Consumer lending

A federal appeals court ruled that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits not just outright discrimination but also the discouragement of prospective applicants for credit.

The Cincinnati bank has agreed to pay a total of $20 million to settle a lawsuit by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over fake bank accounts and to resolve separate violations involving force-placed auto insurance.

A law that took effect this week allows Florida consumers to ask state regulators to investigate why a financial institution canceled an account or rejected a loan application. The law, which applies to federally chartered banks, could lead to a legal battle over the limits of state powers.

This year Texas banks dominated American Banker's annual list of the top-performing larger community banks. See which institution came in at No. 1 for this asset class.

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction sought by industry groups that sued to block a Colorado law. The law, which would cap interest rates on consumer loans, targets partnerships between fintechs and out-of-state banks.

Financial services professionals should be in the business of normalizing discussions about personal finance. The result will be a more financially literate population, and that's good for everyone.

The high court will determine how much deference judges should give to regulators in interpreting laws passed by Congress. The upcoming ruling has especially big implications for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has drawn the banking industry's ire.

The best way for banks to alleviate the effects of extreme weather events is to continue to do what they do best — lend.

Payday lenders want an appeals court to rehear a novel claim about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding despite a Supreme Court ruling last month that upheld the agency's funding as constitutional.

Late payments, which have been on a steady rise since 2021, are now climbing at a slower rate or even declining at some major card issuers. Risks remain, but there's 'reason to be cautiously optimistic," one analyst said.