The New York Department of Financial Services has sent a letter directed to businesses that the DFS “understands…may be involved in online lending in the State of New York” and that asks recipients to complete a “New York Marketplace Lending Survey” that they can access online.

The letter states that the DFS is conducting the survey to gather information for a public report that it is required to issue by July 1, 2018 and which must include information about online lenders operating in New York and their business practices, including lending practices, interest rates and costs charged, and consumer complaints and investigations about the industry. … Continue Reading

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued a new bulletin (2017-21) containing fourteen frequently asked questions to supplement OCC Bulletin 2013-29 entitled “Third-Party Relationships: Risk Management Guidance.”   The 2013 bulletin provided updated guidance for managing operational, compliance, reputation, strategic, and credit risk presented by third-party business relationships of national banks and federal savings associations.… Continue Reading

Tom Dresslar, the Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning at the California Department of Business Oversight, California’s state bank regulator, has retired.  Mr. Dresslar joined the DBO in late 2014 after a long career in California state government and, before that, as the Sacramento Bureau Chief for the Daily Journal, Los Angeles’s daily legal newspaper. … Continue Reading

Tomorrow, July 11, the House Financial Services Committee’s  Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit will hold a hearing titled: “Examining the Opportunities and Challenges with Financial Technology (“FinTech”): The Development of Online Marketplace Lending.”  According to the Committee memorandum, the hearing “will give Committee members the opportunity to assess the development of the FinTech market, including how online lenders and banks interact. … Continue Reading

On June 9, 2016, the FTC will host a “FinTech forum on marketplace lending,” the first in a forum series described by the FTC as “exploring emerging financial technology and its implications for consumers.”  According to the FTC, the forum “will examine the range of marketplace lending models, their potential benefits to consumers, possible consumer protection concerns, and the applicability of consumer protection laws to market participants.”… Continue Reading

The CFPB recently joined other federal regulators who have indicated a growing interest in marketplace lending with its announcement that it is accepting consumer complaints about loans obtained through marketplace lenders.  The U.S. Department of the Treasury had previously demonstrated its interest in marketplace lending by issuing a request for information (RFI) in July 2015.… Continue Reading

The interest of federal regulators in marketplace lending continues to grow.  In March 2016, the CFPB announced that it is taking complaints about marketplace lenders.  In July 2015, the Treasury Department issued a request for information regarding online marketplace lending and, in February 2016, the FDIC published an article highlighting the risks for banks that partner with marketplace lenders.… Continue Reading

The CFPB announced that it is now accepting consumer complaints about loans obtained through marketplace lenders and also issued a consumer bulletin directed at consumers who are shopping for such loans.  The CFPB’s press release contains the following description of a marketplace lender:  “A marketplace lender uses an online interface to connect consumers or businesses seeking to borrow money with investors willing to buy or invest in the loan. … Continue Reading

Evidence of CFPB interest in small business lending continues to mount.  While it was not surprising to see federal regulators attending the American Banker’s Marketplace Lending +Investment conference in New York City two weeks ago since many marketplace lenders make consumer loans, the CFPB also had several representatives attend the American Banker’s Small Business Banking conference in Nashville earlier this week. … Continue Reading

Companies involved in marketplace lending will be quite interested in the attendee list for the American Banker’s Marketplace Lending + Investing conference taking place this week in New York City.  It indicates that 22 federal regulators plan to attend, including 4 from the CFPB.

Could there be a stronger indication that federal regulators are keenly interested in the space?… Continue Reading