufficient, but held that material issues of fact remained with regard to the consumer’s other claims. The court reasoned that a jury could find (i) that reporting a fraudulently opened account as a lost or stolen account belonging to the consumer was untrue or facially inaccurate in violation of FCRA and (ii) that reporting the fraudster’s address as the consumer’s address violated FCRA’s requirement to correct inaccurate information. The court also found that the consumer presented evidence of emotional distress sufficient to allege emotional damages, and that such damages are cognizable under FCRA. Finally, the court held that facts regarding the timing of the consumer’s knowledge remain in dispute and overturned the district court’s holding that the consumer’s suit exceeded the statute of limitations.
CFPB Seeks Input on Amicus Program
On August 2, the CFPB posted a request for email submissions recommending state or federal appellate-level “cases with one or more important legal questions about the interpretation or application of a federal consumer financial protection statute or regulation” in which the CFPB could file an amicus brief. The CFPB also announced that all of its amicus activity will be posted on its website. To date, the CFPB has filed six such briefs, four in cases involving TILA and two related to the FDCPA.
CFPB Exercises Enforcement Authority Against Alleged Mortgage Modification Scheme
On July 18, the CFPB filed suit against a group of California companies and individuals alleged to have orchestrated a mortgage modification scam in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act and Regulation O. According to the CFPB, the defendants engaged in deceptive acts by promising loan modifications in exchange for an advance fee and misrepresenting affiliation with government entities, while taking little or no action to assist borrowers. This is the first known instance in which the CFPB has brought an enforcement action in court. The CFPB is seeking preliminary and permanent injunction, as well as rescission or reformation of contracts, refund of moneys paid, restitution, and disgorgement or compensation for unjust enrichment.
CFPB Publishes Semiannual Report
On July 30, the CFPB published its second semiannual report to Congress. The report, which is mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, provides an update of CFPB activities from January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012. Included in the report is an overview of the CFPB’s complaint handling process and updated summary information about complaints received to date. The CFPB also states that it is currently conducting investigations spanning the “full breadth of the Bureau’s enforcement jurisdiction” while attempting to focus on violations that cause the most harm to consumers. As in the first report, this report identifies consumer “shopping challenges”, highlights planned regulatory activities for the remainder of 2012, and compiles citations to testimony and speeches delivered, and reports prepared or expected to be prepared over the coming months.
Tenth Circuit Overturns Heightened Pleading Standard for TILA Rescission Cases
On July 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit overturned a district court ruling that would have required borrowers seeking rescission under TILA to state their ability to repay in the initial complaint. Sanders v. Mountain Am. Fed. Credit Union, No. 11-4008, 2012 WL 3064741 (10th Cir. Jul. 30, 2012). The borrowers timely sued to compel rescission of their mortgage loan, claiming that the lender failed to provide disclosures required under TILA. The district court held that the borrowers were not entitled to rescission because they failed to plead their ability to repay. On appeal the court held that, while TILA recognizes that a court may entertain a creditor’s petition for an order equitably modifying the rescission procedure, in this case the district court impermissibly altered that procedure and created a pleading standard that would require all borrowers seeking TILA rescission to plead their ability to repay. The court reasoned that such a standard would add a condition not supported by TILA or Regulation Z, and that categorical relief is outside of the district court’s equitable powers. However, the court maintained that a district court still may use its equitable powers to protect a creditor’s interest during the rescission process. The appellate court also reversed the district court’s dismissal of the borrowers’ ECOA claim related to a separate refinance transaction because the district court made factual assumptions about the refinance process in violation of its obligation to draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff borrowers. While the TILA and ECOA claims were remanded for further proceedings, the court upheld the district court’s dismissal of the borrowers’ claims that the lender also violated FCRA when it reported false information to consumer reporting agencies, holding that FCRA does not provide a private right of action against the furnisher of credit information.
NCUA Seeks Role in Declaring State Credit Unions "Troubled"
On July 31, the NCUA proposed a rule that would give it a role in determining whether a state-chartered credit union is in “troubled condition.” Under current law, only a state supervisory authority is permitted to declare a federally insured, state-chartered credit union to be in troubled condition. The NCUA believes that the change would help protect the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund by leveraging the federal regulator’s resources to increase the likelihood that problems at covered credit unions are identified. The NCUA is accepting comments on the proposal through October 1, 2012.
NCUA Proposes Rule to Enhance Emergency Liquidity Standards
On July 30, the NCUA proposed a rule that would alter the emergency liquidity requirements applicable to all federally-insured credit unions. For those credit unions with assets of $10 million or more, the rule would require a contingency funding plan with strategies for addressing liquidity under an emergency scenario. The rule would require institutions with assets of $100 million or more to have access to backup federal liquidity. Institutions with less than $10 million in assets would have to establish a board-approved framework for managing liquidity under emergency circumstances, including a list of contingent liquidity sources. The proposal reminds credit unions that their access to the Central Liquidity Facility is expected to close in October 2012. Comments on the proposal are due by September 28, 2012.
CFPB Releases Report on Private Student Loans, Testifies in Senate
On July 20, the CFPB released a report on private student loans, prepared in conjunction with the Department of Education. Pursuant to Section 1077 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the report covers (i) the evolution and current state of the private lending market, (ii) the characteristics of consumers of private student loans, (iii) consumer protections, including recent changes and possible gaps, (iv) fair lending compliance information currently available and its implications, and (v) statutory or legislative recommendations to improve consumer protections. The report includes a series of recommendations from the CFPB and the Department of Education. The CFPB recommends that Congress require lenders to obtain a certification of the student’s financial need from the educational institution before disbursing private student loan funds. The CFPB also recommends that Congress examine the impact that the 2005 amendments to the bankruptcy code that made private student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy absent a showing of undue hardship, have had on young borrowers. On July 24, the CFPB’s Student Loan Ombudsman appeared before the Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection to discuss the report and the CFPB’s recommendations. The hearing also included testimony from consumer groups and one private student lender.
Bills Introduced on Regulation of Short Term, Small Dollar Lending
On July 18, Representatives Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Baca (D-CA) introduced H.R. 6139, a bill that would create a national charter for qualified non-depository creditors, to be known as National Consumer Credit Corporations (NCCCs). The bill would task the OCC with assessing applications with a focus on the applicant institution’s ability to offer products that provide credit to underserved consumers, and developing a process for approving financial products to be offered by NCCCs. The OCC would be able to establish an annual fee for a charter, but it would not be permitted to restrict the method by which an NCCC offers its products, or to establish usury limits. NCCCs would be subject to certain restrictions, including a prohibition on consumer loans with terms of 30 days or less. The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing to consider H.R. 6139 on July 24, 2012.
On July 24, Senators Merkley (D-OR), Udall (D-NM), and Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill, first revealed by Senator Merkley in March 2012, and now formalized as S. 3426, the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic Lending Act. According to a press release, the bill seeks to (i) ensure that a third party doesn’t gain control of a consumer’s account through remotely created checks, (ii) allow consumers to cancel a debit in connection with a small-dollar loan, (iii) require all lenders, including banks, to abide by a state’s rules for small-dollar, payday-like loans they offer customers in the state, (iv) ban lead generators and anonymously registered payday lending websites, and (v) give the CFPB authority to shut down payment processing for lenders that are violating state and other consumer lending laws through the Internet.