OCC: Responsible Innovation Framework Released
WASHINGTON — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced it will establish an office dedicated to responsible innovation and implement a formal framework to improve the agency’s ability to identify, understand, and respond to financial innovation affecting the federal banking system. “The OCC supports responsible innovation that enhances the safety and…
CFPB: First-Ever Project Catalyst Innovation Highlights Report Released
Report Discusses Market Developments with Potential for Consumer-Friendly Innovation Washington, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report highlighting various market developments that have the potential to produce benefits for consumers. These developments are emerging from FinTech startups and traditional financial institutions, and include new products, services, and trends. The report also…
FDIC: Share of U.S. Households without a Bank Account Drops
The number of U.S. households without a bank account fell significantly in 2015, according to the National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households released by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) on Thursday. Seven percent of U.S. households were unbanked in 2015. That was the lowest share in the survey’s history and a decrease from…
CFPB: Financial Coaching Can Benefit Consumers
We recently released two briefs about financial coaching and how it can benefit consumers. At some point in their financial lives, many consumers need more than access to information — they may also need someone to help them to identify and achieve their financial goals. A financial coach can serve as a capable and trusted…
FDIC: Advisory Committee Will Meet to Discuss Unbanked/Underbanked Survey
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion (ComE-IN) will meet on Thursday, October 20, to discuss the results and release of the full FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households. Other topics for discussion by the advisory committee include expanding access to safe transaction accounts, as well as initial lessons learned…
ABA: Foundation Accepting Entries for Lights, Camera, Save! Video Contest
Local banks sponsor teen competition WASHINGTON — Banks nationwide are now accepting entries as a part of the American Bankers Association Foundation’s annual Lights, Camera, Save! video contest. Lights, Camera, Save! is a national contest that encourages teens to use video to communicate the value of sound money management. Through Lights, Camera, Save!, teen participants will create…
CFPB: We’ve Issued a New Rule to Help Protect Consumers Using Prepaid Accounts
Prepaid accounts are one of the newer ways to store and spend your money. These include prepaid cards that you buy in stores or digital wallet accounts that you get online. With most prepaid accounts, you can spend the money you’ve loaded in advance for daily expenses or withdraw cash from an ATM. You can also…
CFPB: Project Catalyst Research Pilot – Tools for Saving
Over the past three years the Bureau has launched a series of initiatives focused on empowering consumers with resources and tools to help increase their financial capability and to build savings. These efforts include “Your Money, Your Goals,” a nationwide effort to provide financial education and tools to those working in low-income communities. It also…
CFPB: Project Catalyst Study Finds Savings Offers Double the Number of Consumers Saving
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the results of a Project Catalyst research project finding that offering a small incentive to prepaid card users to put some of their money into a savings “wallet” doubled uptake of the wallet. The study also found that the consumers who chose to save using…