Kate Berry

Kate Berry has covered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for American Banker since 2016. She joined the publication in 2006 covering mortgage lending and the financial crisis. Berry also has covered big banks including Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo. She has won five awards from the Society of American Business Writers and Editors, and has worked at several news organizations including the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Business Journal and the Associated Press. Berry began her career as a clerk at the New York Times.

CFPB

Kraninger wants more money for CFPB. White House has a different plan.

The Trump administration proposes cutting personnel and other budgetary items at the bureau, while the agency’s director — who controls the purse strings and was hand-picked by the administration — aims to boost spending and hire more employees.

By Kate Berry

February 20
CFPB

House Dems to CFPB chief: Use the authority Congress gave you

Members of the House Financial Services Committee chastised Kathy Kraninger for not supervising student loan servicers and failing to examine firms for compliance with the Military Lending Act.

By Kate Berry

February 6
Qualified Mortgages

Tearing up CFPB’s mortgage underwriting rule is the easy part

Now that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it will scrap an unpopular standard for so-called qualified mortgages, the big question is what will take its place.

By Kate Berry

February 3
Trump administration

CFPB's hiring of former DOJ official could raise ire of Capitol Hill

The agency has named Thomas G. Ward as the bureau's assistant director for enforcement. House Democrats have questioned Ward's role as a political appointee in the Trump administration.

By Kate Berry

January 30
UDAAP

CFPB at long last defines enigmatic ‘abusive’ standard

In the past, the agency cited the legal term in enforcement actions without stating what it meant, but Director Kathy Kraninger has sought to give the industry clearer guidance.

By Kate Berry

January 24
Dodd-Frank

CFPB backers tell high court that agency's structure is legal

Democratic lawmakers, state attorneys general and others filed briefs with the Supreme Court rebutting claims that the agency’s leadership structure is unconstitutional.

By Kate Berry

January 24
Qualified mortgage rules

4 questions as CFPB closes in on revamp of key mortgage rule

The agency is sending a strong message that it won't rush to end an exemption for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while also signaling longer-term changes that will affect all lenders.

By Kate Berry

January 21
Debt collection

In rebuke of CFPB, states look to get tough on debt collectors

In another sign of state officials trying to outdo the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, governors in California and New York want greater authority to license and oversee the debt collection industry.

By Kate Berry

January 16
Dodd-Frank

Lawyer picked to defend CFPB before high court backs agency structure

The Supreme Court appointed Paul Clement to represent the agency after the bureau’s current director questioned its constitutionality.

By Kate Berry

January 15
Fintech regulations

Can California's mini-CFPB pick up slack left by federal agency?

Former CFPB Director Richard Cordray and consumer advocates have designed a proposed state consumer agency that would subject more financial firms and fintechs to state oversight.

By Kate Berry

January 10