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The US Bank Simple Loan is Hardly Simple

The US Bank Simple Loan is a classic example of how big banks can take something simple and make it incredibly complex.

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New Interview Alert: Brenner on CFPB Overreach with American Legal Record Podcast

Patrick M. Brenner, recently appeared on the American Legal Record Podcast to discuss his views on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its latest regulatory moves. In this insightful interview covered by American Credit News, Patrick delves into the core issues surrounding the CFPB’s recent circular on price comparison shopping sites and critically analyzes […]

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Alaska Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Life Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Public Opinion Testimony Top Issues Updates

A Call for Prudent Consumer Credit Legislation in Alaska

Representing the Southwest Public Policy Institute, I recently had the opportunity to testify before the Alaska House Finance Committee and the Alaska Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee regarding proposed legislation on consumer credit. The bills in question, House Bill 145 and its Senate counterpart, Senate Bill 264, aim to implement rate caps similar to […]

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The Wells Fargo Flex Loan is Anything But Flexible

Wells Fargo’s Flex Loan program is a labyrinth of unclear eligibility requirements and a baffling case of vanishing funds.

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Domestic Policy Economic Opportunity Economy Government Regulation Legal and Judicial Markets and Finance New Mexico Political Thought Poverty and Inequality Top Issues

Albuquerque Journal: A public bank could crowd out community-based financial institutions

The 2022 passage of House Bill 132, which set a stringent cap of 36% on interest rates for consumer loans, is having its intended and significant repercussions on New Mexico’s financial landscape. This was no accident: by restricting the interest rates that small-dollar lenders can charge, the rate cap effectively marginalized an entire segment of […]

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Albuquerque Journal: The myth of big-bank small-dollar loans

In response to Fred Nathan’s (July 30) op-ed praising New Mexico’s efforts to end predatory lending, I must assert that the celebratory tone is premature and misguided. Two significant studies conducted by the Southwest Public Policy Institute — “No Loan For You!” published in March 2023 and “No Loan For You, Too!” published in June […]

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Domestic Policy Economy Government Regulation Markets and Finance Press Top Issues Updates

Pew Charitable Trust Scraps “Consumer Finance” Project After SPPI Debunks Pew’s Findings

Albuquerque, NM — The Pew Charitable Trusts has “archived” their Consumer Finance project and reassigned Alex Horrowitz as Project Manager of their Housing Policy Initiative. Earlier this year, the Pew Charitable Trusts released a study that claimed that six of the eight largest banks now offer affordable small loans. In another study, Horowitz wrote: “Pew’s […]

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Safeguarding Access to Lending Services for Unbanked and Low-Income Americans

Last week, the Southwest Public Policy Institute joined Carrie Sheffield from the Independent Women’s Forum, Tirzah Duren from the American Consumer Institute, and Ann Petros from the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions for the panel discussion “Protecting Lending Services For Unbanked, Low-Income Americans”, part of IWF’s Center for Economic Opportunity Policy Chat series. In […]

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Wake Gardner Chosen as Recipient of the Marianne T. Anderson Memorial Fellowship

The latest recipient of the Marianne T. Anderson Memorial Fellowship has been announced.

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Domestic Policy Economy Government Regulation Markets and Finance New Mexico Poverty and Inequality Top Issues

RealClearMarkets: Need a $200 Loan? You’re Mostly Outta Luck

Originally published at realclearmarkets.com on June 21, 2023 In New Mexico, an interest rate cap on specialized emergency loans when into effect in January. Since then, big-bank promoters have endorsed the small-dollar short-term loan products offered by U.S. Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Huntington Bank, and others as alternatives. Recently, those same activists have thrown in support for […]