Consumer lending

Cash America International, a payday lender in Fort Worth, Texas, has named Brent Stuart chief executive.

Federal prosecutors are seeking to seize hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Concord, N.C.-based debt collection company accused of using unfair and fraudulent practices.

Hospitals in Minnesota saw a 6% drop in uncompensated care in 2014, a trend state health officials attribute to more people having health insurance. But the news wasn't as favorable for bad debt.

The government appears to be speeding toward establishing uniform standards for student loan servicers in light of reports of pervasive problems in the administration of both private and federal loans.

The CFPB has released a report outlining widespread servicing failures reported by both federal and private student loan borrowers. Consumers describe companies using various sloppy, patchwork practices that create obstacles to repayment, raise costs and contribute to further harming struggling borrowers.

Lawmakers from both political parties on Tuesday sharply criticized the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's attempt to restrict or eliminate auto dealers' ability to markup a loan by citing their partnering lenders, arguing it would result in higher prices for consumers.

A new study indicates that careful evaluation of the current regulatory environment is necessary to ensure that the debt collection and debt buying industries are allowed to fulfill their role in the U.S. economy.

The mortgage delinquency rate in the U.S. dropped in August by the largest amount, based on a yearly comparison, since 2011, according to data from Black Knight Financial Services.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's method for detecting discrimination by indirect auto lenders can overestimate potential bias, resulting in higher payments for lenders cited by the agency, according to internal CFPB documents.

Fifth Third Bank will pay $18 million to settle Consumer Financial Protection Bureau allegations it discriminated against black and Hispanic consumers by charging some people higher interest rates on auto loans.

The CFPB hired Dr. Bernard Siskin three years ago to serve as the agency's expert witness when it brings discrimination cases against lenders. But Siskin has also been hired by JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and other big banks to represent them in bias cases against the CFPB, causing issues for the agency.

WASHINGTON — Fifth Third Bank must pay a total of more than $21 million to settle separate claims by the federal government that the bank's indirect auto-loan business discriminated against African-Americans and that the bank deceptively signed up customers for a credit card add-on product.

Debt-buying giant Encore Capital Group officials announced Monday that the company is acquiring a controlling stake in Baycorp, one of Australia's largest debt resolution companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Officials with the Ohio attorney general’s collection-enforcement division report that approximately $34 billion in government debt owed by corporations and consumers is being pursued by 70 outside law firms and third-party agencies.

The CFPB is rewriting the rules for debt collection, and in the meantime fines and penalties are coming fast and furiously. Banks need to closely scrutinize every debt collector and debt buyer they do business with, or even bring collections back in-house, said attorney Joann Needleman.

Consumer spending gains in the second quarter helped the U.S. economy expand more than forecasted and may help the U.S. withstand a global slowdown, according to Commerce Department figures released Friday.

At a time when fintech companies and banks are struggling to draw more consumer interest in their apps, a Reno, Nev., startup is hoping to motivate underbanked consumers to pay bills, including overdue ones, via a friendly mobile experience.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has struggled internally with how to end potential discrimination in auto lending, including debating whether it should cite a large lender in the hope of effectively ending the ability of partnering dealers to mark up loans with all lenders.

The banking industry continues to sit on a mountain of problematic loans seven years after the onset of the financial crisis.

The man allegedly used his Baton Rouge, La.-based credit repair company to dupe his victims.