Today, we released a new episode of the award-winning Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast examining one of the most significant recent federal developments in the fight against scams and fraud: Executive Order 14390.

Hosted by Alan Kaplinsky (the founder, chair for 25 years and now Senior Counsel in the Consumer Financial Services Group), the episode features returning guests Kate Griffin and Nick Bourke of the Aspen Institute, who previously joined the podcast to discuss Aspen’s landmark report, United We Stand: A National Strategy to Prevent Scams.… Continue Reading

The CFPB’s Office of Inspector General is still investigating the agency’s workforce and contracting moves to see what impact it has had on agency actions.

“We are reviewing the CFPB’s workforce and contracting actions to determine their high-level effects on mission-related activities and support functions,” the OIG said, in an update of its activities.… Continue Reading

The Washington Supreme Court issued an opinion on April 30, 2026, that deprives Washington state lenders of the right to nonjudicially foreclose residential-secured loans unless those loans are evidenced by a negotiable instrument—i.e., a promissory note with only basic payment terms that comports with RCW 62A.3-104.

The court further held that HELOCs and other types of multiple advance (e.g.,… Continue Reading

The FDIC has issued FIL-14-2026 rescinding its guidance governing the re-presentment of the same transaction after raising questions about the Biden Administration’s prior guidance.

“Based on a review and assessment of the guidance in FIL-32-2023, the FDIC concludes that the guidance is overly broad in scope and has raised uncertainty regarding when, for instance, disclosures regarding re-presentments may result in ‘unfairness’ concerns under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act,” the FDIC said in announcing the rescission.… Continue Reading

On April 28, 2026, Governor Wes Moore of Maryland has signed into law the nation’s most aggressive state law aimed at so-called “surveillance pricing” and algorithmic price-setting. House Bill 895, titled the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, will become effective on October 1, 2026. It restricts the use of personalized pricing, consumer data-driven pricing, and certain AI-enabled pricing practices, particularly in the food retail (operating establishments of at least 15,000 square feet) and delivery sectors.… Continue Reading

In the final episode of our Debt Sales 101 mini-series, we focus on what happens after a debt sale closes and how sellers manage ongoing compliance, oversight, and risk. We discuss how regulators view debt sales as a managed activity rather than a clean exit and what that means for post-sale responsibilities.… Continue Reading

Virginia is on the verge of making a consequential change to its civil justice system. Legislation now pending before Governor Abigail Spanberger would authorize private class actions in Virginia state courts and make significant amendments to the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (“VCPA”). If signed, Virginia would join virtually every other state in expressly permitting class action procedures in its own courts.… Continue Reading

On April 22, 2026, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), under Acting Director Russell Vought, issued a significant final rule reshaping the agency’s approach to fair lending enforcement under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B. While early commentary has been sharply divided, a closer reading of the final rule itself reveals a thoughtful and disciplined effort to realign enforcement with statutory text, evidentiary rigor, and practical compliance realities.… Continue Reading

In a pair of coordinated actions on April 24, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) moved to reaffirm and expand the scope of National Bank Act (NBA) preemption to credit and debit card interchange fees and the use of electronic payment transaction data.

The OCC issued (i) an interim final rule clarifying that interchange fees are protected “non-interest charges,” and (ii) an interim final order expressly preempting the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA).… Continue Reading

In the episode of Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast being released today, we explore the White House’s National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence published on March 20, 2026. This new framework represents the Administration’s most concrete attempt yet to shape the future of AI governance in the United States. While it does not carry the force of law, it offers a revealing look at the policy direction the Administration hopes Congress will take.… Continue Reading