Banks and other consumer lending institutions are finding it easier these days to score a passing grade from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) examiners amid an ongoing battle over the agency’s funding and structure.
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According to Reuters, more than half the institutions examined earlier this year went through an “expedited review,” which means supervisors identified at most only minor lapses with little risk of harm to consumers, making penalties unlikely. Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters examinations in the expedited track are more lenient than standard reviews and historically were rare.
The lighter touch comes as the Trump administration and Republicans on Capitol Hill seek to scale back the agency’s power and resources, claiming the bureau’s industry oversight has become overly onerous, hurting lending and the broader economy.
The White House Office of Management and Budget last year sought to abolish the agency, which was established by Congress in the wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Failing that, the administration sought to slash the bureau’s workforce by two-thirds, per Reuters, including most of the examiners. Those plans are currently on hold awaiting Senate confirmation of a new CFPB director.
The agency also now requires examiners to recite a “humility pledge” during reviews to work collaboratively with the institution being examined. Reuters reported in August that a top CFPB examiner reminded staff of that pledge and warned of “most unpleasant” consequences if they were too aggressive.
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