State regulators

Nearly a dozen states are looking to regulate digital payroll advance products, prompting a fintech trade group to ask the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to conduct a formal rulemaking.

Brandon Milhorn, the new CEO of the Conference of State Banking Supervisors, used the platform offered by his first major speech to sound an alarm against one-size-fits-all solutions emanating from Washington. "The pendulum has swung too far in the direction of federal regulatory uniformity," Milhorn argued.

New York is seeking to procure a supercomputer to run artificial intelligence systems and gain a deeper understanding of the technology for more effective regulation. 

Adrienne Harris, who did stints at the Treasury Department and National Economic Council during the Obama administration, would succeed Linda Lacewell as superintendent of the state's Department of Financial Services.

The measure bans banks that discriminate against gunmakers from entering into government contracts. Citigroup, which supporters of the law were targeting, has lost market share while Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase have gained ground.

Financial Services Superintendent Linda Lacewell said she will step down Aug. 24, the same day Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to leave following a sexual harassment investigation. The state’s attorney general found that Lacewell helped with the governor’s public relations response to the allegations.

States have the option of adopting the oversight framework issued by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, which resembles capital and liquidity plan proposed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Manny Alvarez, the head of California’s Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, told staff that he plans to leave on June 18. Chief Deputy Commissioner Chris Shultz will be appointed to lead the agency on an interim basis.

The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has tapped Christina Tetreault as the head of the newly created Office of Financial Technology and Innovation.

State-level groups are pushing measures intended to improve the operating environment for the industry, such as increasing flexibility with field of membership, and providing parity with banks and federally chartered institutions.

New guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shows how companies that offer workers early access to their wages can avoid being regulated as lenders. But the incoming Biden administration could add new complications.

In the waning days of the Trump administration, the agency issued a new legal theory of its power to let national banks evade state consumer protection laws. But some state attorneys general and consumer groups charge the federal regulator is attempting to sidestep restrictions imposed by Dodd-Frank.

On the same day that Mr. Cooper announced a settlement with state and federal authorities over its servicing practices, the Dallas company, U.S. Bank and PNC reached separate agreements with DOJ regarding bankrupt borrowers.

Gov. Laura Kelly has nominated Vickie Hurt to succeed Jerel Wright, who will step down Nov. 28.

The New York State Department of Financial Services says banks and credit unions under its supervision should limit loan concentrations in vulnerable geographic areas, avoid overexposure to fossil fuel and other legacy businesses and develop financial disclosures detailing climate-related risk.

One could change how commercial property is taxed, the other could change rent control policies. Both might affect financing.

The proposed best practices would be modeled after federal servicing standards and be used to supervise nonbanks firms subject to state regimes.

The OCC is trying to seize jurisdiction by arguing that current supervision is haphazard. But states are already working together to streamline regulation while continuing to enforce consumer protections and encourage innovation.

The OCC is trying to seize jurisdiction by arguing that current supervision is haphazard. But states are already working together to streamline regulation while continuing to enforce consumer protections and encourage innovation.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks’ focus on allowing fintech firms into the federal banking sphere appears to have a more ambitious and risky goal: redefining the agency’s regulatory focus.