Welcome to the Compliance Cohort. We are a group of compliance professionals working to make compliance easier. Our goal is to take complex compliance concepts and put them in simple terms that apply to the real world. We are glad you have found us and look forward to collaborating in the future.
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In this Compliance Clip (video), Adam discusses how consumer negligence can (or cannot) be considered when conducting an investigation of an “error” under Regulation E. Specifically, he answers two questions regarding a customer being negligent in handling their PIN as well as whether a financial institution can add language to their account disclosures that limit a consumers liability. A transcript of this video is now available.
On September 19, 2023, the CFPB issued guidance about certain legal requirements that lenders must adhere to when using artificial intelligence and other complex models. The guidance describes how lenders must use specific and accurate reasons when taking adverse actions against consumers.
On September 18, 2023, the CFPB published a final rule to implement the annual adjustment requirements of Regulation Z. Specifically, the CFPB is required to calculate annually the dollar amounts for several provisions in Regulation Z, and the final rule revises, as applicable, the dollar amounts for provisions implementing TILA and amendments to TILA that impact Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) and Qualified Mortgages The CFPB is adjusting these amounts, where appropriate, based on the annual percentage change reflected in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in effect on June 1, 2023.
On September 18, 2023, FinCEN published a Small Entity Compliance Guide to assist the small business community in complying with the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting rule. The Compliance Guide is intended to help businesses determine if they are required to report their beneficial ownership information to FinCEN as starting in 2024, many entities created in or registered to do business in the United States will be required to report information about their beneficial owners.
On September 15, 2023, FinCEN assessed a $15 million civil money penalty against Bancrédito International Bank and Trust Corporation (Bancrédito) for willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and its implementing regulations. This is FinCEN’s first enforcement action against a Puerto Rican International Banking Entity (IBE), and includes the first violation for failure to implement and maintain an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program also known as the “Gap Rule.”
On September 15, 2023, the ABA Banking Journal published an article announcing a Ketucky federal judge’s nationwide injunction blocking enforcement of the CFPB’s Section 1071 final rule until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the bureau’s funding structure. The said injunction is separate from the ruling issued by a Texas judge in July, which only applied to ABA and Texas Bankers Association members.
On September 14, 2023, the CFPB updated its questions and answers pertaining to compliance with the Small Business Lending Rule. The FAQs were first published on June 28, 2023.
In this Compliance Clip (video), Adam answers the question on whether a non-covered financial institution can voluntarily collect information on covered applications from a small business pursuant to the 1071 Final Rule. Adam explains the answer by discussing the different situations that the CFPB has provided through the Small Business Lending Rule Small Entity Compliance Guide. A transcript of this video is now available.
On September 8, 2023, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a summary judgment vacating the CFPB’s March 2022 update to the UDAAP Chapter of the CFPB’s Supervision and Examination Manual - for members of the plaintiffs. This is after the plaintiffs - the ABA, the Texas Bankers Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several others - challenged the CFPB’s March 2022 interpretation in its Consumer Compliance Examination Manual of its authority to include discrimination as an unfair act or practice under its Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) UDAAP authority. This ruling applies to members of the plaintiffs.
On September 8, 2023, FinCEN issued an alert to highlight a prominent virtual currency investment scam known as “pig butchering.” According to FinCEN’s press release, multiple U.S. law enforcement sources estimate victims in the United States have lost billions of dollars to these scams and other virtual currency investment frauds.
