“First-in-the-nation” regulations issued by the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) which require that financial services companies implement cybersecurity programs are effective March 1, 2017 and will phase in over a period of two years. The NYDFS regulations specifically apply to financial services firms that operate under a license, registration, charter, certificate, permit, accreditation […]
New York Cybersecurity Regulations Impacting Financial Services Companies And Their Vendors Are Effective March 1, 2017 And Likely Foreshadow Forthcoming Regulations In Other States.
The Consumer Review Fairness Act Impacts Form Consumer Contracts Used by Financial Services Companies.
This blog previously addressed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (“CFPB”) complaints database. Each week the CFPB receives and publishes thousands of consumer complaints about financial products and services. But what if financial services companies included nondisparagement or similar language in their consumer loan documents prohibiting CFPB complaints or negative online reviews? This sort of language […]
Regional and community banks: proposed federal cybersecurity regulations don’t apply to you (yet) but do offer valuable strategies.
Executive summary Federal regulators have issued an advance notice of new proposed cybersecurity standards. The notice invites comment on enhanced cybersecurity standards for regulated entities with total assets of $50 billion and certain of their service providers. The potential new standards don’t apply (yet) to regional or community banks. But those banks should consider implementing […]
The Supreme Court Will Answer Whether Collection of Time-Barred Debt in Bankruptcy Violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Lots of people and companies buy old debt—for example, hedge funds, private equity firms, and even some commercial bank affiliates. Typically, this is debt that the original creditor has charged off and sold for a fraction of the legal balance. In some cases, the debt has grown so old that a statute of limitations makes […]
Fifth Circuit holds bank overtime claims should be arbitrated, providing guidance on employer-friendly delegation clauses.
Readers may be interested in my latest post on the Law in the Workplace Blog. It discusses a recent Fifth Circuit decision requiring that a bank employee arbitrate his class action Fair Labor Standards Act claim.
New York’s Proposed Banking Cybersecurity Regulation, And Why It’s Relevant To Community And Regional Banks Outside Of New York.
On September 13, 2016, New York’s Department of Financial Services announced a proposed new cybersecurity regulation covering banks, insurance companies, and other financial service providers. The regulation goes into effect on January 1, 2017. In sum, the proposed regulation requires covered entities to: establish a cybersecurity program; adopt a written cybersecurity policy addressing a range […]
Attempts To Collect Time-Barred Debt Provide Fertile Ground For FDCPA Violations In The Fifth Circuit
In Daugherty v. Convergent Outsourcing, Inc., the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held that a collection letter that is silent as to litigation, but which offers to “settle” a time-barred debt without acknowledging that such debt is judicially unenforceable, can be sufficiently deceptive or misleading as to violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”). […]
CFPB Finalizes Amendments to Mortgage Servicing Regulations
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issued its final rule setting forth amendments and clarifications to mortgage servicing regulations on August 4, 2016. The final rule will implement new servicing regulations including the following: Additional foreclosure protection for borrowers. If a borrower becomes current on his or her payments after submitting a prior, complete loss […]
What Conduct By a Lender or Servicer Constitutes Waiver of Acceleration?
In Martin v. Federal National Mortgage Association, No. 15-41104 (5th Cir. Feb. 22, 2016), the Fifth Circuit issued its fourth opinion in recent months rejecting a borrower’s assertion that a mortgage servicer waived acceleration of a loan by engaging in conduct inconsistent with acceleration. The Court noted that Wells Fargo accepted payments only after the […]
Payment at Foreclosure Sale Must Be Made Immediately or Within Reasonable Time.
Jeff Heck (“Heck”) sued CitiMortgage, Inc. (“CitiMortgage”) over CitiMortgage’s failure to allow his purchase of real property at a non-judicial foreclosure sale after Heck successfully bid on the foreclosure property, was given 20 minutes to obtain a cashier’s check, did not return in the allotted time and the property was sold to another buyer. In […]