The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is expected to unveil its formal proposal to restrict payday lending on June 2, the first national regulations of short-term, small-dollar loans.
The bureau said Wednesday that it plans to hold a public hearing in Kansas City, Mo., to discuss small-dollar lending. The hearing will be held at the Kansas City Convention Center and will feature remarks from CFPB Director Richard Cordray, as well as testimony from consumer groups, industry representatives and the public. The CFPB typically uses such hearings to unveil key regulations and it's widely expected the agency will roll out the official payday lending plan at this event.
The industry has been anticipating a proposal on the $38.5 billion payday lending industry that could potentially cover a larger swath of financial institutions and fintech companies.
-
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that one in five borrowers who take out short-term auto title loans have their vehicle seized for failing to repay the loan.
May 18 -
At least three large U.S. banks are preparing to go to market with new small-dollar installment loan products in a move that could potentially disrupt the payday lending industry.
May 6
If the CFPB sticks to an
The CFPB has said it is intends to give lenders two options for payday loans: either verify the borrower's ability to repay a loan, or comply with restrictions on how often a short-term loan can be rolled over or reissued within a certain time frame. Lenders also could opt for alternatives that allow for less underwriting and documentation.
There is concern that if the agency goes too far in restricting short-term, small-dollar loans there will be a huge backlash from payday lenders and on Capitol Hill, from Republicans and Democrats alike. But if the agency fails to stop the most abusive practices, consumer groups will view the first national standards on payday loans as a failure. A chief concern is what will replace payday lenders if federal regulations force many to shut down.
Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, said it is important for the CFPB to devise rules on determining whether a loan is affordable and the borrower has enough income to meet basic needs.
"Without meaningful upfront underwriting and strong protections against loan flipping, lenders can trap borrowers in high-cost debt for years on end," Calhoun said in a statement.
