Kate Berry

Kate Berry has covered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for American Banker since 2016. She joined the publication in 2006 covering mortgage lending and the financial crisis. Berry also has covered big banks including Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo. She has won five awards from the Society of American Business Writers and Editors, and has worked at several news organizations including the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Business Journal and the Associated Press. Berry began her career as a clerk at the New York Times.

Dodd-Frank

CFPB backers tell high court that agency's structure is legal

Democratic lawmakers, state attorneys general and others filed briefs with the Supreme Court rebutting claims that the agency’s leadership structure is unconstitutional.

By Kate Berry

January 24
Qualified mortgage rules

4 questions as CFPB closes in on revamp of key mortgage rule

The agency is sending a strong message that it won’t rush to end an exemption for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while also signaling longer-term changes that will affect all lenders.

By Kate Berry

January 21
Community banking

Alan Kline named editor-in-chief of American Banker

Alan Kline, a 22-year veteran of American Banker, has previously served as editor-in-chief of US Banker.

By Kate Berry

January 16
Debt collection

In rebuke of CFPB, states look to get tough on debt collectors

In another sign of state officials trying to outdo the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, governors in California and New York want greater authority to license and oversee the debt collection industry.

By Kate Berry

January 15
Dodd-Frank

Lawyer picked to defend CFPB before high court backs agency structure

The Supreme Court appointed Paul Clement to represent the agency after the bureau’s current director questioned its constitutionality.

By Kate Berry

January 15
Enforcement actions

Senate Dems urge CFPB watchdog to investigate restitution practices

In a letter to the agency's inspector general, the 15 lawmakers pointed to specific cases where they said the bureau departed from legal standards in deciding not to require restitution.

By Kate Berry

January 14
Fintech regulations

Can California's mini-CFPB pick up slack left by federal agency?

Former CFPB Director Richard Cordray and consumer advocates have designed a proposed state consumer agency that would subject more financial firms and fintechs to state oversight.

By Kate Berry

January 10
State regulators

California governor to unveil plan for state CFPB

California Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to ask the legislature to revamp the current Department of Business Oversight and rename it the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, modeled after the federal CFPB.

By Kate Berry

January 9
Law and regulation

CFPB names longtime agency critic to chair consumer task force

Todd Zywicki, a law professor who has sharply criticized the CFPB as an unaccountable bureaucracy, has been named chair of an agency task force identifying potential conflicts and inconsistencies in consumer finance law.

By Kate Berry

January 9
Card fraud

Treasury renews Comerica contract for benefits program hit by fraud

Comerica Bank won another five-year contract from the Treasury Department to run the prepaid Direct Express card program despite criticism of how it handled past fraud cases and customer service blunders.

By Kate Berry

January 7