In this episode of the AFSA Extra Credit Podcast, we speak with Mark McArdle, Assistant Director, Mortgage Markets with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Mark handles several different areas within the mortgage markets team at the Bureau, including facilitating the Bureau’s assumption of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) reporting, developing options around the Ability […]

This week, the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) commented on the payday loan disclosures designed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). AFSA emphasized that the definition of “payday loan” should be included in all the documents, especially in the “Initial Screener” questionnaire and the “Introduction of the Interview” transcript, to avoid the possible inclusion […]

Join us TOMORROW at 2:00 p.m. ET for Essentials for Success in the New Economy: Gaining ROI on Digital Strategies, presented by The shift to digital financial services has been happening for years, but COVID has been a reality check for firms to create a high-touch digital experience to stay competitive. Without clear line-of-sight into how the […]

“Small businesses are crucial to the American economy and to the millions of Americans who run them, are employed by them, and who patronize them,” AFSA wrote to the CFPB this week, adding, “Credit availability, in turn, is critical to the well-being of small businesses. Without credit, many small businesses would close.” AFSA’s comments were […]

The American Financial Services Association (AFSA) today submitted a comment letter to Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urging that he amend H.R. 8235 the Open Courts Act. The bill, as drafted, would allow free access to the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database. AFSA supports public access to the PACER system but […]

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act. President Trump has threatened to veto the bill citing  its lack of legislative language removing legal liability protections for social media companies. The House vote was 335-78, which is above the two-thirds threshold needed to override a Presidential veto. The annual defense measure is considered “must pass,” and the Senate is expected to approve it next week before it heads to the […]

Friday was officially Director Kathleen Kraninger’s second anniversary as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The second year of Director Kraninger’s tenure has been marked with unprecedented challenges as the American people dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption it has caused for businesses and consumers alike. During the pandemic, the […]

Join us on December 17 at 2:00 p.m. ET for Essentials for Success in the New Economy: Gaining ROI on Digital Strategies, presented by The shift to digital financial services has been happening for years, but COVID has been a reality check for firms to create a high-touch digital experience to stay competitive. Without clear line-of-sight into […]

2020 has been an unprecedented year for all of us. It has, however, reinforced that consumer credit of all types is crucial to sustaining American businesses and households. Just as our members adapted to meet the financial needs of their customers, the American Financial Services Association adapted to leverage the relationships we have built over […]

AFSA’s State Government Affairs (SGA) team recently sent a comment letter to the Texas Supreme Court regarding proposed amendments to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure that would permit electronic service of citation by social media, email, or other technology. In the letter, AFSA voiced its concerns regarding these amendments, arguing that electronic service should […]