CBA Statement On CFPB’s Latest Effort to Make Policy Without Regard For Facts

WASHINGTON, DC – Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) President and CEO Richard Hunt today released the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding credit card fees. 

 

“Today’s announcement is another reminder the Bureau appears more interested in advancing a particular agenda than developing fact-based policies that improve the lives of hardworking families. Missing from this announcement is the fact that banks – more than any other industry – have taken concrete steps to make their products more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans.

 

“The Bureau itself acknowledged in March banks are not only in clear compliance with existing laws, they continue to fulfill requirements by prudential regulators to mitigate default risks and protect access to credit for all consumers. Further, as the Bureau’s own data shows, throughout the pandemic, credit card issuers illustrated this commitment by waiving late fees and helping to distribute much-needed emergency funds to hardworking families and small businesses. But the CFPB’s headlines fail to tell that important story.

 

“This continues an emerging and harmful pattern at the Bureau of turning a blind eye to many of the bank-led efforts and innovations that have been introduced without regulatory intervention to meet the evolving needs of the customers they serve.

 

“Imposing more restrictions on bank-offered credit products will hurt hardworking families most, forcing them to meet their needs outside of the well-supervised banking system. This risk is even greater now as families contend with the effects of inflation.  

 

“As CBA has said before, the Bureau should spend less time seeking praise from beltway allies and more time listening to the very people they are responsible for serving. CBA looks forward to submitting comments to the Bureau on behalf of our members and the millions of consumers they serve.”

  

CBA Advocacy

 

In response to the Bureau’s heightened focus on bank fees in recent months, CBA has worked to underscore banks’ commitment to providing transparency and choice and to highlight some of the bank-led innovations designed to meet evolving consumer demands.

 

CBA reiterated these messages in an April letter sent to CFPB Director Chopra while also calling on policymakers to consider the following key themes before enacting misguided and overly restrictive policy that would limit access to credit for hardworking Americans:

 

• Well-Regulated Industry: As opposed to many segments of the economy where Americans are charged fees, fee charges and disclosures in banking are heavily regulated at the federal and state levels. In some instances, these oversight requirements have been in place for more than half a century.

 

• Highly Competitive Landscape: Because the banking industry is among the most competitive in the world, banks are incentivized to constantly review and modernize products and services – and potential fees that come along with them – to meet evolving demand and attract new customers, fostering even greater transparency and choice for consumers.

 

• Empowered Consumers: Thanks to new bank-led innovations, consumers are now empowered with the financial tools they need to anticipate or avoid fees. In contrast to many fees charged by other industries, banks are required by law to disclose potential fees before a consumer chooses a product or service. Characterizing all fees as equal directly undermines long-standing efforts from policymakers and banks to adequately disclose terms and conditions to consumers.

 

To learn more about how banks are working to deliver more choice and flexibility to consumers while helping them avoid unintended fees, click HERE.

 

 

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About the Consumer Bankers Association

The Consumer Bankers Association represents America’s leading retail banks. We promote policies to create a stronger industry and economy. Established in 1919, CBA’s corporate member institutions account for 1.7 million jobs in America, extend roughly $4 trillion in consumer loans and provide $275 billion in small business loans annually. Follow us on Twitter @consumerbankers.