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Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

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  • Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services issues FAQs for Consumer Finance Licensees and Registrants

    State Issues

    On March 27, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (Department) issued FAQs for Consumer Finance Licensees and Registrants. The FAQs provide responses to questions regarding examinations, the Department’s reduction of services, scams, and working with consumers such as waiving or reducing late fees, offering payment accommodations, and adjusting or modifying terms on existing loans where possible.  

    State Issues Michigan Covid-19 Consumer Finance Financial Services Authority Examination

  • NYDFS appoints Leandra English to executive team

    State Issues

    On January 14, NYDFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell announced that former Deputy Director of the CFPB, Leandra English, will serve as Special Policy Advisor to the Department. In her role, English will report directly to Lacewell and will manage and develop NYDFS’ policy initiatives involving consumers, financial services, and other issues. English will also be responsible for spearheading NYDFS’ policy development and analysis process, and assisting in the identification of common regulatory trends and risks across industries. 

    State Issues NYDFS State Regulators Consumer Protection Financial Services Authority

  • UK's FSA Publishes Consultation Paper on Regulatory Reform Implementation

    Federal Issues

    On September 12, in advance of expected legislation that will restructure the United Kingdom's financial services regulatory framework, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) published the first in a series of Consultation Papers meant to support implementation of the reforms. The Parliament is expected to finalize later this year the Financial Services Bill that will abolish the FSA, create the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to regulate financial service provider conduct in retail and wholesale markets, and shift safety and soundness regulation to the new Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), among other changes. The first Consultation Paper outlines changes to split the existing FSA handbook into new rulebooks for the FCA and PRA. All regulated firms are encouraged to review the Consultation Paper, and the FSA has asked for comments to be submitted by December 12, 2012.

    Financial Services Authority UK Regulatory Reform Financial Conduct Authority

  • UK Upper Tribunal Finds Bank Executive's Compliance Actions Reasonable, Overturns FSA Decision

    Federal Issues

    Recently, the United Kingdom’s Upper Tribunal overturned a decision of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) that held a top bank executive liable for failure to take reasonable steps to adequately address certain regulatory compliance problems. Specifically, the FSA charged that the executive failed to take reasonable steps to identify and remediate serious flaws in the design and operational effectiveness of the firm’s governance and risk management frameworks and was too slow to initiate a comprehensive review of systems and controls across the business, which should have been conducted when he was appointed to lead the firm. The executive challenged the FSA penalty, arguing that his actions to investigate every specific compliance issue that arose and remedy problems in accordance with a defined plan were sufficient and reasonable and that he had undertaken efforts to strengthen his company’s compliance monitoring team. The Upper Tribunal agreed, holding that the FSA’s expectation that the executive institute a broad overhaul at an earlier date was beyond the bounds of reasonableness. The Upper Tribunal also noted that the majority of the compliance failures originated in one division, that the firm was addressing those issues, and that no one within that or other departments of the firm, nor anyone from the FSA, had ever suggested to the executive a need for a more comprehensive review. The Upper Tribunal directed the FSA to take no action against the executive.

    Financial Services Authority Bank Compliance

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