In a Truth Social post, President Trump backed a bill called the Credit Card Competition Act (sometimes called the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandate), saying it will help put an end to what he calls “out-of-control swipe fee rip-offs.” Swipe fees — more formally known as interchange fees — are the charges merchants pay every time a customer pays with a credit card. Although these fees are not directly visible to consumers, merchants often argue that they are reflected in higher prices for goods and services.
As 2025 concluded, the "soft landing" narrative met a more complex reality: a divergence in consumer financial health that demands a recalibrated recovery infrastructure. While aggregate spending remains resilient, the composition of that spending is shifting toward a more cautious, "needs-based" posture.
On January 13, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision in Howard v. Republican National Committee (RNC) offering two important interpretations of the applicability of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to certain text message communications:
Join us for a timely and insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance in consumer financial services. In this episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast, Alan Kaplinsky, founder and senior counsel of Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts Terence Grugan, co-chair of Ballard Spahr’s AML team and a recognized authority in financial crimes compliance. Together, they deliver a comprehensive discussion on the latest regulatory developments, enforcement trends, and strategic implications for institutions across the industry.
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