Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is rescinding an advisory opinion issued in December 2020 regarding Regulation B, which implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), as it applies to certain aspects of special purpose credit programs designed and implemented by for-profit organizations to meet special social needs.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is revising certain provisions of Regulation B, subpart B, which implements changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act made by section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Bureau is amending coverage of certain credit transactions and financial institutions; the small business definition; inclusion of certain data points and how others are collected; and the compliance date. The Bureau believes these changes will streamline the rule, reduce complexity for lenders, improve data quality, and advance the purposes of section 1071.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is issuing a final rule that amends provisions related to disparate impact, discouragement of applicants or prospective applicants, and special purpose credit programs under Regulation B, the regulation implementing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA or Act). The amendments facilitate compliance with ECOA by clarifying the obligations imposed by the statute.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is amending official commentary interpreting requirements of the Bureau's Regulation C to reflect the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the 2.5 average percent increase in the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending November 2025, the exemption threshold is adjusted to $59 million from $58 million. Institutions with assets of $59 million or less as of December 31, 2025, are exempt from collecting data in 2026.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is amending the official commentary to its Regulation Z in order to make annual adjustments to the asset-size thresholds exempting certain creditors from the requirement to establish an escrow account for a higher-priced mortgage loan (HPML). The exemption threshold for creditors and their affiliates that regularly extended covered transactions secured by first liens is adjusted to $2.785 billion and the exemption threshold for certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less is adjusted to $12.485 billion.

The Board and the Bureau (collectively, Agencies) are publishing final rules amending the official interpretations for the Agencies' regulations that implement the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd- Frank Act) amended TILA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2025, the exemption threshold will increase from $71,900 to $73,400 effective January 1, 2026. Because the Dodd- Frank Act also requires similar adjustments in the Consumer Leasing Act's threshold for exempt consumer leases, the Agencies are making similar amendments to each of their respective regulations implementing the Consumer Leasing Act elsewhere in the Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

The Board and the Bureau (collectively, Agencies) are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations for the Agencies' regulations that implement the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA). The Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended the CLA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer leases be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2025, the exemption threshold will increase from $71,900 to $73,400 effective January 1, 2026. Because the Dodd-Frank Act also requires similar adjustments in the Truth in Lending Act's threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions, the Agencies are making similar amendments to each of their respective regulations implementing the Truth in Lending Act elsewhere in the Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is issuing this final rule amending the regulation text and official interpretations for Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Bureau calculates the dollar amounts for provisions in Regulation Z annually; this final rule revises the amounts for provisions implementing TILA and its amendments, including the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA), and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The Bureau adjusts these amounts based on the annual percentage change of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of June 1, 2025.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is issuing this final rule amending an appendix for Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The Bureau is required to calculate annually the dollar amount of the maximum allowable charge for disclosures by a consumer reporting agency to a consumer pursuant to section 609 of the FCRA; this final rule establishes the maximum allowable charge for the 2026 calendar year.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is issuing a final rule to rescind its rule requiring certain types of nonbank covered persons subject to certain final public orders obtained or issued by a government agency in connection with the offering or provision of a consumer financial product or service to report the existence of the orders and related information to a Bureau registry.

The Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings (Rules of Practice) govern adjudication proceedings conducted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB issued a proposal to rescind amendments it adopted to the Rules of Practice on February 22, 2022, and March 29, 2023 (2022 and 2023 amendments). The 2022 and 2023 amendments that the Bureau proposed to rescind included a new deposition process, amendments concerning timing and deadlines, bifurcation of proceedings, the process for deciding dispositive motions, and requirements for issue exhaustion, as well as other technical changes. After considering the comments on the proposal, the CFPB has decided to rescind the amendments as proposed, except as related to narrow clarificatory and procedural changes.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is issuing this interpretive rule to clarify that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) generally preempts State laws that touch on broad areas of credit reporting, consistent with Congress's intent to create national standards for the credit reporting system. This interpretive rule replaces a July 2022 interpretive rule that the Bureau withdrew in May 2025.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is finalizing its June 18, 2025 interim final rule amending Regulation B to extend the compliance dates set forth in its 2023 small business lending rule, as amended by a 2024 interim final rule, and to make other date-related conforming adjustments.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is rescinding the amendments it adopted in April 2022, November 2022, and April 2024, to the Procedures for Supervisory Designation Proceedings, with the exception of some limited process adjustments.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is withdrawing a previously published direct final rule that would have rescinded procedures by which a State official must notify the Bureau when the official takes an action to enforce the Consumer Financial Protection Act.

In light of court orders in ongoing litigation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is amending Regulation B to extend the compliance dates set forth in its 2023 small business lending rule, as amended by a 2024 interim final rule, and to make other date-related conforming adjustments.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is adopting a procedural rule (Final Rule) that rescinds its rule specifying how the Bureau issues rules and when rules are considered issued.

This direct final rule rescinds the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (Bureau's) procedures by which a State official must notify the Bureau when the official takes an action to enforce the Consumer Financial Protection Act.

This interim final rule (IFR) rescinds the final rule "Protections for Borrowers Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Regulation X."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is rescinding its May 2022 interpretive rule regarding the scope of State enforcement under section 1042 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA) and related provisions.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is withdrawing many guidance documents issued since the CFPB assumed its functions in 2011.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this advisory opinion to rescind an advisory opinion it issued in November 2020 that described how one particular type of "earned wage" product does not involve the offering or extension of "credit" as that term is defined in the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing a final rule amending Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), concerning medical information. The FCRA prohibits creditors from considering medical information in credit eligibility determinations. The CFPB is removing a regulatory exception that had permitted creditors to obtain and use information on medical debts notwithstanding this statutory limitation. The final rule also provides that a consumer reporting agency generally may not furnish to a creditor a consumer report containing information on medical debt that the creditor is prohibited from using.

Section 307 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) to prescribe ability-to-repay rules for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and to apply the civil liability provisions of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) for violations. PACE financing is financing to cover the costs of home improvements that results in a tax assessment on the real property of the consumer. In this final rule, the CFPB implements EGRRCPA section 307 and amends Regulation Z to address how TILA applies to PACE transactions.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is adjusting for inflation the maximum amount of each civil penalty within the CFPB's jurisdiction. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act), as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and further amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The inflation adjustments mandated by the Inflation Adjustment Act serve to maintain the deterrent effect of civil penalties and to promote compliance with the law.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-07 titled, "Design, marketing, and administration of credit card rewards programs." In this circular, the CFPB responds to the question, "Can credit card issuers violate the law if they or their rewards partners devalue earned rewards or otherwise inhibit consumers from obtaining or redeeming promised rewards?"

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) amends Regulations E and Z to update regulatory exceptions for overdraft credit provided by very large financial institutions, thereby ensuring that these extensions of overdraft credit adhere to consumer protections required of similarly situated products, unless the overdraft fee is a small amount that only recovers estimated costs and losses. The rule allows consumers to better comparison shop across credit products and provides substantive protections that apply to other consumer credit.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is amending official commentary interpreting requirements of the CFPB's Regulation C to reflect the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the 2.9 percent average increase in the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending November 2024, the exemption threshold is adjusted to $58 million from $56 million. Institutions with assets of $58 million or less as of December 31, 2024, are exempt from collecting data in 2025.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is amending the official commentary to its Regulation Z in order to make annual adjustments to the asset-size thresholds exempting certain creditors from the requirement to establish an escrow account for a higher-priced mortgage loan (HPML). The exemption threshold for creditors and their affiliates that regularly extended covered transactions secured by first liens is adjusted to $2.717 billion and the exemption threshold for certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less is adjusted to $12.179 billion.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issues this rule to define larger participants of a market for general-use digital consumer payment applications. Larger participants of this market will be subject to the CFPB's supervisory authority under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). A nonbank covered person qualifies as a larger participant if it facilitates an annual covered consumer payment transaction volume of at least 50 million transactions as defined in the rule, and it is not a small business concern.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is issuing this final rule amending the regulation text and official interpretations for Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The CFPB calculates the dollar amounts for provisions in Regulation Z annually; this final rule revises the amounts for provisions implementing TILA and its amendments, including the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA), and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The CFPB adjusts these amounts based on the annual percentage change of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) effective June 1, 2024.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is making ministerial updates to its procedures to reflect a recent organizational change.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is revising the date of applicability of the advisory opinion entitled "Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F); Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt" to January 2, 2025.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this final rule amending an appendix for Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The CFPB is required to calculate annually the dollar amount of the maximum allowable charge for disclosures by a consumer reporting agency to a consumer pursuant to section 609 of the FCRA; this final rule establishes the maximum allowable charge for the 2025 calendar year.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing a final rule to carry out the personal financial data rights established by the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA). The final rule requires banks, credit unions, and other financial service providers to make consumers' data available upon request to consumers and authorized third parties in a secure and reliable manner; defines obligations for third parties accessing consumers' data, including important privacy protections; and promotes fair, open, and inclusive industry standards.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-06, titled, "Background Dossiers and Algorithmic Scores for Hiring, Promotion, and Other Employment Decisions." In this circular, the CFPB responds to the question, "Can an employer make employment decisions utilizing background dossiers, algorithmic scores, and other third-party consumer reports about workers without adhering to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)?"

The OCC, the Board, and the CFPB are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations for their regulations that implement section 129H of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). Section 129H of TILA establishes special appraisal requirements for "higher-risk mortgages," termed "higher-priced mortgage loans" or "HPMLs" in the agencies' regulations. A December 2013 rulemaking exempted transactions of $25,000 or less and required that this loan amount be adjusted annually based on any annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI- W). Based on the CPI-W in effect as of June 1, 2024, the exemption threshold will increase from $32,400 to $33,500, effective January 1, 2025.

The Board and the CFPB (collectively, Agencies) are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations for the Agencies' regulations that implement the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended the CLA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer leases be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2024, the exemption threshold will increase from $69,500 to $71,900 effective January 1, 2025. Because the Dodd-Frank Act also requires similar adjustments in the Truth in Lending Act's threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions, the Agencies are making similar amendments to each of their respective regulations implementing the Truth in Lending Act elsewhere in the Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

The Board and the CFPB (collectively, Agencies) are publishing final rules amending the official interpretations for the Agencies' regulations that implement the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended TILA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2024, the exemption threshold will increase from $69,500 to $71,900 effective January 1, 2025. Because the Dodd- Frank Act also requires similar adjustments in the Consumer Leasing Act's threshold for exempt consumer leases, the Agencies are making similar amendments to each of their respective regulations implementing the Consumer Leasing Act elsewhere in the Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this advisory opinion to remind debt collectors of their obligation to comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Regulation F's prohibitions on false, deceptive, or misleading representations or means in connection with the collection of any medical debt and unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any medical debts.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-05, titled "Improper Overdraft Opt-In Practices." In this circular, the CFPB responds to the question, "Can a financial institution violate the law if there is no proof that it has obtained consumers' affirmative consent before levying overdraft fees for ATM and one-time debit card transactions?"

On July 3, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published the "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B); Extension of Compliance Dates" interim final rule with request for public comment (interim rule) in the Federal Register. Amendatory instruction 2 in the interim rule contained a typographical error; this document corrects this typographical error.

This advisory opinion affirms the current applicability of consumer protections and creditor obligations under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and its implementing Regulation Z to transactions in which a consumer purchases a home under a "contract for deed." When a creditor sells a home to a buyer under a contract for deed, that transaction will generally meet TILA and Regulation Z's definition of credit. Where the transaction is secured by the buyer's dwelling, the buyer will also generally be entitled to the protections associated with residential mortgage loans under TILA.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-04, titled, "Whistleblower protections under CFPA section 1057." In this circular, the CFPB responds to the question, "Can requiring employees to sign broad confidentiality agreements violate section 1057 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), the provision protecting the rights of whistleblower employees, and undermine the CFPB's ability to enforce the law?"

The OCC, Board, FDIC, NCUA, CFPB, and FHFA (collectively, the agencies) are adopting a final rule to implement the quality control standards mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) for the use of automated valuation models (AVMs) by mortgage originators and secondary market issuers in determining the collateral worth of a mortgage secured by a consumer's principal dwelling. Under the final rule, institutions that engage in certain credit decisions or securitization determinations must adopt policies, practices, procedures, and control systems to ensure that AVMs used in these transactions to determine the value of mortgage collateral adhere to quality control standards designed to ensure a high level of confidence in the estimates produced by AVMs; protect against the manipulation of data; seek to avoid conflicts of interest; require random sample testing and reviews; and comply with applicable nondiscrimination laws.

The Board, CFPB, FDIC, NCUA, and OCC (together, the agencies) are issuing final guidance that highlights risks associated with deficient residential real estate valuations and describes how financial institutions may incorporate reconsiderations of value (ROV) processes and controls into established risk management functions. The final guidance also provides examples of policies and procedures that a financial institution may choose to implement to help identify, address, and mitigate the risk of discrimination impacting residential real estate valuations.

Under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is issuing this final rule to require certain types of nonbank covered persons subject to certain final public orders obtained or issued by a government agency in connection with the offering or provision of a consumer financial product or service to report the existence of the orders and related information to a Bureau registry. The Bureau is also requiring certain supervised nonbanks to file annual reports regarding compliance with registered orders.

In light of court orders in ongoing litigation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is amending Regulation B to extend the compliance dates set forth in its 2023 small business lending rule and to make other date-related conforming adjustments.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-03, titled, "Unlawful and Unenforceable Contract Terms and Conditions." In this circular, the CFPB responds to the question, "Can persons that include unlawful or unenforceable terms and conditions in contracts for consumer financial products and services violate the prohibition on deceptive acts or practices in the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA)?"

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is finalizing in part its proposed rule on consumer data rights under section 1033 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act. This final rule establishes minimum attributes a standard-setting body must possess to receive CFPB recognition and to issue consensus standards when the full rule is finalized. The CFPB is also releasing its process for how standard setters apply for CFPB recognition.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this interpretive rule to address the applicability of subpart B of Regulation Z to lenders that issue digital user accounts used to access credit, including to those lenders that market loans as "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL). This interpretive rule describes how these lenders meet the criteria for being "card issuers" for purposes of Regulation Z. Such lenders that extend credit are also "creditors" subject to subpart B of Regulation Z, including those provisions governing periodic statements and billing disputes. While not required under the Administrative Procedure Act, the CFPB is opting to collect comments on this interpretive rule and may make revisions as appropriate after reviewing feedback received.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is updating the CFPB's procedures for designating nonbank covered persons for supervision, to conform to a recent organizational change and to further ensure that proceedings are fair, effective, and efficient for all parties.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-02, titled, "Deceptive Marketing Practices About the Speed or Cost of Sending a Remittance Transfer." In this circular, the Bureau responds to the question, "When do remittance transfer providers violate the prohibition on deceptive acts or practices in the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) in their marketing about the speed and cost of sending a remittance transfer?"

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2023-03, titled, "Adverse action notification requirements and the proper use of the CFPB's sample forms provided in Regulation B." In this circular, the CFPB responds to the question, "When using artificial intelligence or complex credit models, may creditors rely on the checklist of reasons provided in CFPB sample forms for adverse action notices even when those sample reasons do not accurately or specifically identify the reasons for the adverse action?"

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) amends Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), to address late fees charged by card issuers that together with their affiliates have one million or more open credit card accounts (referred to as "Larger Card Issuers" herein). This final rule adopts a late fee safe harbor threshold of $8 for those issuers and provides that the annual adjustments to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) do not apply to this $8 amount.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-01, titled, "Preferencing and steering practices by digital intermediaries for consumer financial products or services." In this circular, the Bureau responds to the question, "Can operators of digital comparison- shopping tools or lead generators violate the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) by preferencing products or services based on financial or other benefits to the operator?"

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is updating its internal supervisory appeals process for institutions seeking to appeal a compliance rating or an adverse material finding.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is issuing this advisory opinion to affirm that, when preparing consumer reports, a consumer reporting agency that reports public record information is not using reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy under section 607(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) if it does not have certain procedures in place. For example, it must have procedures that prevent reporting of information that is duplicative or that has been expunged, sealed, or otherwise legally restricted from public access. This advisory opinion also highlights certain aspects of the reporting period for adverse items under FCRA section 605(a)(5).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is issuing this advisory opinion to address certain obligations that consumer reporting agencies have under section 609(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This advisory opinion underscores that, to trigger a consumer reporting agency's file disclosure requirement under FCRA section 609(a), a consumer does not need to use specific language, such as "complete file" or "file." This advisory opinion also highlights the requirements regarding the information that must be disclosed to a consumer under FCRA section 609(a). In addition, this advisory opinion affirms that consumer reporting agencies must disclose to a consumer both the original source and any intermediary or vendor source (or sources) that provide the item of information to the consumer reporting agency under FCRA section 609(a).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is adjusting for inflation the maximum amount of each civil penalty within the CFPB's jurisdiction. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act), as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and further amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The inflation adjustments mandated by the Inflation Adjustment Act serve to maintain the deterrent effect of civil penalties and to promote compliance with the law.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is amending the official commentary that interprets the requirements of the CFPB's Regulation C (Home Mortgage Disclosure) to reflect the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the 4.1 percent increase in the average of the CPI-W for the 12- month period ending in November 2023, the exemption threshold is adjusted to $56 million from $54 million. Therefore, banks, savings associations, and credit unions with assets of $56 million or less as of December 31, 2023, are exempt from collecting data in 2024.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is amending the official commentary to its Regulation Z in order to make annual adjustments to the asset-size thresholds exempting certain creditors from the requirement to establish an escrow account for a higher-priced mortgage loan (HPML). These changes reflect updates to the exemption from the escrow requirement in the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) for creditors that, together with their affiliates that regularly extended covered transactions secured by first liens, had total assets of less than $2 billion (adjusted annually for inflation). They also reflect updates to the exemption the CFPB added, by implementing section 108 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA), for certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less (adjusted annually for inflation). These amendments are based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the 4.1 percent increase in the average of the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending in November 2023, the exemption threshold for creditors and their affiliates that regularly extended covered transactions secured by first liens is adjusted to $2.640 billion from $2.537 billion and the exemption threshold for certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less is adjusted to $11.835 billion from $11.374 billion.

The Board and the Bureau (collectively, the Agencies) are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations and commentary for the Agencies' regulations that implement the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended the CLA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer leases be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Under regulations adopted by the Agencies, if there is no annual percentage increase in the CPI-W, the Agencies will not adjust this exemption threshold from the prior year. Additionally, in years following a year in which the exemption threshold was not adjusted because the CPI-W decreased, the threshold is calculated by applying the annual percentage change in the CPI-W to the dollar amount that would have resulted, after rounding, if the decreases and any subsequent increases in the CPI-W had been taken into account. Based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2023, the exemption threshold will increase from $66,400 to $69,500 effective January 1, 2024. Because the Dodd-Frank Act also requires similar adjustments in the Truth in Lending Act's threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions, the Agencies are making similar amendments to each of their respective regulations implementing the Truth in Lending Act elsewhere in the Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

The Board and the Bureau (collectively, the Agencies) are publishing final rules amending the official interpretations and commentary for the Agencies' regulations that implement the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended TILA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Under regulations adopted by the Agencies, if there is no annual percentage increase in the CPI-W, the Agencies will not adjust this exemption threshold from the prior year. Additionally, in years following a year in which the exemption threshold was not adjusted because the CPI-W decreased, the threshold is calculated by applying the annual percentage change in the CPI-W to the dollar amount that would have resulted, after rounding, if the decreases and any subsequent increases in the CPI-W had been taken into account. Based on the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W as of June 1, 2023, the exemption threshold will increase from $66,400 to $69,500 effective January 1, 2024. Because the Dodd-Frank Act also requires similar adjustments in the Consumer Leasing Act's threshold for exempt consumer leases, the Agencies are making similar amendments to each of their respective regulations implementing the Consumer Leasing Act elsewhere in the Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

The OCC, the Board, and the Bureau are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations for their regulations that implement section 129H of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). Section 129H of TILA establishes special appraisal requirements for "higher-risk mortgages," termed "higher-priced mortgage loans" or "HPMLs" in the agencies' regulations. The OCC, the Board, the Bureau, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) (collectively, the Agencies) jointly issued final rules implementing these requirements, effective January 18, 2014. The Agencies' rules exempted, among other loan types, transactions of $25,000 or less, and required that this loan amount be adjusted annually based on any annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If there is no annual percentage increase in the CPI-W, the OCC, the Board, and the Bureau will not adjust this exemption threshold from the prior year. Additionally, in years following a year in which the exemption threshold was not adjusted because the CPI-W decreased, the threshold is calculated by applying the annual percentage increase in the CPI-W to the dollar amount that would have resulted, after rounding, if the decreases and any subsequent increases in the CPI-W had been taken into account. Based on the CPI-W in effect as of June 1, 2023, the exemption threshold will increase from $31,000 to $32,400, effective January 1, 2024.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this final rule amending an appendix for Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The CFPB is required to calculate annually the dollar amount of the maximum allowable charge for disclosures by a consumer reporting agency to a consumer pursuant to section 609 of the FCRA; this final rule establishes the maximum allowable charge for the 2024 calendar year.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) proposes revisions to certain provisions of Regulation B, subpart B, implementing changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act made by section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Bureau is reconsidering coverage of certain credit transactions and financial institutions; the small business definition; inclusion of certain data points and how others are collected; and the compliance date. The CFPB believes these proposed changes would streamline the rule, reduce complexity for lenders, and improve data quality, advancing the purposes of section 1071 and complying with recent executive directives.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is issuing a proposed rule for public comment that amends provisions related to disparate impact, discouragement of applicants or prospective applicants, and special purpose credit programs under Regulation B, the regulation implementing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA or Act). The amendments would facilitate compliance with ECOA by clarifying the obligations imposed by the statute.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is withdrawing its Notice of Proposed Rule: Registry of Supervised Nonbanks That Use Form Contracts To Impose Terms and Conditions That Seek To Waive or Limit Consumer Legal Protections, published on February 1, 2023 (Proposed Rule), and is providing this notice of withdrawal. The Bureau has determined that legislative rulemaking is not necessary or appropriate at this time to address the subject matter of the Proposed Rule. The Bureau will not take any further action on the Proposed Rule.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is proposing to adopt a standard definition of "risks to consumers with regard to the offering or provision of consumer financial products or services" that will bind the Bureau in proceedings to designate nonbank covered persons for Bureau supervision. This will ensure that the Bureau acts within the bounds of its statutory authority and provide clarity to institutions about the standard the Bureau applies.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is seeking comments and data to inform its consideration of four issues related to implementation of section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). These issues are: the proper understanding of who can serve as a "representative" making a request on behalf of the consumer; the optimal approach to the assessment of fees to defray the costs incurred by a "covered person" in responding to a customer driven request; the threat and cost-benefit pictures for data security associated with section 1033 compliance; and the threat picture for data privacy associated with section 1033 compliance.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is seeking information to assist it in considering whether to propose a rule to amend the test to define larger participants in the consumer debt collection market established by the Bureau's Defining Larger Participants of the Consumer Debt Collection Market Final Rule published on October 31, 2012 (Consumer Debt Collection Larger Participant Rule).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is seeking information to assist it in considering whether to propose a rule to amend the test to define larger participants in the international money transfer market established by the Bureau's Defining Larger Participants of the International Money Transfer Market Final Rule published on September 9, 2014 (International Money Transfer Larger Participant Rule or 2014 Rule).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is seeking information to assist it in considering whether to propose a rule to amend the test to define larger participants in the automobile financing market established by the Bureau's Defining Larger Participants of the Automobile Financing Market and Defining Certain Automobile Leasing Activity as a Financial Product or Service Final Rule published on June 30, 2015 (Automobile Financing Larger Participant Rule).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is seeking information to assist it in considering whether to propose a rule to amend the test to define larger participants in the consumer reporting market established by the Bureau's Defining Larger Participants of the Consumer Reporting Market Final Rule published on July 20, 2012 (Consumer Reporting Larger Participant Rule).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is proposing to amend its 2013 rule implementing the provision of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA or Act) that establishes a Consumer Financial Civil Penalty Fund (Civil Penalty Fund). Under the CFPA, the Civil Penalty Fund may be used for payments to victims of activities subject to civil penalties; to the extent victims cannot be located or payments are not practicable, the Bureau may use funds for consumer education and financial literacy programs. This proposed rule would remove references to allocating funds for consumer education and financial literacy programs.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is withdrawing a proposed interpretive rule, Electronic Fund Transfers Through Accounts Established Primarily for Personal, Family, or Household Purposes Using Emerging Payment Mechanisms. The Bureau will not take any further action on this proposed interpretive rule.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is withdrawing its Notice of Proposed Rule: Prohibited Terms and Conditions in Agreements for Consumer Financial Products or Services (Regulation AA) (NPRM). The Bureau has determined that legislative rulemaking is not necessary or appropriate at this time to address the subject matter of the NPRM. The Bureau will not take any further action on the NPRM.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is withdrawing its Notice of Proposed Rule: Protecting Americans from Harmful Data Broker Practices (Regulation V) (NPRM). The Bureau has determined that legislative rulemaking is not necessary or appropriate at this time to address the subject matter of the NPRM. The Bureau will not take any further action on the NPRM.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is proposing to rescind the amendments it adopted on April 29, 2022, November 21, 2022, and April 23, 2024, to the Procedures for Supervisory Designation Proceedings.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is proposing to rescind its rule requiring certain types of nonbank covered persons subject to certain final public orders obtained or issued by a government agency in connection with the offering or provision of a consumer financial product or service to report the existence of the orders and related information to a Bureau registry.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is proposing to rescind the amendments it adopted to the Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings (Rules of Practice) on February 22, 2022, and March 29, 2023.

On December 13, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking information in advance of preparing a proposed rule to address concerns related to information furnished to credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies as a result of coercion. The ANPR provided a comment period that was set to close on March 7, 2025. To allow interested persons more time to consider and submit their comments, the CFPB has determined that an extension of the comment period until April 7, 2025, is appropriate.

On December 13, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) requesting comment on the CFPB's proposal to amend Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The proposed rule would implement the FCRA's definitions of consumer report and consumer reporting agency as well as certain of the FCRA's provisions governing when consumer reporting agencies may furnish, and users may obtain, consumer reports. The NPRM provided a comment period that was set to close on March 3, 2025. To allow interested persons more time to consider and submit their comments, the CFPB has determined that an extension of the comment period until April 2, 2025, is appropriate.

In light of interest by electronic fund transfer system market participants to offer new types of products to transfer funds and make purchases through accounts established primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing this interpretive rule to assist companies, investors, and other market participants evaluating existing statutory and regulatory requirements governing electronic fund transfers (EFTs).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing to prohibit certain contractual provisions in agreements for consumer financial products or services. The proposal would prohibit covered persons from including in their contracts any provisions purporting to waive substantive consumer legal rights and protections (or their remedies) granted by State or Federal law. The proposal would also prohibit contract terms that limit free expression, including with threats of account closure, fines, or breach of contract claims, as well as other contract terms. The proposal would also codify certain longstanding prohibitions under the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Credit Practices Rule.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is withdrawing its proposed rule to prohibit banks and other financial institutions from charging certain nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees, such as those for declined debit card purchases, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawals, and some person-to-person payments. The CFPB will determine whether a more comprehensive approach to also prohibit NSF fees charged for additional types of transactions will better protect consumers from potentially unlawful fees.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is seeking information in advance of preparing a proposed rule to address concerns related to information furnished to credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies concerning coerced debt. More specifically, this advance notice of proposed rulemaking solicits information on amending the definitions of "identity theft" and "identity theft report" in Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as other related amendments to Regulation V, to include information stemming from transactions that occurred without the consumer's effective consent.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing a proposed rule for public comment to amend Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The proposed rule would implement the FCRA's definitions of consumer report and consumer reporting agency as well as certain of the FCRA's provisions governing when consumer reporting agencies may furnish, and users may obtain, consumer reports. The proposed rule is designed to, among other things, ensure that the FCRA's protections are applied to sensitive consumer information that the statute was enacted to protect, including information sold by data brokers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposes a narrowly tailored amendment to certain remittance transfer disclosure requirements in the remittance rule in Regulation E (Remittance Rule or Rule), which implements the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, and certain accompanying model forms, to ensure that consumers sending a remittance transfer have information about the types of inquiries that may be most efficient to direct to the CFPB and the State agency that licenses or charters their remittance transfer provider.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is publishing this agenda as part of the Spring 2024 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The CFPB reasonably anticipates having the regulatory matters identified below under consideration during the period from July 2024 to June 2025. The next agenda will be published in Fall 2024 and will update this agenda through Fall 2025. Publication of this agenda is in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is charged with promoting competition and innovation in consumer financial products and services. After careful study of emerging offerings in the paycheck advance marketplace, including those marketed as "earned wage advances" and "earned wage access," the CFPB is proposing this interpretive rule to help market participants determine when certain existing requirements under Federal law are triggered. The proposed interpretive rule would also address certain costs that are in substantial connection with extensions of such credit, such as expedited delivery fees and costs marketed as "tips."

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is proposing a rule that would amend regulations originally issued in 2013 regarding the responsibilities of mortgage servicers. The proposed amendments would streamline existing requirements when borrowers seek payment assistance in times of distress, add safeguards when borrowers seek help, and revise existing requirements with respect to borrower assistance. The proposed rule would also require servicers to provide certain communications in languages other than English, such as when a borrower is seeking payment assistance with their mortgage. The proposed rule, if finalized, would increase the likelihood that investors and borrowers can avert the costs of avoidable foreclosure.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule amending Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), concerning medical information. The CFPB is proposing to remove a regulatory exception in Regulation V from the limitation in the FCRA on creditors obtaining or using information on medical debts for credit eligibility determinations. The proposed rule would also provide that a consumer reporting agency generally may not furnish to a creditor a consumer report containing information on medical debt that the creditor is prohibited from using.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposes to amend Regulations E and Z to update regulatory exceptions for overdraft credit provided by very large financial institutions, thereby ensuring that extensions of overdraft credit adhere to consumer protections required of similarly situated products, unless the overdraft fee is a small amount that only recovers applicable costs and losses. The proposal would allow consumers to better comparison shop across credit products and provide substantive protections that apply to other consumer credit.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is publishing this agenda as part of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The CFPB reasonably anticipates having the regulatory matters identified below under consideration during the period from November 2023 to October 2024. The next agenda will be published in Spring 2024 and will update this agenda through Spring 2025. Publication of this agenda is in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing to prohibit covered financial institutions from charging fees, such as nonsufficient funds fees, when consumers initiate payment transactions that are instantaneously declined. Charging such fees would constitute an abusive practice under the Consumer Financial Protection Act's prohibition on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposes a rule to define a market for general-use digital consumer payment applications. The proposed market would cover providers of funds transfer and wallet functionalities through digital applications for consumers' general use in making payments to other persons for personal, family, or household purposes. Larger participants of this market would be subject to the CFPB's supervisory authority under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).