On March 16, AFSA submitted a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) expressing its strong support for the bipartisan-backed Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2021. Sponsored by Representatives Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Steve Stivers (R-OH) and Warren Davidson (R-OH), the SAFE Banking Act ends […]

On March 16, AFSA sent a letter to the Connecticut Joint Banking Committee raising concerns with SB 745, which would create a new set of disclosures that commercial lenders would be required to provide borrowers at the time credit is initially offered. The requirements of the bill would apply to floorplan lenders who play an […]

When it comes to laws and regulations around consumer credit, some policymakers, as the saying goes, seem intent on killing a fly by burning down the house.  Sure, you address the issue, but consider all that ancillary damage. That’s the point made in a recent op-ed by Jared Kaplan, CEO of OppFi, in the American […]

The automotive industry has faced its share of obstacles and uncertainty over the last 12 months, from the pandemic itself, the rush to implement digital retailing solutions and accommodating the consumer through new and redefined dealership best practices. Illustrated through some recent consumer research Market Scan conducted, we will discuss how digital retailing is challenging […]

Last week, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions held a hearing with several advocacy groups and coalitions to examine policy options to help consumers through the pandemic. Several panel witnesses indicated that there has a been an increase in collection activities associated with vehicle repossessions. This simply is not true. […]

AFSA is pleased to welcome Charlie Gasparino, Senior Correspondent with Fox Business News and one of America’s most storied business reporters, as the opening keynote speaker for the LIVE 2021 Independents Conference & Expo. As news breaks and headline stories unfold on Wall Street, Charlie Gasparino helps audiences understand how economic, financial, and political developments impact business growth. As senior […]

Washington, D.C. may be operating under one political party at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, but that doesn’t mean only one side of public policy should be discussed. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened on March 12, when the Bank Policy Institute held a seminar which it said was intended to “encourage discussion on the role […]

Take a look at AFSA’s one sheet on the value of auto dealership financing.

An article in the Bay St. Banner takes a page torn straight from the consumer “advocate” playbook: telling half of the story. The article details various legislative efforts around the country to implement restrictive, anti-consumer interest-rate caps, including a recent bill in Illinois. The piece is littered with the same misrepresentations and generalizations, the same […]

Leaders in both parties of Congress reached an agreement to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for an additional two months. House Small Business Chair Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Ranking Member Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) came to an accord yesterday. AFSA had joined with others in the industry last week asking for an extension of the […]