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US Regulators 101

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📘 Resource: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions

Step Type: Text

What learners will learn: Practice areas and oversight responsibilities of CFPB and NAFCU.

Step Description
This resource examines the roles and functions of both the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). While the CFPB aims to maintain a fair and transparent financial marketplace across the country, the NAFCU's efforts are focused specifically on the compliance of federally-insured credit unions.

Summary of Content
This step introduces the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU). It outlines each organization's role in protecting consumers and supporting credit unions through regulation, advocacy, and education.

Key Topics Covered

  • CFPB’s purpose: protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, or abusive financial practices

  • CFPB activities: rulemaking, complaint handling, enforcement, research, and reporting to Congress

  • NAFCU’s role: advocacy, compliance support, and education for federally-insured credit unions

  • NAFCU services: regulatory analysis, training, research, and risk management support

  • Focus areas: consumer protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance


📘 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Step Type: Polygraph

What learners will learn: Practices of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Step Description
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau aims to create a fairer and more transparent financial marketplace, making sure consumers have access to safe and affordable products. Review the full scope and practices of CFPB here.

Summary of Content
Learners explore the origins, goals, and enforcement actions of the CFPB, including how it handles consumer complaints, provides financial education, and ensures fairness in credit and lending practices.

Key Topics Covered

  • Establishment of the CFPB in 2011

  • Consumer complaint handling

  • Regulatory authority over financial institutions

  • Mission to ensure fair, clear, and safe products


📘 National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions

Step Type: Streak

What learners will learn: Practices of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions.

Step Description
The National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions was formed to ensure the interests of credit unions are heard by lawmakers and regulators. You'll learn about its advocacy and support practices in this step.

Summary of Content
Learners discover how NAFCU advocates for federally-insured credit unions, provides compliance training, and supports the industry through educational and lobbying efforts.

Key Topics Covered

  • Founding year: 1967

  • Mission to advocate and support credit unions

  • Services: compliance, education, advocacy

  • State and federal-level influence

  • Focus areas like cybersecurity and data privacy


📘 Resource: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

Step Type: Text

What learners will learn: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority practices and scope.

Step Description
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) both oversee institutions at a national level. OCC ensures national banks and federal savings associations comply with laws and regulations, while FINRA's scope encompasses brokerages and brokers to protect the interests of investors.

Summary of Content
This step introduces the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It explains their roles in overseeing national banks and brokerage firms, enforcing compliance, and protecting consumers and investors.

Key Topics Covered

  • OCC oversight of national banks and federal savings associations

  • OCC responsibilities: examinations, enforcement actions, chartering, and merger approvals

  • OCC focus areas: consumer protection, AML, fair lending, risk management

  • FINRA role: oversight of brokers and brokerage firms

  • FINRA responsibilities: rulemaking, examinations, enforcement

  • FINRA penalties: fines, suspensions, industry bans


📘 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Step Type: MultiChoice

What learners will learn: Practices of the OCC.

Step Description
The goal of the OCC is to maintain a stable and competitive national banking system that supports economic growth and protects consumers. Learn what that could mean for your institution in this step.

Summary of Content
This step focuses on the OCC's responsibilities, including regulating national banks, enforcing compliance with federal laws, evaluating financial health, and approving bank mergers.

Key Topics Covered

  • Regulation of national banks and federal savings associations

  • Promotion of banking system stability

  • Oversight of compliance with consumer protection and fair lending laws

  • Enforcement actions and approvals of bank formations and mergers


📘 Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

Step Type: True or False

What learners will learn: FINRA practices.

Step Description
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority creates and enforces rules for how brokers must conduct business, helping to maintain the integrity of the stock markets. We'll dive into the full scope and practices of FINRA here.

Summary of Content
Learners are introduced to FINRA's role in monitoring brokerages, enforcing fair trading practices, and ensuring compliance with securities laws.

Key Topics Covered

  • FINRA as a private self-regulatory organization

  • Enforcement of trading and investor protection rules

  • Oversight of brokerages and individual brokers

  • Accountability to regulatory bodies like the SEC


📘 Mastery Test: US Regulators 101

Step Type: MultiChoice

What learners will learn: US Regulators 101 course review.

Step Description
Test your knowledge of US Regulators 101 with this mastery step!

Summary of Content
This mastery step reinforces key takeaways from the course, with a focus on the roles and jurisdictions of NAFCU, CFPB, OCC, and FINRA.

Key Topics Covered

  • Issues and services provided by NAFCU

  • Consumer protection role of CFPB

  • OCC’s bank regulatory functions

  • FINRA’s oversight of brokerage firms

  • Distinctions between each regulator’s scope

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