Enforcement actions

Kristen Donoghue had been one of the agency's few remaining senior enforcement managers hired by former Director Richard Cordray.

Eric Blankenstein, the CFPB's policy director for supervision, enforcement and fair lending, has been criticized for using a racial slur in blog posts 15 years ago and claiming the majority of hate crimes were hoaxes.

Brian Johnson, a Republican political appointee at the CFPB, has been named the agency's deputy director, the No. 2 job behind Director Kathy Kraninger.

The industry welcomed a proposed overhaul of how the government identifies False Claims Act violations, but some say it remains to be seen if the changes are enough to satisfy companies that had bolted.

The Department of Financial Services has created a statewide financial protection division focused on corporate compliance and consumer issues, in line with steps taken by New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Director Kathy Kraninger said the agency will emphasize a confidential supervisory process instead of just doling out public enforcement actions. But skeptics worry this will let companies escape punishment.

Under a new policy, a company subject to a civil investigative demand will learn from the agency about what conduct the probe is targeting and what legal provisions the firm may have violated.

In her first policy speech since being confirmed as the agency's director, Kathy Kraninger promised less focus on enforcement actions and more emphasis on consumer education.

General Electric Co. finalized an agreement to pay $1.5 billion to settle a U.S. investigation into the manufacturer's defunct subprime mortgage business.

Caliber Home Loans settled a grievance with the Massachusetts attorney general over allegations of providing distressed borrowers with unaffordable loan modifications.