Regulation

Will the Fed Follow The States’ Lead In Passing Data-Breach Legislation?
April 10, 2014

Currently 46-states have passed data-breach legislation and New Mexico is heading toward being the 47th. State legislators in the Southwestern state are currently considering HB 224, which would mandate that organizations notify individuals whose data has been compromised as the result of a breach within 10...

News
Australian Officials Call For Clear Regulation Of Credit Card Fee Charges
April 10, 2014

Australia’s Security and Investment Commission (ASIC) has recently publicized concerns that businesses are overcharging for credit card transactions because policing such behavior has slipped between the cracks between two regulatory bodies. Airlines, utilities taxi companies and other low-competition marketplaces are where the overcharges are most...

News
Beware Virtual Currency’s Criminal Appeal Warns AG Holder
April 09, 2014

Speaking before a Congressional panel yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told the assembled that bitcoin, and other virtual currencies like it, represent new risks when it comes to money laundering and other criminal pastimes. “More than ever before, the department’s law-enforcement work today must...

Mt. Gox CEO Faces Likely U.S. Arrest
April 09, 2014

Embattled bitcoin exchange CEO Mark Karpeles has been ordered by a federal judge to appear in Dallas on April 17 to explain how his company lost at least $400 million worth of customer deposits. He is unlikely to show, since the majority of legal experts agree that...

News
Retailers Could Soon Be Liable For Hacking Damages In California
April 07, 2014

A bill is making its way through the California state legislature that would make companies like Target liable for damages after successful cyber-attacks against their system expose customer data.  Currently banks and credit card companies are on the hook for customer financial losses as a...

Alternative Finances
Will Louisiana Send Prepaid Packing?
April 07, 2014

Yet another state, Louisiana, is looking to convert plastic back to paper, at least when it comes to how tax refunds are distributed. Under a bill approved by the state’s House Ways and Mean Committee on March 31, taxpayers who do not specify a specific...

News
Bank Of America Considers $800M Settlement In Credit Card Case
April 04, 2014

Bank of American is in talks with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to settle allegations that the company misled consumers in purchasing credit products. Though talks are ongoing and not final numbers have been reached, the $800 million settlement would be the largest settlement...

News
Citigroup To Face Criminal Inquiry
April 03, 2014

Federal investigators have opened an inquiry into Citigroup’s Mexican unit, over a recent a $400 million fraud case. Banamex, Citigroups Mexican unit, disclosed in February that at least on Banamex employee had processed falsified documents that helped the oil services company obtain a loan that cannot...

News
Visa Debit EMV Will Run Over NYCE Network
April 03, 2014

EMV adoption has taken another giant step toward advancement with the announcement that a licensing agreement to make the Visa EMV debit available to all NYCE network participants. “NYCE’s participation in Visa’s common debit solution marks an important milestone in the industry’s efforts to adopt...