The CFPB’s Inquiry Into “Junk Fees”: What It Means For Consumer Financial Services Providers

The CFPB’s recently-issued request for information takes aim at what the CFPB labels “junk fees” charged by consumer financial services providers. We discuss the types of fees targeted in the RFI, particularly fees related to deposit accounts and mortgages, and the impact of existing regulatory requirements on the CFPB’s initiative. We also examine the CFPB’s authority to address so-called “junk fees,” consider possible short- and long-term actions the CFPB could take in response to the RFI, offer steps providers can take to prepare for greater scrutiny of ancillary fees and possible legal challenges, and describe the CFPB readiness reviews that Ballard Spahr attorneys are conducting to assist providers in assessing the permissibility and disclosure of fees charged in connection with their consumer products and services.

Alan Kaplinsky, Ballard Spahr Senior Counsel, hosts the conversation, joined by John Culhane, Richard Andreano, and Ron Vaske, partners in the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Group.

View the recording transcript here.