

The Consumer Finance Podcast
Chris Willis, Troutman Pepper Locke
The Consumer Finance Podcast provides reliable, insightful, and entertaining industry-specific content central to consumer finance services. Hosted by veteran Troutman Pepper Locke CFS Partner Chris Willis, this podcast features industry experts, insiders, and other Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys delivering easily digestible segments on a variety of topics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 15, 2024 • 24min
The End of Chevron Deference: Implications of the Supreme Court's Loper Bright Decision
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Partners David Dove and Misha Tseytlin to revisit the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Loper Bright, which overruled the long-standing Chevron doctrine of court deference to agency interpretations of statutes. The discussion delves into the practical implications of this decision for federal and state regulations, the potential for increased litigation, and the nuanced impact on ongoing and future agency actions. The episode provides valuable insights for businesses and legal practitioners navigating the post-Chevron regulatory landscape.

Aug 8, 2024 • 17min
Welcome Trevor Salter: A Deep Dive Into Financial Services Transactions
In this special joint episode of Payments Pros and The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis and Carlin McCrory introduce Trevor Salter, a seasoned financial services transactional attorney who recently joined Troutman Pepper. Trevor shares his unique career journey from aspiring environmental attorney to becoming a key player in consumer financial services. The discussion delves into Trevor's experience in strategic partnerships, card partnerships, and consumer data integrations, highlighting the synergies with the firm's comprehensive financial services practice. Tune in to learn more about Trevor's background, his decision to join the firm, and the exciting future ahead for the firm's financial services team.

Aug 1, 2024 • 19min
Understanding the CFPB's Payday Loan Rule: Implications and Compliance
In this special crossover episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and the Payments Pros Podcast, Chris Willis and Josh McBeain are joined by colleagues Mark Furletti and Jason Cover to delve into the CFPB's Payday Loan Rule, which is set to become effective again following a Supreme Court decision. The discussion unpacks the broad scope of the rule, extending beyond traditional payday loans to include various financial products. The episode highlights the complexities of compliance, the nuances of the rule's definitions, and the critical steps lenders must take before the March 30, 2025, compliance deadline. Don't miss this insightful conversation on navigating the revived regulatory landscape.

Jul 25, 2024 • 36min
The Future of Bank-Fintech Partnerships and Banking as a Service
Jesse Silverman, a key member of Troutman Pepper's Financial Services team, joins fintech expert Alex Johnson, author of the Fintech Takes newsletter. They dive into the future of bank-fintech partnerships and the critical role of banking as a service. Topics include the regulatory challenges fintechs face and the necessity for improved consumer disclosures. They emphasize the balance between fostering innovation and ensuring compliance while advocating for a collaborative regulatory approach to strengthen the financial ecosystem.

Jul 18, 2024 • 21min
Monumental Win in Data Breach Class Action: A Case Study
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Partners Ron Raether and Tim St. George to discuss a landmark victory in a major data breach class action multidistrict litigation. The team delves into the details of the successful defense of an attempt at class certification involving a ransomware attack on software provider Blackbaud. This episode highlights the strategic legal maneuvers, team approach, extensive discovery, and expert practices that led to this important industry win. Don't miss this in-depth case study and learn how the Troutman Pepper team navigated one of the largest and most complex data breach cases in history.

Jul 11, 2024 • 19min
CFPB's New Interpretive Rule: Buy Now, Pay Later as Credit Cards
In this special crossover episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and Payments Pros Podcast, Chris Willis and Josh McBeain interview two colleagues who delve into the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) recent interpretive rule that classifies buy now, pay later (BNPL) transactions as credit cards. Mark Furletti and Jason Cover explore the implications of this rule under Regulation Z, including the introduction of the term "digital user account" and its impact on BNPL providers. The discussion covers the regulatory requirements, potential challenges for compliance, and the broader legal context, including the possible effects of the Loper Bright case on administrative interpretations. With a July 30 compliance deadline looming, the episode provides critical insights for industry stakeholders navigating this significant regulatory shift.

Jun 27, 2024 • 33min
Navigating Bank-Fintech Partnerships: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis discusses the complexities and potential pitfalls of bank-fintech partnerships. Joined by colleagues Alexandra Steinberg Barrage, Matthew Bornfreund, and Jesse Silverman, the conversation delves into the structure of banking-as-a-service (BaaS) relationships, regulatory pressures, and key friction points such as BSA/AML compliance and ledgering. The team offers practical solutions for both banks and fintechs to ensure successful collaborations, emphasizing the importance of clear roles, responsibilities, and robust compliance measures. This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in or considering a bank-fintech partnership.

Jun 20, 2024 • 28min
Revisiting Financial Institution Incentive Compensation Rules Under Dodd-Frank
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis delves into the renewed focus on incentive compensation by federal financial regulators. Joined by colleagues Sheri Adler and Jina Davidovich from the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group, the discussion centers on the implications of Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The episode explores the historical context, proposed rule changes, and the potential impact on financial institutions and their employees. Key topics include the scope of covered institutions, specific requirements for senior executives and significant risk-takers, and the governance and compliance obligations that may arise if the rules are enacted.

Jun 18, 2024 • 17min
Auto Finance – CFPB Circular Release
In this special episode, Brooke Conkle and Chris Capurso discuss a recently released circular from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on consumer contracts. They are joined by special guest Caleb Rosenberg, who provides insights into the potential impacts this "quietly released" circular may have on the auto finance industry. Caleb brings a wealth of experience, including assisting businesses with secured and unsecured loan agreements, retail installment sales contracts, credit card agreements, and alternative finance agreements. He also helps clients navigate regulatory inquiries, particularly those concerning the application of state law to alternative financing products. While this marks the final episode of our five-part series on auto finance issues, stay tuned for more content. Be sure to listen until the end for a BIG announcement!

Jun 13, 2024 • 19min
Meet Troutman Pepper's Bank Regulatory Team
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis introduces the firm's esteemed bank regulatory team. Featuring Kevin Petrasic, Matthew Bornfreund, Alexandra Barrage, and Helen Lee, the episode delves into the team's extensive experience in bank regulation, supervisory and enforcement matters, fintech, payments, and more. Each team member shares their unique background, including significant government and in-house experience, and discusses how their combined knowledge enhances Troutman Pepper's ability to comprehensively serve financial institution clients. The episode underscores the firm's strategic goal to be a one-stop shop for all financial services legal needs.