CFSA released the following statement today regarding the Bureau’s field hearing yesterday in Birmingham, Alabama. The following comments can be attributed to D. Lynn DeVault, CFSA’s Board Chair:

“We appreciate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) willingness to hear from all stakeholders as it develops plans to regulate the small loan market. Storefront lenders made 110 million loans to nearly 20 million American families last year. At a time when access to small dollar loans is more vital than ever, developing strong, uniform, research-based rules will be a benefit to consumers.

“State governments currently regulate all aspects of payday advance lending in every state where payday advance loans are available. We have long worked with our state regulators in all 32 states where we operate to ensure compliance with state licensing and renewal requirements, supervision and examination procedures, and other consumer protection laws and regulations. Our member companies are committed to following all state and federal laws, as well as adhering to our association’s strict set of Best Practices that include truthful advertising, appropriate collection practices, and providing an Extended Payment Plan to customers who are unable to repay their payday advance loan.

“The Bureau’s new Short-Term, Small-Dollar Lending Examination Procedures is now published and our members look forward to working with our new federal regulator to confirm their compliance with all federal consumer financial laws and regulations.”