ADA Website Accessibility Tools

The Department of Justice recently published an “ADA Best Practices Tool Kit,” which includes website accessibility guidance and a checklist that can be used to verify compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. While the tool kit is primarily geared toward state and local governments, which are governed by Title II of the ADA, it will be helpful to banks … Read More

WA Bulletin B-17-04 Exam Focus for Consumer Protection Compliance

On February 23, the DCU released Bulletin B-17-04, Exam Focus for Consumer Protection Compliance During 2017 through 2020.  The Bulletin details the compliance exam focus for 2017 – 2020. Exam Focus for Consumer Protection Compliance During 2017 through 2020 In March 2017, the Division of Credit Unions (Division) will complete its first cycle of enhanced consumer protection compliance exams for … Read More

Oregon House Bill 2346 – Proposed

The proposed House Bill, currently referred to public hearing, would require credit unions to accept a declaration or a affidavit from DHS or OHA to pay claims on the death of a credit union member. House Bill 2346 Introduced and printed pursuant to House Rule 12.00. Presession filed (at the request of Governor Kate Brown for Department of Human Services) … Read More

CFPB’s Alternative Data Request for Information

The CFPB released a Request for Information into ways to expand access to credit for consumers who are credit invisible or who lack enough credit history to obtain a credit score. Traditional credit history includes a borrower’s payment of debts such as mortgages, credit cards, and other loans. It is used by lenders to decide who can get credit and … Read More

MLA Website Error

According to an announcement posted on the Military Lending Act (“MLA”) Website: Between February 9, 2017 and February 15, 2017 there was a problem with MLA Multiple Record Requests that prevented 149 request files from processing.  The Defense Manpower Data Center advises any creditor who, during the time period in question, submitted a Multiple Record Request file that failed to … Read More

Bad Reviews? Let them stay.

Congress unanimously passed the Consumer Review Fairness Act to protect people’s ability to share in any forum their honest opinions about a business’ products, services, or conduct. Some companies had been using contract provisions – including their online terms and conditions – to threaten to sue consumers or penalize them financially for posting negative reviews or complaints. The new law … Read More

Compressed Version of the SDN.XML File Now Available

From the U.S. Department of the Treasury: 2/22/2017 OFAC is now offering a compressed version of its SDN.XML file in order to provide bandwidth savings for users that frequently download this file.  This new file compresses the SDN.XML file by approximately 92%. The new file can be found at the following URL: https://www.treasury.gov/ofac/downloads/sdn_xml.zip This file will be updated at the same time … Read More

Proposed SAR Changes

FinCEN has published a notice of proposed changes to the SAR form.  The notice does not propose any new regulatory requirements or changes to the requirements related to suspicious activity reporting other than changes to the data fields provided in the SAR filings.  Most of the proposed changes would alter the “checklist” of violations in Part II, including the addition … Read More

FDIC’s Money Smart Alliance Program

The FDIC provides a Money Smart Alliance program, which is a network for financial institutions, nonprofits, and governmental organizations that can use the FDIC’s financial education curriculum to provide training to consumers, small businesses and others. The Money Smart Alliance program is a comprehensive financial education curriculum designed to help low- and moderate-income individuals outside the financial mainstream enhance their … Read More

ANPR – Alternative Capital

The NCUA issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding alternative capital for federally insured credits.  Credit unions could use the alternative capital to meet required capital standards. The ANPR divides alternative capital into two categories:  secondary capital and supplemental capital.  Currently, secondary capital is only allowed for low-income designated credit unions and is counted toward both the net … Read More