See below for a recent email sent out to OCCC stakeholders:

“On December 9, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., the OCCC will hold a stakeholder meeting on credit services organizations and attorney general opinion KP-0277.

A stakeholder meeting notice is available at: https://occc.texas.gov/publications/attorney-general-opinions. On this webpage, click the link labeled “Stakeholder Meeting Notice.” The meeting notice provides additional details and questions on which the OCCC is seeking input.

Stakeholders are invited to attend the meeting in person at the Finance Commission Building, or to listen and participate through an online webinar. To listen or participate online, please follow the instructions available at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3659168503230489611

The OCCC will accept comments and suggestions on the questions in the meeting notice until December 12, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.”

OCCC is asking stakeholders for comments and suggestions on the topics below:

1. Does the opinion’s analysis affect the regulatory landscape for CAB transactions (i.e., deferred presentment transactions and motor vehicle title loans)?

2. Must persons engaged in non-CAB transactions comply with all requirements of Chapter 393 other than those that apply specifically to CABs (i.e., Section 393.201(c), Subchapter C-1, Subchapter G)?

3. Are persons engaged in non-CAB transactions subject to the enforcement authority of the attorney general under Section 393.502?

4. Are persons engaged in non-CAB transactions subject to local ordinances and the enforcement authority of local governments?

5. Are persons engaged in non-CAB transactions subject to federal law and the enforcement authority of federal agencies (e.g., the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission)?

6. Sections 14.101 and 14.201 of the Texas Finance Code give the OCCC authority to investigate and enforce violations of Chapter 393 with respect to a credit access business. What is the proper role of the OCCC in light of the opinion?

7. Section 393.602 of the Texas Finance Code says a person may not use a device, subterfuge, or pretense to evade the application of Chapter 393, Subchapter G. Under the opinion, what would constitute a device, subterfuge, or pretense to evade the application of Chapter 393, Subchapter G?

8. Section 393.303 of the Texas Finance Code says a credit services organization may not charge or receive from a consumer valuable consideration solely for referring the consumer to a retail seller who will or may extend to the consumer credit that is substantially the same as that available to the public. Under the AG opinion, what would constitute a violation of Section 393.303?

9. Does the opinion’s analysis raise other significant policy issues? 

10. Should the OCCC and the Finance Commission engage in rulemaking related to any of these issues? If so, what is the statutory basis for the rulemaking?

This blog post was written by Michael Brown, President of CAB Consulting and the Texas Organization of Financial Service Centers.  He can be reached at 214-293-8676, or Michael@CreditAccessBusiness.com.

The “Lend 360” Conference is coming up in Dallas, September 25-27.  Since it is in our back yard versus Florida or California wanted to discuss it a bit and give you some information for you to better decide on whether you will or will not attend. 

Many of our vendor and TOFSC sponsor companies will be there so that is a great reason to go out of the gate. (Microbilt, Clarity, Leads Market, Factor Trust Trans Union, Dot 818, Payliance, Repay, Zero Parallel, Infinity, and Loan Payment Pro) along with many others.

Looking at the schedule over the 3-day period…it starts at 1p on Wednesday, goes until 5p. Thursday is 8a-5p, and Friday is 8a-1130a.  The format appears to be traditional conference presentation style, in 8-10 different rooms of the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Dallas along with a larger vendor / sponsor booth gathering area.

Summary of presentation topics:

• Federal law – conversation around lending.
• Small business customer acquisition (could be very relevant to our group).
• All parts and pieces of the “FinTech” industry – this is the major component of the conference.
• 2020 election impact on FinTech.
• Investor outlook on Fintech.
• Conversation on moving into “alternative credit market” and products / services in the “non-prime market.
• How FinTechs work with banks, there is more than one of these, so it appears to be a big part of FinTech operations…interesting.
• How to use multiple domain names for your business online to drive traffic to your business (could be very relevant to our group).
• Staying ahead of fraudsters (could be very relevant to our group).
• Data security.
• FinTech investors and other capital providers will be in attendance and will speak.
• Advertising and marketing round table (could be very relevant to our group).
• Making your business recession proof.
• Optimizing debt selling and collections strategies.

Costs $2,600 to attend and here is a link to more information:  https://www.lend360.org/schedule/

This blog post was written by Michael Brown, President of CAB Consulting and the Texas Organization of Financial Service Centers.  He can be reached at 214-293-8676, or Michael@CreditAccessBusiness.com.

We are nearing the end of the Holiday Season’s high demand period that coincides with the beginning of Tax Season.  Many CAB Consulting clients and TOFSC Members offer Tax Preparation services, and some will be doing it for the first time this year.   I know many who are ready to get after it so let’s go!

Here are some things every business needs to know about 2020’s Tax Prep Season:

• IRS is expecting more than 150 million tax returns expected to be filed.
• W2’s are already going out, all must be out by end of January.
• Tax filing season is Monday January 27th through Wednesday April 15th.
• Refund advances are happening already.
• Expect heavy loan payoff trends to start mid-February.  
• In 2019, we saw largest payoff week of entire year fall on the week of February 24th to March 2nd which was the exact week when the Earned Income Credit consumers got their refunds and paid off.
• Earned income credit / additional child tax credit – consumers who seek these credits will get their refunds later.
• In 2020, this means that refunds for these consumers will not happen before February 15th.  In, 2019 it was February 27th so it is good that it is 12 days sooner.
• This is the 4th year where there has been a delay on tax refunds for those where the “PATH Act” applies (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act). 

With the key information above you should be able to forecast where loan volume will go, when demand will wane, etc.  The Tax Prep market is very competitive but if you are committed it is a nice way to expand services to your existing customer base and grow an attractive additional revenue stream for your business.  If you have interest in adding these services, reach out to CAB Consulting for assistance!

This blog post was written by Michael Brown, President of CAB Consulting and the Texas Organization of Financial Service Centers.  He can be reached at 214-293-8676, or Michael@CreditAccessBusiness.com.

Why should Texas CABs keep an eye on FinTech Lending?  We need to watch and learn, let’s evolve our businesses by watching their successes and failures.  Where you can, implement their techniques that work, into your CAB’s capabilities! Think marketing, underwriting, process flow, etc..

These recent OCCC MSA report statistics show that FinTech now owns the Texas loan market which was not the case a few years back.

Q2 2019 OCCC Report said:

12 out of state online CABs did 67% of all single payment loans.

26 out of state online CABs did 49% of all installment loans. (comes out to $1.3 million per month in loan volume for those 26)

3 years ago the OCCC Q2 report said:

10 out of state online CABs did 50% of all single payment loans.

15 out of state online CABs did 28% of all installment loans.

Wow – just 26 CABs are now doing half of all installment loans executed in Texas.  Consumers are having their voice heard and it is saying “we love FinTech lending!”  Make changes that will mirror your FinTech competitors and tap into a massive market that you may be missing.

This blog post was written by Michael Brown, President of CAB Consulting and the Texas Organization of Financial Service Centers.  He can be reached at 214-293-8676, or Michael@CreditAccessBusiness.com.

Lending to Green Dot Card Customers – is this a good or bad idea?  Many feel these and other pre-paid card accounts carry too much risk because the card holders are not as “married” to the card versus the commitment assumed is had with a traditional bank with local branches. 

We had one TOFSC member call about working with Green Dot consumers and it was brought up that another well-known East Texas operator has been doing it with a high degree of success.  So TOFSC asked this former “CAB of the Year” and “TOFSC All-Star” to share his experiences with this so far. 

Below are some excerpts from the conversation…

Positives:

·         Accepting Green Dot has been viable for (4) years now.

·         Green Dot is loadable at a lot of places – this is good for customers because each load location really acts as a bank.

·         Green Dot cards have a routing #, acct #, bank statement, username, password.

·         Takes direct deposit, SSI, etc.

·         Some customers get paid 2 days early.

Negatives:

·         They offer a “vault” where vendor access to funds is blocked…so cardholders can turn card off / on.

·         Direct Deposit hits at 2am, sends alerts to customer that alert them to debit attempts.

·         You will lose all disputes on chargebacks.

Many storefronts may not be seeing many pre-paid cards as their system is pre-programmed to automatically deny applications with most of the common pre-paid card brands entered into the bank account field.   If you are ready to experiment with Green Dot (largest card brand in the US) then remove that filter and move forward with caution as you learn this niche of potentially higher risk applicants. 

This blog post was written by Michael Brown, President of CAB Consulting and the Texas Organization of Financial Service Centers.  He can be reached at 214-293-8676, or Michael@CreditAccessBusiness.com.

The New York Times ran a bit of an “expose” on “Earnin,” an online lending FinTech that may need to buckle up for a bumpy ride…

It seems like each week there is a new Silicon Valley FinTech anti-payday loan venture that is launched with millions in funding and all the slick PR you can buy. There is a formula to the launches, and most have the disruptor mindset but at first glance to many observers, it is clearly a well disguised online payday loan business. It was stated in the Post’s article that Earnin has an $800 million valuation – how much of that do you think came from being hyped by the media? Funny thing is, much of the media that promotes these startups don’t do their homework and would tell you they despise the payday industry if you asked them. Imagine that!

Earnin has been around for several years now and the “tip” model they use is now coming into question. They don’t charge a fee for the loan they just say “tip us if you liked it” or something along those lines. The New York Post says Earnin “has been scrambling to escape regulatory heat over concerns that it has been doing illegal payday lending in the Big Apple.”. It was surprising to read that the tips being collected were $14/$100 per week.  That comes to $28/$100 for two weeks. In Texas the average fee range per $100 borrowed is $20-$25/$100 so that tip is really popping up on some radars now. When you calculate the APR on $28/$100 that is getting into the 600%+ APR range which will typically cause a left leaning liberal with consumer advocacy on their mind to simultaneously combust.  
 
Now, the New York Department of Financial Services appears to be one of those who are very hot under the collar over Earnin doing transactions with New Yorkers. As well, 11 other states are investigating Earnin for violating usury laws. New York sent a subpoena to Earnin in March, shortly after that the tip feature was turned off for New Yorkers. Earnin is now having to explain the switch off, and that loan amounts were not driven down by poor tippers which looks very bad. There were some leaks from former employees apparently. In one of those leaks “Earnin also considered going after perceived enemies. One employee suggested the company hire a private investigator to look into The Post reporter who had written the story” about them. Whoa – this is getting good!

We’ll see how it all plays out, Earnin seems to be getting lined up for a major hit on the chin for other FinTech lending disruptors with similar shell game models. Those who are out in front as Earnin has been, often times are going to have to survive the legal battles to prove out the model while others who are not quite so visible, lay low and quietly ride out the process.

Here is a link to read more from the New York Post:

https://nypost.com/2019/09/01/cash-advance-app-earnin-changes-its-tune-amid-nys-probe/

This blog post was written by Michael Brown, President of CAB Consulting and the Texas Organization of Financial Service Centers. He can be reached at 214-293-8676, or Michael@CreditAccessBusiness.com.