Americans for Financial Reform

News Release: In Comprehensive Official Comment Letter, Broad Coalition Rebukes Trump-Appointed CFPB Director’s Plan To Gut Payday Loan Rule

Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, as part of a coalition of civil rights, consumer, and labor groups, submitted an official comment letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau excoriating CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger’s proposal to gut a 2017 rule that was issued to stop payday loan debt traps. The coalition’s comment letter, submitted on the last day of the comment period, is a comprehensive rebuttal to Kraninger’s rationales for rolling back consumer protections on payday loans.

Letter to Regulators: Stop The Debt Trap Short Letter on CFPB’s Proposal to Repeal Payday Rule

We, the undersigned 429 civil rights, consumer, labor, faith, veterans, senior, business, and community organizations from 46 states plus the District of Columbia write to vehemently oppose the proposed rescission of the common sense ability-to-repay requirements of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the Bureau)’s 2017 payday and vehicle title loan rule (“Ability-to-Repay Rule” or “Rule”).

Testimony: Heather Slavkin Corzo Testifies About Policies To Protect Investors, Increase Transparency, And Promote Worker Rights

The message, for too long, has been that policymakers must choose between policies that protect shareholders’ interest and those that protect workers’ interests. Investors know that economic stability is good for investment outcomes. Over the long-term, economic stability requires broad-based economic growth and shared prosperity.

Letters to Regulators: AFR Education Fund comment on FSOC’s proposed guidance weakening oversight of nonbank systemically important financial institutions

On May 13, 2019, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund sent a letter to the Financial Stability Oversight Council warning about the dangers of weakening oversight of nonbank financial firms even if such a firm could impose a threat to financial stability.

News Release: Statement On SEC Auditing Decision

Everyone who lived through the ENRON debacle, the 2008 financial crisis, or high school math class knows that when it comes to complex calculations, it’s good practice to have someone else check your work to confirm that you got it right.

Letters to Regulators: Coalition Letter to the CFPB on PACE financing

On March 7, 2019, AFR Education Fund and 25 organizations submitted a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on the need for strong consumer protections for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans. Read or download a pdf version of this letter

News Release: Regulator’s New Plan Opens Door to Texts and Emails from Debt Collectors

“If you’re one of the millions of Americans who have dealt with constant harassment from debt collectors, you’re going to be dismayed, because the proposed rule expressly authorizes more ways to harass you,” said Linda Jun, senior policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform.

Save The Date: Join AFR Ed Fund At Its ‘Big Bank Regulation Under The Trump Administration’ Conference

Join us on May 21st for an analysis and discussion of the important developments in the regulation and supervision on big banks, and their effects on financial security and economic stability. View the details here, or below.

News Release: AFR Statement On House Hearing On Auto Lending Discrimination

“A car is fundamentally important to many Americans ability to get to work and to take care of themselves and their families,” said Rion Dennis, advocacy and legislative strategist, at Americans for Financial Reform. “Congress, and the regulators – including both the CFPB and the FTC – need to take forceful action to end the injustice of people of color being charged more to purchase and drive one.”

Fact Sheet: Wall Street Private Equity Landlords Snapping Up Apartment Buildings

Private equity owns over a million U.S. apartment units. Tenants pay a price when corporate landlords buy their buildings. In some cases, private equity buyers have pushed out lower-income tenants – through rent hikes, eviction threats, and more – to flip buildings into high-rent properties to sell for big profits.