This bill significantly amends the Truth in Lending Act and Electronic Fund Transfer Act to bolster consumer protections, particularly in electronic and small-dollar lending. It introduces new safeguards by prohibiting unauthorized remotely created checks, requiring consumers to explicitly designate their bank for such checks, and allowing revocation of these designations. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that electronic fund transfers used to repay small-dollar consumer credit transactions be treated as preauthorized, thereby extending greater protections to consumers. For small-dollar consumer credit transactions, defined as loans up to $5,000, the bill establishes a registration requirement for lenders with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. A crucial provision ensures that small-dollar credit extended remotely, such as over the internet or by telephone, must comply with the annual percentage rates, interest, and fee laws of the consumer's resident state . The bill also addresses prepaid accounts, explicitly prohibiting fees for overdrafts and granting the Bureau authority to ban other fees to prevent unfair or abusive practices. To combat predatory practices, the legislation imposes restrictions on lead generation in small-dollar consumer credit transactions. It requires entities facilitating the distribution of sensitive personal financial information to disclose their contact details and prohibits such facilitation unless the entity is directly providing the credit. Finally, the bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the availability of capital and the impact of small-dollar credit on economic opportunity and wealth for members of Indian Tribes.
This bill significantly amends the Truth in Lending Act and Electronic Fund Transfer Act to bolster consumer protections, particularly in electronic and small-dollar lending. It introduces new safeguards by prohibiting unauthorized remotely created checks, requiring consumers to explicitly designate their bank for such checks, and allowing revocation of these designations. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that electronic fund transfers used to repay small-dollar consumer credit transactions be treated as preauthorized, thereby extending greater protections to consumers. For small-dollar consumer credit transactions, defined as loans up to $5,000, the bill establishes a registration requirement for lenders with the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. A crucial provision ensures that small-dollar credit extended remotely, such as over the internet or by telephone, must comply with the annual percentage rates, interest, and fee laws of the consumer's resident state . The bill also addresses prepaid accounts, explicitly prohibiting fees for overdrafts and granting the Bureau authority to ban other fees to prevent unfair or abusive practices. To combat predatory practices, the legislation imposes restrictions on lead generation in small-dollar consumer credit transactions. It requires entities facilitating the distribution of sensitive personal financial information to disclose their contact details and prohibits such facilitation unless the entity is directly providing the credit. Finally, the bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General on the availability of capital and the impact of small-dollar credit on economic opportunity and wealth for members of Indian Tribes.