Comment Letter

The Center for Responsible Lending, Self-Help Credit Union, and Self-Help Federal Credit Union submitted this public comment letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in support of its proposed rule to recodify its previously promulgated rule titled, “Implementation of the Fair Housing Act’s Discriminatory Effects Standard” (2013 Rule). The comment supports restoring the power of the “disparate impact” standard, a crucial legal tool used to identify and eliminate discrimination.

From the coalition letter to Michael J. Hsu, acting comptroller of the currency, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: We the undersigned community, consumer, and civil rights organizations write to express serious concerns about Oportun’s application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national bank charter. Exactly one year ago, Oportun made headlines for grossly abusive debt collection practices, which is especially alarming given the company’s stated focus on serving Latino, immigrant, and low-to-moderate income borrowers. ProPublica and The Guardian published...

The undersigned fair housing, affordable housing and civil rights organizations write to you in response to the proposed Interim Final Rule entitled “Restoring Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Definitions and Certifications.” We are heartened to see HUD moving toward restoring a meaningful Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule to better implement the letter and spirit of the Fair Housing Act (“the Act”). This provision of the Fair Housing Act has largely gone unenforced, continuing the harms that have resulted from this nation’s legacy of government-sponsored residential...

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST) appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed rule on Protections for Borrowers Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Regulation X. Our organizations strongly support the Bureau’s goals of preventing avoidable foreclosures and maximizing home retention. However, we believe the proposed rule as drafted will not achieve the stated goals. The Bureau proposes a pre-foreclosure review period through the...

The following two comments oppose the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA or the Board)’s proposal to expand the activities in which credit union service organizations (CUSOs) are permitted to engage. This proposal will authorize predatory lending by credit unions, hampering household security at a time when greater security is badly needed. It will also increase racial discrimination, as families of color are disproportionately targeted with these harmful loans. Detailed comment from The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, and...

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and the Center for Community Self-Help (Self-Help) appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) Request for Input on Climate and Natural Disaster Risk Management at the Regulated Entities. CRL is a nonprofit, non-partisan research and policy organization dedicated to protecting homeownership and family wealth by working to eliminate abusive financial practices. CRL is an affiliate of Self-Help, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit community development financial institutions. For over 40 years, Self-Help has...

The private bail bonds industry is woefully underregulated. Unlawful consumer credit arrangements and debt–collection practices abound, yet no government body is charged with addressing these aspects of bail bonds contracts. DFPI has the authority and the expertise to provide much-needed regulation in this industry and doing so would align with its mission. For the good of bail bonds consumers too often fleeced by unlawful financial products during a particularly stressful moment in their lives, we urge DFPI to recognize and use its authority under the CCFPL, the DCLA, and Cal. Fin. Code...

This set of comments will focus on earned wage access programs and other newer types of payday advance programs. NCLC and CRL have also joined a broader set of comments submitted by the California Economic Justice Coalition on a broader range of issues and a second set in conjunction with the Student Borrower Protection Center on income share agreements. These comments will focus in particular on these questions that DFPI poses: For what industries should DFPI first establish registration requirements under Financial Code section 90009(a)? What are the consumer protection risks posed by those...

On September 25, 2020, Governor Newsom signed AB 1864 (Chapter 157, Statutes of 2020), establishing the California Consumer Financial Protection Law (“CCFPL”) under Division 24 of the Financial Code. The undersigned consumer advocates are encouraged to see that the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (“DFPI” or the “Department”) is seeking input from stakeholders in developing regulations to implement the CCFPL. We write this comment in response to the following questions regarding registration requirements that the DFPI posed in 3(a)-(b): For what industries should the DFPI...

Our broad coalition of consumer and business organizations thanks you for the opportunity to comment regarding how the DFPI can best implement AB 1864 (Limón), the California Consumer Financial Protection Law (CCFPL). The CCFPL is an important and significant step forward for California and offers the promise of a bold consumer-facing department that can be at the forefront of consumer protection. We look forward to partnering with you and your team to help make that promise a reality. We must first acknowledge that the on-going COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities for low and...