AFSA attended and participated in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Consumer Advisory Board meetings held June 5th and 6th in Washington. The focus of the meeting was on broad policy matters related to the Bureau’s Unified Regulatory Agenda and general scope of authority. Sessions included information exchange on trends I the consumer reporting marketplace and discussion of the 2018 Consumer Response Annual Report, among many other topics.

Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) yesterday announced that proposed rules governing robocalls would likely contain a “safety valve” in order to ensure that legitimate businesses like financial services companies can still reach consumers. The Commission passed the proposed rule this afternoon.

Each year since the mid-1980s, the AFSA Education Foundation offers two important enrichment programs for employees of member companies. Registration for the 2019 edition of The EDGE program is now closed. However, there’s still time to register for the Leadership Development Program on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, July 13 through July 20.

This week, AFSA’s State Government Affairs Team published their white paper on state payday lending databases. Many states have passed laws requiring payday lenders to submit information about their customers to a database system. Some states have sought to expand this database requirement to traditional installment lenders, which is unnecessary given the already-thorough regulatory environment in which they operate. The white paper takes a deep dive into the history of payday lending database legislation and the negative effects of expanding them to traditional installment lenders. This month’s white paper, as well as SGA’s previous white papers, is also available under the State Resources section of AFSA’s website.

Join us today at 2 p.m. ET for Repo on the Rise: 3 things for motor vehicle lenders to consider today.

Consumer preference trends are having a significant impact on the auto industry. Manufacturers are adapting to these preferences while also making vehicles that are more durable as well as preparing for environmental regulations. These trends transcend the market, present opportunities and challenges for lenders and the market at-large. Industry experts will unpack these complexities at the 2019 Summit for Fixed Income Investors at the Westin New York at Times Square on June 13, 2019.

AFSA joined with other trades in meetings at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over the last several days to discuss the call blocking declaratory ruling and notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that will be voted on June 6.

When two things are closely related, we tend to trick ourselves into thinking the two are interchangeable. Wash your hands and you won’t get sick. Smile often and people will like you. Pass your PCI Compliance audit and your customers’ data is safe.

AFSA on May 23 submitted a letter to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) commenting on the joint standards for assessing diversity policies and practices. The letter specifically addresses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) approval to revise an existing information collection entitled, “Joint Standards for Assessing the Diversity Policies and Practices.” This notice also included a lengthy voluntary diversity self-assessment form.

In Washington it’s not uncommon to have policy proposals that lack common sense. The same can be said for well-intentioned policies that create adverse, unintended consequences. It’s less common that a single proposal achieves both. But that’s what has happened with a congressional proposal that would cap consumer loan interest rates at 15 percent and allow the U.S. Postal Service to enter the consumer-loan business.