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

CFPB political appointee to be named agency's No. 2: Sources

Tom Pahl, a former longtime regulator at the Federal Trade Commission, has led key rulemaking efforts for the consumer bureau.

By Kate Berry

July 2
CFPB

Will CFPB advisory opinions offer clarity, or give companies a pass?

The agency has proposed letting firms seek specific guidance, which can be applied to other institutions. But consumer groups worry the plan circumvents formal rulemaking.

By Kate Berry

July 1
CFPB

After ruling, stage set for new battles over CFPB's future

The Supreme Court threw out a key statutory provision concerning the agency’s leadership structure, but the presidential election and possible legislative reforms could bring about more changes to the embattled bureau.

By Kate Berry

June 29
CFPB

Supreme Court strikes down CFPB leadership structure

In a split 5-4 decision, the justices gave presidents new power to remove the agency's head at will. The ruling could have far-reaching implications for other regulators with single directors.

By Kate Berry

June 29
Litigation

No decision by Supreme Court on CFPB's constitutionality

With just 13 decisions remaining on the docket this session, the high court's highly anticipated ruling in a case challenging the agency's leadership structure could come as early as next Monday.

By Kate Berry

June 25
Qualified Mortgages

Election, Supreme Court case may dictate fate of CFPB's QM proposal

An imminent high court ruling about the independence of the bureau's director, coupled with an election victory for Joe Biden, could doom a plan to extend GSEs' exemption from tough debt-to-income requirements on mortgages.

By Kate Berry

June 24
Loss mitigation

CFPB gives mortgage servicers relief to help struggling homeowners

A new CFPB rule will expedite the forbearance and loss-mitigation process for consumers suffering financial hardship from the pandemic.

By Kate Berry

June 23
CFPB

CFPB issues proposals to revise QM rule, extend GSE patch

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau plans to change the definition of what constitutes a qualified mortgage from a 43% debt-to-income limit to a price-based threshold, and further extend a temporary exemption given to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

By Kate Berry

June 22
CFPB

Consumer advocates allege bias in CFPB task force

A lawsuit filed Tuesday argues that the bureau's establishment of the panel looking into regulatory changes violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

By Kate Berry

June 16
Commercial real estate lending

The pandemic’s CRE domino effect

As revenue-starved retailers fall further behind on rent payments, landlords' cash flow will be strained, and defaults on commercial real estate loans could rise.

By Kate Berry

June 10