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☆ Credit card late fees capped at $8 as part of Biden administration crackdown on junk fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Federal regulators finalized a rule on Tuesday to cap most credit card late fees at $8 as part of a broader push by the Biden administration to eliminate junk fees. The new rule applies to large credit card issuers – those with more than 1 million accounts. These companies represent more than 95% of total outstanding credit card debt, according to the CFPB. It also comes as Americans continue to pile on credit card debt, which recently exceeded a record $1.1 trillion. Some borrowers, especially Millennials and those with lower incomes, have been falling behind on their credit card debt following more than two years of high inflation.

Persons: Biden, ”, Rohit Chopra, “, Greg Baer, Joe Biden, “ It’s, Chuck Bell Organizations: CNN, Consumer Financial, White, Bank Policy Institute, Council, Consumer

☆ New CFPB rule caps banks' credit card late fees at $8
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unveiled a new rule on Tuesday that it said would cap late fees that banks charge customers at $8 per incident. By cutting late fees to $8 from an average of around $32, more than 45 million card users would save an average of $220 annually, the CFPB said in a release. Regulations tied to that law granted issuers the ability to charge ever-increasing amounts of late fees. "For over a decade, credit card giants have been exploiting a loophole to harvest billions of dollars in junk fees from American consumers," CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in the release. "Today's rule ends the era of big credit card companies hiding behind the excuse of inflation when they hike fees on borrowers and boost their own bottom lines."

Persons: Rohit Chopra Organizations: Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Consumer Financial, Bureau

☆ New Federal Rule Caps Most Credit Card Late Fees at $8
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Stacy Cowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Millions of Americans could soon see lower credit card bills after a federal rule that caps late fees at $8 a month was finalized on Tuesday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which estimates that the change will save households $10 billion a year. Late fees have become a major profit source for credit card issuers, generating more than $14 billion in 2022, according to bureau data. A 2010 rule imposed by the Federal Reserve aimed to cap the charges, but allowed adjustments for inflation — a provision card issues have used to raise their fees far beyond the actual costs they incur when payments arrive late, the bureau said. That allowed credit card companies to “harvest billions of dollars in junk fees from American consumers,” said Rohit Chopra, the bureau’s director. It applies only to large issuers that have more than one million open accounts, but the agency estimates that the rule will cover 95 percent of outstanding credit card balances.

Persons: ”, Rohit Chopra, “ Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve

☆ Home Equity Loan Alternative Could Revolutionize the Housing Market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Like a lot of homeowners, Schummer was keen to convert some of his theoretical wealth into real cash. These kinds of deals, often referred to as home-equity-sharing agreements or home-equity investments, have existed on the fringes of housing finance for decades. The success or failure of home-equity investments could shape the future of homeownership in America. If the home's value has gone up, everyone wins; sell it for a loss, and the investor might share in that downside. "Over time for us, the customer becomes everybody," Eoin Matthews, the chief business officer and a cofounder of Point, told me recently.

Persons: Kennis Schummer, Schummer, Laurie Goodman, Goodman, he'd, Eoin Matthews, —, Hometap, Jim Riccitelli, Riccitelli, Adam Rust, Rust, Rust wasn't, I'm, Jordan Gilberti, Holly Bunting, Mayer Brown, Edwin Remsberg, Matthews, they'd, Jeffrey Glass, Glass, I've, he's Organizations: Consumer, Urban Institute, Federal Reserve, Bain Capital, Palisades Group, Redwood Trust, Getty, Consumer Federation of America Locations: Pensacola , Florida, California, homeownership, America, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida

☆ 3 top Democratic lawmakers are calling for an investigation into a major student-loan company, accusing it of 'loan forgiveness mismanagement' for millions of borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThree top Democratic lawmakers want federal and state officials to investigate a major student-loan company. AdvertisementThey called on the CFPB and attorneys general to "investigate MOHELA and pursue action to the fullest extent possible under the law. We’re standing with @theSBPC and @AFTunion in expressing outrage at MOHELA’s student loan mismanagement. Since student-loan payments resumed in October after an over three-year pause, federal servicers have been under scrutiny over their handling of the return to repayment. AdvertisementIn January, the Education Department withheld varying amounts of pay from the other three federal servicers for the same reason.

Persons: —, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, MOHELA, they're, Biden, — Chuck Schumer, Warren Organizations: Service, Democratic, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Business, Protection, American Federation of Teachers, Sunshine Law, AGs, Education Department Locations: Sens, Missouri

☆ Opinion | Americans’ Savings Are Shrinking. Should We Be Worried?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If there is a recession in the United States this year, it probably won’t be because consumers spontaneously run out of spending power. I’ve put together five charts that show that consumers are in reasonably good shape, although life is getting harder for the most vulnerable groups. Households aren’t “the place to look for economic weakness,” Michael Pearce, the deputy chief U.S. economist for Oxford Economics, a forecaster, told me last week. The personal saving rate fell in December to 3.7 percent of disposable personal income, which except for a dip in 2022 was the lowest since 2008. “In 2023 consumers were still on average somewhat better off financially than they were in 2019, but the trend is negative,” the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wrote in a December report.

Persons: I’ve, ” Michael Pearce, “, Mike Croxson Organizations: Oxford Economics, Consumer Financial, Bureau, National Foundation, Credit Locations: United States

Payment apps have come under scrutiny by lawmakers and regulators as their usage skyrockets. That ease of use has 80% of Americans using mobile payment apps, according to a recent survey by NerdWallet. Transaction volume across all payment app service providers in 2022 was estimated at about $893 billion, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Lawmakers are also calling on payment app companies to clarify their reimbursement policy if consumers get scammed and to make it easier for users to report fraud. In the meantime, experts say that consumers need to understand how these apps work, the fees that may be charged and the risks involved in storing money in a mobile payment app.

Persons: Amy Zirkle, Sen, Sherrod Brown Organizations: Consumer Financial, Finance, Democratic, Capitol, Banking Locations: Ohio

☆ Looking for a Lower Credit Card Interest Rate? Good Luck.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Credit card debt is rising, and shopping for a card with a lower interest rate can help you save money. But the challenge is finding one. Smaller banks and credit unions typically charge significantly lower interest rates on credit cards than the largest banks do — even among customers with top-notch credit, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported last week. But online card comparison tools tend to emphasize cards from larger banks that pay fees to the sites when shoppers apply for cards, said Julie Margetta Morgan, the bureau’s associate director for research, monitoring and regulations. “It’s pretty hard to shop for a good deal on a credit card right now.”For cardholders with “good” credit — a credit score of 620 to 719 — the typical interest rate charged by big banks was about 28 percent, compared with about 18 percent at small banks, the report found.

Persons: Julie Margetta Morgan Organizations: Consumer Financial

☆ Premarket stocks: Is Nvidia too big to fail?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Investors expect Nvidia to report earnings of $4.59 a share and $20.378 billion in revenue, up from just $6.05 billion a year before. Too big to fail: For the time being, Nvidia is the “most sophisticated and deployed” chipmaker in the world, and its output is one of national importance, said Newman. Capital One wants to be the biggest credit card company in America. If approved by regulators and shareholders, Capital One’s (COF) acquisition will create the biggest US credit card company by loan volume. Compared to other major credit card issuers, Capital One has historically catered to customers with credit scores in the 600s range, which is considered subprime.

Persons: “, ”, Daniel Newman, Newman, Jensen Huang, ” What’s, Sam Altman, Pat Gelsinger, Elisabeth Buchwald, Biden, Richard Fairbank, Fairbank, Samantha Delouya, Dow, Dow hasn’t Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Nvidia, Wall, Microsoft, Apple, Investors, Intel, AMD, Discover Financial Services, Capital, Discover, Mastercard, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Walgreens, Dow Jones, Alliance, Dow Jones Industrial, Dow Jones Indices, Dow, Tesla Locations: New York, California, United States, China, Dubai, America

☆ America is on the cusp of a new biggest credit card company. Here’s what it means for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If approved by regulators and shareholders, Capital One’s (COF) acquisition will create the biggest US credit card company by loan volume. Discover cards are already accepted at 99% of all US merchants that allow customers to make credit card purchases, according to the company. Credit card networks are the liaison between card issuers and merchants, for whom they set fees. If Capital One flips all its credit cards to Discover, Mastercard would stand to lose a quarter of its US credit card volume. Compared to other major credit card issuers, Capital One has historically catered to customers with credit scores in the 600s range, which is considered subprime.

Persons: New York CNN —, Biden, Richard Fairbank, Fairbank, JPMorgan Chase, Andrew Harrer, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Jaret, Cowen Organizations: New, New York CNN, Discover Financial Services, Capital, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, US, American Express, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, Bloomberg, Getty, Consumer Financial, ”, Democratic Locations: New York, Mastercard’s, Visa’s

☆ These borrowers are likely to be eligible for Biden's new student loan forgiveness plan
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sean Rayford | Getty ImagesSince the Biden administration's first student loan forgiveness plan was rejected at the Supreme Court, it has been working on creating a new, legally viable relief package. The alternative plan, which has become known as Biden's "Plan B," could forgive the student debt for as many as 10 million people, according to one estimate. While Biden first attempted to cancel student debt through an executive order, he has now turned to the rulemaking process. Borrowers in repayment for 20 years or moreThose who have been carrying their student debt for decades may also benefit. watch nowStudent loan servicers also earn a fee per borrower per month, which advocates say discourages transparency around loan forgiveness opportunities.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sean Rayford, Biden, Persis Yu, George W, Bush, servicers, Yu Organizations: Flex, Biden administration's, Supreme, U.S . Department of Education, Student, Protection, Education Department, Public, Consumer Financial, Bureau Locations: West Columbia, South Carolina

☆ Over 8,000 student-loan borrowers are getting $10.9 million in payments in the mail after a federal watchdog accused a debt relief company of charging them 'illegal upfront fees'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The CFPB accused a student-debt relief company, Performance SLC, of illegally charging borrowers fees. The company didn't admit any wrongdoing but is no longer allowed to offer debt relief services. Performance never admitted any wrongdoing and agreed to a settlement that bans the company from engaging in any debt relief services going forward. Over the past few years, the CFPB has been getting relief to thousands of borrowers after paying companies for debt relief services that are free of charge with the federal government. In 2022, for example, the CFPB accused five student debt relief companies of charging consumers unnecessary fees, resulting in a total payment amount to consumers of about $19 million.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Education Department, Consulting, The Education Department Locations: California

☆ CFPB Director on credit card report: Many consumers would be better off with newer entrants
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCFPB Director on credit card report: Many consumers would be better off with newer entrantsConsumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the state of consumer borrowing, why large banks are charging higher credit card rates than smaller banks and credit unions, steps consumers can take to cut back on credit card fees, and more.

Persons: Rohit Chopra Organizations: Consumer Financial

☆ Biden has forgiven $136 billion in student debt. More relief is on the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty ImagesIt's never been a better time to get rid of your student debt. Paul Morigi | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration has tried to reverse the trend of borrowers being excluded from the relief on technicalities. Some 790,000 public servants have gotten their debt erased as a result, amounting to more than $56 billion in relief. Total and Permanent Disability DischargeThe Biden administration has also forgiven the student debt of more than 510,000 disabled borrowers. Borrower defenseAnother 1.3 million borrowers have walked away from their debt over the past few years thanks to the Borrower Defense Loan Discharge.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Joe Biden's, James Clyburn, he's, George W, Bush, Paul Morigi, Biden, Kantrowitz Organizations: Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, AFP, Getty, Supreme, CNBC, U.S . Department of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Studentaid.gov, of Education, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Department Locations: Maryland

JPMorgan Chase , Wells Fargo and Bank of America reported a combined $2.2 billion in overdraft fees in 2023, roughly $700 million less than the previous year, according to regulatory filings. Overdraft fees are triggered when a customer attempts to spend more than the balance in their checking accounts. Banks say overdraft services are a lifeline that helps users avoid worse options like payday loans, while critics including President Biden say the fees exploit struggling Americans. But even before recent efforts by regulators, banks' haul from overdraft has been on the decline. Those who kept the fees, including JPMorgan, limited the types of transactions that trigger penalties, got rid of fees for bounced checks and introduced one-day grace periods and $50 cushions to reduce their frequency.

Persons: Michael Nagle, Wells, Banks, Biden, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Ally, there's, Jennifer Tescher Organizations: JPMorgan Chase, Bloomberg, Getty, Bank of America, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Capital, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Financial Health Network Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, overdraft

☆ Connecticut says it will become first state to cancel medical debt for many residents
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Connecticut will cancel roughly $650 million in medical debt for an estimated 250,000 residents this year, Gov. More than 1 in 10 Connecticut residents have medical debt in collections. New Jersey included $10 million in its most recent budget to fund a pilot program to cancel residents’ medical debt, and Gov. Medical debt is now the largest source of debt in collections, totaling more than credit cards, utilities and auto loans combined, according to the White House. And the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Biden administration are also considering ways to minimize the burden of medical debt.

Persons: Ned Lamont, Lamont, ” Lamont, “ It’s, Phil Murphy, ” Murphy, Jessica Hill, Allison Sesso, Biden Organizations: CNN, Gov, Connecticut Gov, New, New York City, Black, Third, Financial Protection Bureau Locations: Connecticut, Covid, New Jersey, New York

—Tax credits, such as child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. Earlier this month, Congress announced a bipartisan agreement to enhance the current child tax credit. The bill would incrementally increase the maximum refundable child tax credit to $1,800 for 2023 tax returns, $1,900 for the following year and $2,000 for 2025 tax returns. If you can’t see what your tax preparer is working on, get a copy of the tax return and ask questions about each of the entries. If you are due for a refund, you will not receive a penalty and you will receive your tax return payment.

Persons: Courtney Alev, ” Alev, Tom O’Saben, O'Saben, O’Saben, “, ” O’Saben, —, Alev, You’re, you’ve, It’s, ___, Charles Schwab, ” Organizations: —, Credit Karma, Savings, IRS, National Association of Tax, Elderly, People, Social Security, Social, Center, Budget, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP Locations: United States

NEW YORK (AP) — The Biden administration proposed banning another type of bank “junk fee” on Wednesday, targeting fees that are typically charged by banks when a transaction is declined in real time. It's the second major proposal by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over fees that Americans sometimes run into when they bank, following the bureau's announcement that it plans to reduce overdraft fees to as little as $3. The CFPB used the example of a customer trying to buy $100 in groceries with $90 in their bank account, and the transaction is declined at checkout. When this happens, banks can charge a fee when a customer attempts to withdraw or debit their account more than their available funds. Biden has made the elimination of “junk fees” one of the cornerstones of his administration’s economic agenda heading into the 2024 election.

Persons: —, Biden, “, Banks, ”, Rohit Chopra, Joe Biden, Chopra Organizations: Consumer Financial

☆ A key indicator shows Americans' financial stress is mounting
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

LegalShield's Consumer Stress Legal Index showed consumer financial stress is continuing to rise. LegalShield on Tuesday said its Consumer Stress Legal Index rose to 66.7 in December, up by 0.4 points from the prior month, showing that US consumers' financial stress is at its highest level since November 2020. AdvertisementUS consumer financial stress has soared to its highest in three years. "The rise in consumer stress in contrast to increased spending may point to an even sharper rise in household debt in the coming months." The increase in consumers' financial stress comes even as GDP growth has stayed strong, the labor market remains robust, and holiday retail spending was high.

Persons: —, Matt Layton Organizations: Service, National Association of Business Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Venmo and other payment app theft is ‘skyrocketing,’ Manhattan DA warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Mark Morales | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Zelle and other payment apps may be convenient ways to send cash with a few taps of your smartphone, but they’re a breeding grounds for theft, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg tells CNN. Bragg says he’s seen so many instances of criminals using payment apps as a crime of opportunity. The passenger would ask to put in a new address into the Lyft driver’s phone and once inside, they would transfer the in-app earnings to their own bank accounts using Cash App, the records show. Once in custody, investigators found that the pair has sent themselves $1,749 using Cash App, the records show. Bragg said his team has been trying to get the word out in recent years and have heard from victims who never came forward during outreach campaigns about cash app thefts.

Persons: CNN —, Attorney Alvin Bragg, swindlers, Bragg, Sen, Elizabeth Warren’s, “, ” Bragg, Zelle, he’s, It’s, ” Organizations: CNN, PayPal, Attorney, Consumer Financial Locations: Manhattan, New York, Zelle, Los Angeles, Boston

☆ Biden administration plans to slash overdraft fees at big banks: 'I call it exploitation,' president says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday proposed a set of new rules that would slash the fees banks charge customers for withdrawing more than the available funds in their account. Americans have paid an estimated $280 billion in overdraft fees since 2000, according to data from the consumer watchdog agency. "For too long, some banks have charged exorbitant overdraft fees — sometimes $30 or more — that often hit the most vulnerable Americans the hardest, all while banks pad their bottom lines," President Joe Biden said in a statement. Overdraft fees affect some 23 million households in a given year, and the proposed cutbacks would save Americans about $3.5 billion annually, the CFPB says. Much of that money would theoretically return to the pockets of lower income bank customers: Consumer Reports says 8% of bank customers generate nearly 75% of banks' revenue from such fees.

Persons: Joe Biden Organizations: Consumer Financial, Biden, Consumer

☆ 3 reasons why a financial planner advises against using buy now, pay later, even though it's practically everywhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jennifer Streaks | Sarah Silbert | Senior Personal Finance Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Buy now, pay later plans — installment loans that allow you to spread out payments over time — aren't exactly new, but they've seen explosive growth over the last several years. AdvertisementBut Chloe Moore , a certified financial planner based in Atlanta, Georgia, says that buy now, pay later is still debt and that most people should steer clear of it. Here are three reasons why she advises her clients against using buy now, pay later:1. Since buy now, pay later is so easy to use, some consumers have multiple installment plans that they are paying in a month. If you have multiple installments that you are paying with a buy now, pay later plan, you may be eliminating any breathing room in your budget.

Persons: BNPL, Chloe Moore, —, Moore Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, PayPal, Finance Locations: Atlanta , Georgia

WHAT IS AN OVERDRAFT FEE? HOW CAN I AVOID INCURRING OVERDRAFT FEES? The simplest way to avoid overdraft fees is to find an account that does not charge them. Capital One and Ally Bank also offer consumers accounts that will not charge overdraft fees. Some banks call this “overdraft protection,” rather than “overdraft coverage.”WILL THE BANK EVER WAIVE OR REVERSE AN OVERDRAFT FEE?

Persons: you'll, —, Charles Schwab Organizations: Consumer, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Ally Bank, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

☆ The Biden administration wants to save Americans $3.5 billion a year by making sure banks aren't profiting too much off of overdraft fees
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trying to buy something without enough money in your checking account can lead to a hefty surprise overdraft fee . If the Biden administration gets its way, those fees, which produce major profits for banks, could soon shrink substantially. Consumers are hit with overdraft fees when they withdraw more money from their accounts than what they have in it. Overdraft fees often come as a surprise for consumers, and many may have had credit available to cover a purchase without going into the red on their checking accounts. "These overdraft loans will simply have to play by the rules."

Persons: Biden, Rohit Chopra, Chopra, Louis Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Federal Reserve Bank of St, Federal Trade Commission

According to research conducted by Bankrate last August, the average overdraft fee was $26.61. The CFPB has signaled for months that it planned to curtail the collection of overdraft fees, with regulators making statements and the bureau putting out research that shows overdraft fees overwhelmingly impact the poor and households of color, who often overdraft multiple times a year. The rules spare small banks and credit unions, some of which rely disproportionately on overdraft fees. Overdraft fees have been a financial bonanza for the banking industry, with the CFPB estimating that banks collected $280 billion in overdraft fees in the last 20 years. While overdraft fees have fallen in recent years, a Bankrate survey found that 91% of bank accounts still can charge overdraft fees.

Persons: Biden, Banks, Overdraft, Joe Biden, Bankrate, ”, Rohit Chopra, rebuff, Charles Schwab Organizations: White, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Truist, Bank of America, Associated Press, Charles, Charles Schwab Foundation, Inc, AP

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