Payments Pros – The Payments Law Podcast

In this episode of Payments Pros, host Carlin McCrory discusses a recent consent order between Patriot Bank and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) following a $27 million loss. The order addresses unsafe practices and legal violations, focusing on prepaid card program oversight. Key areas of concern include the need for a strategic plan, evaluation of internal operations, and staffing requirements. The bank must also enhance its Customer Identification Program (CIP) and ensure adequate monitoring of third-party program managers.Carlin discusses key takeaways from the OCC's consent order with Patriot Bank, emphasizing that other banks should maintain high compliance standards, particularly in BSA/AML programs, and tailor policies and procedures to specific business lines. She underscores the importance of thorough monitoring of fintech partners. Additionally, banks should implement robust suspicious activity reporting, conduct detailed BSA/AML risk assessments, and ensure effective internal audit coverage.

In the latest episode of Payments Pros, hosts Keith Barnett and Carlin McCrory discuss the latest FinCEN and OFAC guidance on virtual currency transactions, specifically tailored for companies in the payments industry. They explore when businesses need to register as money services businesses (MSBs) under federal law and discuss the roles of users, exchangers, and administrators of virtual currencies. Carlin provides a detailed look at the regulatory requirements for both centralized and decentralized virtual currencies.Keith then shifts the focus to OFAC's expectations for screening virtual currency transactions, emphasizing the importance of compliance with sanctions regulations. He explains the need for a risk-based OFAC sanctions compliance program to avoid prohibited transactions.This episode provides valuable insights for payments companies navigating the complex virtual currency landscape.

In the latest episode of Payments Pros, host Carlin McCrory welcomes Kim Phan to discuss the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) recent inquiries into enhancing privacy protections.On January 10, the CFPB sought public input on improving privacy safeguards and curbing harmful surveillance and digital payments, particularly those offered by large technology platforms. The CFPB is particularly interested in comments on existing financial privacy laws and issues related to intrusive data collection and personalized pricing.Carlin and Kim highlight the CFPB's ongoing efforts to regulate big tech firms, which they view as operating outside traditional banking controls. The discussion also covers the CFPB's approach to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and its effectiveness in addressing modern data surveillance.They wrap up their conversation by examining potential shifts in the CFPB's regulatory focus under new administration leadership.NOTE: At the time of recording, this podcast may not have captured the most recent events relating to the change in CFPB leadership and resulting instructions to CFPB staff regarding CFPB rulemakings. Stay tuned for future podcast episodes addressing these important developments.

In the final installment of the four-part "Payments Year in Review" series, hosts Keith Barnett and Carlin McCrory discuss significant enforcement actions and regulatory trends. The discussion begins with the increased scrutiny from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on bank and nonbank partnerships, emphasizing sound risk management and compliance. Key themes include third-party risk management, board governance, Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering compliance, and liquidity risk. The episode also addresses the proposed FDIC deposit insurance record-keeping rule.The discussion then shifts to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) enforcement actions, highlighting more than 50 actions in 2024, many involving payment elements. The CFPB primarily targeted Regulation E violations and overdraft fees, while the FTC focused on telemarketing sales rules, chargeback rates, and returns. It is anticipated that regulatory enforcement will be lighter in 2025 due to the administration change.

In the third installment of the four-part "Payments Year in Review" series, hosts Keith Barnett, Josh McBeain, and Carlin McCrory discuss the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) actions in 2024 and their expectations for 2025.They begin by examining amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule, which now includes inbound calls for technical support services. The discussion then shifts to the FTC's annual report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), highlighting enforcement activities in areas such as automobile financing, electronic fund transfers, and deceptive fees. Finally, the co-hosts review the finalized amendments to the Negative Option Rule, which impose stricter requirements on recurring subscription services across various industries. This rule mandates clear disclosures, easy cancellation processes, and prohibits misrepresentations.

In the second installment of a four-part Payments Year in Review series, Keith Barnett and Josh McBeain discuss significant developments in the payments landscape from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2024 and expectations for 2025.Our co-hosts continue with a discussion of the CFPB's proposed interpretive rule on earned wage access products, highlighting its broad definitions and aggressive stance on fees, which conflict with many state laws.They also discuss significant CFPB rulemakings, including the final credit card late fee rule and the overdraft rule, both of which face legal challenges. Keith and Josh close out this episode by discussing the interpretive rule on buy now, pay later transactions and the CFPB's circular on credit card rewards programs.

In the first installment of a four-part Payments Year in Review series, Keith Barnett and Carlin McCrory discuss significant developments in the payments landscape from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2024 and expectations for 2025.Our co-hosts begin with an overview of the CFPB's new rule for supervising large tech companies offering digital wallets and payment apps. Despite its finalization, and since our episode has been recorded, the rule has been challenged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.The discussion then shifts to the CFPB's final rule on personal financial data rights, aimed at enhancing consumer control over financial data. This rule includes provisions for data access, revocation, and standardized formats but may lead to increased costs for financial institutions.The episode concludes by highlighting changes to the remittance transfer rule, emphasizing the importance of accurate marketing regarding transfer speed and fees.

In the latest episode of Payments Pros, host Carlin McCrory welcomes Jesse Silverman to discuss the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) recent order asserting supervisory authority over Google Payment Corp.The CFPB's claim is based on Dodd-Frank Section 1024, which includes a category for entities posing a risk to consumers. The CFPB cited 267 consumer complaints about Google Pay products as the basis for its action. Jesse highlights the ambiguity in terms like "risk" and "reasonable cause" within the Dodd-Frank Act and questions the material impact of CFPB supervision. Google Payment Corp. has sued the CFPB, arguing that the products in question are no longer offered and that the complaints are not substantial enough to warrant supervision. The episode delves into the broader implications of this precedent and the potential outcomes of Google Payment Corp.'s lawsuit.

In this special crossover episode of the Payments Pros and Crypto Exchange podcasts, our hosts are joined by colleague Alexandra Steinberg Barrage to discuss California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s proposed rulemaking under the Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL).The group discusses various aspects of the new cryptocurrency licensing regime, including licensure exemptions, required disclosures, conditional licensing, and digital asset kiosk requirements. They provide an overview of the DFAL, highlighting its broad licensing and enforcement framework, as well as recent legislative updates extending licensure deadlines. Comparisons are drawn between DFAL and New York's BitLicense, emphasizing the importance of harmonization across state regulations. The conversation also covers the exclusion of digital asset activities from money transmission licensure and the specific requirements for digital asset kiosks. Additionally, the episode touches on the potential impact of federal regulation and the ongoing tension between state and federal oversight in the cryptocurrency space.

In the latest episode of Payments Pros, hosts Keith Barnett and Carlin McCrory discuss a significant Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) enforcement action against Global Tel Link Corporation (GTL), issued on November 14. This action resulted in a consent order addressing chargebacks, alternate payment channel fees, and handling of inactive accounts.