Press Releases

Banks collected more than $11.68 billion in 2019 through abusive overdraft practices that drain consumers’ checking accounts Congress, Regulators, and Banks all have the responsibility and power to ease burden on consumers WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report released today by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) finds that in 2019 banks collected more than $11.68 billion in overdraft-related fees through abusive practices that drain massive...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Center for Responsible Lending President Mike Calhoun released the following statement today on the recent protests that took place over the weekend: Communities across the country rightly expressed their raw, unfiltered emotions because of the complacency that has allowed racism and oppression to continue in the United States. The senseless killings of unarmed black men and women—like...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Consumer advocates slammed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for its final rule issued today that encourages online non-bank lenders to launder their loans through banks so they can offer high-cost triple-digit loans in states where such loans are illegal. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. proposed a similar rule but has not finalized it...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Donald Trump vetoed H.J. Res. 76, a resolution which would have invalidated the Department of Education’s 2019 harmful Borrower Defense (BD) Rule. The 2019 rule weakens accountability for predatory for-profit colleges and prevents defrauded students from accessing relief. Center for Responsible Lending Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Counsel Ashley Harrington released the following statement: Despite...

Coalition of civil rights and consumer organizations urge Senate to include provisions to strengthen PPP’s infrastructure WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. The bill makes two important improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including extending the covered expense period from 8 to 24 weeks and pushing back...

Around a decade ago, banks’ “deposit advance” products put borrowers in an average of 19 loans per year at more than 200% annual interest Important FDIC consumer protections repealed WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, four banking regulators jointly issued new small dollar lending guidance that lacks the explicit consumer protections it should have. At the same time, it does require that...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released the final version of a rule to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which jointly released the CRA proposed rule with the OCC, did not join in this final announcement. The Federal Reserve Board did not sign on to the proposed...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800), the latest legislative response to the unprecedented COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Counsel Ashley Harrington issued the following statement: The HEROES Act shows strong promise and addresses important needs of low-wealth families impacted by...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), yesterday released the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800), the latest legislative response to the unprecedented COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) Federal Advocacy Director and Senior Counsel Ashley Harrington issued the following statement: The HEROES Act would help prevent families from losing...

“A majority of Americans across all regions of the U.S. support permanently reducing student loan debt by $20,000 for all borrowers.” WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) released a bipartisan poll today showing that Americans around the country and across partisan identities strongly support student debt reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic...