On 8/25/2020, the CFPB issued a request for information (RFI) to examine the impact of the rules that implement the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. According to their release, the CFPB is seeking public feedback on the CARD Act Rules’ economic impact on small entities and is also requesting comments from the public on how the consumer credit card market is functioning as part of a Bureau review required by the CARD Act.

On 8/21/2020, the joint agencies (Federal Reserve, FDIC, FinCEN, NCUA, and OCC) issued a joint statement clarifying that Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) due diligence requirements for customers who may be considered “politically exposed persons” (PEPs) should be commensurate with the risks posed by the PEP relationship. Of particular note, the statement clarifies that PEPs refer to senior foreign individuals and that “the Agencies do not interpret the term “politically exposed persons” to include U.S. public officials.”

On 8/20/2020, the CFPB announced a settlement with TD Bank regarding its marketing and sale of its optional overdraft service, referred to by the as Debit Card Advance (DCA). In addition to the issues with their overdraft practices, the CFPB also found that “TD Bank violated FCRA and Regulation V by failing to establish and implement reasonable written policies and procedures concerning the accuracy and integrity of consumer-account information it furnished to two nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies.” The consent order requires TD Bank to provide an estimated $97 million in restitution to about 1.42 million consumers and to pay a civil money penalty of $25 million.

On 8/18/2020, the CFPB issued a proposal to create a new category of seasoned qualified mortgages, referenced as “Seasoned QMs.” According to the CFPB’s release, loans could qualify as Seasoned QMs if they are “first-lien, fixed-rate covered transactions that have met certain performance requirements over a 36-month seasoning period.”

On 8/18/2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a statement that explains its approach to enforcing BSA/AML rules and regulations. This statement corresponds with the interagency statement issued on 8/13/2020 by the FDIC, Federal Reserve, OCC, and NCUA. In their release, FinCEN explains that this statement is intended to provide clarity and transparency to its approach when contemplating compliance or enforcement actions against covered financial institutions that violate the Bank Secrecy Act. The statement outlines administrative actions available to FinCEN, provides an overview of the information FinCEN analyzes in order to determine the appropriate outcome of BSA violations, and encourages financial institutions to voluntarily and promptly report violations as well as candidly and completely cooperate with any investigation.