InfoBytes Blog
CFPB Announces First Partnership with a City Government, Highlights Chicago's Consumer Financial Protection Efforts
On December 5, CFPB Director Richard Cordray and Chicago, IL Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced an agreement to share consumer financial protection information and resources. According to Director Cordray, the partnership will allow the CFPB to learn from and expand on the ways Chicago protects its consumers, and help the CFPB determine where it should be focusing its attention by allowing the CFPB to better understand consumer protection challenges that arise locally. The partnership also will allow the city to leverage new resources and information developed by the CFPB. In his statement regarding the partnership, Mayor Emanuel highlighted the city’s recent consumer financial protection initiatives, including (i) the planned introduction of a new City Council ordinance to regulate and license debt collectors, (ii) information gathering on predatory and deceptive acts associated with home repair loans, payday loans, small dollar loans, reverse mortgage products, and mortgage origination and servicing, (iii) new zoning regulations to limit the proliferation of payday lenders, auto-title loan stores, and other predatory financial services, and (iv) the planned introduction of a new ordinance to enhance the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection’s ability to take action against businesses convicted of violating state and federal consumer protection acts.