Fintech regulations

Nearly half the nation's state regulators have agreed to a new multistate licensing business for money servicers, including fintechs.

Fuller transparency from lenders in the mortgage decision process and disclosure on disapprovals would help keep biases in check and take down racial barriers to homeownership, according to a study by Clever Real Estate.

House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters and Rep. Patrick McHenry, the top GOP panel member, said Facebook must testify about Project Libra.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Doug Jones, D-Ala., cited research that found algorithmic lending can lead to higher interest rates for minority borrowers.

2019 has already seen billions of dollars in fintech M&A. The deals have come at a rapid enough pace that acquirers are often buying companies that are still absorbing deals of their own.

The bureau wants to further remove the threat of legal liability for firms that test products benefiting consumers, but the attorneys general say the agency cannot provide immunity from state law.

As suspense builds over which firm will be the first to seek the special-purpose charter, a side discussion has emerged over which financial services sector has the most to gain — or lose — from the new option.

Executives urged the consumer bureau at a public meeting to keep a closer eye on artificial intelligence innovations developed by fintech firms that are subject to less regulation.

FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams questioned whether regulators and banks are fully capturing the emerging risks of a new shadow banking system.

Several states pledged to compensate for a slowdown in enforcement at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under Mick Mulvaney, but their efforts have been complicated by tight budgets and doubts over whether such initiatives are necessary.

Capital One's dispute with Plaid raised questions about the ability of banks and aggregators to work together. But the end of that fight, and Capital One's deal with Finicity, show common ground can be reached — eventually.

The administration’s recent report on fintech innovation discussed ways to adopt electronic promissory notes — or eNotes — and automated appraisals in federal mortgage programs.

Lawmakers approved legislation to enable coordination between state and federal regulators on examining banks' third-party vendor relationships.

Other aggregators came to the bank's defense, while one CEO suggested Plaid's very public protest was unfounded.

Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting said in a press conference Wednesday morning that there is a place in the banking world for some kind of fintech charter, though the exact parameters of such a charter are still unclear and have to be worked out.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika on Monday gave a ringing endorsement to online lenders seeking to expand into banking, suggesting they should consider taking deposits and seek out national bank charters as they mature.

The changes to the National Multistate Licensing System will include a more customized user experience for companies and functionality for states to share examination data.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., is calling on the FDIC to hold a public hearing on SoFi's application for deposit insurance.

The deposit insurer has stayed out of the debate over how to regulate the online lending industry. But that may be about to change.

Congressional action is necessary to give financial regulators the tools they need to promote responsible innovation.