Two Reforms to Rein in the CFPB

CFPB headquarters in Washington, D.C. Credit/Shutterstock

These are heavy times in Washington, D.C. Elon Musk is rampaging through the bureaucracy like the proverbial bull in a china shop, and the Trump Administration is reportedly considering eliminating federal agencies via executive orders. Closer to home, Rohit Chopra has finally been removed as the CFPB’s director, and the Bureau has effectively been put on a hiatus pending further review. Last but not least, the ascendancy of Kyle Hautpman to the leadership of the NCUA has brought a welcomed change in tone, even as we wait to see how big an impact his leadership can have on regulatory substance.

But even as dramatic changes are announced on an almost daily basis and if history is any guide at all – and I fully concede that it may not be –at some point, the sugar rush will end and we will return to the glacial stability of the legislative and regulatory process. As for me, when the dust clears, there are two simple changes that are achievable in this environment and would have a big impact on the day-to-day operation of credit unions, while at the same time ensuring that consumers have the right to choose the financial products that are appropriate for their individual circumstances.