Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is publishing this agenda as part of the Spring 2022 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. The Bureau reasonably anticipates having the regulatory matters identified below under consideration during the period from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. The next agenda will be published in Fall 2022 and will update this agenda through Fall 2023. Publication of this agenda is in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

Reviews of products and services help to promote fair, transparent, and competitive markets. When firms frustrate the ability of consumers to post honest reviews of products and services that they use, they may be engaged in conduct prohibited by the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is issuing this bulletin to remind regulated entities of the CFPA's requirements and explain how the Bureau intends to exercise its enforcement and supervisory authorities on this issue.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), this notice sets forth the announcement of a public meeting of the Community Bank Advisory Council (CBAC or Council) of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau). The notice also describes the functions of the Council.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), this notice sets forth the announcement of a public meeting of the Academic Research Council (ARC or Council) of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau). The notice also describes the functions of the Council.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) requests the extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of the existing information collection titled ``Electronic Fund Transfer Act (Regulation E)'' approved under OMB Control Number 3170-0014.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is issuing this Compliance Bulletin and Policy Guidance (Bulletin) regarding the servicing of Federal student loans, including Federal Family Education Loan Program and Perkins loans, for borrowers who may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). The Limited PSLF Waiver announced by the Department of Education on October 6, 2021 (PSLF Waiver) significantly changes the program's eligibility criteria for a limited period. In communicating with borrowers about the PSLF program, servicers should consider taking certain actions to ensure compliance with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act's (Dodd-Frank Act's) prohibition on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (collectively, UDAAPs). In its oversight, the CFPB will be paying particular attention to whether student loan servicers provide complete and accurate information to consumers about the benefits they can receive under the PSLF Waiver and eligibility for PSLF generally.

The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) provides, among other things, that no person may require a consumer to establish an account for receipt of electronic fund transfers with a particular financial institution as a condition of receipt of a government benefit. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing this Compliance Bulletin to reiterate that this prohibition in EFTA applies to government benefit accounts.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is issuing this procedural rule to update its Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings (Rules of Practice). This rule expands the opportunities for parties in adjudication proceedings to conduct depositions. It also contains various amendments regarding timing and deadlines, the content of answers, the scheduling conference, bifurcation of proceedings, the process for deciding dispositive motions, and requirements for issue exhaustion, as well as other technical changes. Overall, the amendments will provide the parties with earlier access to relevant information and also foster greater procedural flexibility, which should ultimately contribute to more effective and efficient proceedings. The Bureau welcomes comments on this rule, and the Bureau may make further amendments if it receives comments warranting changes.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) requests the extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of the existing information collection titled ``Certification of Vaccination'' approved under OMB Control Number 3170-0075.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is publishing this notice seeking comment on a Generic Information Collection titled ``Financial Well-Being Scale Malleability Survey'' prior to requesting the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of this collection under the Generic Information Collection ``Generic Information Collection Plan for Studies of Consumers using Controlled Trials in Field and Economic Laboratory Settings'' under OMB Control Number 3170-0048.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is requesting to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval for an existing information collection titled ``Consumer Complaint Intake System Company Portal Boarding Form.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is publishing this notice seeking comment on a Generic Information Collection titled, ``Partnership with EVERFI to Study High School Students' Estimation of College Costs,'' prior to requesting the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of this collection under the Generic Information Collection ``Generic Information Collection Plan for Studies of Consumers using Controlled Trials in Field and Economic Laboratory Settings'' under OMB Control number 3170-0048.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing this compliance bulletin and policy guidance (Bulletin) to remind debt collectors of their obligation to comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act's prohibition on false, deceptive, or misleading representations or means in connection with the collection of any debt and unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt, and to remind consumer reporting agencies and information furnishers to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act's accuracy and dispute resolution requirements, including when collecting, furnishing information about, and reporting medical debts covered by the No Surprises Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is publishing this notice seeking comment on a Generic Information Collection titled, ``The Effect of Different Savings Elicitation Strategies on Emergency Savings Targets,'' prior to requesting the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of this collection under the Generic Information Collection ``Generic Information Collection Plan for Studies of Consumers using Controlled Trials in Field and Economic Laboratory Settings'' under OMB Control number 3170-0048.