Final rules

The Bureau has issued this procedural rule to update its Rules of Practice for Adjudication Proceedings.

The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and further amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act, directs Federal agencies to adjust for inflation the civil penalty amounts within their jurisdiction not later than July 1, 2016, and then not later than January 15 every year thereafter.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing a final rule amending the official commentary that interprets the requirements of the Bureau's Regulation C (Home Mortgage Disclosure) to reflect the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

This rule amends Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) to implement certain amendments to the Truth in Lending Act made by the Dodd-Frank Act. This rule amends the official commentary that interprets the requirements of the Bureau’s Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) to reflect changes in the asset-size thresholds for certain creditors to qualify for an exemption to the requirement to establish an escrow account for a higher-priced mortgage loan. These changes reflect updates to, together with affiliates that regularly extended covered transactions secured by first liens, had total assets of less than $2 billion (adjusted annually for inflation) and the exemption the Bureau added, by implementing section 108 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA), for certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less (adjusted annually for inflation). These amendments are based on the annual percentage change in the average of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Based on the 4.7 percent increase in the average of the CPI-W for the 12-month period ending in November 2021, the exemption threshold for creditors and their affiliates that regularly extended covered transactions secured by first liens is adjusted to $2.336 billion from $2.230 billion. The exemption threshold for certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions with assets of $10 billion or less (adjusted annually for inflation) is adjusted to $10.473 billion from $10 billion.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is amending Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), generally to address the anticipated sunset of LIBOR, which is expected to be discontinued for most U.S. Dollar (USD) tenors in June 2023.

The Board and the Bureau are finalizing amendments to the official interpretations and commentary for the agencies' regulations that implement the Consumer Leasing Act (CLA). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended the CLA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer leases be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The Bureau is adjusting the amount based on the annual percentage change reflected in the Consumer Price Index in effect on June 1, 2021

This final rule announces the increase in the exemption threshold from $27,200 to $28,500, effective January 1, 2022.

The Board and the Bureau are publishing final rules amending the official interpretations and commentary for the agencies’ regulations that implement the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended TILA by requiring that the dollar threshold for exempt consumer credit transactions be adjusted annually by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The Bureau is adjusting the amount based on the annual percentage change reflected in the Consumer Price Index in effect on June 1, 2021

This final rule amends an appendix for Regulation V, which implements the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The Bureau is required to calculate annually the dollar amount of the maximum allowable charge for disclosures by a consumer reporting agency to a consumer pursuant to FCRA section 609; this final rule establishes the maximum allowable charge for the 2022 calendar year.

This Advisory Opinion highlights that a consumer reporting agency that uses inadequate matching procedures to match information to consumers, including name-only matching, in preparing consumer reports is not using reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy under section 607(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

This final rule revises, as applicable, the dollar amounts for provisions implementing TILA and amendments to TILA, including under the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act), the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (HOEPA), and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The Bureau is adjusting these amounts, where appropriate, based on the annual percentage change reflected in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in effect on June 1, 2021.

The Bureau is withdrawing a proposal to delay the effective date of the Debt Collection Final Rules. The Debt Collection final rules will take effect on November 30, 2021.

This final rule makes limited revisions to the Bureau’s regulations that establish the procedures used to obtain records from the Bureau under the Privacy Act.

The Bureau is issuing technical specifications for credit card agreement and data submissions required under TILA and the CARD Act.

This interpretive rule clarifies certain Regulation Z timing requirements in light of legislation that designated “Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19” (Juneteenth) as a legal public holiday.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing this final rule to amend Regulation X to assist mortgage borrowers affected by the COVID-19 emergency.

The CFPB has authority to conduct supervisory examinations regarding the risks to consumers from conduct that violates the Military Lending Act.

This final rule delays the General QM Final Rule’s mandatory compliance date to October 1, 2022.

This interim final rule requires debt collectors to provide written notice to certain consumers of their protections under the CDC Order’s eviction moratorium and to clarify that certain misrepresentations are prohibited.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing this interpretive rule to clarify that, with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction, the prohibition against sex discrimination in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B, which implements ECOA, encompasses sexual orientation discrimination and gender identity discrimination, including discrimination based on actual or perceived nonconformity with sex-based or gender-based stereotypes and discrimination based on an applicant’s associations.

Amendments to exempt certain insured depository institutions and insured credit unions from the requirement to establish escrow accounts for certain higher-priced mortgage loans.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is adopting a final rule that codifies the Interagency Statement Clarifying the Role of Supervisory Guidance.

This Advisory Opinion addresses regulatory uncertainty regarding Regulation B, which implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as it applies to certain aspects of special purpose credit programs designed and implemented by for-profit organizations to meet special social needs.

This rule amends Regulation F, which implements the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), to prescribe Federal rules governing the activities of debt collectors, as that term is defined in the FDCPA.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing this final rule to create a new category of QM loans (Seasoned QM loans) for first-lien, fixed-rate covered transactions that have met certain performance requirements, are held in portfolio by the originating creditor or first purchaser for a 36-month period, comply with general restrictions on product features and points and fees, and meet certain underwriting requirements.