Equifax

Credit card balances declined most sharply as consumers cut back their spending due to the coronavirus pandemic and associated shutdown orders, the New York Fed said Thursday. But delinquencies also fell across all debt categories, thanks to government and lender relief efforts.

Banking and credit reporting groups say such an agency could politicize the reporting process. Consumer groups say it would offer consumers a necessary alternative.

The Credit Union National Association filed the class action suit in 2017 after roughly 147 million people had personal information exposed through a hack of the credit reporting agency.

The rescue bill enabled banks to protect loans in forbearance from an immediate hit to a borrower’s credit report, but experts say affected consumers may have trouble getting loans after the pandemic ends.

Congressional Democrats want forceful action to prevent damage to millions of Americans' credit scores during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the credit bureaus argue that the tools needed to protect consumers are already in place.

Four Chinese military members charged with stealing data of 150 million Americans; fintech can use deposit insurance, a step toward a full bank charter.

No Republicans voted for the package of bills intended to overhaul the credit reporting system, casting doubt on its chances in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Under terms of the settlement approved by a Georgia court Monday, Equifax may also have to pay an additional $125 million if the initial amount doesn't cover all the claims.

Regulators have long warned the credit bureaus about deceptive marketing that causes consumers to sign up unwittingly for paid monitoring services. But the practice has persisted, according to complaint data.

Democratic lawmakers and consumer advocates say the remedies offered to consumers by firms like Capital One and Equifax are too difficult to access and not particularly helpful.