The CFPB says that Americans are paying $29 billion annually in these “excessive charges,” and is targeting them in the name of promoting competition and ridding the market of illegal practices.² A wide swath of fees associated with bank, credit union, debit and credit card accounts, mortgages, loans and payment transfers is coming under scrutiny.
Anticipating CFPB action - and getting ahead of the competition – many large financial institutions have already announced the elimination or reduction of some fees, such as non-sufficient funds (NSF) and overdraft fees.
CFPB says banks are hooked on fees
The CFPB says that in 2019, revenue from NSF and overdraft fees was more than $15 billion and credit card companies charge more than $14 billion per year in late fees.³ The Bureau says this is indicative of a burgeoning “fee economy” that is stifling competition and distorting the free market by concealing the true price of goods and services.
While federal regulation of bank fee requirements is not new (e.g., rules 6500 § 1026.5, § 1026.52, § 1026.54 and § 1026.55⁴), the CFPB has clearly stated its intention to scrutinize ancillary fees in the name of increasing competition and curbing deceptive practices. “Rather than competing on quality service and attractive interest rates, many banks have become hooked on overdraft fees to feed their profit model,” says CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “We will be taking action to restore meaningful competition to this market.”5
Recent press on CFPB examinations suggest the Bureau is backing up its messaging with actions.⁶ As the CFPB increases its scrutiny of fees charged to consumers, the potential reputational damage, along with enforcement actions and fines from the CFPB, should be raising concern for all financial institutions.²
