Category Archives: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Some Questions I Hope Members of Congress Ask Mulvaney

by Jeff Sovern On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee will hear from CFPB Interim Chief Mick Mulvaney about the CFPB. Here are some questions I hope get asked of Mulvaney, in no particular order: Wells Fargo. You have said that complaints to the CFPB should guide your actions.  It appears from the public database […]

Mulvaney in Bureau’s Semi-Annual Report Calls for Limiting CFPB Independence

by Jeff Sovern The report is here. Here's an excerpt from Mulvaney's statement at the beginning of the report: As has been evident since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bureau is far too powerful, and with precious little oversight of its activities. Per the statute, in the normal course the Bureau’s Director simultaneously […]

Fred Williams Report on Complaints About Credit Cards to CFPB Database

The report, at CreditCards.com,  is titled "Store-card issuers top list of complaints with the CFPB" and the subheading is" Purchase issues, unexpected fees or interest are most common card-related gripes." The report lists the most-complained-about issuers per $100M in card balances and also reports on which issuers give the most refunds. Here's an excerpt: It […]

Commission Structure for CFPB Seems Even Less Likely as Some Republicans Retreat From Calls for It–Though Subjecting CFPB to the Appropriations Process Still a Risk

by Jeff Sovern Kate Berry has a report at the American Banker, A CFPB commission will never fly, chock full of interesting quotes.  The gist of it is that the Senate Democrats who voted for the bank bill oppose changes in the CFPB and so say they will not support a revised bill if the House […]

Does Mulvaney Know There’s a Difference Between Not Pushing the Envelope and Turning the CFPB into a Dead Letter?

by Jeff Sovern CFPB Acting Director Mick Mulvaney famously said that the Bureau should not push the envelope. He also said at the same time: There will absolutely be times when circumstances require us to take dramatic action to protect consumers. At those times, I expect us to be vigorous in our enforcement of the […]

Will the Bill to Revise Dodd-Frank Fail Because the House and Senate Can’t Agree?

The HIll is reporting that the House insists on going to conference to resolve differences between the House-passed Financial Choice Act and the Senate bill, while the Senate Democrats who supported the bill say they would oppose major changes in it. The House bill makes major changes in the CFPB.

Even Mulvaney’s Defenders Struggle to Identify His Accomplishments at the CFPB

by Jeff Sovern Mick Mulvaney has now led the CFPB for three and a half months and during that period, has been subject to attacks, including on our blog.  Naturally, his defenders are stepping up. For example, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, who chairs the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and served on […]

Mulvaney’s Evisceration of the CFPB Continues in Multiple Ways

by Jeff Sovern The CFPB protects consumers in a number of ways. Perhaps the three most important things it does are enforce the law, supervise some financial institutions, and create rules.  A less important mechanism, but still important, is maintaining its complaint database. All of these seem to be coming under attack under Interim director […]

When Will Mulvaney’s CFPB Announce its First Enforcement Action?

by Jeff Sovern Mr. Mulvaney has served as interim CFPB director since November 25, or three months and two days.  The CFPB has yet to announce commencement of an enforcement action during that period, though it has dismissed an enforcement action. For comparison, during 2016, the Bureau brought 42 enforcement actions, meaning that if it […]