Atlantic Union Bank Fined $6.2M for Illegal Overdraft Fees
Bank illegally enrolled customers in "overdraft protection" service. A Virginia-based bank will pay more than $6 million in refunds and fines for an illegal scheme to enroll customers in an overdraft protection plan.
Read full storyBank of America Fined $12 Million
Banking giant falsified mortgage date filed with federal regulators. One of America's largest bankshas been ordered to pay a $12 million fine for filing false reports on mortgage documents.
Read full storyUnicoi County Schools to Offer Free Meals for All Students
The Unicoi County School district has announced that free breakfast and lunch will be available to all students in all schools beginning in January of 2024. In a letter to parents and guardians of students in the district, Judy McCurry of the district's school nutrition department said the program will be offered on a pilot basis and may be continued depending on student participation.
Read full storyProtecting Military from Medical Debt: Sen. Brown Calls for Action
Letter calls on Department of Defense to protect members of the military. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio is calling on the Department of Defense to take action to prevent members of the military from being plagued by medical debt.
Read full storyCoalition: Regulate Fintech Cash Advances Now
Advocates say four years is too long to wait for key consumer protection. A coalition of consumer advocates is cheering a new California regulation that limits interest rates on cash advances provided by certain fintech products. But, the group says the new rules should apply immediately rather than with the currently allowed four-year grace period.
Read full storyMA AG Cracking Down on "Junk Fees"
Proposed regulations would improve transparency in pricing. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell recently announced new proposed regulations to prevent hidden or surprise fees, often known as "junk fees."
Read full storyTN PTA Opposes Vouchers
TN PTA announces opposition to Gov. Lee's planned voucher expansion. On the heels of an announcement that Gov. Bill Lee plans to expand the state's school voucher program to universal eligibility by 2025, an organization representing parents of public school children expressed opposition to the plan.
Read full storyTN Pastors Oppose Gov. Lee's School Voucher Plan
A group of Tennessee pastors expressed opposition to a school voucher plan announced by Gov. Bill Lee yesterday. The pastors, affiliated with the advocacy group Southern Christian Coalition, said the plan would harm the state's public education system and called instead for Lee and lawmakers to fully fund public schools.
Read full storyJob Training Company Prehired to Pay $30 Million in Refunds for Illegal Lending Scheme
Company made false promises, trapped students in illegal loans. A job training company that purported to offer a "job placement guarantee" for jobs in the software industry has been ordered to cease operations and pay $30 million in refunds.
Read full storyToyota Motor Credit Fined $60M for Illegal Lending
Lending arm of Toyota withheld refunds, refused to cancel products. The lending unit of Toyota has been fined by a federal regulator for illegal conduct. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a $60 million fine to Toyota Motor Credit after finding that the finance company withheld refunds owed to consumers and made it nearly impossible to cancel product bundles packaged into car loans.
Read full storyRepublic Bank Partner Fined for Deceiving Consumers
Louisville-based bank earned millions from nonbank lender that defrauded customers. A key source of income for a Louisville-based bank is under scrutiny as a federal regulator issues a $15 million fine to the parent company of NetCredit.
Read full storyNetCredit, CashNetUSA Fined $15M for Consumer Deception
The parent company of nonbank online lenders CashNetUSA and NetCredit has been fined $15 million and ordered to cease certain business activities. Enova was penalized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for illegally debiting consumer accounts and for other deceptive activity. Additionally, the CFPB noted that the company violated a 2019 enforcement order and now therefore must cease offering some types of short-term loans.
Read full storyTN Dem Leader Slams Rejecting Fed Ed Funds
Senate leader says GOP effort could make problems worse. A key legislative leader is speaking out about efforts by some in the Tennessee General Assembly to reject federal funding for the state's public schools.
Read full storyDCS Crisis: Children Go Hungry
Group says kids in state custody shouldn't go hungry. A group of Tennessee pastors is calling on the State of Tennessee's Department of Children's Services (DCS) to take action to ensure all children in state custody have adequate food.
Read full storyLawmakers to Introduce "Contraceptive Freedom Act"
Bill would protect access to all forms of contraception. Two Tennessee lawmakers plan to announce the Contraceptive Freedom Act, legislation that will be filed in time for the 2024 session of the Tennessee General Assembly.
Read full storyEnd of Illinois School Voucher Program Cheered
A coalition of public education advocates are cheering the end of a school voucher plan in Illinois. Illinois lawmakers recently adjourned without extending funding for the 2017 Invest in Kids Act, a school voucher plan that provided tax credits for individuals contributing to a school voucher scholarship program. This means the provisions of the existing law will begin to end in January of 2024.
Read full storyPastors, Parents Oppose Rejection of Education Funds
Group says federal funding helps kids across the state. A group of Tennessee pastors and parents held a press conference highlighting the importance of federal funding for public schools. The group said it opposes a proposal by House Speaker Cameron Sexton to reject the $1.8 billion the state receives from the federal government to support various school-based programs.
Read full storySafeguarding Consumers with Payment Apps
Public Citizen calls on federal regulator to install safeguards for consumers. A consumer advocacy group is applauding a proposal that would treat payment apps like Venmo and Cash App like banks, bringing new protections to consumers.
Read full storyCiti Fined $25.9 Million for Discrimination
Company illegally denied credit to Armenian Americans. For a period of six years, Citi singled out consumers it suspected of being of Armenian descent for illegal discrimination, including denying them access to Citi's credit card products.
Read full storyRegulating Digital Finance: CFPB Calls for New Rules
Federal regulator proposes additional oversight for nonbank financial tools. Nonbank providers of digital financial services - such as digital wallets and payment apps - may soon be subject to the same oversight and scrutiny as banks and credit unions.
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