Single Origin

The Credit Card Competition Act: Balancing Retailer’s Demands and Consumer’s Interests

An image of a credit card and credit card reader, being used by a consumer at a point of sale

The Credit Card Competition Act is causing quite a stir in the realm of financial transactions. The legislation, targeting the formidable duopoly of Visa and Mastercard, aims to foster a competitive landscape in credit card processing. The Act mandates large banks to offer an alternative payment network for card transactions, a move that could shift the balance of power in favor of merchants.

A New Era: Crypto Regulation in the U.S Amid Fractures and Scandals

A photo of a person trading crypto on their phone.

The world of digital assets is in for a seismic shift as the United States sets its sights on regulating cryptocurrencies. This comes in response to various breaches by industry behemoths such as Coinbase and Binance, and the unearthing of alleged illegal activities at Celsius and FTX, which have plunged the crypto industry into unprecedented regulatory scrutiny. This paradigm shift emerged following public implosions within the digital asset industry such as Three Arrows Capital, TerraUSD, and others. The fallout from these instances highlighted the urgent need for regulatory safeguards in the highly speculative and volatile crypto market.

CFPB tackles Medical Debt and Junk Fees. Navigating Legal Hurdles Ahead

An image of a hospital where consumers can be hit with medical debt and junk fees

Rohit Chopra, the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), is steering the agency into a bold course aimed at combating emerging issues like AI misuse, mounting medical debt, and unjustifiable credit card fees. However, the federal appeals court’s ruling last year, deeming the agency’s funding structure unconstitutional, poses a significant obstacle.

Bank of America Hit with a Whopping $250 Million Fine: A Price Tag for Unscrupulous Behavior

A recent barrage of regulatory actions targeted at Bank of America (BoA) has spotlighted the magnitude of unethical practices within some of the world’s largest banking institutions. BoA, a colossal banking entity serving a staggering 68 million individual and small business clients worldwide, is currently grappling with a $250 million fine imposed for junk fees, withholding credit card awards and opening accounts without customer consent. In response to this massive $250 million fine, the bank is now obliged to set aside a hefty $100 million to make it right with the customers who fell victim to its alleged unfair practices. In addition to this, BoA will have to pay up an additional $90 million as a penalty for their misconduct. Moreover, another separate chunk of $60 million will be forked over to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Navigating the Regulatory Waters: Merchant of Record Model under FTC’s Close Watch

In the ever-evolving fintech ecosystem, novel payment models continually surface, offering unprecedented convenience and operational ease. One such model, the Merchant of Record (MoR) model, is currently making waves. However, it’s also being scrutinized for its potential to facilitate fraudulent transactions and other unlawful activities. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is ramping up efforts to ensure stringent compliance with legal and regulatory standards.