Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump Administration has announced its plan to nominate Kathy Kraninger, an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official, to be the next Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Prior to her role at OMB, Kraninger's experience in the federal government has been focused on homeland security issues, having worked at the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. Throughout her government career, Kraninger has had limited to no experience in consumer protection. Last November, OMB Director Mick Mulvaney was unlawfully

OAKLAND, CALIF. – Today at a press conference, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced a settlement of $67 million in debt relief for former California students of Corinthian Colleges. The for-profit college, which the federal government shut down four years ago, was a higher education predatory institution that targeted African Americans and Latinos. Attorney General Becerra’s announcement comes as the U.S. Department of Education is rolling back important safeguards to protect students from the student loan debt crisis. Center for Responsible Lending Government Relations and

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, the head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Joseph Otting was repeatedly asked if he believes discrimination exists in America. He replied that he had never personally observed it, though he had heard about it from others. This is surprising given that discrimination in financial services has a well-documented past and present. Otting has had a long career in the banking industry and as Comptroller of the Currency, has a responsibility to help root out lending discrimination, so his

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) applauds a federal court ruling out of Texas, which rejected a Joint Motion by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the payday lenders that was intended to delay the compliance date for the CFPB’s Payday Rule. The CFPB is currently led by Mick Mulvaney, who was unlawfully installed as “Acting Director” by President Trump. Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) Litigation Counsel Will Corbett issued the following statement: Mick Mulvaney and the payday lenders tried an end-run around the law and it was rightly rejected

Numbers Confirm Abysmal Outcomes While Focus Groups Reveal the Human Impact of Bad Federal Education Policy; State Action Crucial DURHAM, N.C. – A new Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) research report finds that students who enroll in healthcare support programs at for-profit schools end up carrying much more debt relative to their earnings than do their peers in similar public programs. Tuition and fees for these for-profit programs can exceed $17,000 for an 11-month program, an amount that may seem worth it when the marketing materials of for-profit colleges greatly exaggerate the

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Center for Responsible Lending Executive Vice President Debbie Goldstein released the following the statement after it was reported that Mick Mulvaney, who was unlawfully appointed to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), announced his plan to dismantle the membership of the agency's Consumer Advisory Board (CAB). This reckless decision to dismiss the members of the Consumer Advisory Board shows the level of disdain Mick Mulvaney has for consumer protection and it demonstrates his inability to lead both the CFPB and the Office of Management and Budget. The

AB 2500 would have been a historic step forward to help distressed Californians from falling victims to abusive predatory lending SACRAMENTO, CALIF. – Last night, several members of the California Assembly succumbed to industry pressure and voted down AB 2500, the Safe Consumer Lending Act, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) to protect California families from abusive high-cost installment loans, including those made by car title lenders. Had it passed, the legislation would have substantially reduced the costs of consumer loans that are between $2,500 to $5,000. AB

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which is led by the unlawfully appointed “Acting Director” Mick Mulvaney, joined the leading payday lenders’ association in filing a joint motion to delay the compliance date for the CFPB’s rule on payday loans (PDF) until 445 days from the final judgement of litigation challenging the rule. Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) Director of Federal Policy Scott Astrada issued the following statement: It is appalling that an agency with a primary mission of protecting consumers is now teaming up with a payday lending

Banks and Agency Have Responsibility to Uphold These Principles WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) rolled out guidance addressing installment lending with repayment periods ranging from two to twelve months. The guidance encourages banks to make these loans while cautioning banks to adhere to principles of reasonable pricing and affordability. It also reiterates the agency’s longstanding opposition to “rent-a-charter” arrangements used by high-cost lenders to evade state usury law. The OCC’s enforcement of these principles and responsible practices by

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – On Thursday, May 24, 2018, the Stop the Debt Trap Los Angeles, a coalition of consumer and civil rights advocates and faith leaders, will host a press conference in Los Angeles to rally behind the County’s anticipated release of a report that aims to curtail predatory lending. The advocates will also urge Los Angeles Assemblymembers to support AB 2500, the Safe Consumer Lending Act, a bill to put in place a 36% interest rate cap for consumer loans of $2,500 to $5,000, which would help families in Los Angeles from falling into an abusive debt trap. The County Board of