Press Releases

Banks should not embrace this terrible idea, especially as they are borrowing for free WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, under the cover of a national crisis, five federal bank regulators issued small dollar bank lending guidance that lacks the consumer protections needed to ensure loans do not trap borrowers in a cycle of debt. The guidance was issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve Board (FRB), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The guidance does not warn

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) Director of Federal Advocacy Ashley Harrington released the following statement today ahead of a vote where the Senate is expected to approve its deal with the White House on a phase three spending bill to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 public health crisis: This bill falls short of providing full relief for hard-working families across the country, especially for LMI families and communities of color who are getting hit hard by this pandemic. In a time of crisis, taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used to only bail out major

Instead, policymakers should incorporate as part of the stimulus package a federal rate cap and a ban on overdraft during crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. – As our nation tries to contain a growing pandemic and our economy heads toward a recession, reporting indicates that bank regulators might choose this moment to eliminate key safeguards that prevent exorbitantly priced, predatory loans. Meanwhile, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have just introduced legislation to establish a 36% annual interest rate cap for new loans while not touching lower state rate caps. Center for

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the House Democratic Caucus introduced their COVID-19 stimulus package, Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act. Among the proposals, the bill includes provisions that support student loan debt cancellation and a halt on home foreclosures. Center for Responsible Lending Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Counsel Ashley Harrington released the following statement: This proposal is a great step toward providing families and workers much needed relief as the country continues to tackle the COVID

At “time of national crisis,” immediate adoption of bold financial protection and relief measures is needed in stimulus package WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) joined with 26 national civil rights, consumer, housing and labor groups, and 35 state groups in sending a letter to Congress with specific financial services policy proposals that help address the needs of families most at risk from the impending economic collapse. Full text of the letter is included at bottom. The letter states that the “ organizations write with urgency to recommend that the

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) applauded the introduction of an emergency student loan payment and debt cancellation plan introduced by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). The plan would provide needed relief to federal student loan borrowers through immediate cancellation of monthly student loan payments for the duration of the national emergency caused by the spread of the COVID-19, and a pay down of a minimum $10,000 for all federal student loan borrowers. In July 2019, CRL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today in a board meeting, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced that it has approved industrial loan company (ILC) applications for Square Financial Services, Inc. and federal student loan servicer Nelnet Bank. The agency also recently announced a notice of proposed rulemaking on ILCs. By approving these ILC applications, the FDIC has broadened the ability of commercial companies to engage in banking activities, including online lending. ILCs provide a way into the banking system for commercial companies, which are otherwise not permitted to own

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bank Policy Institute, Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), NAACP, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and Independent Community Bankers of America sent a letter to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Chairwoman Jelena McWilliams urging the agency not to approve deposit insurance applications submitted by industrial banks or industrial loan companies (ILC) until its ILC rulemaking is final. The letter was sent ahead of FDIC’s meeting on Tuesday, March 17, where agency leaders are expected to announce a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) released Treat Fannie and Freddie as Utilities, a report finding that the best model for regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs) outside of conservatorship is utility rate-of-return regulation. Under this type of regulation, the GSEs would pool risk nationally and offer broad access to affordable mortgage credit nationwide. The report recommends that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the independent agency regulating Fannie and Freddie since the 2008 financial crisis

If approved by the President, the Obama-Era 2016 Borrower Defense rule would stay in effect and provide relief for students defrauded by for-profit colleges WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, the U.S. Senate voted to invalidate U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ 2019 harmful Borrower Defense (BD) Rule, scheduled to go into effect this summer. If the President signs the CRA resolution, it would void DeVos’ BD rule and leave in effect the 2016 Obama Administration BD rule, which would continue its purpose of providing relief for students